The USAFA Human Performance Laboratory continues its growth and development under Lt Col Michael Zupan. Lt Col Zupan has a Ph.D. in exercise physiology and is the first Professor in the athletic department. He is joined by Coach A. L. Wile who has a Master’s degree in sports medicine. Our phone number is (719) 333-4672. Give us a call if you would like more information on any of the services we have to offer.
Goal of the Human Performance Laboratory
The mission of the USAFA Human Performance Laboratory is to serve USAFA coaches and their teams. Our primary goal is to help USAFA teams win through improved athletic performance. We will do this by providing our coaches with more information about their athletes by way of testing, training and education. Our present capabilities include assessments in the areas of anaerobic power, maximal oxygen consumption, blood lactates, sports vision, body composition, biomechanic assessment, and running economies. We also do dietary analysis and heart rate recording/downloading of training sessions. Anaerobic Testing (Wingate Anaerobic Test)
We have the capability to assess anaerobic power with the Wingate test. Anaerobic means that work is being performed without oxygen. This test involves a 30 second all-out effort with either the arms or legs on a cycle ergometer. Many athletic events involve short bursts of maximal effort utilizing ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and CP (creatine phosphate) as energy. The availability of ATP and CP stores and the ability to rapidly breakdown glycogen is difficult to measure directly. In our laboratory we evaluate this type of metabolism by measuring the anaerobic power and work an athlete can do during the 30 second Wingate test.
From this test we get the athletes peak power, average power, rate of fatigue and total work. This test is very repeatable. This means we can evaluate the athlete several times throughout the year to see the results of specific training periods.
Aerobic Testing (Maximal Oxygen Uptake)
We can accurately measure an athletes’ maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max). Maximal oxygen uptake is one determinate of endurance performance and provides important information on the capacity of the long-term energy systems that use oxygen. This test is performed in the lab on the treadmill or cycle ergometer. It consists of a 15 to 20 minute test against increasing workloads. Try as they might, the athletes cannot beat this test.
Important information is gained about athletes from this test includes seeing the metabolic and cardiovascular adaptations to training, maximal heart rate for training purposes and the ability to get more specific on training intensities through an indirect determination of the athlete's anaerobic threshold.
Blood Lactate Analysis
We have several portable blood lactate testing kits. Lactate testing can be combined with the anaerobic or aerobic tests described above, or it can be used in the actual playing field while the athlete is performing his/her event. Lactate testing enables the athletes to develop more precise training programs, monitor and evaluate the effect of these training programs, and indicate adjustments that have to be made for each athlete as the training season progresses.
This test requires a small amount of blood from the athlete. In order to acquire this, a small lancet is used to prick the athlete's finger. A small drop of blood is then placed on the test strip and analyzed.
Sports Vision
Sports vision training consists of improving the visual skills important to sports performance. We work closely with the USAFA Cadet Optometry Clinic. Before an athlete can begin sport vision training he/she needs to have a recent vision exam at the clinic. Following the exam the athlete will come down to the Human Performance Laboratory and get pre-tested. The athlete then does sport vision training exercises for 4 to 6 weeks followed by a post-test.
Typical improvements in visual skills range from 15% to over 100%. This improved eye performance results in better athletic performance. The sports vision training encompasses some or all of the following areas depending on the sport:
- Depth perception - the ability to quickly and accurately judge the distance and speed of objects.
- Eye tracking - the ability to stay focused on object in motion.
- Peripheral vision - the ability to see objects in periphery while concentrating on a fixed point.
- Eye focusing - the ability to change focus quickly and accurately from one object to another.
- Binocular vision - the ability to keep both eyes working together.
- Fusion flexibility/stamina - the ability to keep both eyes working together under visually demanding conditions.
- Eye, hand, body coordination - the ability to appropriately use your body when responding to visual information.
- Visual concentration - the ability to stay focused on visual tasks for increased awareness and fewer distractions.
Body Composition
The measurement of percent body fat is widely used in sports medicine as another determinate of athletic performance. We have the capabilities to measure percent body fat by several different procedures including hydrostatic testing which is currently the gold standard in body fat testing. If a coach is more interested in measuring an athlete’s subcutaneous fat then we can perform skinfold and girth measurements. Each test takes only minutes and once again we have the capability to build a team data base through repeated measurements for monitoring and comparison purposes.
The ideal weight of an athlete is made up of the person's total weight and the relationship of lean body weight to fat weight ratio. Consideration in determining an ideal weight includes the natural endowment and basic physical structure of the athlete plus the type of activities in which he or she competes. We can assess the amount of fat and lean body weight, the ideal weight for the individual with specific consideration to the sport engaged and the amount of alterations that may be made within safe limits. If the corrections in body composition are made within the guidelines set forth by these appraisal techniques, the athlete may then enjoy a "higher performance level potential".
Biomechanical Filming Assessment
We can do biomechanical filming and video analysis of most athletic skills. This can be done in the gym (controlled environment with better filming capabilities) or on the field. The athlete is filmed and then that information is computerized to see specific limb and joint movements and speeds. This information enables the coach to work more precisely with the skills that each athlete needs to improve.
Running Economy
A very sport specific test we can perform is measuring an athletes running or cycling economy. This can be done at a variety of speeds and tells coaches which athletes have the more economical styles through metabolic analysis. Running economy is another indicator of athletic performance since the more economical runner will be using a lower percentage of his or her VO2 max at a given speed. This test takes about 30 minutes and speeds chosen can be matched to the athletes’ ability. Biomechanical filming can be combined with this test as well. Follow-up tests will show the athletes how much his or her running economy as increased through technique changes.
Dietary Analysis
A 3 to 5 day dietary analysis can be performed for any athlete. This information will tell the coach and athlete how many calories he or she is consuming and what type of nutrients are providing these calories. A very valuable test for athletes that may be losing or gaining too much weight. Combined with the body composition test it will tell the coach if and why the athlete is losing fat or muscle.
Heart rate recording/downloading of training sessions
We have several new heart rate monitors that can to store up to 60 workout/racing sessions. The heart rates can be stored in 5, 15 or 60 second intervals during each workout and then can be downloaded to a computer for analysis. This gives coaches and athletes very accurate information on the intensity of each type of workout the athlete is performing. Our heart rate monitors can be used in a variety of athletic arenas, including the pool.
