Muscle Performance testing
To get the best out of your body, to remain injury free, and to be able to stay fit well into your latter years your muscles and joints need to be working optimally. For that to happen we need to identify how your body and muscles are currently working. We can then incorporate specific and targeted exercises and stretches to help muscles and joints to work in efficient and stress free movement patterns.
When we test your Muscle Performance we ask you to perform simple non demanding tasks in the following areas;
1. Lower Limb Mechanics and Alignment
2. Posture
3. Spinal Movements (lumbar spine)
4. Core Stability
5. Muscle Length
6. Hip Assessment
1. Lower Limb Mechanics and Alignment
The way your pelvis, hips, knees and feet all interact are crucial to the way you move. If your lower limb alignment is problematic you could already be suffering with niggling lower limb aches and pains or you may be developing them as we speak. Imagine a piston in a car; if the alignment of the piston was just slightly out then the consequences are obvious.
If the alignment of your lower limbs are allowing your knee caps to run in a similar manner for example, then the subsequent wear and discomfort is often predictable. This is why skilled physiotherapists always manage to find the area of pain straight away!
This type of scenario could be happening in many different joints at the same time due to the same set of mechanical alignment issues. Could you be living with pain, discomfort or inefficient movement patterns leading to fatigue in certain muscles, due to poor mechanical or alignment problems?
In a simple, understandable way, this aspect of the Muscle Performance Analysis will help you understand current or potential problems due to your lower limb mechanics and alignment.
2. Upper Limb Mechanics and Alignment
You may have an interest in activities such as golf or tennis that require a good degree of upper limb involvement. It may therefore be appropriate to add the Upper Limb Mechanics and Alignment Assessment to compliment the programme. This involves looking at shoulder, scapular (shoulder blade) neck (cervical spine) and mid-back (thoracic spine) mechanics.
3. Posture
Looking at your posture will give us a clue as to what muscles are likely to be tight or long and weak or strong.
It will also help us identify any joints that are likely to suffer with certain movements.
4. Spinal Movements
When designing a programme for an individual, the ability of the person to move their spine well is an important consideration. If there are restrictions in spinal movements then spinal mobility exercises will feature in the programme.
5. Core Stability
This refers to ‘core’ muscles whose strength is vital as a base of support for efficient and effective limb movements. Most commonly this refers to the pelvic floor, deep abdominals and deep spinal muscles in the back region but other muscles are involved in core stability of the pelvis, neck and shoulder. Good core stability is vital for dancers and sports people’s optimal performance but is also vital in everyday activities such as lifting, cleaning the car, ironing etc.
If your ‘core muscles’ are not working sufficiently then your arms and legs become less efficient and injury is more likely.
6.Muscle Length
Simple tests of muscle length are incorporated because they are a very important consideration in terms of programme design and injury prevention
7. Hip Assessment
Your hip joints are the pivots from which you move. They have to endure movement in all directions and take the weight of your torso and head and arms during most of these movements. The range of movement of your hips will dictate the way you move and will have direct implications on almost every joint of your body. They especially have implications for your pelvis, lumbar spine, knees and feet. Keeping your hips flexible and strong will help give longevity to these other joints.
Game Ready
The 'Game Ready' is used by most Premier League football clubs and is used to help remove swelling and restore function fast.
It combines the use of chanelled iced water and air pressure to a set temperature and pressure to maximise results.
InBody 720 Body Composition
With this amazing 8 point bio-impedance analyser we can tell you how much muscle mass you have in your right leg and compare it to your left. We can tell you how much muscle needs to built up to get back to the 'norm' for your age and height or for your sport. We can do the same for your arms and trunk (back,chest and abdominal area).
The Body Composition Analysis is carried out using our 'unique to physio' InBody720 Analyser.
This analysis tells us your body composition, or put another way…what components your body is made from.
A body’s composition reflects net lifetime accumulation of nutrients and other substances acquired from the environment and retained by the body. Components ranging from elements to tissues and organs are the building blocks that give mass, shape and function to the human body. Body composition analysis allows us to study how these building blocks respond to interventions such as exercise, therapy or nutrition.
There may be several reasons why you might need an InBody analysis:
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To compare muscle mass in your right leg against your left
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To measure edema (swelling) levels in an arm or leg
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To compare muscle and fat readings to ‘the norm’
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To measure bone mass
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To measure fat levels for running efficiency purposes
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For general health purposes
How is Body Composition Measured?
To measure changes in your body composition it is absolutely crucial to be as accurate as possible. This is why we use the InBody 720 Analyser which is one of only 8-point Bio-impedance systems on the market today. Eight-point bioimpedance analysers are regarded as the most accurate of all bioimpedance systems. It treats the body as five cylinders (right and left legs, right and left arms and trunk) and can identify the composition of each of these cylinders. This gives us an amazing ability to identify specific problem areas and to address them accordingly.
The InBody 720 is so sensitive to the extent that right-handed and left-handed can be discriminated, it can detect minute changes that can not be checked with eyes or simple measurement techniques.
However, because the InBody works with the aid of electrical impulses individuals with heart pace makers are contraindicated on this machine. Therefore we have an alternative method of calculating body composition (caliper skin fold test)
What Is Measured?
The InBody 720 measures:
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Skeletal Muscle Mass
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Body Fat Mass
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% Body Fat
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Nutritional Evaluation
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Mineral Evaluation
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Muscle Balance
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Body Water Balance
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Visceral Fat Analysis (for Over 18’s)
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Height/Weight chart (for Under 18’s)
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Body Strength Analysis
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Total Calorie Consumption (req’d per day)
Galileo Vibration Platform
With this machine we can accelerate the rehabilitation phase of injury increadibly efficiently. Muscle mass, swelling and circulation/lymph are notibly improved with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. We can also monitor and show you the improvements with the InBody 720 Analysis.
Keiser Functional Trainer
Otherwise known as the 'Infinity'.
There is no end to the number of exercises that can be performed with this machine.
It uses air resistance so there is no limit to the speed of movement or amount of resistance that can be applied. Added to that there is unlimited amount of directions the resistance can be applied. This allows us to perform sports specific movements in a controlled and safe environment.
It is possible to reproduce movements such as; golf swing, tennis fore and backhand, sprinters start, volley ball spike, badminton smash, football strike, boxers punch, high jumpers knee lift, etc,etc.....all with resistance and at varying speed.
Sports Testimonials
In my capacity as a full-time athlete it was imperative that I had people around me who I could trust 100%, Dave was one of those. In the 10 years we have worked together he has been fantastic.
Countless times before a Major Championship I have come to him with many different problems and without fail he has managed to get me fit. His ability to pick up on the slightest symptom and know the problem has been remarkable.
I have been through 3 Major back operations in recent years and every time he is there to help me with my rehab and get me back onto court.
Dave's attention to detail extends beyond just physiotherapy because of his extensive knowledge of fitness, wellbeing and nutrition as well.
Mark James
Former International Badminton Player, multiple Junior British and National Champion and European No.47 and World No 172.
"I have known David Mott for several years. He has a professional manor with an enthusiastic & caring approach and the initiative to think outside the box. When ever I’m in need of local treatment I find myself giving Dave a call to help me achieve in my sport."
Geva Mentor
England Netballer 2000-present
I have been in the sport of disabled alpine skiing for 12 years, representing Great Britian in 2 winter Paralympics and now going for my 3rd in Vancouver 2010
One of my biggest improvements has come from having a great strength and conditioning program keeping me fit and healthy so to avoid injury so i can train longer and harder and give my 100% in competition
And when injury occurs Dave has always diagnosed and given me treatment so I can still train race and give 100% to my discipline in this world class elite sport .
Thanks Dave
Russell Docker
Double Winter Paralympian
