The scales only tell you how much you weigh, not what that weight is made of. Body composition analysis shows how your weight is divided between muscle, fat and water. That gives you a much clearer picture of your fitness, your training progress and your recovery from injury.
What is body composition analysis?
It’s a quick, non-invasive scan that uses bioelectrical impedance (BIA), a safe, low-level electrical signal you won’t feel. It estimates what your body is made up of, including:
- Skeletal muscle mass, including how it’s spread across your arms, legs and trunk
- Body fat percentage and fat mass
- Total body water
- Visceral fat level, which is the fat stored around your organs
- Basal metabolic rate, an estimate of the calories you burn at rest
Who is it for?
- Runners, gym-goers and sports players who want to track muscle gain, fat loss or changes during a training block, rather than relying on bodyweight alone.
- People recovering from injury who want to check for muscle loss on the injured side. A difference between your left and right limbs can show weakness that slows your return to sport or raises your risk of reinjury.
- Anyone starting a new fitness goal who wants an accurate baseline and a reliable way to measure progress.
Why have it done with a physio?
A gym scanner gives you a printout. We give you a plan. Your physiotherapist will explain what the numbers mean for you and spot any muscle imbalances between sides. Where it’s useful, they’ll build the results into a rehab or strength programme. Repeat scans every [6–8] weeks show you exactly what’s changing.
What to expect
To get the most accurate reading, please:
- Avoid eating or heavy drinking for 2–3 hours before your scan
- Skip exercise on the day of your scan, beforehand
- Go to the toilet just before your appointment
- Wear light clothing and expect to remove socks and shoes
