Sports Performance

Book a session

Book a session

We offer a range of testing packages, depending on your needs. Whether you want a detailed health check, a fitness test, or a musculoskeletal assessment – we can help you.

To book any of the below packages/individual tests or for further information please call 01494 603 090 or email Philip Woodbridge on philip.woodbridge@bucks.ac.uk.

You can find us at the High Wycombe Campus, Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 2JZ.

Physiology Assessment Test Package (£150 for 2 hours)

Test key markers of endurance fitness and provide accurate training zone guidance to improve training structure and delivery.

 

  • Approximate duration: 30 minutes
  • Individual cost: £60
  • Measures: VO2max, (maximum heart rate).
  • Suitable for: Anyone wishing to precisely measure their aerobic power for health or sporting performance.

Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max.) provides a measure of an individual’s cardiorespiratory (or endurance) fitness. It reflects the ability to take in, transport, and use oxygen in the active muscle. Typically, the higher an individual’s oxygen consumption, the greater their endurance ability. Maximal oxygen consumption is influenced by a range of factors including muscle mass, age, gender and training status.

This is a maximal effort test and requires participants to exercise (run-cycle/row) to exhaustion during an incremental test that typically lasts 8-10 minutes. The test results will be compared to the population of interest and feedback will be given on endurance fitness classification.

What does the test involve?

After a gentle warm up the test will begin. During this test, exercise intensity will gradually increase. Heart rate and oxygen consumption (measured via expired air) will be measured continuously during the test.

When the pace can no longer be maintained and volitional exhaustion is reached, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) is measured. This test provides an excellent measure of cardiorespiratory health/fitness and is also a strong predictor of endurance performance.

This test can be completed using the treadmill, cycle ergometer or rowing machine, to best suit the athletes’ training needs. The test results will be compared to the population of interest and beneficial feedback will be given on your endurance fitness classification. 

 

  • Approximate duration: 30 minutes
  • Individual cost: £80
  • Measures: Lactate threshold, Lactate turn point, heart rate training zones.
  • Suitable for: Recreational exercisers, amateur athletes and professional athletes (combined usually with a VO2max and other tests).

Lactate threshold is the intensity (speed/power) at which blood lactate accumulates in the blood at a faster rate than it can be removed, leading to an increased rate of fatigue. Calculating the lactate threshold allows for the prescription of training zones that can be used to design a suitable programme to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and endurance performance.

This is a sub-maximal step-test, which will require you to exercise in 3-4-minute stages at progressive speeds/power outputs. During this test your heart rate and blood lactate (via a capillary blood sample) are recorded to create a profile and heart rate zones suggested to guide your training and monitor progress.

 

  • Approximate duration: 30 minutes
  • Individual cost: £50
  • Measures: Body fat percentage, Lean mass percentage, body fat (kg).
  • Suitable for: All athletes and non-athletes.

The Bod Pod is an air displacement plethysmograph, using whole-body densitometry to determine body composition (fat and fat-free mass). The system is safe, non-invasive and has excellent test-to-test repeatability. Your body fat percentage can then be compared to normative values.

The test involves sitting inside a small chamber for approximately 2 minutes. A report which includes your body fat body fat percentage and lean mass percentage compared to population norms will be provided.

Health Assessment Package (£150 for 90 minutes)

This package is designed to give you an individualised summary of industry standard health & wellbeing markers that can be used as a baseline to assess the results of lifestyle changes.

 

  • Approximate duration: 30 minutes
  • Individual cost: £50
  • Measures: Body fat percentage, Lean mass percentage, body fat (kg).
  • Suitable for: All athletes and non-athletes.

The Bod Pod is an air displacement plethysmograph, using whole-body densitometry to determine body composition (fat and fat-free mass). The system is safe, non-invasive and has excellent test-to-test repeatability. Your body fat percentage can then be compared to normative values.

The test involves sitting inside a small chamber for approximately 2 minutes. A report which includes your body fat body fat percentage and lean mass percentage compared to population norms will be provided.

  • Approximate duration: 30 minutes
  • Individual Cost: £80

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy required to maintain the body’s normal metabolic activity, such as respiration, maintenance of body temperature (thermogenesis), and digestion. Specifically, it is the amount of energy required at rest with no additional activity. The energy consumed is sufficient only for the functioning of the vital organs such as the heart, lungs, nervous system, kidneys, liver, intestine, sex organs, muscles, and skin. We can use the measurement of BMR to work out your estimated total daily energy requirements (TEE).

  • Approximate duration: 10 minutes
  • Individual Cost: £20

Blood pressure test gives a measure of the force (pressure) in your arteries as you heart pumps. This measure can then be compared against normative values to assess the health of your cardiovascular system.

  • Approximate duration : 10 minutes
  • Individual Cost : £30

Blood glucose test measures the glucose levels in your blood. Too much or too little glucose in the blood can be a sign of a serious medical condition. High blood glucose may be a sign of diabetes. Low blood glucose can also lead to major health problems. This measure can be compared to normative values to assess whether you are in a healthy range.

Muscle Testing and Movement Analysis (£150 for 110 minutes)

This package involves functional movement and muscle balance tests to measure strength and highlight potential injury risks

  • Isokinetic Dynamometer Muscle Testing
  • Counter movement Jump test
  • Y-Balance Test
  • Functional Movement Screen

Contact us to discuss via philip.woodbridge@bucks.ac.uk to book each of these bespoke services.

 

  • Approximate duration: 45 minutes
  • Individual Cost: £100

Isokinetic Dynamometer testing is used to assess strength in two opposing muscle groups, such as the quadriceps and hamstrings.  They resist applied forces and are controlled at a predetermined rate.  Muscle balance is essential for improved performance and injury prevention.  The test involves using the Cybex Humac Dynamometer machine to measure several muscle contractions and a report will be produced comparing sides (left and right) and opposing muscles (agonists and antagonists).

  • Approximate duration: 20 minutes
  • Individual cost: £30

Counter movement jump (CMJ) is used to assess lower body explosive power. The test involves standing on a jump mat and performing three single leg jumps on each leg and then comparing the jump height.

  • Approximate duration: 20 minutes
  • Individual Cost: £30

The Y-balance test assesses your ability to balance on one leg whilst reaching with the other leg. The test requires standing on a plastic beam and then reaching as far as possible with the other foot in three different directions. The results are then collated and left versus right legs are compared.

  • Approximate duration: 25 minutes
  • Individual Cost £30

The functional movement screen (FMS) is used to assess various functional movements to detect possible asymmetries and deficiencies in muscle length, strength and control. The test involves performing seven different functional movements; Deep Squat, Hurdle Step, In-line Lunge, Active Straight-leg Raise, Trunk Stability Push-up, Rotary Stability, Shoulder Mobility.

Bespoke services

Corporate team building: Tips from the Olympics

The Sports Science Team at Buckinghamshire New University have designed a fun and exciting day of professional development that will invite your team to think about their health and activity levels, based on our experience working in the Olympic games.  

Olympians employ a selection of practices in all areas of their life to perform consistently and maximise their chances of success – all based around the key principles of training, recovery and nutrition.

The Olympian mindset can be applied to business and sport to improve quality of life for you and those around you. 

By sharing lessons learnt from years of working with some of the world’s top athletes, the Sports Science & Therapy teams will give you some ideas on how to make marginal gains to your daily practice to improve health and productivity at home and work.

Over the course of a day you will have the chance to engage in a fun teambuilding session and learn the tips and tricks that help elite athletes perform day to day. You will learn about your own health and activity habits and identify some small ways in which you can improve.

View the agenda.

Schools and colleges visits

We offer a range of school and college packages, including day visits and talks. We can also provide bespoke support for professional teams. Previous clients include England Handball, Wycombe Wanderers, Watford FC Academy, FAB Academy and Reading Ladies FC.

Sports team

In partnership with Wycombe Wanderers FC, we worked with the squad and fitness staff during pre-season testing, which involves both lab-based and ground-based testing. Goalkeepers in particular make use of our Neurotracker system to help train perceptual-cognitive ability.

In April 2015, We made a positive contribution to the England Touch Rugby Women’s 27 squad as they prepared for their World Cup campaign. This involved squad testing, training programmes, and informative lectures around topics such as recovery and supplementation for optimum performance.

Research and consultancy

We're also big on research, having worked with Wycombe General Hospital’s Type 1 Diabetes research team, led by Diabetes specialist Dr Ian Gallen. We helped examine novel ways to reduce hypoglycaemia in physically active Type 1 Diabetics, including the use of caffeine, insulin pump management, and different types of insulin.

We're always interested in taking on new research and consultancy projects in the Human Performance Laboratory, so please contact us to discuss any ideas. 

Nutritional analysis

Using nutritional analysis software (Nutritics), we can analyse your nutritional intake and identify the amount of nutrients consumed in a typical three-day period. We can then advise you on whether the energy consumed in terms of calories is suitable for your gender, age and fitness requirements or sporting activities.

Our nutritional software can also help identify any nutritional deficiencies and provide recommendations on food groups to be consumed to address these deficiencies.

The HPL in action

 

 

In addition to our work with Wycombe Wanderers and Watford FC we had the opportunity to help Dr. Michael Mosely with his work for Channel 4.

The health turnaround the volunteers achieved in just three weeks was remarkable, and key to their success were the tests we did at Buckinghamshire New University.
Dr Michael Mosley BNU honorary
21 Day Body Turnaround Channel 4 Programme Michael Mosley image
It was a great opportunity to showcase what we are capable of in the Human Performance Laboratory and an interesting change from our work with competitive athletes.
Dr Mark Homer Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology
Head shot of a smiling Mark Homer wearing a polo top stood face on and looking directly into the camera