In Beaverton, Oregon, you’ll find the striking Nike World Headquarters at the LeBron James Innovation Centre. – an architectural feat designed by renowned American architect Thomas Kundig. This state-of-the-art facility stands as one of the most advanced sports science centres globally.
What’s the purpose of this centre? Well, where to start? Almost every product Nike produces for elite athletes and everyday athletes stems from innovation and science conducted here. So, if you’re an athlete, the Nike Sport Research Lab is calling to you.
What Are the Areas of Focus in the Nike Sport Research Lab?
There are a few areas of focus at the Nike Sport Research Lab. They collaborate with elite athletes such as Serena Williams, LeBron James, and Eliud Kipchoge, as well as everyday athletes, to better their products in a real-world setting. The mission statement of this sports research centre is to ‘bring innovation and inspiration to every athlete on the planet’.
Does Nike have R&D
The Nike Sport Research Lab has a highly regarded research and development division. The company’s Innovation Kitchen is an interesting hub where nuanced ideas and prototypes are hatched, frequently alongside the valuable insights of athletes.
What Type of Research Does Nike Use?
To objectively comprehend every single athlete’s full potential, regardless of background or ability, the Nike Sport Research Lab utilises science as a tool to do just that. Biomechanics is used throughout their research methods. This research is conducted through motion-capture technology to study athletes’ movements.
They do this with high-speed cameras, force plates, and pressure sensors to accurately assess how bodies perform under different conditions. They also strongly focus on product testing. This includes footwear, apparel and equipment tested on real athletes in real-time and under simulated conditions. The centre even boasts environmental chambers to simulate weather conditions to test gear in different climates.
Researchers at the Nike Sport Research Lab also study muscle activity, oxygen uptake, heart rate and fatigue with VO2 max tests and wearable monitors. Nike collects large datasets from wearables and in-lab tests to model performance to improve the overall product design.
What Is Research Used for In Sports?
Research and sports, at least in this day and age, go hand in hand. Every athlete out there wants to improve their performance, endurance, or recovery time (if not all three or more). Research guides athletes and sports product developers in making smarter improvements—based on real data, not guesswork.
Biomechanical research is known to advance running form or swimming strokes, and is another research method used in sports. So too is the analysis of nutrition and hydration for optimal energy and recovery integral to sports research. It’s not just about better shoes, racquets, or bikes—it’s also about empowering athletes to elevate how they train, compete, and connect with their passion.
Do you know about fascia stretching: the secret to better, safer workouts?
Curious How You’ll Do at the Nike Sports Research Lab?
Above everything else, the research at the Nike Sports Research Lab is designed to help athletes of all shapes, sizes, skills, and abilities discover how they can truly connect with their bodies through movement.
Every body is unique, and at this research facility, individuals can understand how theirs perform under specific conditions. In the end, these insights enhance the way sports lovers experience physical activity.
