Athlete Screening in Swansea

Know your numbers. Train smarter. Return to play with confidence.

Objective, sport-specific testing using hand-held dynamometry and VALD force plates, delivered by physiotherapists at Evolve Physiotherapy, Sketty.

Enquire about screening

What is athlete screening?

Most training and rehab is still guided by how things feel. Screening replaces guesswork with data. In one session we build a profile of your physical qualities: how you move, how strong you are, how much force you produce, and where you’re asymmetrical from left to right.

That profile becomes your baseline. You can track it over time, compare it with your peers, and use it to make better decisions about training, injury and return to sport.

At Evolve, we evolve as the research evolves. Objective testing is how we keep our assessment and treatment simple, honest and effective.

What’s included

  • Range of Motion & Flexibility

    Measured joint ranges on the physio bed, so we can identify restrictions that may limit performance or increase injury risk.

  • Anthropometry

    Key body measurements that give context to your strength and power results.

  • Movement Screening

    How you squat, lunge, hinge, land and control your body under load.

  • Peak Force Testing: Hand-Held Dynamometry

    Sport-specific strength testing of key muscle groups, for example hip, hamstring, calf and shoulder, comparing left and right.

  • Force Platform Analysis

    Sport-specific tests on VALD force plates, which may include countermovement jump (CMJ), single-leg CMJ, pogos and the Athletic Shoulder (ASH) Test, measuring power, stiffness, landing and asymmetry.

Physiotherapist measuring knee strength with a hand-held dynamometer at Evolve Physiotherapy, Swansea

Hand-held dynamometry

A hand-held dynamometer measures exactly how much force a muscle group can produce. Instead of a physio’s best guess of “a bit weaker on the left”, you get a number in Newtons and a clear percentage difference between sides. We choose the tests based on your sport, so a runner’s screen looks different from a tennis player’s or a rugby player’s.

Physiotherapist assessing an athlete's leg raise at Evolve Physiotherapy, Swansea

Force platform analysis

Our VALD force plates measure how you produce and absorb force through the ground, thousands of times per second. Jump height is just the start. We look at how you generate power, how quickly, how stiff and reactive you are, and how evenly each leg shares the load. For overhead and contact athletes, the ASH test measures shoulder force in positions that matter for your sport.

Athlete in the start position on VALD force plates before a countermovement jump (CMJ) at Evolve Physiotherapy, Swansea

PHASE 1 · START
Standing still on the plates so we can record your body weight.

Athlete in the loading (countermovement) phase of a CMJ on VALD force plates at Evolve Physiotherapy, Swansea

PHASE 2 · LOAD
A quick dip to load the hips, knees and ankles, like a spring.

Athlete in the flight phase of a countermovement jump (CMJ) above VALD force plates at Evolve Physiotherapy, Swansea

PHASE 3 · JUMP
Driving up as high and fast as possible. The plates capture every millisecond.

What your screening profile gives you

  • Track your progress

    Retest every few months and see exactly what’s improving and what isn’t.

  • Compare to your peers

    See how your results stack up against athletes in your sport and level.

  • Smarter return to play

    Data from before, during and after injury means return-to-sport decisions are based on evidence, not just the absence of pain.

  • A programme built around you

    Your results shape a personalised S&C programme that builds on your strengths and targets your weaknesses.

Who is it for?

Screening suits any athlete, at any level, who wants to perform better and stay injury-free, including:

  • Runners and track & field athletes

  • Racket sport players, including tennis, squash and padel

  • Football, rugby and team sport players

  • Gym-goers and strength athletes

  • Anyone returning from injury who wants a clear benchmark

Junior athletes are welcome with a parent or guardian present.

How it works

  • 1. Book

    Get in touch to arrange your screen. Wear shorts and trainers, and bring details of your sport and any injury history.

  • 2. Test

    You’ll be tested on the physio bed, with the dynamometer, and on the force plates.

  • 3. Review

    You’ll receive a written report of your results with clear priorities. Add a follow-up session to turn those results into a personalised S&C programme.

Screening options

Individual Athlete Screen: includes a written report of your results.

Retest: repeat your key tests to track progress.

Screen + Programme: screen, report and a follow-up session to build your S&C plan.

Email us for current prices and availability.

Enquire about screening

Team & club screening

We screen teams and squads on-site or at the clinic, with group force plate testing available from £20 per athlete. Coaches receive a squad overview that highlights each athlete’s strengths, priorities and asymmetries. This is ideal for preseason baselines and for monitoring through the season.

Enquire about team screening

FAQs

  • Shorts, a t-shirt and trainers. Avoid heavy training on the day of your screen so your results reflect you at your best.

  • Yes. Testing is adapted to what’s safe for you, and screening during injury is one of the best ways to guide rehab and return to play.

  • Most athletes retest every 8–12 weeks, or at key points in the season such as preseason, midseason and after injury.

  • Yes. All tests are non-invasive, widely used in sports science and physiotherapy, and supervised throughout.

  • Not at all. If you train or play sport, screening will help you understand your body and train more effectively.

Ready to know your numbers?

Book your athlete screen at Evolve Physiotherapy, The Flat, Swansea Tennis & Squash Club, Sketty.

Get in touch