A week of assessments and a unique trial with British Canoeing ODP athletes
Posted
16/02/2015
Featuring
British Canoeing
Recently the GSK HPL welcomed a number of the British Canoeing team to carry out a series of physiological tests as part of our ongoing partnership.
The assessments were carried out over a week, with four different athletes visiting the HPL every day. While the visits covered a range of tests, every athlete entered the HPL for the same two reasons:
Firstly, the GSK HPL is conducting research into how athletes can better measure muscle mass. The new method currently in trial is unique to GSK because, in order to measure our athlete’s body composition, all that is required is the consumption of a creatine tablet, followed by a simple urine sample.
The validity of this method is being tested against current procedures such as MRI scans, BodPod analysis and skin fold tests. If successful, the time saving advantages and ability for more athletes to have access to muscle mass analysis are obvious.
GSK HPL scientist Tess Morris takes Robinson's sum of 8 skin fold measurements.
Secondly, the GSK HPL is providing ongoing scientific support to the British Canoeing squad, specifically tracking body composition and cardiovascular performance. The cardiovascular element of the assessments consisted of two back-to-back ergometer tests, the first is a longer endurance test with a gradual increase in resistance, followed by a flat out sprint test based on the athlete’s preferred distance. During both tests VO2 peak and lactate threshold were measured, amongst other performance indicators.
The partnership between the GSK HPL and British Canoeing has been running for just over a year now. Tessa Morris, GSK HPL scientist, said “The main aim of any partnership we have is to get research topics underway, whilst collaborating with great organisations like British Canoeing.
Scientists Matthew Furber takes a small blood sample from Matt Bowley for lactate testing
This study is the gold standard in terms of what we’re looking for in a partnership. We are validating a potential method of muscle mass assessment for GSK, whilst also delivering valuable scientific data back to the squad to help improve their performance. The partnership with British Canoeing epitomises why the GSK HPL was set up.”
Testing 1000m maximal effort and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 peak) on the ergometer
It’s clear to see the impact the GSK HPL can have. With all the hi-tech equipment available it’s a professional athlete’s dream, but it’s the intrigue and desire to perform better that drives them through the demanding training programmes. This was clear when we spoke to GB 1,000m canoeist, Matt Bowley, who said of the tests; “I look forward to some of them, there are some gruelling tests though and there is nothing harder than a flat out 1000m ergometer, it’s quite painful sometimes.”
Each athlete knows how important the GSK HPL can be to their development. GB kayaker, Matt Robinson, went on to add; “research like this is massively important to us, not just in terms of receiving stats to improve on but also for things like injury prevention.”
All of these athletes are in training three times a day, six days a week with an event-packed calendar ahead of them. Matt Bowley tells us that he’s just returned home from a week long cross-country skiing training camp in Slovakia as part of an 18 man team. It sounds like a holiday to most of us but the reason for their trip was to improve their cardiovascular capabilities, increasing their ability to operate at a high intensity over a prolonged period of time. For Matt Robinson, eyes are starting to turn to the first regattas of Easter. “In April, there is the first national regatta which won’t be assessed by GB selectors but after that there are regattas in May, June and July which will be used to make GB selections. From that, selection for the Euros, Worlds, U23s and Seniors will all follow.”
Both young athletes have an optimistic outlook on the future of British Canoeing; “the foundations for success are there, the 200m and Girls sections look strong in particular” explains Matt Bowley. This attitude and the GSK HPL partnership bode well for the future of the sport in Britain, which has extremely high competition for places. The GB team already has Olympic Gold and Bronze medallists in the men’s 200m discipline which is why Matt Robinson modestly insists he is on more of a Tokyo 2020 path, as opposed to concentrating on Rio 2016. Time will only tell, but with the GSK HPL behind these athletes, British Canoeing is leaving very little to chance.
