Town’s first-team squad underwent pre-season fitness analysis at the University of Suffolk’s Human Performance Laboratory for the first time earlier this summer.

Sports science degrees at the university have been run in partnership with the Blues for a number of years, but the senior players haven’t previously used their facilities.

Jimmy Reynolds, the academy’s head of sport science and medicine, told the university’s website: “We have been progressing the interaction between the University students with the academy for a number of years and as we progress forwards there are ample opportunities for students to be exposed to the first team setting as well.

“It can be difficult to progress in sport science and strength and conditioning if you don’t have the applied experience so to have a degree that allows students to be exposed to a huge amount of applied work and to apply themselves is invaluable. It is a very, very good opportunity.”

While at the university, the players got to use industry-standard equipment including a Biodex Isokinetic machine.

“The machine measures forces. You can use it for the whole body but we are particularly focusing on the knee joint,” Reynolds explained.

“We are looking at whether the hamstrings and quad strips are producing enough force, pound for pound for their body weight.

“We are looking at the injury risk for each individual, how quickly they can produce that force and any areas to improve on. We can then design a programme that will be suitable for them to progress as an athlete and as a footballer.”

“Because there is so much here in the Human Performance Laboratory at the university it is about choosing the pertinent things we can do now.

“The academic team allow us to look at the research, the detail, the statistical analysis of everything we do. That allows us to become more efficient. Students are benefiting because as well as getting hands-on experience they can look retrospectively at all of our data too.”

Town’s new fitness coach, Nathan Winder, added, “We’re here to get some physical data on the lads to give us an overview to see how they are, what condition they’re in.

“At the end of pre-season, we’ll do some more tests and see how well they’ve improved. It also gives us a marker for the rest of the season.

“We’ve got a mixture of first-team players and U23s, it is good to integrate the youngsters coming through with the first team and vice versa; for the pros to see the young lads coming through.

“It is really good to be using the link with the university, for sport science and for the physical development of the players.

"There’s testing and exercises we can do at the training ground but being at the university adds another dimension. It is fantastic to have the use of these facilities.”

Photos: University of Suffolk

kozmik added 11:53 - Jul 18 But can they fix Tom Adeyemi?
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runningout added 12:05 - Jul 18 Nope
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bobble added 12:46 - Jul 18 surely all this can be worked out simply by a cider drinking challenge followed by a push up comp...
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PavlovsCat added 12:49 - Jul 18 This is a world away from the days of MM who, I assume, saw no benefit in utilising this facility for the first team. Last season's lengthy injury list anyone?
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spanishblue added 13:10 - Jul 18 Been a long time coming,we need to look after our assets,because they have to impress to the paying fans,sincerely hope this works well,at least I think it's another forward step,probably the kids will get greater benefit from this,wonder what the lame ducks will make of it
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JewellintheTown added 16:18 - Jul 18 They want a bit of "Hearts on Fire" music playing in the background from Rocky VI. That'll do it! "I must break you".
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Guthrum added 22:38 - Jul 18 Will be interesting to see how much of a difference this makes to the number and severity of player injuries during the season. Especially the ability to spot and work on (or protect) any weak or vulnerable areas an individual may have.
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