What is hs-CRP & why is it important for athletes?

What Is hs-CRP?

hs-CRP is a marker of inflammation in the body. While some inflammation is a normal part of the training and recovery cycle, persistently elevated levels may indicate systemic stress, poor recovery, or even underlying illness.

For athletes, tracking hs-CRP can provide insight into whether the body is adapting well to training or tipping into overtraining or inflammation-driven fatigue.

"High-sensitivity CRP is a marker of systemic inflammation. While occasional rises post-training are normal, consistently elevated levels can point to chronic inflammation, injury risk or insufficient recovery. I suggest testing quarterly during periods of high intensity or load, and pairing with creatine kinase and cortisol to monitor recovery and training tolerance."

Dr Thom Phillips

Why Inflammation Matters in Sport

1. Training Stress vs. Chronic Stress

   Exercise creates short-term inflammation to stimulate adaptation. But if this inflammation doesn't resolve, it can become chronic, slowing recovery, reducing performance, and increasing injury risk.

2. Recovery Monitoring

   Elevated hs-CRP after training or competition is normal. However, consistently high levels between sessions can mean your recovery strategies aren’t keeping up with your training load.

3. Immune Function & Illness

   Persistent inflammation can weaken immune response, making athletes more vulnerable to illness, particularly during periods of intense competition or travel.

4. Cardiovascular Insight

   hs-CRP is also a marker for cardiovascular health. Monitoring it helps ensure your training is building resilience, not long-term health risks.

What are normal hs-CRP levels for athletes?

We looked at blood test data from EDGE customers and found the median hs-CRP levels for women are 139 mg/L and 153 mg/L for men.

Here is a breakdown of hs-CRP levels by age:

Source: EDGE customer blood test results Apr 2023 – March 2025.
The labs we used to analyse blood samples state a healthy range for hs-CRP is between 0-5 mg/L.

What Can Raise hs-CRP in Athletes?

• Intense or prolonged training with insufficient recovery

• Poor sleep or elevated psychological stress

• Infections, injuries, or illness

• Under-fuelling or low carbohydrate availability

• Chronic inflammation from overtraining or gut health issues

Even a minor cold or poor sleep can spike hs-CRP, so results must always be viewed in context.

When Should Athletes Test hs-CRP?

• After a tough training block to assess inflammation and recovery

• When experiencing unexplained fatigue, soreness, or underperformance

• As part of a RED-S or overtraining screen

• In conjunction with cortisol and CK for a full view of stress and recovery

How to Manage and Lower Inflammation

• Prioritise sleep and stress management techniques

• Include anti-inflammatory foods (berries, oily fish, leafy greens)

• Avoid training through illness or persistent soreness

• Ensure carbohydrate intake matches energy output

• Schedule regular deload or recovery weeks

In Summary

• hs-CRP reflects systemic inflammation, both acute and chronic

• High levels can signal poor recovery, infection, or overtraining

• Helpful for optimising training loads and identifying hidden stress

• Combine with cortisol, CK, and subjective symptoms for actionable insight