Department of Kinesiology

The Fitness-Wellness Laboratory (FORKER 140)

This general purpose laboratory supports the discovery, engagement, and learning missions of the Department of Kinesiology. These missions are integrated within this laboratory. The 2500 ft² facility includes an office, two examination rooms, a teaching area outfitted with desks and audiovisual equipment sufficient for 15 students, and a hydrostatic weighing room.

Equipment in this facility includes:

1. Cardiovascular assessment:

a. Quinton 3500 graded exercise test system with treadmill,

b. Quinton 4500 graded exercise test system with treadmill,

c. Several Monark cycle ergometers

(including several blood pressure cuffs, an AED, appropriately stocked crash cart)

2. Body composition/anthropometric assessment: 

            a. Hydrostatic weighing system with digital scale,

b. Several skinfold calipers,

c. Several Gulick anthropometric tapes,

d. Rosscraft Tommy anthropometer, etc.

3. Muscle function assessment: 

            a. Biodex system (isokinetic assessment),

            b. Flat weight-lifting bench with weights

            c. 2 isometric handgrip dynamometers

            d. Several mats

4. Flexibility assessment: 

            a. 2 “sit-and-reach” boxes

5. Other equipment: 

            a. Blood pressure cuffs

            b. Automated external defibrillator

            c. Appropriately stocked crash cart

            d. Area for phlebotomy with several centrifuges for spinning blood

            e. Area for acquisition of muscle biopsies

           

Discovery, or knowledge acquired through research, occurs through the use of this laboratory. For example, this facility was used to screen subjects 65+ y.o. prior to their embarking on a longitudinal exercise training program. These subjects underwent graded exercise tests in this facility and completed the Senior Fitness Test in another area of the Department of Kinesiology (The Exercise Clinic).

Engagement, or extension work, is performed via this laboratory. Sworn law enforcement officers of the Iowa Department of Public Safety come to this facility to complete their annual Department-mandated medical examination. A physician performs the medical examination and then a subgroup of officers undergoes graded exercise tests as part of an effort to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in this group. While this project also leads to research discoveries related to the mechanisms underlying the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in law enforcement officers, the results of this project directly benefit the state of Iowa . State employees (the law enforcement officers) receive information about their risk for cardiovascular disease; over time, the prevalence of this disease in this group is reduced which, in turn, reduces the medical expenses borne by the state of Iowa and its citizens. In addition, participants in The Exercise Clinic, an on-campus adult fitness program sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Performance, complete their fitness assessments in this laboratory.

Finally, student learning occurs as a function of several HHP courses having their requisite academic laboratories in this facility. For example, students learn how to perform a full range of fitness assessment tests using the aforementioned equipment.  Students also learn how to perform graded exercise tests to screen for cardiovascular disease and, in the case of graduate students, how to interpret 12-lead electrocardiograms. Moreover, they are provided the opportunity to practice these skills through involvement in the aforementioned research projects.