Laboratory facility
The laboratory within the Olympic Sport Centre comprises research equipment that can assess:
• Aerobic capacity: Maximal oxygen uptake is assessed during either cylcling on a cycle ergometer or running on a treadmill, using an on-line breath-by-breath metabolic analyser. Tissue oxygenation is performed with near infrared spretroscopy (NIRS).
• Pulmonary function
• Muscle strength: Dynamometry (Biodex)
• Body composition: Dual energy X-ray absorption
• Bone density: pQCT
• Haematology:
• Cardiovascular function:
• Thermoregulatory function: Autonomic (sweating, vasomotor tone, shivering) thermoregulatory function can be assessed during exercise, immersion and sleep. Behavioural thermoregulatory function is assessed using a water-perfused suit.
• Nutrition:
• Sleep analysis
• Ophthalmology