Keep Moving

Seattle University’s Kinesiology department is, literally, on the move.

Students in the Kinesiology program now can conduct their studies via a new mobile lab. The mobile lab is made possible by the Dean’s Excellence Fund and supported by donations of SU’s alumni, faculty, staff and the community. The lab is the latest manifestation of the department’s motto, “Exercise for Life, Exercise for Everyone.” Kinesiology Department Chair Sarah Shultz was the main driving force behind turning the dream of a mobile lab into a reality. 

“The [mobile] lab provides an unintimidating environment where we can go into the community, work with the people of that community and collaborate on projects and activities that benefit them,” explains Shultz. “It is … about taking the time to understand another human, to see their perspective. It’s the approach of meeting them in their space and fulfilling our motto.”

The mobile lab looks spartan inside due to a purposeful design choice: It must remain flexible to meet people where they are—both in their communities and their health journeys. Exercise is medicine and the mobile lab can make that exercise more impactful. 

“As a department, Kinesiology has created a curriculum that enables students to understand the holistic nature of human function and the important role that exercise can play in promoting strong overall health and well-being,” Shultz says. “Within those courses, we provide hands-on experiential learning, community engagement assessments and access to cutting edge technology, like that found in the new mobile lab—all with the intent of opening perspectives and becoming more inclusive in promoting healthy behaviors.”

Shultz and SU Kinesiology are busy building partnerships to double-down on the promise of the mobile lab and expand its capabilities. For instance, Novel, a global leader in accurate and reliable load distribution measurement systems, is a partner. Making Novel's technology available to communities via the mobile lab will help transform lives by relieving some of the chronic aches and pains often associated with an active lifestyle. Additionally, Sawbones, a decades-long leader in orthopedic and medical education based in Washington state, has contributed several thousands of dollars’ worth of anatomical equipment for the department and the mobile lab.

“It’s really cool to have this equipment available,” says undergraduate Kinesiology student Jessica Kimm, ’22. “The mobile lab allows us to get out of the lab and into the community… and expand what we can do.” She adds that this type of exposure to research while an undergraduate is something that makes her experience unique to SU’s Kinesiology program.

Kinesiology is also partnering with community-based organizations like Upower, Swedish Sports Medicine, Rainier Beach High School, the Seattle Seawolves and SU’s own Fr. Stephen Sundborg, S.J.Center for Community Engagement to help lead individuals, families and communities to better health outcomes. “We want the van going out daily to strengthen our relationships and partnerships,” says Shultz.

Second-year graduate student Corey Wukelic, ’22, took part in the mobile clinic open house by operating the Xsens motion capture demonstration—equipment he’s featuring in his graduate thesis. Wukelic explains the advantage to this technology is the fact that it can work in any environment, not just a lab. 

As he reflects on the program, which he began during the pandemic, he’s excited to now be learning in person and says overall, it’s been a wonderful experience. “All the faculty have been amazing. Dr. Shultz and Dr. (Erica) Rauff’s teaching and guidance, now and throughout the pandemic, have been very meaningful.”