Yo-Yo Test and DEXA Scan

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Context

Recently, the BCCI announced the (re)introduction of the Yo-Yo Test and the introduction of Dexa scansfor the purposes of selection to the team.

What is Yo-Yo Test?

The Yo-Yo intermittent test is aimed at estimating performance in stop-and-go sports like football (soccer), cricket, basketball, and the like. It was conceived around the early 1990s by Jens Bangsbo, a Danish soccer physiologist.
Like many other tests of fitness, it involves running at ever-increasing speeds, to exhaustion. However, a crucial difference is that the Yo-Yo Intermittent test has periodic rest intervals, thus simulating the nature of exertion in stop-and-go sports.
The Yo-Yo test was first introduced to the Indian cricket team during Virat Kohli’s fitness-focused captaincy reign.

Version

The most commonly used version involves running between two markers 20 metres apart, following audio cues which dictate the running speed required.
After each 40 metres run, the participants have an active break of 10 seconds before running 40 metres again.
At regular intervals, the required running speed increases. The test continues until the participants are no longer able to keep up with the required pace.
Players are given scores on the basis of how many levels they are able to clear.

What is a DEXA scan?

DEXA stands for “dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.”
A DEXA scan is a type of medical imaging test. It uses very low levels of x-rays to measure the calcium and other minerals in the bones to inturn measure the density of bones.

Importance of these Tests in Sports

The Dexa scan and Yo -Yo Test can be used to provide a more accurate picture of the players’ fitness and physical condition, allowing the team to customise plans for players.
It will also allow better insight into players’ recoveries, ensuring that players are not rushed back too early.