Hardin-Simmons relocates Human Performance Lab

(ABILENE, Tx)–In late 2018, the Hardin-Simmons Human Performance Lab relocated from the Mabee Complex building to the former Marston Gym in the Fletcher Fitness Center, giving the lab five times more space than it ever had before.

The Human Performance Lab is intended to help its clients improve their overall health, wellness, and performance by using various tests such as body composition, resting metabolic rate, or VO2 max assessments.

What to Expect

The Bod Pod is an assessment for clientele wishing to determine their body composition. The client must sit in the pod for two to three tests of 50 seconds each while the machine calculates the results that are printed out immediately following the test.

It is important not to exercise, eat, or drink caffeine three hours before the test to prevent possible miscalculations when calculating one’s resting metabolic rate. The assessment takes between 20-30 minutes and includes wearing a metabolic analyzer over the mouth and nose while the client sits, breathing at a regular pace. These results are calculated using indirect calorimetry.

To measure VO2 max, the client must wear a mask while exercising on a treadmill or bike.

Measuring someone’s VO2 max is typically the best way to measure cardiovascular fitness. To measure VO2 max, the client must wear a mask while exercising on a treadmill or bike. The maximum and resting heart rate are noted during this 30-60 minute test and are used to calculate the correct fitness level for the client.

With the mission statement to “Educate, evaluate, explore, and enhance,” the Human Performance Lab gives a Christ-centered environment to facilitate trailblazing educational opportunities, allowing HSU to lead the areas of health, wellness, and human performance backed by science.

Educate

The HPL creates academic education in exercise science not only for students on campus but anyone off-campus as well. The lab is available to children as well as adults all around the Big Country to use and learn about health needs and fitness goals. Undergraduate and graduate students often use the lab for hands-on learning as it prepares students for nationally recognized certifications as they strive further career knowledge and development.

Explore

Each HPL conducts evidence-based research consisting of analyzing health, training modalities, human performance, and other topics that require exploring exercise physiology. To become more in tune with the body, volunteering for a research project is often encouraged.

Evaluate

Since the relocation and expansion of the HPL, new equipment such as dumbbells, a strength tower, and a power rack with various attachments added to the lab. The lab can also use a moving screen consisting of 7-8 tests to assess for any muscle imbalances. Muscular strength and endurance, as well as aerobic health, are common assessments used to test the body’s overall wellness. After all assessments are complete, a copy of the results will be printed out, and a team member from the lab will discuss the results with the client.

Enhance

Each test result gives the HPL team insight into curating a personalized and evidence-based training program to improve each client’s overall health and performance.

The new Human Performance Lab is five times larger than it was in Mabee Complex.

“This expansion creates potential of growth and academic learning for students and anyone else in the Big Country that the lab has to offer,” says Dr. Chuck Ruot, Human Performance Life Director, “and I’m very excited about that.”

For more information about the Human Performance Lab, email humanperformancelab@hsutx.edu or call Dr. Chuck Ruot at (325) 670-1548.