Sports and exercise science

This assessment will establish how much of your weight consists of muscle and how much consists of fat. In addition to this you will also find out your somatotype (body type) completed via skinfold callipers.

An RMR is used to determine how many calories you burn per day at rest. This test can be useful to those looking to implement a nutritional intervention to reach a goal such as add muscle or decrease body fat.

No exercise required. A sweat test measures the amount of sodium in your sweat allowing us to be able to work towards devising a personalised sports drink bespoke to you. Other information will include your sweat rate and recommended carbohydrate mix for your sport. Sodium can vary 15-fold between people, and sweat rate can vary 8-fold, this test can be very important for endurance sport.

VO2 max is considered the best measure of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. It refers to the maximal amount of oxygen that an individual can utilise during athletic performance. A VO2 max test is an incremental test performed to maximal effort, and can be completed on a treadmill or cycle ergometer, lasting approximately 8 – 12 minutes. A variety of protocols that include speed, length of stage and gradient can be selected based on individual needs.

Blood lactate values can also be obtained during this test via capillary sampling of the fingertip when using an appropriate protocol. Accumulation of lactate in the blood is a direct result of anaerobic metabolism, a blood lactate threshold can be calculated and is used for prescribing intensity of training programs.

The VO2max test will benefit athletes who are looking to benchmark or improve their cardiovascular fitness.
A VO2max test allows individuals to quantify their cardiovascular fitness and to evaluate the effectiveness of their training program. This information is particularly useful pre-season as it allows the opportunity to manage effective training plans before the start of the competitive season.

Specialist equipment is required to run this test. The VO2max test will take place in a controlled laboratory environment within the Perform Southampton Centre. A controlled environment contributes to high test-retest reliability.

We also offer Wattbike, fatmax (the rate at which you burn the most fat), maximal lactate steady state, spirometry and field based testing.

*This does not include the Consultant fees which are £300 and will be billed separately by the Consultant.