Performance analysis

Mr Leuthold, human movement science researcher at the ETH, who would benefit from undergoing a performance analysis?

I wouldn’t call it a performance analysis or diagnosis. It's more about a personal evaluation. We take into account the individual goals and aims of our clients to determine which tests are most suitable, with the aim of providing support on the way to achieving their ultimate goals. Our customers range from beginners to top athletes. Some are looking to improve their stamina, others want to build up muscle, while others are interested in losing weight – there are different tests designed to meet a wide range of requirements.

What conditions do I need to meet for a test to be beneficial?

We’re often asked whether you need to be fit to undergo the tests and personal evaluation. The answer is no. We take a “snapshot” of our client’s performance and define measures aimed at meeting his or her chosen target – regardless of the level of fitness.

What age range do the tests cover?

They’re not really suitable for children, as they’re not playful enough. The focus here should be on the development of coordination skills. But all other age groups – from young people to the elderly – would benefit from our services. It is particularly important, for example, for elderly people to do targeted weight training to prevent age-related muscle deterioration. However, we also help older people who are determined to run a marathon.

But ultimately, these tests are all about performance aren’t they?

It’s not purely about performance, but also about determining personal training zones. These zones can’t be calculated reliably using common rules of thumb such as “220 minus age”. The results of such calculations may be relatively accurate for some, but for others they’ll be no help at all.

You need to know your individual zones in order to train effectively and achieve your goals. That’s why determining your individual training zone is an important cornerstone of our service – alongside performance documentation.

Do goals have to revolve around performance improvement?

No. However, all your abilities improve in the beginning simply by training efficiently in the correct zone. But you certainly don’t always have to be aiming higher, better or faster. I do, however, believe that it makes sense for anyone who takes the time to train regularly to do so correctly and at the right level of intensity. The key is to train as efficiently as possible. That’s why we offer comprehensive advice and individual measures based on the test results. These services enable our clients to train to the best of their abilities and achieve their goals.

Do these tests also help determine whether I’m training correctly?

Yes, our tests define each person’s optimum individual training zone and thus reveal whether they’re training correctly or not. “Correct” in this context means training healthily and successfully with a view to achieving the defined goals. As human movement science researchers, we adopt a strongly practical approach and facilitate the transfer of knowledge from theory to practice. This sets us apart from other sports medicine centres. We are movement experts and work mostly with “healthy” people instead of patients. However, we can, for example, help develop a training programme for diabetics designed to improve muscle mass and thus have a positive impact on blood sugar levels. In cases like these, a doctor is usually involved in the process.

You also analyse body composition...?

Yes, many people today are interested in optimising their body fat and muscle percentages. The scales you use at home only specify your weight. But what if you want to find out the percentage of muscle mass or fat in your body? Or perhaps you’re interested in determining your bone density (osteoporosis prevention)? Or you want to know how your training is impacting on your body composition? At Training&Diagnostics we have the very latest high-tech equipment for conducting this DXA scan. Here, too, it’s not just the test itself that counts but also the right interpretation of the results and translation into productive training.

How long does a personal evaluation take and what does it cost?

A basic analysis takes ten minutes, a full test programme lasts up to 30 minutes. Usually, the entire evaluation takes between one and two hours. Most time is devoted to the consultation in which we analyse the results and pinpoint how clients can achieve their goals. A complete personal evaluation costs between CHF 400 and 500.