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BodyLab offers a Bike-Fit for Injury Prevention service to help the high proportion of cyclists (85 percent) who can report on a history of some type of common cycling overuse injury eg. knee, neck shoulder, lower back, hamstring, hip flexor.

The largest forces in cycling act on the knees. So it is not surprising that up to 65 percent of reported cycling injuries are knee injuries.

We focus on placing your body on your bike in a position that will minimise the risk of injury but maximise your power potential. The joint angles we use can be supported with evidence based research.

Our process involves marking bony points, video clips and the use of our biomechanical software.  We also check your skeletal symmetry before we put you on your bike.

The process usually takes 1-2 hours.

Cost $268.00 (incl GST)

This involves the measurement of human body composition. Your body is the result of lifestyle, nutrition, activity levels and your ethnic origins. We offer a system of assessing your body as it is and monitoring changes over time.

We measure skinfolds, girth measurements, bone diameters, and bone lengths. All measurements are based on international standards (ISAK – International Society of Advanced Kinanthropometry). The entire range of measurements are taken once and then repeated. A third measurement is taken if any fall outside a set margin of error.

You gain knowledge on your body fat, lean mass, and somatotype (body type). Monitoring your changes over time will have a higher degree of accuracy due to the methods used ie. any changes are more likely due to actual changes than due to measurement error.

The process usually takes 30-45 mins.

Cost – $102.00 (incl GST)

Lung function testing (or spirometry) is recommended for all smokers over the age of 45 and in any person presenting with shortness of breath, chronic cough, wheezing, or excessive mucus production. This is a simple and non-invasive test that can be performed easily. Results from the test can be used in the identification of patients at risk for both a restrictive condition (lung volume issues) and obstructive condition (flow issues). 

If an obstructive condition is found, we can evaluate whether the condition is reversible with a bronchodilator medication (test prescribed by your GP).

We use this information to recommend whether lung function training is necessary with our Spirotiger system or the Powerbreathe. Find out more by clicking on Spirotiger or Powerbreathe button in the respiratory menu under the services menu.

The lung function test, analysis, and report takes approximately 30 minutes. Appointments can be made on the same day and results will be sent to your GP within 24 hours if required.

All tests are based on the international standards outlined in the following papers:

• Hankinson JL, Odencratz JR, Fedan KB. Spirometric reference values from a sample of the general US population. Am J Respir Cirt Care Med 1999; 159: 179-187.
• Pellegrino et al. Interpretive strategies for lung function tests. Eur Respir J 2005; 26: 948-968.
• Miller et al. Standardisation of spirometry. Series “ATS/ERS Task Force: Standardisation of Lung Function Testing”. Eur Respir J 2005; 26: 319-338
• Miller et al. General considerations of lung function testing. Series “ATS/ERS Task Force: Standardisation of Lung Function Testing”. Eur Respir J 2005; 26: 153-161.

Cost $87.00 (incl GST)

Athletes who excel in endurance sports generally have a high aerobic capacity or VO₂max. It is not the sole determinant of endurance performance but it is considered a fundamental measure of physiologic functional capacity for exercise. If you want to be a top endurance athlete you don’t have to have the top VO₂max score but you at least need to be in the high VO₂max club.

The maximum oxygen consumption (VO₂max) recorded for competitors in distance running, swimming, cycling and cross country skiing is typically twice that of sedentary men and women. Research also tells us that a VO₂max below the 20th percentile for age and sex usually reflects a sedentary lifestyle and is associated with an increased risk of death from all causes.

The measurement of VO₂max with gas analysis is considered the gold standard for accuracy. The calibration with our system allows for a 3 percent margin of error.

Lactate Threshold is also provided as part of the results. Our methodology includes the use of ramp protocols (ie. a very gradual increase in workload over time) which allows us to pick up significant changes in your physiology and assess where the threshold point occurred. Knowing this threshold point is important as it tells you how much of your potential you are tapping into. For a world class marathon runner this could be 90 percent of VO₂max. For a novice runner this could be 70 percent.

Our lab allows for testing on the Velotron Cycle Ergometer which provides power (watts) readings and has a small 1.5 percent margin of error. We can also test you on our new Woodway 4Front Treadmill.

Endurance athletes will also know that lactate threshold is another strong indicator of performance. Elite cyclists for example can obtain a lactate threshold which is greater than 80 percent of their VO₂max. From a health perspective, if an individual had a lactate threshold lower than 40 percent of VO₂max there may be some underlying dysfunction or disease taking place. Considerations could include anaemia, heart or lung disease, or pulmonary disease.

The gas analysis system (Vacumed) allows us to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide while you exercise. This allows us to measure the percentage of carbohydrate and fat you use at progressive workloads. The health of your mitochondria (the batteries in all your cells) can be interpreted from this data. It is one of our important observations with clients who may be suffering from long COVID or chronic fatigue.

Allow 60-90 mins for the entire process and this includes the presentation of results. The exercise part is less than 15 minutes.

Preparation Notes – to get the most from the test, it is best not to exercise for 24 hours prior to the test. We also recommend that you avoid food and caffeine 3 hours prior to the test. Water is fine. If you are coming for a bike test, let us know what pedals you will need (eg. Look Keo, SPD, Shimano etc). We have them all here. Just bring your cycle shoes and cycle shorts. If it is a treadmill test, just bring your running gear.

Cost $210.00 (incl GST)