Fitness assessment, performance test, VO2max, force plate: it's hard to find your way. This guide explains the main types of tests in plain words, who they're for, how to spot a good one, what Off-Field offers and at what price. It's for athletes, parents, people coming back from an injury and adults (re)starting sport.
In short
- A fitness assessment measures where you stand (mobility, strength, power, speed, endurance) so you can build your programme and track your progress. It is not a medical check-up.
- Choose by goal: a full assessment before the season, targeted tests and return-to-sport criteria after an injury, a simple test if you're (re)starting.
- A good test: reliable equipment, the same protocol every time, a clear report with a plan, and re-tests every 6 to 12 weeks to compare.
- At Off-Field (Gland): measuring tools used in top-level sport, a 2-hour full assessment for 240 CHF, a 1-hour test for 150 CHF (re-tests, returning after physio), a report within 24 to 48 hours.
- Off-Field does not measure VO2max in a lab (breath gas analysis): for that test, go to an exercise lab or a sports doctor.
Physical preparation near Gland?
Chat on WhatsAppWhat are the main types of tests, and what do they measure?
Six families of tests, and what Off-Field offers:
| Type of test | What it measures | Who it's for | Equipment | At Off-Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobility and movement | Joint range, control and the quality of basic movements (squatting, bending, jumping) | Everyone, especially when (re)starting or after an injury | Little: a trained coach's eye | Yes |
| Strength | Maximal and isometric strength (pushing against something that doesn't move), legs, upper body, muscle by muscle (hamstrings, calves, shoulders…) | Athletes, return from injury, adults tracking their progress | Force plates, dynamometer (measures one muscle's strength) | Yes: VALD ForceDecks, ForceFrame and Dynamo |
| Power and jumps | CMJ (a quick dip, then jump), SJ (a jump from a still squat, no dip), RSI (how well you rebound), left–right differences (asymmetries) | Sports with jumping and sprinting; return from injury | Force plates | Yes: VALD ForceDecks |
| Speed and change of direction | Acceleration, sprint speed, braking, changes of direction | Team and racket sports, sprinters | Timing gates | Yes: sprints, acceleration and braking (VALD SmartSpeed) |
| Field endurance and cardio | Zones, thresholds (where effort gets much harder), recovery, repeated sprints, without gas analysis | Endurance and team sports, adults who want to pace their cardio | Cardio machines or the field | Yes: rower, bike, incline treadmill |
| Lab VO2max | Your maximal oxygen uptake (the size of your endurance “engine”), with a mask that analyses your breath | Endurance athletes who want this exact value | Gas analyser (exercise lab, sports doctor) | No: no breath gas analysis |
Which test for which goal?
It all depends on what you want to do with it:
You're an athlete preparing for the season
Do a full assessment (strength, jumps, speed, cardio): it shows what holds you back most and sets your priorities. To find out more: our article on force-velocity profiling.
You're coming back from an injury
You need targeted tests and return-to-sport criteria (strength on each side, jumps, speed) to decide with your physio and your coach when to return. At Off-Field, the 1-hour test (150 CHF) is meant for returning after physio. A difference between your two legs doesn't tell the whole story (see hamstring asymmetry). Next steps: the return-to-sport stages and our guide to getting back to sport after physio.
You're (re)starting sport as an adult
No need to measure everything: mobility, basic strength and a simple cardio test give you a starting point to set the first sessions and see your progress.
Your child plays sport at a club
Age-appropriate tests show what to work on and track their progress. At Off-Field, strength and conditioning starts from age 12 with the full assessment (see our guide to strength and conditioning for teens).
How do you spot a good test?
A good test gives reliable, comparable numbers and a concrete plan:
- Reliable equipment: real measuring devices, not just a stopwatch.
- The same protocol every time (warm-up, order, instructions), otherwise you can't compare.
- A clear report, with priorities, not just a page of numbers.
- A plan that follows from it: the results should change your training.
- Regular re-tests (every 6 to 12 weeks, the rhythm Off-Field recommends), to check that the plan is working.
Why choose Off-Field for your fitness assessment?
What makes the difference:
- The technology of top-level sport: VALD tools (ForceDecks, ForceFrame, Dynamo, SmartSpeed), Output Sports, T-Apex and Voltra. The measurements are used to decide loads, priorities and return to sport, not to look good.
- A report within 24 to 48 hours, with your priorities and concrete recommendations.
- Re-tests you can compare: same protocol and same tools, every 6 to 12 weeks.
- Coaches with university degrees in sports science: Alexandre Maulavé (Master's, CSCS), Lionel Henry (Master's), Léo Payel (Bachelor's).
- Physios and coaches under one roof: your physio passes instructions on to the coach, and partner doctors (a radiologist, a sports doctor) complete the team.
- Private, very well-equipped studios, away from prying eyes: you train in peace, far from big crowded gyms.
- Rated 5.0 on Google, 130+ reviews: read what our patients and clients say.
How much does a fitness assessment cost at Off-Field (November 2026 prices)?
Two formats, in Gland:
- 2-hour full assessment: 240 CHF (90 to 120 minutes of testing), compulsory before starting strength and conditioning.
- 1-hour test: 150 CHF, reserved for re-tests and for returning after physio.
- 20% off re-tests.
Details are on our Testing page; to train with us afterwards, see our Physical preparation page (our name for strength and conditioning).
Is a fitness assessment covered by insurance?
Not by basic health insurance (LAMal), which never covers coaching or strength and conditioning. Some supplementary plans cover part of it, depending on the contract: check yours before booking, it's your insurer who decides.
Who Off-Field is for
- It's for you if you play sport and want to know exactly what to work on before your season.
- It's for you if you're coming back from an injury and want measured criteria to return, in step with your physio.
- It's not our model if you're only looking for the cheapest test, or a lab VO2max: we don't analyse breath gases (go to an exercise lab or a sports doctor).
- It's not our role to provide a medical check-up (blood tests, heart) or to assess pain with a worrying sign (pain at night, fever, loss of strength or feeling, numbness): see a doctor first.
Physical preparation near Gland?
Off-Field Center — Route des Avouillons 17c (Box 26-27), Gland · Mon–Fri 7am – 8pm · Sat 9am – 11am
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fitness assessment cost in Gland?
At Off-Field in Gland, the 2-hour full assessment costs 240 CHF. The 1-hour test costs 150 CHF and is reserved for re-tests and for returning after physio. Re-tests are 20% off.
What does a force plate measure?
A force plate records the force your legs push into the ground during a jump, a landing or a push. From it you get your jump height, how fast you produce force and the differences between your two legs.
Do I need a VO2max test?
Not necessarily: to set your training, field tests (zones, thresholds, recovery) already give useful markers. For VO2max measured with breath gas analysis, go to an exercise lab or a sports doctor: Off-Field does not offer this test.
How often should I repeat my tests?
Every 6 to 12 weeks: that is the rhythm Off-Field recommends, often enough to adjust your programme and far enough apart to see progress. Repeat them with the same protocol so you can compare.
Is a fitness assessment covered by insurance?
Not by basic health insurance (LAMal), which covers neither coaching, nor strength and conditioning, nor fitness. Some supplementary insurance plans cover part of supervised training or coaching, depending on the contract: check yours, it's your insurer who decides.
How long does a full assessment take, and when do I get the results?
At Off-Field, the full assessment lasts 2 hours (90 to 120 minutes of testing) and costs 240 CHF. The report arrives within 24 to 48 hours, with your results, your priorities and recommendations.
Can a test tell me whether I'm ready to return after an injury?
It helps the decision without making it alone: return-to-sport criteria (strength on each side, jumps, speed) show where you stand. The decision is made with your physio and, if needed, your doctor. At Off-Field, the 1-hour test (150 CHF) is meant for returning after physio.
