Development of an at-home blood and plasma sampling protocol to test the level of thiol-oxidised albumin as a biomarker of exercise induced muscle damage

Exercise-induced muscle damage can occur after a bout of unaccustomed physical exercise or following physical exercise of greater than normal duration or intensity. Inadequate recovery from muscle damage can cause a decrease in performance. There is also an increased risk that the next bout of exercise will cause severe muscle injury which, depending on the severity, may require weeks or months for full recovery. This thesis examines whether the level of oxidised albumin, a sensitive blood biomarker of oxidative stress, can be used to detect and monitor recovery from muscle damage, particularly in a professional sporting environment.