Sports Science Support

Optimal Performance Limited (OPL) has considerable sport science and sports medicine experience and expertise, through our in house team and well established links with internationally recognised sport science institutions and their leading figures.

We provide the dual capability of providing advice and support to athletes, as well as the ability to carry out large-scale sport science research projects. A number of our consultants are members and/or accredited by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)  and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). Members of the team have also disseminated much of their own and OPL’s work at national and international sport science conferences and published research findings in peer reviewed journals.

Sports Science Team

Optimal Performance Limited consultants all have a background in Sports and Exercise Science, each with their own specialist interests and core skills. The sport science services we offer are based upon academic qualifications and practical experience as several of our scientists have experience competing internationally. This blend of international sporting competition coupled with strong academic roots allows OPL to deliver elite pragmatic sport science support.

External Consultants

We offer a broad range of expertise via our external consultants, many of whom are at the leading edge of their fields, and through collaborative agreements with leading academic institutions such as the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, Bath University, University of Chichester, Nottingham Trent University and University College London.

Our Consultants include several internationally renowned Sport Physiologists, Psychologists and Biomechanists, as well as experts in sports medicine, including Orthopaedic and Sports Physicians and Physiotherapists. Many of our Consultants have current experience of working with elite athletes, including US Olympic Gymnastics, Chelsea FC and The Rabobank Professional Cycling Team. Our links with these Consultants allows Optimal Performance to keep up to date with the advancing sport science industry and ahead of the competition.

Technology

We have a wide range of sport science technical equipment available, which can be used in the field or laboratory, details of which can be found on the technical expertise page.

Sport Science Services

Physiological and Performance Assessment: These assessments can be tailored to quantify fitness, identify individual strengths and weaknesses, assess the effectiveness of training programmes and assess rehabilitation status. Fitness assessments may include measurements of aerobic (VO2max and anaerobic threshold) and anaerobic (strength, speed and power) fitness, agility, flexibility, lung function, respiratory muscle strength and body composition. The majority of these assessments can be carried out in a laboratory-based setting, at client’s premises, or in the field.

Personalised Training Programmes: This allows us to maximize improvements in performance by focusing on individual weaknesses, to set short and long-term training goals, to minimise risk of injury and to monitor the athlete’s immune status for signs of overtraining.

Nutrition and Hydration Monitoring: Our sport scientists will work alongside the athlete to optimise nutrition and hydration strategies, both short-term prior to competition and for long-term training programmes. This advice will cover the wide range of dietary and ergogenic nutritional supplements currently commercially available.

Thermal Physiology: Our team of sport scientists specialises in working with individuals performing physical work in hot environments. We are able to provide advice on all aspects of thermal physiology, including hydration and short- and long-term mechanisms to improve performance in the heat. In addition, Optimal Performance has extensive experience of monitoring individuals exercising in hot environments through the use of ‘real time’ measurement of skin and deep body temperature.

Respiratory system: OPL has experience assessing pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength before, during and after exercise. The health of the respiratory system is an important ingredient in safe and effective work/performance. Assessment of and specific training programmes which target the respiratory system can be designed to enhance individual performance.

Injury Reduction: In an attempt to minimise risk and severity of injury we can identify factors associated with injury, introduce pre-season screening and improve, if necessary, existing warm-up and cool-down routines. Together this will act to reduce fatigue-induced accidents and injuries and improve movement efficiency and recovery.

Athlete and Coach Education: Our sport scientists are available to provide lectures on a wide range of sport science topics, many of which are listed above. These seminars would typically involve a visual presentation together with an open forum between the speakers and the audience.