2169 Fieldhouse Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840, (719) 333-4188/4672

Mission

The mission of the USAFA Human Performance Laboratory is to apply sports science principles to improve USAFA athletic teams and individual cadet performance. We do this by providing our coaches and athletes with specific physiological information by way of testing, research, training and education.

A secondary function is to be an Air Force fitness program and human performance subject matter expert which provides scientific expertise through research and exercise science principals to the Air Force.

Staff

Maj Michael Brothers, Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, Michael.brothers@usafa.edu
Lt Col Brandon Doan, Ph.D. in Human Bioenergetics, Brandon.doan@usafa.edu
Michael Hanna, M.S. in Nutrition Science, Michael.hanna@usafa.edu
Jeff Nelson, Ph.D in Exercise Physiology, jeff.nelson@usafa.edu
Coach Al Wile, M.S. in Sports Medicine, Al.wile@usafa.edu

Athlete Testing and Training

Anaerobic Testing (Wingate Anaerobic Test)
We have the capability to assess anaerobic power with the Wingate test. Anaerobic means that work is being performed (primarily) 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 can provide 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 6 to 14 minute graded exercise stress test where the workload continues to increase until the athlete can no longer continue (has achieved VO2 max). .
Important information is gained concerning the athlete's metabolic and cardiovascular adaptations to training, maximal heart rate for training purposes, and anaerobic / ventilatory threshold, which allows us to provide specific and individualized training intensities that the athlete can use to improve their aerobic performance.

Blood Lactate Analysis
We have several blood lactate testing analyzers. 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 provides a marker of physical exertion and enables the athlete 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. This drop of blood is then analyzed for the lactic acid concentration.

Sports Vision
Coach Wile has directed a one-of-a-kind sports vision program since 1994. The first year the Academy implemented this program the Falcon baseball team lead the nation in hitting with a team batting average of .360.

Sports vision training consists of improving the visual skills important to sports performance. 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:

1. Depth perception - the ability to quickly and accurately judge the distance and speed of objects.
2. Eye tracking - the ability to stay focused on an object in motion.
3. Peripheral vision - the ability to see objects in periphery while concentrating on a fixed point.
4. Eye focusing - the ability to change focus quickly and accurately from one object to another.
5. Binocular vision - the ability to keep both eyes working together.
6. Fusion flexibility/stamina - the ability to keep both eyes working together under visually demanding conditions.
7. Eye, hand, body coordination - the ability to appropriately use your body when responding to visual information.
8. Visual concentration - the ability to stay focused on visual tasks for increased awareness and fewer distractions.

We currently have many state-of-the-art vision enhancement capabilities. Each testing and training regime will be sport specific and the time involved in each assessment/training varies with each sport. We recently published a study with data on over 900 hundred cadet athletes over a ten year period and tracked individual improvement in the lab over a four year period. The study concentrated on a myriad of sports vision exercises and found a minimum improvement of 54% at one station and two stations with over 150% improvement over a four year period.

Click here to read about this study.

AFNews Sports Vision Clip
Fox21 Sports Vision Clip
KKTV Sports Vision Clip

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 and Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) which are currently the gold standards 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 Assessment
Using Dartfish, Vicon-Peak Motus, and Vicon MX motion analysis systems, we can provide qualitative and quantitative biomechanical filming and video analysis of most athletic skills to optimize technique for performance, injury reduction, and rehabilitation. 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. Technique can be compared to optimal mechanical parameters and world-class athletes for improving performance and injury prevention. Additionally, pre- and post-injury technique can be compared to optimize recovery.

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 improved through technique changes.
Total Hemoglobin Mass
The USAFA HPL is one of three U.S. Labs that are capable of measuring total hemoglobin mass utilizing the optimized CO re-breathing technique. This technique allows an athlete's total hemoglobin mass, erythrocyte, plasma, and total blood volume to be determined using a minimally invasive and very precise and repeatable method.

Human Performance Research Activities

Collaborative Activities

Recent Publications and Abstracts

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Newton, R.U., A. Gerber, S. Nimphius, J. Shim, B.K. Doan, M. Robertson, D.R. Pearson, B.W. Craig, K. Häkkinen, and W.J. Kraemer. Determination of functional strength imbalance of the lower extremities. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20(4): 971-977, 2006.

Brandon K. Doan, Robert U. Newton, William J. Kraemer, Young-Hoo Kwon. (2006). Effects of Physical Conditioning on Intercollegiate Golfer Performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2006, 20(1), 62-72

PRESENTATIONS AND ABSTRACTS

Brothers MD, Doan, BK, Wile, AL, Zupan, MF, Wilber, RL, and Byrnes, WC. Long-term Acclimatization to Moderate Altitude: a 4-year Cross-sectional Analysis. American Physiological Society (APS) Intersociety Meeting, 25 Sep 08, Hilton Head, SC.

Brandon Doan, Michael Brothers, Rebecca McLean, Mary Terry, Eric Kozlowski, Al Wile. Comparison of Wired and Wireless Bio-Electrical Impedance Fluid Status Monitoring Devices and Validation to Body Mass and Urine Specific Gravity Changes Following Mild Dehydration. Air Force Medical Service Annual Research Symposium, August 27-29, 2008, Arlington, VA.

Michael D. Brothers; Brandon K. Doan; Al L. Wile; James L. Weinstein; Michael F. Zupan; Randall L. Wilber; William C. Byrnes, FACSM. Chronic Hematological and Physiological Adaptations following 48 weeks of Moderate Altitude Residence. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 40(5) Supplement 1:S51, May 2008.

Brandon K. Doan; Michael D. Brothers; Alfred L. Wile; Kim Duarte; Craig Rasley; Robert Wishtischin.Comparison of DEXA, Hydrostatic and Anthropometrical Body Composition Methods in College-age Men and Women: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 40(5) Supplement 1:S274, May 2008.

Alfred L. Wile; Brandon K. Doan; Michael D. Brothers; Michael F. Zupan. Effects Of Sports Vision Training On Visual Skill Performance. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 40(5) Supplement 1:S399, May 2008.

Charles S. Fulco; Stephen R. Muza; Beth Beidleman; Juli Jones; Eric Lammi; Kenneth Kambis; Brandon K. Doan; Michael D. Brothers; Michael F. Zupan; Allen Cymerman. Living For Six Days At 2200 M Improves Prolonged Time-Trial Performance Of Sea-Level Residents Exposed To 4300 M. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 40(5) Supplement 1:S171-S172, May 2008.

Michael F. Zupan; Brandon K. Doan; Michael D. Brothers; Michael Cavallo; Miquel Fernandez; Charles S. FulcoEffects of Staging at 2200 m on Eye-Hand Speed and Accuracy of Sea-Level Residents Exposed to 4300 m. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 40(5) Supplement 1:S52, May 2008.

Rebecca McLean, Brandon Doan, Michael Brothers, Mary Terry, Eric Kozlowski, Al Wile. Comparison of Wired and Wireless Bio-Electrical Impedance Fluid Status Monitoring Devices and Validation to Body Mass and Urine Specific Gravity Changes Following Mild Dehydration. Southwest and Rocky Mountain Division of Advancing Science, Serving Society (SWARM), 9-12 April, 2008, Albuquerque, NM.

Maj Michael Brothers, Kristin Hilger, John Carson, Luisa Sullivan, and Dr. William Byrnes. GXT responses in altitude acclimatized cyclists during sea level simulation. Med Sci Sports Exerc, accepted with revisions and pending publications Oct 07.

Maj Michael Brothers, Dr. Randy Wilber, and Dr. William Byrnes. Physiological and hematological acclimatization to moderate altitude: a retrospective study. High Alt Med Biol, accepted with revisions and pending publication Aug 07.

Maj Michael Brothers, Kristin Hilger, John Carson, Luisa Sullivan, and Dr. William Byrnes. GXT responses in altitude acclimatized cyclists during sea level simulation. American College of Sports Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 1 Jun 2007.

Lt Col Robert Wishtischin and Maj Brandon Doan. Indicators of Athletic Performance. Mountain West Sports Research Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, 26 April 2007.

Maj Brandon Doan, C1C Mitch Belger, C1C Andrew Brazell, Lauren Crone, Dr. Jeff Dyche, Dr. Lynn Caldwell, Lt Col Robert Wishtischin. Comparison of Sleep in USAFA Football Players and Non-intercollegiate cadets. Mountain West Sports Research Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, 26 April 2007.

C1C Kim Duarte, Maj Brandon Doan, C1C Craig Rasley, Coach Al Wile, Maj Michael Brothers, Lt Col Robert Wishtischin. Comparison of Body Composition Methods in USAFA Cadets. Beta Beta Beta Western District I Regional Convention, Western State College, April 13-14, 2007.

U. I. Balldin, P. Hickey, J. Sundstrom, A.A. Pilmanis and B. Doan. (2006) Cognitive Effects During Night Flying at Lower Altitudes Without Cabin Pressurization. Proceedings of the 76th Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association.

 TECHNICAL REPORTS

Brandon Doan, Michael Brothers, Mary Terry, Rebecca McLean, Eric Kozlowski, Al Wile (2008). Comparison of Wired and Wireless Bio-Electrical Impedance Fluid Status Monitoring Devices and Validation to Body Mass and Urine Specific Gravity Changes Following Mild Dehydration. DTIC Technical Report. AD Number: ADA477629

Fulco, Charles S., Muza, Stephen R., Beidleman, Beth, Jones, Juli, Lammi, Eric, Staab, Janet, Rock, Paul B., Kambis, Kenneth, Glickman, Ellen, Doan, Brandon K., Brothers, Michael D., Zupan, Michael F., Cymerman, Allen (2008). Living for Six Days at 2200 M Improves Time-Trial Performance of Sea-Level Residents Exposed to 4300 M. DTIC Technical Report. AD Number: ADA479376.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

The Vision Difference: State-of-the-art sports vision lab helps US Air Force Academy cadets perform at their best. Sports Vision Magazine. 2007 Vol 1(1).

Saccadic Scoring: Guidelines on Performance Standards for Vertical and Horizontal Saccades Sports Vision Magazine. 2007 Vol 1(2).

Fusion Flexibility: Guidelines on performance statndards for vergence drills using plus/minus lens flippers. Sports Vision Magazine. 2007 Vol 1(3).

Changing Focus: Guidelines on performance statndards for testing flexibility skills using near-far-near charts. Sports Vision Magazine. 2008 Vol 2(1).