Just over 16 years ago, Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Korey Stringer died after collapsing from heatstroke during training camp. In years since, there have been similar cases with college and professional athletes suffering complications due to heat exhaustion during practice.
In 2010, the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) opened at the University of Connecticut with a goal of developing heatstroke prevention techniques. KSI recently received an upgrade with the opening of an academic heat research lab in conjunction with workout apparel company MISSION.
The MISSION Heat Lab features a cutting-edge cooling area that allows researchers to study bodily reactions to heat-related stress and cooling treatments.
“Rooted in sports and science, MISSION works with professional athletes, scientists and medical doctors to deliver game-changing temperature-control technologies that enhance performance, safety and comfort,” MISSION founder and CEO Josh Shaw told UConn Today. “Since 2014, we’ve been working hand-in-hand with the KSI, and we are thrilled to sponsor the new state-of-the-art MISSION Heat Lab. For the next 10 years, the MISSION Heat Lab will set new standards in research, development and testing to combat heat-related illness for athletes, workers, military and active individuals – globally.”
The lab’s undertaking is to better understand how body temperature impacts performance. Researchers will replicate a range of scenarios; anything from a cloudy day to a high-heat, high-humidity situation.
Subjects will use a treadmill or stationary bike while physiological monitoring systems receive info on heart rate, skin and internal temperature and other vitals.
“This new state-of-the art lab will be one of very few such facilities in the U.S. and has some design elements that make it stand alone,” Cameron Faustman, interim dean for UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, told UConn Today. “We are confident it will attract even more research funding, research scholars and students to our campus. The cost of this initiative has been met with contributions from the University, college, department, private donors and companies. This speaks not only to the recognized need for the types of research that this facility will support, but also to the confidence that many others have in our faculty members.”
Contributions have come from many who’ve been directly affected by heat-related incidents. Carole Knighton’s son, Hunter, nearly died of heatstroke during a University of Miami football practice in 2014.
“This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart,” Knighton told UConn Today. “If it were not for the Korey Stringer Institute, my son would not be where he is today.”