At Seattle University's Human Performance Lab, we pride ourselves in the hands-on experience that students gain. While we believe having a solid foundation built upon rigorous academic curriculum is important, we also challenge our students to answer their own questions in the laboratory. Every day is a new challenge in the lab and we want to empower our students to pursue their dreams.
Students often ask us: "How can I apply what I learned in the classroom?" Having access to research grade tools as an undergraduate enables them to speak from a greater platform of competence and experience as they are going forth into the world. Better student outcomes arise from this kind of student engagement. Student passions are ignited within the lab and seeing our students grow by exploring their aspirations is what drives us.
See below for a description of selected equipment we use in the lab:
A compact semi-portable metabolic measurement system used to efficiently and accurately assess someone’s cardio fitness. The K4B2 is used in the lab for classes, research and athletic testing.
A metabolic measurement system used for exercise physiology testing to gain knowledge about someone’s fitness and metabolism.
A stationary bike modified so that it can be used to do a variety of aerobic and anerobic fitness assessments. Students use the bike in their lab classes to run an assessment that allows them to assess one’s anaerobic fitness, which is important in quick, all out efforts like sprinting.
A portable, wearable technology which allows us to measure various aspects of movement, such as joint angles, in the field. Xsens has been used mostly for student research.
A camera-based system similar to ones used to create video games, which measures body movement in 3 dimensions. The Vicon allows us to see joint angles, segment velocity and many other things.
A portable way to measure the forces created by movement.
A non-invasive way to measure body composition and metabolic rate.
These portable sensors allows students, researchers and clinicians to measure muscle activity and movement indoors and outdoors. The system is mobile and compact with a software suite that allows for biofeedback applications.
Sean Machak
Exercise Scientist & Laboratory Supervisor
Hunthausen 090A
machaks@seattleu.edu