Strength and Conditioning
By Mike Dowd
Goal:
• To properly assess athletes before prescribing a
training/nutrition program. Especially for
athletes who are coming off an injury.
Importance of Proper Assessment
• Without proper assessment you won’t know how
conditioned the athlete is; leading to a program
that may not be at the correct intensity for
individual
• Athletes returning from possible injuries,
without a proper assessment, could lead to
further injury
Biodex Balance System SD
• Balance and
stability are key
components to any
sport.
• This system can
help assess an
athletes overall
balance.
• Especially
important for
athletes coming off
knee or ankle
injury.
Price: $12,500
(call number on
website to order)
Biodex Balance System SD (cont.)
• Bases assessment scores on age, gender, and
possible injury
• Can also be used as a training machine for
strength programs.
▫ Has up to 12 levels for of platform control and
static force setting for clients to complete
Concussion Management software
• “Objective balance assessment is recognized as
part of 'best practice' for concussion assessment
and management.”
– Zurich Consensus Statement on
Concussion in Sports
• This software can help monitor the signs and symptoms
of a concussion
• Knowing how far the athlete is in recovery of a
concussion determines the intensity you can place that
athlete in the strength program
Concussion Management software
(cont.)
• This software can
be placed in the
Biodex Balance
System SD
• Price: $250 (call
number on
website to order)
Polar H7 Strap with Polar Beat app.
• This heart monitor measures heart rate during exercise
• Helps assess the athletes cardiovascular training level
• Results go to training app through Bluetooth
▫ Compatible with Iphone/Ipad/Ipod
• Price
▫ H7 Strap: On polarusa.com- $79.95
 On Amazon- $68.00
▫ App: download for free from
any of those devices
Smart Coaching upgrade app
• Assesses athletes in all
areas of fitness:
▫ Determines optimal
recovery time between sets
▫ Shows how athletes
progress with fitness
throughout strength
program
▫ Bodyage
 Assesses athletes “body
age” based on fitness levels
▫ Shows calories being
burned
Price: $3.99
(app store on
personal
device)
My Coach Center
• Nutrition for a strength program is just as important as
the exercise part is
• Allows athletes to keep a food log of diet during training
• Allows athletes to also track exercise sessions
• Shows athletes the vitamins, nutrients, and target calorie
intake for each day
My Coach Center (cont.)
• Shows food percentages of daily intake in food groups
• Shows athletes daily food limits
▫ Saturated fat limits
▫ Oils limits
▫ Sodium limits
▫ Empty calories limit
• Price: FREE (go to
https://www.supertracker.usda.gov/default.aspx and
create profile)
Conclusion
• Total cost for all 5 items: $12,833.94
• Although the balance item was expensive, you only need
to buy one and not multiple for all athletes
• Assessing athletes is greatly important for any strength
program
• Without proper assessment you can’t know if the
program is working or if it is safe for that specific person
• These devices do a perfect job of assessing and
monitoring athletes for nutrition/strength program