Fitness testing is important to undertake in whatever sport you play. It allows for the coach to identify key areas of concern and then be able to focus on these areas to improve. These areas may have been having a detrimental effect an athlete’s performance, hampering them from becoming an elite level athlete. Golf requires a wide range of fitness testing from core strength, to aerobic fitness. All the factors are important to create the best golfer. Improving strength, flexibility and balance may have a dual benefit of improving performance and decreasing the risk of injury. (Sell, T. et al 2007).

When muscles are active, they produce an electrical current. Surface electromyography (sEMG) is used to measure the activation of the muscles for a particular movement through these electrical currents. There are several other ways to measure muscle activation, such as using the fine wire and needle methods, however, these are invasive methods requiring the piercing of skin. sEMG is a non-invasive method where the electrodes are placed upon the surface of the skin.

 

SSC offer a variety of tests to assess various aspects of fitness, including functional movement screenings (FMS), biomechanical gait analysis, and physiological assessment. Our physiological assessments include either a long-graded exercise test (LGET) or a short-graded exercise test (SGET) paired with breath-by-breath gas analysis and/or lactate sampling. These tests are essential for cyclists and runners to identify accurately current levels of fitness and areas for improvement.
Both the LGET and SGET are types of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests (CPET) and give us several vital pieces of information for determining how to train to improve your endurance running or cycling performance.

Maximal Oxygen Uptake Test: £299 £149.

Computerised Breath-by-Breath Gas Analysis. Get your precise readings using the same kit Team Sky, Team GB and Team USA use for their elite cyclists. Results include a full report including VO2 Max., Ventilatory Thresholds and Substrate use.

Lactate Profiling: £199​ £99.

Expert Lactate analysis providing minute by minute blood and energy system responses to increasing work demands. Blood is taken from the forefinger and analysed within 15 seconds using the most up to date digital monitor in the world.

S-EMG Neuromuscular Measurement: £399 £199.

The ultimate neuromuscular assessment highlighting the weakest links in your kinetic chain. No more guessing – we can quantify the exactly the contribution from left-right, quads-hamstrings, glutes-calf muscles. If you have had a chronic issue your Bike Fit cannot fix or if you have hit a training plateau this test could provide the answer.