Performance Testing

HOW IT WORKS

Following an initial discussion about your training and goals, you will complete two complementary assessments during your laboratory visit.

VALD FORCE PLATE TESTING

Force plate testing is completed before the maximal exercise assessment so that strength and power can be evaluated without the influence of fatigue. An individual testing battery will be selected according to your sport and goals and may include:

• Countermovement jump
• Squat jump
• Single-leg jump assessment
• Repeated-hop or reactive-strength assessment
• Isometric mid-thigh pull
• Sport-specific lower-limb isometric testing
• Bilateral and unilateral force assessment

VO₂MAX/CPET TESTING

You will then complete an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer or treadmill. Breath-by-breath respiratory analysis is used throughout to examine how your cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic systems respond as exercise intensity increases. The assessment includes:

• Blood pressure and resting heart rate
• Baseline haemoglobin and haematocrit
• Body-composition analysis
• Lung-function assessment and spirometry
• Resting metabolic rate and resting substrate utilisation
• Breath-by-breath oxygen uptake and respiratory-gas analysis
• Fat and carbohydrate oxidation profile
• Heart-rate, power or pace responses across exercise intensities

YOUR RESULTS

You will receive one detailed written report integrating the findings from both assessments, followed by an individual virtual consultation in which we explain what the results mean and how they should influence your training.

PHYSIOLOGICAL PROFILE

Your report will include:

• VO₂max and maximal aerobic capacity
• Maximal aerobic power or speed
• First and second ventilatory thresholds
• Respiratory compensation point
• Fat and carbohydrate oxidation profile
• Substrate crossover point
• Physiologically informed threshold power or pace estimate
• Heart rate, power or pace at each key physiological threshold
• Individualised training zones
• Identification of physiological strengths and performance limiters

STRENGTH AND POWER PROFILE

Depending on the tests completed, your report may include:

• Jump height and take-off velocity
• Absolute and relative peak force
• Peak power relative to body mass
• Rate of force development
• Eccentric braking and deceleration characteristics
• Concentric force and impulse
• Reactive strength index
• Dynamic strength index, where appropriate
• Movement strategy and force-time characteristics
• Inter-limb force and power asymmetries
• Identification of key strength and power priorities

INTEGRATED PERFORMANCE CONSULTATION

During your follow-up consultation, we bring both areas of testing together to establish whether your greatest opportunities lie in aerobic development, threshold performance, metabolic efficiency, maximal strength, explosive power, reactive strength or addressing significant asymmetries. You will leave with individualised training zones, clear performance priorities and practical recommendations for the next phase of your development. This is a standalone assessment and does not include a prescribed training programme or ongoing coaching. Continued implementation and monitoring can be accessed through our Strength and Conditioning or Elite Edge coaching services.

HOW IT WORKS

Following an initial discussion about your training and goals, you will complete an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer or treadmill. Breath-by-breath respiratory analysis is used throughout the assessment to build a detailed profile of how your body produces and uses energy across different exercise intensities. The assessment includes:

• Blood pressure and resting heart rate
• Baseline haemoglobin and haematocrit
• Body-composition analysis
• Lung-function assessment and spirometry
• Resting metabolic rate and resting substrate utilisation
• Breath-by-breath oxygen uptake and respiratory-gas analysis
• Fat and carbohydrate oxidation profile
• Heart-rate, power or pace responses across exercise intensities

YOUR RESULTS

You will receive a detailed written report and an individual follow-up consultation in which we explain what the findings mean, how the different results relate to one another and how they should influence your training. Your report will include:

• VO₂max and maximal aerobic capacity
• Maximal aerobic power or speed
• First and second ventilatory thresholds
• Respiratory compensation point
• Fat and carbohydrate oxidation profile
• Substrate crossover point
• Physiologically informed threshold power
• Heart rate, power or pace at each key physiological threshold
• Individualised training zones
• Identification of physiological strengths and performance limiters
• Clear recommendations for training intensity, volume and areas of focus

HOW IT WORKS

Following an initial discussion about your training and goals, you will complete an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer or treadmill. Breath-by-breath respiratory analysis is used throughout the assessment to build a detailed profile of how your body produces and uses energy across different exercise intensities. The assessment includes:

• Blood pressure and resting heart rate
• Baseline haemoglobin and haematocrit
• Body-composition analysis
• Lung-function assessment and spirometry
• Resting metabolic rate and resting substrate utilisation
• Breath-by-breath oxygen uptake and respiratory-gas analysis
• Fat and carbohydrate oxidation profile
• Heart-rate, power or pace responses across exercise intensities

YOUR REPORT

Following the assessment, you will receive a detailed written report explaining your results and how they should be applied within your training. Your report will include:

This service does not include a follow-up consultation. Athletes wanting a complete explanation of their results and the opportunity to discuss their training should select VO₂max/CPET Testing & Performance Consultation.

• VO₂max and maximal aerobic capacity
• Maximal aerobic power or speed
• First and second ventilatory thresholds
• Respiratory compensation point
• Fat and carbohydrate oxidation profile
• Substrate crossover point
• Physiologically informed threshold power or pace estimate
• Heart rate, power or pace at each key physiological threshold
• Individualised training zones
• Identification of physiological strengths and performance limiters
• Clear recommendations for training intensity, volume and areas of focus

HOW IT WORKS

Ahead of the consultation, you will be asked to provide relevant information such as recent training data, laboratory results, competition files and details of your upcoming goals. We review this information before meeting with you for a 90-minute virtual consultation. During the session, we examine the relationship between your training, fitness development and performance before agreeing the most important areas of focus.

WHAT WE REVIEW

Depending on the information available and your individual goals, the consultation may include:

• Your short-term and long-term performance goals
• Recent training volume, intensity and consistency
• Training-load progression and overall programme structure
• Intensity distribution and balance between training demands
• Physiological testing results and training zones
• Recent competition or performance data
• Strengths, weaknesses and potential performance limiters
• Recovery patterns, training availability and relevant injury history
• Event demands, pacing and competition preparation
• Areas where further testing or specialist support may be beneficial

WHAT YOU WILL LEAVE WITH

Following the consultation, you will have:

This is a one-off consultancy service and does not include a prescribed training programme, day-to-day monitoring or ongoing coach support. Athletes wanting continued planning, feedback and access to the wider Elite Edge team should explore our coaching packages.

• A clear assessment of your current performance position
• Identification of your most important training priorities
• Recommendations for adjustments to training structure, intensity or volume
• Practical guidance relating to upcoming goals and competitions
• A focused action plan for your next phase of development

HOW IT WORKS

Following a discussion about your sport, training and goals, we select an appropriate battery of jump and isometric-strength tests. Depending on your individual requirements, testing may include:

VALD ForceDecks measure the forces produced by each limb throughout every phase of the movement, providing significantly more information than jump height or a conventional strength test alone.

• Countermovement jump
• Squat jump
• Single-leg jump assessment
• Repeated-hop or reactive-strength assessment
• Isometric mid-thigh pull
• Sport-specific lower-limb isometric testing
• Bilateral and unilateral force assessment

YOUR RESULTS

Your results will be explained during the session and provided within a clear assessment summary. Depending on the tests completed, your results may include:

This assessment does not include an individual strength and conditioning programme or ongoing coaching. These can be accessed separately through our Strength and Conditioning or Elite Edge coaching services.

• Jump height and take-off velocity
• Absolute and relative peak force
• Peak power relative to body mass
• Rate of force development
• Eccentric braking and deceleration characteristics
• Concentric force and impulse
• Reactive strength index
• Dynamic strength index
• Movement strategy and force-time characteristics
• Inter-limb force and power asymmetries
• Identification of key strength and power priorities
• Recommendations for future training or further assessment
• A baseline for comparison during future testing

HOW IT WORKS

Following a period of quiet rest, you will breathe normally through a comfortable mask while our metabolic-analysis system measures your oxygen consumption and carbon-dioxide production. Using indirect calorimetry, we calculate your resting energy expenditure and respiratory exchange ratio from your real-time respiratory-gas data. Food intake, caffeine, recent exercise and other factors can affect the results, so you will receive clear preparation instructions before your appointment to help ensure an accurate and repeatable assessment.

YOUR RESULTS

Following the assessment, your results will be explained and provided within a written summary. Your results will include:

Resting metabolic rate represents the energy required to support your body at rest. Total daily energy requirements will also depend on training, general activity, recovery demands and the thermic effect of food.

• Measured resting energy expenditure in kcal per day
• Resting oxygen consumption and carbon-dioxide production
• Resting respiratory exchange ratio
• Estimated contribution of fat and carbohydrate to resting energy production
• Comparison with predicted resting metabolic rate
• Guidance on how the result can inform your wider energy and nutrition requirements
• Recommendations relevant to your training, recovery or body-composition goals

HOW IT WORKS

We record your height and body mass before completing two complementary assessments:

Because hydration, food intake and recent exercise can influence body-composition measurements, you will receive preparation guidance before your appointment to help improve reliability.

• Seven-site skinfold analysis uses specialist callipers to measure subcutaneous fat at standardised anatomical sites.
• Bioelectrical impedance analysis passes a safe, low-level electrical current through the body to estimate fat mass, fat-free mass, muscle distribution and total body water.

YOUR RESULTS

Your results will be explained during the appointment and will include:

For the most meaningful assessment of progress, we recommend repeating measurements under similar conditions and focusing on changes over time.

• Height and total body mass
• Body mass index, interpreted within the appropriate context
• Seven-site sum of skinfolds
• Estimated body-fat percentage
• Estimated total fat mass and fat-free mass
• Estimated visceral-fat rating
• Estimated muscle mass and segmental distribution
• Total body-water estimate
• Comparison with previous Elite Edge assessments, where available
• Guidance on how the results relate to your training, health and performance goals