Exercise has long been celebrated as a powerful tool for enhancing human health, with the capacity to prevent and even treat non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. By encouraging physical activity not only among athletes but also within the general population, the prevalence of these diseases can be reduced, ultimately alleviating the financial strain on healthcare systems. However, the precise molecular changes triggered by different types of exercise have remained largely unexplored. This is partly due to the traditional reliance on invasive methods like tissue or muscle biopsies to gather molecular data, which has limited the scope of research studies.
In a groundbreaking study published in Volume 11 of the journal Sports Medicine – Open on May 14, 2025, Dr. Kayvan Khoramipour from Miguel de Cervantes European University, alongside coauthors and Professor Katsuhiko Suzuki from the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Waseda University, Japan, introduce two innovative fields poised to transform our understanding of exercise physiology. These fields, termed ‘resistomics’ and ‘enduromics,’ utilize ‘multi-omics’ data, which encompasses information from various biological molecules such as proteins, metabolites, and RNA.
Understanding Enduromics and Resistomics
Enduromics and resistomics are specialized areas of study that focus on the molecular changes induced by endurance and resistance training, respectively. Endurance training, commonly known as aerobic exercise, increases breathing and heart rate, while resistance training is aimed at enhancing muscle strength. Professor Suzuki elaborates, “Enduromics and resistomics examine unique molecular adaptations to endurance and resistance training in a larger population, as opposed to the field of ‘sportomics,’ which focuses on molecular alterations in competitive athletes.”
Enduromics delves into the biological pathways involved in lipid metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, and aerobic efficiency—key processes that adapt in response to moderate-to-intense aerobic exercise. Conversely, resistomics centers on muscle hypertrophy, protein synthesis, and neuromuscular adaptations. These fields aim to identify biomarkers and metabolic fingerprints, providing insights into how specific metabolic states vary among individuals.
Implications for Personalized Exercise
The practical applications of enduromics and resistomics are vast. Professor Suzuki highlights, “By utilizing molecular profiling, these disciplines pave the way for personalized exercise prescriptions, using molecular insights to tailor training to an individual.” Such personalized training plans can enhance fitness and rehabilitation while minimizing injury risks for both athletes and the general public. The researchers advocate for shifting the focus from athletes to the general population to bolster societal health.
By utilizing molecular profiling, these disciplines pave the way for personalized exercise prescriptions, using molecular insights to tailor training to an individual.
In the long term, the research team aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms underpinning exercise adaptation, which could prove instrumental in disease prevention and treatment. This shift in focus holds the potential to redefine public health approaches, emphasizing the role of exercise in disease management and prevention.
Future Directions and Broader Impacts
The introduction of enduromics and resistomics marks a significant advancement in exercise science, offering a more nuanced understanding of how different forms of exercise affect the body at a molecular level. This development comes at a time when the global burden of non-communicable diseases is rising, highlighting the urgent need for innovative strategies to combat these health challenges.
Looking forward, the researchers hope to further explore the potential of these fields in developing targeted interventions that can be tailored to individual needs. By bridging the gap between molecular biology and exercise science, enduromics and resistomics could pave the way for a new era of personalized medicine, where exercise prescriptions are as precise and individualized as pharmacological treatments.
We hope that enduromics and resistomics will pave the way for a new approach to exercise and public health!
As the understanding of these fields deepens, their integration into public health strategies could lead to more effective prevention and management of chronic diseases, ultimately improving quality of life and reducing healthcare costs. The potential for these fields to revolutionize how we approach exercise and health is immense, promising a healthier future for all.
