University Strengthens Links With Rams
12 May 2011
From L-R Alan Parsons, Stephen Pearson (lying down), Shaun Barker (standing) and Steve Haines.
We are delighted that the first team squad is now using the scanner and we hope the workshops will also pay dividends into the new season for the Rams
”Head of Sport and Exercise, Dr Peter Jones.
Derby County FC's first team squad is receiving support from University of Derby sports scientists to ensure they are in top shape for the new season.
Earlier this year, members of the club's youth team used a next-generation x-ray machine to help assess some of its players' body composition, growth and development.
The trial was so successful that members of the club's first team are now being assessed with the idXA x-ray machine to check their body mass. The scan sessions have been organised by the University's Head of Sport and Exercise Dr Peter Jones and managed by University radiography expert Alan Parsons.
Rams' players including Dean Leacock, Theo Robinson, Russ Anderson, Ben Pringle and Dave Martin were among the first to undergo scans this week.
The idXA machine offers the latest in body composition measurement tools which assess fat mass in relation to muscle development and can help pinpoint what a player needs to focus on in terms of future strength and conditioning training. The machine can also assess bone density through the x-ray images it generates.
All 25 members of the first team squad will be assessed using the idXA scanner, and will be tested again when the players report for pre-season training and again in the middle of the new season. On top of this, Peter and his team will be providing a range of workshops to help players learn more about nutrition and other aspects of health to give them an extra edge.
Dr Peter Jones said: "We are delighted that the first team squad is now using the scanner and we hope the workshops will also pay dividends into the new season for the Rams. The trial with the youth team was successful and this is the next natural progression in our partnership with the club."
The initiative is part of Team Derby Performance - the University's new applied commercial arm of sports science. Team Derby Performance aims to help athletes develop their nutrition, biomechanics and other aspects of their physical and mental wellbeing to help them improve performance.
Steve Haines, Strength and Conditioning Coach for Derby County FC said: "We understand the value of this sort of equipment to help our players with their continued development. We see it as the gold standard in such facilities and are delighted to be working with the University again."
The idXA scanner, based within the University's Clinical Skills Suite, is on loan from GE Healthcare and is also being used to help health and science students learn skills to help assess patients' health, ready for the workplace. There are only around 15 such scanners in the UK.
For more information contact Deputy Head of Corporate Relations Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038 or email s.redfern@derby.ac.uk
