Articles

Next Season Starts Sooner than You Think:
Time for Offseason Testing

Sept. 28th, 2011

By Dan Cohen, OptumHealth Performance Coach

You have just finished the season, and the offseason beckons: you want nothing more than to relax and celebrate your race accomplishments. But before you settle into that couch in front of the Sunday games, consider the opportunity this time affords: this is your chance to start preparing your body to meet next season's goals before the racing season begins. So take time - a little time - to rest, refresh your body and mind, and celebrate your race accomplishments. Then, use offseason testing to prepare your body to meet the goals and challenges of your next racing season.

The offseason is the perfect time to focus on developing your skills and maintaining your strength. Perhaps most importantly, it's the time for testing to establish the baselines you will use to measure your performance in the coming season. By analyzing your just-finished race season to recognize your strengths and limiters, you can focus on specific drills and techniques to maximize your efficiency and improve your performance.

At OptumHealth Performance we specialize in specific metabolic testing and analysis to lay down a baseline and develop strategies to enhance performance. We can help structure a program to make sure you are getting the most out of your training sessions.

Baseline testing can help us define what type of training to focus on during the offseason. And since our body's metabolism changes depending on the type of training we are subjecting it to, we recommend periodic testing to ensure those changes are actually leading to increased performance. Using state-of-the-art testing equipment, OptumHealth Performance offers three metabolic tests:

1. Resting metabolic rate (RMR), which determines:
   • How many calories your body needs per day to maintain current body weight.
   • What source of fuel your body is burning (i.e. fat or carbohydrates).
2. Maximal Oxygen Consumption (VO2max), which determines:
   • Maximal amount of oxygen your body can use
   • Your anaerobic threshold and heart rate zones (to help personalize your training program).
   • What fuel your body is using at various workout intensities.
3. Lactate testing provides:
   • A profile of aerobic and anaerobic conditioning levels.
   • A coach with information as to what energy systems (aerobic or anaerobic) need to be trained for peak performance and indicates the type of training to prescribe for the next training cycle
   • An estimate of heart rate zones to use for training

VO2max and lactate testing can be conducted using a treadmill or a cycling Computrainer; lactate testing can also be done in the field to take advantage of your real training or racing environment.

In addition to metabolic tests, we offer a variety of mechanical analyses to help you develop proper technique and movement patterns:

1. Underwater swim analysis:
   • Receive an in-depth analysis of the mechanics of your swim stroke by using our state of the art pool, underwater Coach Cam, and video software from Silicon Coach. After the comprehensive analysis you will review both above and underwater footage, and determine specific drills that will help improve your strengths and your limiters.
2. Computrainer Power Test and Spin Scan analysis:
   • Gain a critical understanding of your pedal stroke mechanics on your own bike, you can use our Computrainers to analyze how much power you are able to deliver to the pedal, as well as how efficient your muscles are at delivering that power throughout your pedal stroke. Then, you can learn specific drills and techniques to maximize each pedal stroke and boost your cycling performance.
3. Run Gait Analysis:
   • Assess the biomechanics of your walk or run using video equipment and Silicon Coach video software to identify areas to work on to improve your efficiency and run performance

Remember: much of next season's improvement begins long before the season starts. Offseason is the perfect time to develop the tools and techniques that will help you line up at the first starting line of next season confident that you are ready to compete at your peak. OptumHealth Performance can help.

For informational purposes only. You should consult an appropriate health care professional to discuss whether the information herein is right for you.

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