Athlete Testing

Lucozade Sport Supporting Research

Lucozade Sport has a strong tradition of supporting research into sports nutrition, metabolism and performance. Such research is vital in underpinning the development of all of our sports nutrition products. Our research also helps us to educate those exercising and playing sport on strategies that can give them an edge in performance.

We carry out research in both a laboratory and field environment using a wide variety of tests. Here we talk about these tests and what many of our subjects put themselves through to help the development of Lucozade Sport.

Lucozade Sport Athlete Tests

Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO₂max)•

This is defined as the maximal rate at which the body can take in and distribute oxygen to the working muscles. It is measured in absolute terms (l/min) and relative terms (ml/kg/min), and provides the gold standard measure of cardiovascular fitness.

The test requires an individual to exercise at a continuously increasing intensity whilst providing samples of their expired air. The test typically lasts between 8-12 minutes.

Lactate Threshold

Is defined as the speed at which an exponential increase in blood lactate occurs. Blood lactate is a by-product of exercise and helps scientists understand the efficiency of the aerobic energy system. The test typically includes 4 or 5 stages each of 3 or 4 minutes in duration at increasing intensities. A capillary blood sample is collected at the end of each stage.

The test requires an individual to exercise at a continuously increasing exercise intensity whilst providing samples of their expired air. The test typically lasts between 8-12 minutes.

Wingate Test

Is a test used to determine an individual's anaerobic capacity. The test is typically performed on a cycle ergometer, with the subjects cycling all out for 30 seconds against a resistance equal to 7.5% of their body mass.

The test allows us to determine peak power, time to peak power and also a measure of resistance to fatigue. This is not a test for the faint hearted!

Exercise to exhaustion

The previous three tests are used in research to understand the impact of an intervention on fitness. However, we also need to measure performance, of which an exercise to exhaustion test is the traditional form of doing so.

Subjects will typically exercise to exhaustion at a pre-determined exercise intensity and therefore provide a measure of endurance capacity.

Time Trial

Time trials are the modern day performance tests, and better replicate the competitive setting of sport where someone has to, in most cases, get from A to B as quick as possible - not be the last one standing.

The time trial will ask a subject to complete a distance or work rate in the shortest possible time and thus help provide a measure of endurance performance.

Hydration Testing

Given the individual needs of fluid intake it is important to calculate exactly how individuals respond to exercise during different training and/or environmental conditions.

Hydration testing requires a pre-training urine sample to assess hydration, pre and post weighing to calculate sweat loss and sweat patch collection to understand sweat electrolyte concentrations.

This information helps us to prescribe more accurately the hydration needs of individuals.

Nutrition Intake

The collection of an accurate 3-7 day food diary is often used with athletes as a way to ensure that their diet is suitable for their sport. This includes understanding their overall energy intake particularly that of carbohydrate - the fuel of choice for the muscles, as well the overall intake of fat, protein and several key micro-nutrients.

This knowledge allows small but meaningful changes to be made that could impact positively on performance.