The National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance (NIAHP) and Center for Youth Sports & Health opened in the fall of 2008 under the direction of Dr. Michael F. Bergeron, FACSM. Internationally known for his research in exercise, heat stress, and athletic health and leadership in the sports medicine community, Dr. Bergeron serves as the Director of the institute located at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

The National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance (NIAHP) and Center for Youth Sports & Health provide professional services for athletes and active individuals. Services include detailed physiological evaluations in a controlled environmental chamber, fitness testing, sport nutrition consults, and assessments on the athletic field, as well as presentations and seminars for teams and organizations. The institute is equipped with a 336-sq ft environmental chamber with the capability to regulate temperature (40-122°F) and humidity levels for testing athletes exercising in various environmental conditions. Individuals can be tested using a Viasys Vmax Encore 29 cardiopulmonary exercise testing system and various exercise equipment including treadmills and cycle ergometers, as well as a CompuTrainer stationary trainer, so that athletes can use their own competition cycle for fitness and performance evaluations.

Mission

The NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ATHLETIC HEALTH & PERFORMANCE AT SANFORD serves to be a trusted resource and recognized leader in conducting research, assessing athletes, providing the most current educational information, and developing guidelines and policy for safe and appropriate exercise, training, and sports participation.

The Institute will:

• Focus on new research to address training and competition challenges for youth and other populations.
• Provide individually customized strategies to athletes and other active individuals that will reduce injury risk, optimize performance, and minimize rehabilitation and return-to-play time.
• Partner with sport and sports medicine national governing bodies in developing new educational initiatives, guidelines, and policy for safe and appropriate exercise, training, and sports participation.

Professional Teams Served

Minnesota Timberwolves

Sioux Falls Skyforce

 

Comprehensive Gait Analysis: This is a comprehensive functional and biomechanical evaluation and rehabilitation and consultation service for athletes with lower body (for example, foot, ankle, or knee) musculoskeletal injuries or who are looking to improve their running performance. Each runner will receive a personalized treatment plan, including structured physical therapy, specific stretching and strengthening exercises, and shoe/orthotic recommendations. Our expert professionals will work one-on-one with the athlete to develop an individualized program to help achieve his/her specific running goals.

Click here for more information about the Running Injury & Performance Services. 

View this video to see the latest state-of-the-art equipment used to evaluate runners. 
 

 

Sweat Fluid and Electrolyte Losses and Physiological Strain in the Heat: This is an individual evaluation of an athlete in a specific environment using a temperature, humidity level, and exercise intensity similar to where s/he has had performance or health problems (for example, premature fatigue, heat exhaustion, or muscle cramps) or to simulate upcoming training or competition conditions. Sweat fluid and electrolyte (sodium, potassium, and chloride) losses will be determined and cardiovascular and thermal strain (heart rate, core body temperature, and physiological strain index) will be measured. Individual-specific hydration and dietary strategies are provided, so that each athlete can more optimally prepare for, manage, and recover from sweat fluid and electrolyte losses incurred during training or competition.

Fitness Testing (VO2max): VO2max (maximal aerobic capacity) reflects the strength of an athlete’s cardio-respiratory system, including the ability of his/her muscles to use oxygen to meet the energy demands during exercise. A high aerobic capacity is especially important in endurance-type activities (for example, distance running, cycling, and swimming); however, it is also important to enhance recovery between brief intermittent bouts of high-intensity activity in other sports (such as soccer, tennis, basketball, and football) during practice and competition. This is a progressive incremental workload exercise test using a treadmill or bicycle, depending on the athlete’s primary sport or preference.

Fitness Testing (Lactate Threshold): Lactate threshold (LT), reflects the exercise intensity where the production of lactic acid in the exercising muscles increases sharply. LT is a very good predictor of sustained endurance capacity and performance and is also helpful in determining an athlete’s appropriate training intensity zones. A high LT is especially important in endurance-type activities (distance running, cycling, and swimming). Tracking changes in LT can assist an athlete in assessing the effectiveness of his/her training over several months. This is a progressive incremental workload exercise test using a treadmill or bicycle depending on the athlete’s primary sport or preference.

Sport Nutrition Assessment and Consult: Sport-specific nutrition interventions can help an athlete maximize power and endurance, as well as overall performance and health. The intervention consists of a 3-day dietary analysis and a consult with a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, including an assessment of daily eating patterns, training dietary habits, and nutrition tactics used during training and competition, including preparation and recovery. Through a one-on-one consultation with the dietitian, individualized strategies to maximize training and performance are developed. The dietitian also helps the athlete to work around any specific allergies or chronic health conditions. The goal is to help each athlete learn how to effectively fuel his/her body for optimal performance and health.

Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) and Body Composition Evaluations: Determining your REE, or roughly the minimum number of calories your body needs each day to function properly without physical activity (at rest), is extremely important when trying to personalize your nutrition and fitness strategies. Body composition (relative percentage of body fat and lean body mass) and REE are closely linked to one another and provide a foundation for establishing your nutrition and fitness goals. Body fat percentage is estimated from multiple skinfold measurements and REE is determined from measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange while lying down.
 

Cycling Spin-Scan Analysis: Cyclists and Triathletes can optimize their pedal strokes via comprehensive computerized analysis on their own bikes using the RacerMate® CompuTrainer™. The spin-scan evaluation calculates bi-lateral cycling efficiency of the leg musculature, as well as left vs. right power split and average torque angle. The individualized analysis also includes instantaneous, average, and peak power output, RPM, and mph.

Heat Tolerance Testing: This is an evaluation of an athlete’s current tolerance to exercising in the heat, following a heat-related injury, heat stroke or a long period of no exposure to the heat. This test can also be used to evaluate an athlete’s thermal and cardiovascular responses while wearing a particular clothing or uniform configuration during exercise.

Athlete Field Evaluations: One or more athletes are evaluated during training, practice, or competition for hydration status (pre- and post-session), fluid intake, and sweat fluid and electrolyte (sodium, potassium, and chloride) losses. Individual-specific hydration and dietary strategies are provided for each athlete, so that each athlete can more optimally prepare for, manage, and recover from fluid and electrolyte losses incurred on the court or field. Thermal strain (core body temperature) can be monitored in selected individuals.

Presentations and Workshops: The National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance will meet with coaches, support staff (e.g., athletic trainers and administrators), and teams to discuss sport-specific training and competition challenges and nutrition needs that will help the athletes to optimize training, performance, and recovery. There will be a particular emphasis on the challenges and solutions to training and competing safely and optimally in the heat while reducing the risk for heat- and fluid-electrolyte related problems (e.g., muscle cramps, pre-mature fatigue, exhaustion, and hyponatremia). 
 

Click here for a printable version of the Professional Services.
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For more information regarding these services and pricing contact:
National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance and Center for Youth Sports & Health 
Van Demark Building 
1210 W 18th Street, Suite 204
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
PHONE: 605-328-4750
 

Concussions

03/03/2011 - Getting The All Clear After A Concussion - KELOLAND

02/23/2011 - Concussion Legislation Passes Through Senate - KELOLAND

02/15/2011 - SD Legislature Considers Concussions Legislation - KDLT

01/20/2011 - NFL Helps Bring Concussion Bill to Pierre - KELOLAND

01/19/2011 - Local Coaches and Athletic Trainers Applaud Closer Look at Concussions - WDAY AM 970

Other News Stories

01/27/2011 - Athletes Pushed Too Hard - KELOLAND

12/15/2010 - National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance helping Skyforce and Miami Heat Player - KELOLAND

11/08/2010 - Sioux Falls Skyforce Teams Up with the National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance

10/26/2010 - Swimmers Death to be Investigated

10/25/2010 - Swimmer Dies in 10-K Race: What Really Killed Fran Crippen?

9/21/2010 - Concussion at the Forefront, With ACSM Leading the Way

9/20/2010 - Teens, Sports & Injuries

9/5/2010 - Sports Injuries & Prevention - KELOLAND

8/24/2010 - Heat Stress Injuries in Athletes: Common but Preventable - The Oregonian

8/13/2010 - Feel The Burn From Your Summer Workout, But Do Watch The Heat - Interview with NPR

8/6/2010 - Sanford Health Appoints Associate Director for NIAHP

8/5/2010 - Sanford Doctor Appointed to National Committee

7/13/2010 --  HealthRadio featuring Michael F. Bergeron, PhD discussing Safety in Youth Sports

5/21/2010 -- South Dakota Public Broadcasting featuring Michael F. Bergeron, PhD discussing Summer Sports – Heat and Athletes

4/14/2010 -- How To Stay Hydrated

1/15/2010 -- Sioux Falls Skyforce Teams Up with the National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance

11/19/2009 -- ACSM Holds Thinktank, Reception for Athletics and Youth Sports Leaders

11/6/2009 -- Sanford Researcher Meets with White House Staff and Congressional Leaders   

9/24/2009 -- Sanford Employs Only Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics in South Dakota 

9/10/2009 -- Staying Hydrated During Hot Summer Months

9/1/2009 -- Coach on Trial for Homicide in Player's Heat Death

8/19/2009 -- Young Athletes at Risk for Heat Illness as Fall Sports Begin

8/4/2009 -- Health Radio featuring Michael F. Bergeron, PhD discussing Football: ACSM Guidelines Reducing Heat Injury Risk

8/4/2009 -- Health Radio featuring Michael F. Bergeron, PhD discussing Hydration Challenges & Muscle Cramps - Fatigue/Overload vs. Sweat-Induced

8/4/2009 -- Health Radio featuring Michael F. Bergeron, PhD discussing ACSM Overload/Overuse/Scheduling in Youth Sports Initiative

6/26/2009 -- Michael F. Bergeron, PhD, FACSM Elected to American College of Sports Medicine Council

More >>

Audio Interviews 

	National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance (July 22, 2010) Dr. Michael Bergeron, Director for the National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance, speaks on his experiences working with professional athletes and discusses the challenges and injury risks that impact athletic health.
	Youth Sports and Hydration (July 17, 2010) Dr. Thayne Munce, National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance at Sanford, talks about heat stress and proper hydration during youth sports.

Articles

For specific resources, click on the following topics:

Competing and Training in the Heat

• Youth Football: Heat Stress and Injury Risk
• Heat Injury Prevention Practices in High School Football
• Youth Football: Recommendations and Guidelines for Heat Stress and Injury Risk
• Core Body Temperature during Competition in the Heat
• Repeated-Bout Exercise in the Heat in Young Athletes: Physiological Strain and Perceptual Responses 
• Dehydration and Thermal Strain in Junior Tennis 

Sports & Health

• The Young Athlete: Challenges of Growth, Development and Society
• Improving Health Through Youth Sports: Is Participation Enough?

Clinical Conditions & Exercise Challenges

• Erythrocyte Sickling during Exercise and Thermal Stress
• Muscle Cramps during Exercise - Is It Fatigue or Electrolyte Deficit?
• Exertional Heat Cramps: Recovery and Return to Play
• Heat Cramps: Fluid and Electrolyte Challenges during Tennis in the Heat

Nutrition

• Nutrition and Performance: Do We Still Need to Stress Hydration?
• Effect of Overhydration on Time-trial Swim Performance 

 

For more information regarding the National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance at Sanford contact:

Michael F. Bergeron, Ph.D., FACSM
Director
National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance and
Center for Youth Sports & Health 
Van Demark Building
1210 W 18th Street, Suite 204
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
PHONE: 605-328-4750