Sports scientists put shoppers through their paces
Friday 29 July 2016
Would-be athletes were invited to have their strength, agility and speed tested by a team of leading sports scientists.
The team from the University of Salford was based in the Manchester Arndale shopping centre as part of the European City Of Science Festival.
They were on hand to put shoppers through their paces, with equipment used to test elite athletes, before providing feedback on how they performed.
The sports science team was able to test people’s reaction times as well as speed and agility by using a BATAK machine – a large frame which contains a series of LED ‘targets’ which light up at random intervals.
Shoppers had to hit each of the targets as it is lit up, while dodging an infra-red beam used to ‘strike’ them from the middle of the machine, with their reaction times and number of hits and misses recorded by computer throughout the session.
The equipment, from the University of Salford’s sports science laboratory, is used by trainers to developing important skills such as speed and agility.
The team also invited members of the public to test their strength, balance and stability by walking across a special platform called a force plate.
Dr Steve Atkins, Director of Sport, Exercise and Physiotherapy at the University of Salford, said: “These sessions are designed to be fun, and for everyone to be able to have a go, but they’re also there to give people a tiny glimpse into how we use science to measure and help improve performance.
“The equipment that members of the public will be able to try out can be used for everything from making tiny improvements in the performance of elite athletes on their way to Rio, to helping people who are taking their first steps towards leading healthier and less sedentary lifestyles.”
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