In addition to the University's proud reputation for sporting excellence and outstanding sporting facilities the Sports Science department has recently developed its own laboratories that rank alongside the most prestigious and well known Universities in the UK.

• Motor Learning Laboratory
• Physiology Laboratory
• Notational Analysis Laboratory
• Biomechanics Laboratory

Motor Learning Laboratory

The motor learning laboratory is used for Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching and research.

The main areas of research presently are:

• Decision-making (Rugby)
• Visual cues (Football)
• Anticipation
• Visual search strategy

Physiology Laboratory

The Department of Sports Science has two established laboratories for measurement in applied physiology.

The Exercise Physiology Teaching Laboratory was commissioned for teaching in October 2001.

• The Teaching Laboratory provides a high quality experience-based learning environment for level one, level two, level three and Masters level physiology related modules
• Undergraduate and taught Postgraduate students work in small groups to obtain data on a range of physiological parameters at rest and during a variety of exercise protocols
• The laboratory environment has been constructed in order to encourage all students to participate, "hands-on", in the collection and analysis of data

The Research Laboratory currently boasts the following facilities:

• A range of exercise ergometers (e.g., treadmills, cycles, rowing, armcranks, isokinetic)
• A range of body composition analysis techniques, including the BodPod, bioelectrical impedance analysis, near infra-red analysis and hydrostatic weighing
• A range of anthropometrical measurement techniques
• Ambulatory and laboratory-based expired gas analysis
• Ambulatory and laboratory-based electrocardiographic and haemodynamic analysis
• Lung function assessment and analysis
• Muscle function testing using multi-joint isokinetic dynamometry, force platforms and Ballistic Measurement System
• A range of blood analysis equipment for the determination of metabolites, specific proteins and hormones

Current areas of research include:

• Sports science support for elite sporting teams (e.g., Ospreys, RFC and Wales RFU)
• Nutritional supplementation, ergogenic aids and exercise performance
• Exercise rehabilitation in cardiac patients
• Exercise rehabilitation in patients with chronic kidney disease
• Exercise referral populations
• Metabolic and physiological responses to hyperthermia
• Sympatho-adrenal system responses to exercise
• Analysis of heart rate variability and electrocardiographic QT interval variability
• Non-invasive assessment of cardio-respiratory autonomic nervous system control
• Non-invasive beat-to-beat haemodynamic assessment (e.g., blood pressure, cardiac output and baroreceptor sensitivity)

Notational Analysis Laboratory

This notational analysis laboratory is used for Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching and research.

Current analysis projects include:

• An investigation of Key Performance Indicators in a professional rugby team
• Analysis of a Premiership football teams strategies in European and Domestic fixtures.
• A comparison of game strategies between successful and less successful Premiership football teams
• Anticipation in squash : situational awareness and visual cues
• Situation awareness in hockey
• Positional differences in on-the-ball actions within professional soccer
• Home advantage in soccer

Biomechanics Laboratory

The Biomechanics laboratory is used for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching and research. Using the laboratory facilities, full kinematic analysis of various complex movements can be performed.

Current research topics include :

• Biomechanical analysis of the competitive swimming start
• Knee kinematics associated with ACL injury
• Monitoring of fatigue and injury by magnetic stimulation and EMG response measurement
• The relationship between leg stiffness and Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome in runners
• Post operative weight bearing instructions in orthopaedic patients