What is the Origin of Performance Limiting Factors?

This concept is a core tenet of functional and performance medicine, where the focus shifts from disease pathology to identifying the root causes of suboptimal function. The term emphasizes a systematic, diagnostic approach to uncovering the specific physiological barriers hindering peak performance.

What is the Mechanism of Performance Limiting Factors?

Limiting factors often operate by disrupting fundamental homeostatic mechanisms, such as impairing mitochondrial ATP production, reducing hormone receptor sensitivity, or increasing systemic oxidative stress. For example, high reverse T3 can limit metabolic rate, while low iron can restrict oxygen transport. The mechanism of identification relies on comprehensive biomarker analysis to pinpoint the specific physiological bottleneck.

Performance Limiting Factors

Meaning

Any biological, hormonal, metabolic, or environmental constraint that prevents an individual from achieving their maximal physical, cognitive, or energetic potential. Identifying these factors, which can range from subclinical thyroid dysfunction and nutrient deficiencies to chronic inflammation and poor sleep quality, is the initial critical step in personalized health optimization. These constraints act as bottlenecks in the system.