Strength and Conditioning Laboratory

A lab dedicated to the practical delivery of strength and conditioning modules within the Sport and Exercise award programmes.

The Strength and Conditioning Laboratory comprises equipment that enables users to learn how to use strength and conditioning techniques (such as Olympic weight lifting and movement screening) to improve movement quality and sporting performance. The facility houses a portable force plate that can be integrated into a lifting platform to facilitate the measurement of ground reaction force during muscular strength and power exercises. Additional equipment can also be used to support the measurement of muscular power (Optojump, Gymaware) and muscular activity during strength and conditioning actions (EMG). Activities within Strength and Conditioning modules can also break out into an adjacent sports hall to perform sprint, agility, and field-based endurance testing.

All activities are conducted during Strength and Conditioning module practical sessions with the aim to apply theory learned from a lecture into practice.

The Strength and Conditioning Laboratory is used for undergraduate teaching, research, and enterprise activities. This laboratory is integrated within the Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre and gym members can also access it outside timetabled taught sessions. It is also used to support the Strength and Conditioning delivery offered as part of the Performance Athlete Scheme.