New human biomechanics and physiology lab: creates groundbreaking research opportunities.

• Position: Extraordinary EDUCATION

A baseball pitcher notices that his performance has suffered after returning from a knee injury last year. His fastball has dropped from 95 mph to 87 mph, making it more hittable. As a player who is left feeling like he's letting down his team, he wonders, "What happened?"

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He steps into High Point University's new Human Biomechanics and Physiology Lab and is greeted by a faculty member doing research on just that. The pitcher is filmed using motion capture cameras, and his weight transfer during the delivery is monitored using force plates. Using this technology, it is apparent that his stride length is too long, he strikes the ground with the heel of his front foot and his lead knee is unstable as his weight is transferred onto it. These factors cause the rest of his body's movements to be slightly "off," a poor kinetic chain. Once these factors are identified, the same equipment is used to train and correct the pitching motion. Also, strength equipment will be used to work on his knee instability. In a short time, this pitcher will again be pitching at 95 mph or greater.

This is just one example of how the new Human Biomechanics and Physiology Lab, which opened on campus in the fall, will be used. It is the latest step in developing programs in the university's newest academic school--The School of Health Sciences.

The vision for this facility began with the arrival of Dr. Eric Hegedus, professor and founding chair of the department of physical therapy who came from Duke University, and was furthered with the arrival of Dr. James Smoliga, assistant professor of physical therapy, and Dr. Kevin Ford, director of the lab and associate professor of physical therapy. A $3 million renovation of the building housing the lab just took a few months, a timeframe that seems impossible when one steps into the expansive technology center. But when a dedicated group of individuals combined with an institution committed to education are involved, nothing is impossible.

"High Point University never says no," says Hegedus. "At no other university can you go from an idea to months later having a place like this. They turned our vision into a reality, and doing so in that amount of time is unreal. That kind of service, dedication and smooth operation blows me away."

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This lab is one of the most advanced of its kind with state-of-the-art equipment and 13,150 square feet. There are three...