What exactly we measure in an ergometric assessment — and what each result means

“Did he pass the ergometric tests?” It is the most common question we get — and the only one we cannot answer, because these are not exams that you pass or fail. They are measurements. They show where an athlete stands today and what their genetic predisposition is; they do not hand out a “pass” or a “fail”. Below is exactly what we measure and what each result means.

Anthropometric measurements

• Body mass (weight) — in kilograms. On its own it tells us very little; it takes on meaning next to body composition.
• Stature (height) — in metres. We track growth and at the same time head off injury situations, particularly in the intervertebral discs during periods of rapid growth.
• Body circumferences — in centimetres. They help assess the distribution of muscle mass and, combined with everything else, guide an athlete towards specific sports or playing positions.
• Body composition — we always measure body fat percentage. It is a limiting factor for performance in every sport where you move your own body.

Physical abilities

Flexibility

By measuring range of motion we can prevent muscle tightness and injuries. Low flexibility combined with a period of rapid growth is one of the most reliable early warnings of a problem on the way.

Strength — and its three forms

Strength is the body's ability to change the position or the shape of an object. It is not one single quality:

• Strength endurance — how many times someone can lift a weight that is light for them.
• Maximal strength — the heaviest weight they can lift a single time.
• Power (also known as explosiveness or speed-strength) — how fast they can move a moderate weight or their own body. The vertical jump belongs here.

Two athletes with the same maximal strength can have completely different power — and in most sports, it is power that counts.

Speed — and its three phases

Speed is the change of position in space in relation to time:

• Acceleration — how quickly an athlete reaches their maximum speed. It is decided over the first 10 metres.
• Maximum speed — the highest speed they can reach.
• Speed endurance — holding a given speed for as long as possible.

That is why we measure 10, 20 and 30 metres separately: an athlete can be excellent over the first few metres and average at maximum speed, and the training each case calls for is completely different.

Agility and balance

Agility is changing direction at the highest possible speed, without losing balance. Balance is holding a stable position for a set length of time. Both are directly linked to injury risk in sports with sharp decelerations.

Energy systems

• Aerobic capacity — the body's ability to convert its stored energy into movement, with enough oxygen available.
• Anaerobic capacity — the ability to convert specific stored energy sources into movement without oxygen.

The two do not work separately; they coexist, and one simply prevails over the other depending on the demand:

• High demands over a short time — the anaerobic system prevails and the aerobic system supports it.
• Demands that last a long time — the aerobic system prevails.
• Every activity starts with the anaerobic system. If the intensity is low, the aerobic system takes over. If it is high, the anaerobic system keeps supplying energy until the stores run out.

Laboratory measurements

CPET (cardiopulmonary exercise test) — a non-invasive method that assesses how the heart, the lungs and the muscles perform under maximal muscular effort. It gives VO₂max, the thresholds and personal training zones.

Isokinetic assessment — objectively measures the torque of each muscle group, agonist-antagonist ratios and right-left asymmetries.

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) — how many calories the body actually burns at rest, measured and not estimated.

How the results are interpreted

A number without context means nothing. Every result is assessed against:

• sex;
• chronological, biological and training age — in young athletes biological age is often the most decisive of the three, which is why we calculate the maturation profile (PHV);
• the sport and the playing position;
• the phase of the training year — preparation, pre-competition, competition or transition.

With these in hand, the coach or the strength and conditioning specialist can design the right training for each athlete or team, aiming at better performance, the development of motor skills and the prevention of injuries caused by loads greater than the athlete's current capacity.

How often? See the testing calendar for a season. Already booked? See how to prepare.