West Ham footballers get space-age workout

West Ham’s footballers were locked inside a device resembling a space capsule this week.

The Hammers stars weren’t being sent into orbit over the club’s disappointing start to its Premiership return, although they were hoping a spell in the University of East London’s “Bod Pod,” would be the launch pad to rocket them up the table,

The futuristic looking isolation chamber at the university’s School of Health, Sports and Bioscience at its Docklands campus is designed to analyse body composition, including body fat and lean muscle mass.

Among those submitting themselves to a stint in the Bod Pod were defender Winston Reid, midfielder Matt Taylor, goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and striker Ricardo Vaz

The players also took part in a series specialised biomechanical exercises and physical tests aimed at helpi ng inform their individual training regimes.

West Ham Strength and Conditioning Coach, Monty Columbo, said: “We expect to see significant improvements in performance throughout the season from the team using this kind of scientific approach.”

Dr Nick Bourne, Project Lead for UEL, said: “A number of our final year students are doing research projects with West Ham, all designed to give feedback to the coaches and players to enhance their performance. We are delighted to be helping them out.”