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Human Performance Center
The Human Performance Center at the UCSF Orthopaedic Institute helps athletes better understand how they perform and what can be done to prevent injury, work around injuries, and optimize efficiency in sports. The goal is to safely maximize their function and performance and to achieve their personal goals.
The center's team of health professionals has a wide range of expertise in sports medicine and applies technology used in professional sports, such as biomechanical and physiological tools, to evaluate athletes, including those with injuries and chronic conditions such as arthritis. Depending on the need, the center can provide a comprehensive evaluation or a specific recommendation for training and activity.
Specialized Assessments
The center offers sophisticated performance testing — typically used by professionals — to help athletes at all levels, from recreational to elite. Specialized tests are available for individual sports such as golf or soccer. The center has a 10-camera, biomechanical system that can analyze a dancer's jump, a tennis player's swing or a runner's gait. Individuals wear "markers" that allow movement to be measured in 3-D.
A special floor, with built in "force plates," can calculate the force generated when an athlete jumps or a dancer leaps. A Pilates full length mirror and dance equipment are available to help athletes improve technique.
Biomechanical Assessment
A detailed biomechanical assessment can take up to two hours. Staff will explain each test or evaluation to be performed and will ask athletes to bring appropriate clothing or equipment, such as a golf club or ballet shoes.
Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Function
Athletes can be evaluated with what's called a metabolic "cart," computerized equipment that includes a carbon dioxide meter to measure oxygen consumption and energy expenditure, called VO2 max testing.
Cardiovascular and respiratory function can be tested at rest and during exercise on a running treadmill or a state-of-the-art, pro-level cycling ergometer.
A lactate blood test can be performed to measure an athlete's fatigue threshold.
Information from these tests can provide useful numbers to measure an athlete's state of fitness and to make recommendations for further training and performance goals.
Measuring Progress
Athletes can return for future testing to measure gains made from training. For those who undergo surgery for sports injuries, the assessments can be done to measure function and recovery before and after surgery or throughout every stage of training.
Our Team
The team at the UCSF Human Performance Center is led by
Dr. Anthony Luke, director of the center and a primary care sports medicine specialist.
Other doctors who participate include:
- Dr. Nancy Kadel, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the Dance Medicine Center
- Dr. Aenor Sawyer, an orthopedic surgeon and specialist in youth sports medicine.
The team also includes athletic trainers, dietitians, orthotists and prosthetists, physical therapists and others:
- Jill Gleason, physical therapist
- Andrea Hacker, dietitian
- Derek Hirai, athletic trainer
- Garrett Hurley, orthotist and prosthetist
- Duke Meek, athletic trainer
- Rick Ritter, physical therapist
- Joseph Smith, athletic trainer
- Richard Souza, physical therapist
- Kaley Todd, dietitian
How to Get Care
To schedule an appointment, contact the Human Performance Center in the UCSF Orthopaedic Institute at our Mission Bay campus:
Human Performance Center
1500 Owens St.
San Francisco, CA 94158
| Appointments |
(415) 353-2808 |
| Main Phone |
(415) 353-9400 |
| Fax |
(415) 885-3862 |
Fees for most services are not covered by health insurance.
Research
Doctors at UCSF are involved in research including biomechanical analysis and exercise physiology to better assess function, exercise capacity and quality of life. If you are interested in participating in a research project or in learning what projects are being performed, please contact us at (415) 353-9400.
Education
The Human Performance Center conducts seminars and workshops on topics such as preventing knee injuries and choosing ballet pointe shoes or running shoes. For more information about class schedules and fees, call the Orthopaedic Institute at (415) 353-9400.
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