It is not only on-the-field activity that has helped these athletes get where they are today. Various cutting edge innovations have been harnessed to help improve the performance of Scotland's best athletes.

Perceptual Goggles

Swimmers aren't the only ones wearing goggles at the sportscotland institute of sport. Perceptual goggles are the latest gadget being used at the Institute to train athletes in a range of sports. Athletes wear the goggles while training and the footage captured on the goggles is fed back to the athletes in real time allowing them to make subtle technical adjustments.

Smart Speed

Like a disco on the sports field. Most often used by football and rugby the series of coloured light gates can be combined with drills to develop speed, agility, reaction time and spatial awareness.

TMG (Tensiomyography)

Not everyone has the muscle capability to perform on the world stage. TMG looks at muscle reactivity to establish just that, to see if athletes have the muscle infrastructure to be at the top of their sport. This is the first reliable and valid non-invasive method of muscle fibre typing and is a huge step forward for Scottish sport.

Elite Sports Analysis

Performance Analysis is vital for analysing the athlete's own performance as well as that of their opponents, to gain the competitive advantage. It's much more than video analysis and includes feedback on biomechanics, technique, speed and movement patterns. When coupled with GPS it provides a powerful development tool.

Biomechanics

It's all about the way we move. Biomechanics allow sports scientists to analyse all elements of movement to ensure the athlete is working at their optimum, both to maximise performance and avoid injury.

Muscle Lab

Forget no pain-no gain. Electronic muscle assessment calculates optimum training levels. This hi-tech equipment is used to calculate the perfect exercising intensity for each athlete at a given point in their schedule. This is particularly useful in pre competition where recovery from international travel is part of the mix.

Acclimatisation Chamber

It can be hot work depending on the climate of the country the athletes are competing in, after all Scots aren't exactly used to the heat! Using the acclimatisation chamber, sports scientists monitor the individual's sweat rates and hydration pre, during and post exercise ensuring optimum performance.

Heart Rate Monitors (HRM)

A training tool that gives the athlete information to assure they are working at the prescribed intensity.

Blood Lactate Testing

Not as gory as it sounds.  It provides coaches and athletes with information on how well the athletes' body is dealing with levels of exercise intensity. It allows for informed and accurate training manipulation. 

Altitude Tents

Colorado benefits without leaving Scotland! Enhances endurance athletes' ability to utilise oxygen while being able to train to full intensity at sea level, or should that be loch level.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Monitors athlete movement patterns in competition, e.g. speed, distance, location, while at the same time analysing work rate through heart rate measurement. This results in coaches and sports scientists to fully understand specific training requirements.

VO2 Max

No - not the latest sports drink! Defines athletes' ability to utilise oxygen. From gained information coaches and sports scientists can set training levels and adjust training schedules.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

A tool used to establish how an athletes nervous system is responding to training and is most often used to maximise recovery and prevent over training.