Hawai'i Academy

Lifetime Fitness, Gymnastics & Human Sciences


										Collegiate Trampoline

Research Department
This department is concerned with academic and scientific research conducted in-house and throughout the world.
Dr Max Vercruyssen, Chair
This page under construction ... Last Update of This Page: 4-mar-08
	Research Programs and Projects

	Lifetime Fitness Program * Hawaii Longitudinal Study of Fitness Project * Screening for Fitness to Drive Projects * Screening for Fitness to Exercise Projects * Creation of Lifespan Fitness Norms Projects * Senior Exercise and Therapy Projects * Flexibility and Fitness Training for All Ages Projects * Motivation Strategies for Improving Fitness Scores * Safe Falling Techniques Workshops for All Ages and Abilities (Position Paper) * FIT Club

	Neuromuscular Control Program * Human Speed of Behavior Projects * Age, Information Processing, and Movement Control Projects * Mobility and Access for Teens and Elders Projects * Neuromuscular Integrity (Age, Disease, & Disuse) Projects * Clinical Trials Research Projects * Environmental Stressors Projects * Identifying Human Limits of Behavioral Toxicity to CO2 Breathing * Elite Athlete Profiling Projects * Rebound Biomechanics Projects * Safe Falling Techniques & Pedagogy Projects * Development of an Event Timer for Trampoline Biomechanics

	Assistive Technologies Program * Intelligent Assistive Systems Projects * Functional Autonomy in Later Life Projects * Cost of Technology (Convenience = Sedentary Lifestyle) Projects

	Human Performance Under Stress Program * Development of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus * Behavioral Toxicology: Breathing Elevated But Sub-Clinical Levels of Carbon Dioxide * Emergency Escape From Underground Mines Following Explosions and Collapse

	Researchers Research trainees and fellows from the University of Hawaii include: Megaan Clark, BA, PreMed Honors Thesis Student - Her thesis investigated age changes in collision avoidance ability and the development of a fitness-to-drive screening tool. Her work was conducted on HA's portable driving simulator. Ann Marie Ryan, MS, Occupational Therapist, Senior Exercise Specialist, and Kinesiology Graduate Student - Her thesis examined individual differences in speed-of-behavior and movement control, specifically age and sex differences in collision avoidance ability using HA's portable driving simulator. Nicholas Dvonch, BA, Psychology Honors Thesis Student and ROTC Cadet - His thesis examined the motivational effect of ranking and portrait photographs on physical fitness test scores.

	Research Collaborators Co-authors, collaborators, and cooperating colleagues include:
	Peter A Hancock, DSc, PhD, International Ergonomics & Human Performance Consultant. ProfDr Hancock is world renowned in his field with over 800 publications and numerous international awards of merit to his credit. He is currently the Provost's Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, among many other appointments. He has received the Sir Frederic Taylor Award from the International Ergonomics Association for lifetime achievement. His exceptional achievements are listed at http://www.mit.ucf.edu/. Professor Hancock collaborates with Hawaii Academy and Psy-Med Associates as needed on projects undertaken. See his websites at http://www.peterhancock.ucf.edu/index.php and http://www.psych.ucf.edu/faculty_hancock.php .
	Munehiko Harada, PhD, International Recreation & Sports Management Consultant. ProfDr Harada is Japan's leading leisure and sports management expert. Now at Waseda University, Dr Harada has seeded his graduate students throughout Japan for the past 20 years and now has a network that permits rapid application of good ideas. He is an active researcher who travels the world usually consulting or negotiating bids for Olympic venues. See his websites at https://www.wnp7.waseda.jp/Rdb/app/ip/ipi0211.html?lang_kbn=1&kensaku_no=4115 and http://www.waseda.jp/prj-risb/eindex.htm.
	Donna Mah, MD, Pediatrician, Sports Medicine Physician & Researcher. Dr Mah has collaborated on numerous projects with Dr Vercruyssen since 1977, Prof Harada since 1981, and Prof Hancock since 1984 on a variety of topics. Her previous projects have included physiological and anthropometric profiles of elite artistic gymnasts, human performance under stress studies, central nervous system changes with age and disease, and lifetime fitness and injury prevention research. She is very involved in the Hawaii community as a private practice pediatrician, HMO administrator, and a lifetime fitness advocate. She is a popular instructor of adult classes and has coached national and world champion athletes.
	Yukinori Miyata, MS, Elite Trampoline Coach and Visiting Scholar in Physical Education. Coach Miyata spent his sabbatical at HA from Apr 06 to Mar 07 during which time he learned/improved his English, observed HA's secrets for rapid development of elite athletes, investigated our adult and senior markets, and developed an appreciation of the uniqueness of lifetime fitness at HA. In Japan, he has been a champion collegiate trampolinist at Nippon University of Sport and Science (NiTaiDai), an international (FIG) judge, a coach of international champion athletes at Keio High School and University, and did his masters thesis on bone metabolism and osteoporosis. He is now head of Hawaii Academy's Yokohama Branch :)

WARNING While Injuries are Rare in Trampoline Facilities, Backyard Trampolines Can Be Very Dangerous	Warning on backyard trampoline injuries (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2005) -- Trampolining is rapidly growing since becoming an Olympic sport in 2000, but the reported injuries in private trampoline and artistic gymnastics clubs are DECREASING because of improvements in equipment and safety measures followed. Get trampoline training in a professional facility. If you have a backyard trampoline, see the safety warning above and have everyone using the trampoline get lessons at a USAG trampoline training facility.

Phone: +1.808.842.5642
Fax: +1.808.841.2564
info@HawaiiAcademy.com

Hawai'i Academy
1314 Mo'onui Street
Honolulu, HI 96817 USA