Sports Science Institute of SA

The Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) exists to optimise the sporting performance and health of all South Africans through the execution, application, and dissemination of science. Since 1994, the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, in collaboration with UCT’s Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), has been a game-changer in sports performance, sports injury prevention, and promoting healthy living. We have transformed lives, changed practice, optimised performance and provided evidence to inform policy and advocate physical activity and sports participation for all South Africans. Our goal is to positively impact lives and to make our services, interventions and expertise accessible to all South Africa. Our vision is that our reach will have no boundaries and our impact will be globally meaningful.

SSISA has four strategic pillars: Wellness, Performance, Education and Research. Through each of these pillars, we bring people closer to realizing their full potential and to being their personal best. Using exercise and health as tools, the Sport Science Institute of South Africa strives to improve human performance at all levels, whether it be for: Lifestyle recreation and enjoyment. Or competition and improved sporting performance for any athlete. We achieve this through the application of evidence-based scientific research as well as experience in the field. With a strong customer orientated focus, we are sensitive to the diversity of needs, and strive to create services that are user friendly beneficial and relevant to each individual. Services offered to the general public extend from very basic health and fitness programmes to cutting edge training and testing regimes for elite athletes. These services include High Performance specialised service for a variety of sports, Wellness and Fitness Centre memberships, lifestyle consultations and intervention programmes, rehabilitation and diagnostic services as well as social investment initiatives.