Fitness and Health Assessment Options
Assessments and personal programmes are prescribed by our exercise scientists who have many years of experience working with both international athletes and the clinical healthcare of the elderly.
-
Full aerobic assessment and exercise prescription – £200
VO2max, anaerobic threshold, lung efficiency, exercise prescription, body composition*. This is a package that delivers all the requirements for athletes and serious exercisers. VO2max is the gold standard indicator of endurance fitness. The exercise prescription is personalised to individual needs and essential for optimal improvement of both health and fitness.
Full aerobic assessment, exercise prescription and follow-up assessment – £300
As above, with a subsequent follow-up test. The importance of a second fitness and health test cannot be overestimated and will show any changes in performance following the first assessment.
Aerobic assessment – £120
VO2max, anaerobic threshold, lung efficiency, body composition. As above, but excluding the exercise prescription and follow-up assessment.
Full aerobic assessment and follow-up assessment – £200
As above, but including a follow-up test
Clinical assessment – £120
Ventilatory threshold, blood pressure, lung efficiency, body composition, flexibility, muscle strength. These tests will measure the health status of individuals who are possibly sedentary or ageing. Good health is essential for a providing a good health-related quality of life and lowering the risk of medical conditions that can occur as we age.
Clinical assessment and exercise prescription – £180
As above but including a personalised health-related programme designed to improve and maintain health and fitness for the non-athlete.
Muscle strength and power assessment, including resistance training techniques and programme planning – £80
Strength and power are important in many activities, particularly team games and contact sports. An effective weight/resistance training programme should include optimal intensity, duration, frequency, and recovery times. Strength and power is also important in later life for the retention of muscle mass, avoiding frailty and maintaining flexibility and mobility.
*A free body composition is included with all assessments
Centre for Health and Ageing
As we go through life our physical activity needs change. The Centre for Health and Ageing (CHA) builds on internationally acclaimed research by Dr Peter Herbert, developing exercise and health programmes that recognise our changing needs as we age.
CHA provides the opportunity for all members of the community who are over 50 years of age to have access to personalised exercise programmes and one-to-one expert advice on aspects of health, fitness nutrition and lifestyle.
We run classes throughout the year and have online videos to support exercising at home. We cater for all abilities of participants. We support people who have not exercised due to health-related conditions, lack of motivation or opportunity, as well as those who are already active or masters athletes to maintain and improve levels of fitness and strength.
For more information please contact Dr Peter Herbert at p.herbert@uwtsd.ac.uk or Kirsty Thomas at kirsty.edwards@uwtsd.ac.uk.
Who can benefit?
Exercise and Ageing
Health and Fitness
Being physically active on a regular basis is a positive move to achieving better health and fitness. Studies have shown that exercise provides numerous health benefits and that older adults can improve their quality of life by staying physically active. Even moderate exercise and physical activity can improve health and fitness.
Lack of physical activity can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses. Staying physically active and exercising regularly can help prevent or delay many diseases and disabilities. In some cases, exercise is an effective treatment for many chronic conditions. Studies show that people with arthritis, heart disease, or diabetes will benefit from regular exercise. Exercise also helps people who are overweight, have high blood pressure, balance problems, or difficulty walking.
Regular, moderate physical activity can help manage stress and improve your mood. And, being active on a regular basis may help reduce feelings of depression. Studies also suggest that exercise can improve or maintain some aspects of mental function.
Fitness
Being physically active can help you stay strong and fit enough to keep doing the things you enjoy. It enables you to benefit from exercise such as jogging, cycling and swimming and many leisure activities such as hill walking, tennis and golf. Some older adults can be reluctant to exercise and concerned that exercise will be too hard or will harm them. In fact, inactivity is regarded by many scientists as the greatest cause of ill health in later life.
Exercise or Physical Activity?
Physical activity describes activities that get your body moving such as gardening, walking the dog, going to the shops and taking the stairs instead of the lift. Exercise is a form of physical activity that is specifically planned, structured, and repetitive such as weight training and aerobics. Including physical activity and exercise in your life will provide you with health benefits that can make you feel better and enjoy your life much more as you age.