Human Performance Laboratory

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The Human Performance Laboratory in the Air Force Academy Athletic Department falls under the direction of Lt. Col Robert Wishtischin and is headed by physiologist Major (Dr.) Brandon Doan. Major Doan and Al Wile conduct one of the most sophisticated labs in the country and offer all its services to intercollegiate athletic programs.

The lab conducts over 4,000 individual performance assessments annually and provides sports vision training to 17 major varsity sports. 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.

The British Journal of Optometry (June 2006) 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.

The lab has become a pioneer program in the area of sports vision and is a vital training aspect for football, basketball, baseball, women's tennis, water polo, lacrosse, gymnastics, diving, fencing, soccer, rifle and boxing. Wile and his staff believe that vision training is where weight training was 20 years ago, as evidenced by the interest in the Academy program from world-class athletes, Olympians, professional athletes and other intercollegiate programs throughout the country.

The Human Performance Lab also conducts assessments for body composition with the "gold standard" hydrostic testing (submerging underwater) and a brand new Dexa body composition and bone density analysis with X-ray technology.

These analyses continue to be one of the most popular condition factors most coaches are utilizing. Coaches also use upper and lower Wingate testing to determine anaerobic power thresholds, a simple 30-second test of perdaling an ergometer on a predetermined load based on 50% of body weight for arms and 80% body weight for legs.

Aerobic testing is accomplished utilizing a SensorMedics cardiopulmonary VO2 max assessment system with a treadmill and ergometer capability. The lab also conducts biomechanics assessment with a Peak Performance system which includes infrared cameras to conduct body motion analysis. Other lab assessments include blood lactate testing, strength assessments and flexibility assessments.