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At Apex Athletic Performance, our Motion Analysis and Performance Laboratory (MAP Lab) offers human biomechanical evaluation and clinically relevant research in movement science.
We provide a place where our clinicians and community work together for tailored health and athletic performance solutions.
Our facility specializes in evaluating patients of all ages and lifestyles, including pediatric/adolescent, adult, geriatric and high-performance athletic. We use the same technologies often available only to collegiate programs and professional athletes. By taking advantage of these tools, our athletes learn how and why their bodies move – and they can safely enhance their performance.
We evaluate sport-specific movements including running gait, golf swings, overhand throws and movements requiring explosive power. The MAP Lab utilizes leading edge science and evidence-based methodologies to help athletes and orthopedic patients reach their ultimate performance unique to their bodies.
The MAP Lab utilizes up-to-date tools and techniques with every biomechanical analysis. For athletes who are trying to improve specific skills, like a baseball pitch or golf-swing, high speed video and state of the art software is used to evaluate critical aspects of high-level performance like agility, coordination and speed of motion. This in-depth analysis helps coaches identify opportunities for improvement and is invaluable in the development of individualized training programs.
Additional techniques are often used during a movement analysis, like electromyography (EMG) or the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), to develop a more individualized corrective exercise prescription. Electromyography helps us understand muscular activation, a function mostly hidden from the naked eye, which is especially useful when performing movements critical to training and competition. The FMS is widely-use for the a similar purpose, that helps expose limitations in movement in order to enhance mobility through range of motion and stability.
At the MAP Lab, we provide 3D gait analyses for many pediatric patients, including children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and other neuromuscular conditions that may cause them to have difficulty walking or running.
We work collaboratively with orthopedic and pediatric physicians and physical therapists to identify specific gait deviations and the causes of these abnormalities. While many pediatric gait abnormalities can be followed and treated conservatively, some gait deviations require a more comprehensive approach to evaluation and treatment.
A 3D gait analysis can help to:
Typically, a physician will refer patients to the Motion Analysis and Performance Laboratory for a 3D gait analysis. In many cases, this will be an orthopedic specialist or physical therapist. Patients also are welcome to contact the MAP Lab directly via our patient referral line at 803-434-9421 to inquire about a visit.