The Human Performance Laboratory (HPL) consists of two state-of-the-art research spaces located adjacent to each other and is co-directed by Christopher Hurt, PhD, Matthew Ithurburn, PhD, and Harshvardhan Singh, PhD.

The HPL utilizes gold-standard approaches to evaluate biomechanics, neuromuscular performance, metabolic and aerobic performance, and clinical function to help understand mechanisms of disease and recovery, as well as the extent to which these mechanisms are modifiable with interventions.

Specific research equipment to assess human movement include: an 11-camera Vicon motion analysis system with 2 AMTI force platforms embedded in an overground walkway, a MotekForce Link dual-belt instrumented treadmill, a prototype exercise testing and training treadmill (Resist-X), a Protokinetics Zeno Walkway, a Biodex multi-joint dynamometer, a Delsys 16-channel wireless EMG system, and an Eccentron eccentric resistance strength trainer. Research funding for projects underway within the lab come from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Michael J Fox foundation, and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science at UAB. Current projects are focused on disease mechanisms and intervention strategies to improve quality of life for individuals with hip and knee injuries, osteoporosis, and neurologic conditions such stroke and Parkinson’s disease.

For more information, watch Drs. Hurt, Ithurburn, and Singh describe their research within the Human Performance Laboratory.