Smart athletes and coaches understand one critical piece of the training puzzle that beginners often overlook – Continually testing and assessing is an essential part of training if you want to see measurable improvements. How do you know if your training is effective if you aren’t testing and comparing previous results?
Because some of these tests cannot be found at another facility within a 60 mile radius of us, we offer the following tests and assessments to athletes and coaches to gauge the effectiveness of their training programs even if they don’t train with us.
Tests are available at both of our locations – Ageless Squared in Staunton and Ageless in Gillespie. All tests must be scheduled in advance. No walk-ins.
VO2 Max Testing
Cost: $50 per test
What Does it Measure: The maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise. It is measured as “milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight.
Equipment Used: Korr Medical CardioCoach Co2
Who Needs It: High school and college long distance runners, competitive 5k and marathon athletes of all ages, soccer athletes, and competitive cyclists.
Why Do You Need it: This measurement is generally considered the best indicator of an athlete’s cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. Theoretically, the more oxygen you can use during high level exercise, the more ATP (energy) you can produce. This is often the case with elite endurance athletes who typically have very high VO2 max values.
Anaerobic Threshold Testing
Cost: $50 per test
What Does It Measure: The lactate threshold is a point during exhaustive, all-out exercise at which lactate builds up in the blood stream faster than the body can remove it.
Equipment Used: Korr Medical CardioCoach Co2
Who Needs It: High school and college long distance runners, competitive 5k and marathon athletes, cyclists, and team sport athletes who play football, basketball, and soccer.
Why Do You Need It: Having a higher lactate threshold means an athlete can continue at a high-intensity effort with a longer time to exhaustion. Because of this, many consider LT a great way to predict athletic performance in high-intensity endurance sports.
Functional Movement Screen Assessment
Cost: $45
What Does It Measure: The FMS is a ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns that are key to normal function. By screening these patterns, the FMS readily identifies functional limitations and asymmetries. These are issues that can reduce the effects of functional training and physical conditioning and distort body awareness.
Equipment Used: Functional Movement Screen Kit
Who Needs It: All athletes and weekend warriors
Why Do You Need It: You should not load dysfunction. The risk of injury is too great. The functional movement screen allows you to find your movement dysfunctions and fix them before you start loading them. Not only will you be healthier, but your movement will be more efficient and powerful.
Vertical Jump and Elasticity Assessment
Cost: $45
What Does It Measure: Technically, the vertical jump. However, most coaches use the vertical jump as a measurement for overall power. We test the vertical jump, 4 jump test, and provide you with video analysis of the jumps.
Equipment Used: Just Jump Mat and Spark Motion Video Analysis
Who Needs It: All athletes
Why Do You Need It: When it comes to sports, power is the ultimate expression of athleticism. Weight room strength is great, but it’s a means to an end, not the end. If an athlete can’t apply that strength as quickly as possible, it won’t carryover onto the field. Power is what we strive for because the most powerful athletes are the most dominant.
10, 20, and 40 yard Speed Test
Cost: $45 Coming Soon
What Does It Measure: The athlete’s ability to accelerate. Video analysis is also provided to critique technique.
Equipment Used: FreeLap Timing System and Spark Motion Analysis Software
Who Needs It: All athletes
Why Do You Need It: Like power, speed often determines the outcome of a game. Strength is great, but without speed, it’s not nearly as effective on the field. Measure, analyze, and improve.
Resting Metabolic Rate Testing
Cost: $50
What Does It Measure: How much food, or energy, is required to maintain basic body functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and maintenance of body heat while you are in a state of rest. That energy is expressed in calories per day.
Equipment Used: CardioCoach C02
Who Needs It: Athletes and individuals interested in losing weight
Why Do You Need It: Your resting metabolic rates accounts for 60-75% of the total calories you burn every day. Thus, it’s the largest piece of the pie when it comes to weight loss. The RMR calculators you find on the internet are good, but they often are not accurate. This test is one of the most accurate tests you can use to measure your RMR. Once you know your RMR, setting daily caloric intake goals becomes a lot easier and your weight loss plan becomes a lot more effective. Adding more muscle, losing fat, and performing high intensity intervals are a few ways you can increase it.
