Munce Lab

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Primary Research Focus

The Munce lab performs high-impact, innovative sports science research that leads to practical applications on the playing field and in the clinic using diverse portfolio of athletic health and performance research, with a recent focus primarily on studying brain injury risk in football.

As concussions in football become more recognized, concerns continue to grow about the adverse effects of repetitive head impacts and sub-concussive brain trauma. Additionally, the long-term risk of brain injury resulting from football participation remain largely unknown.

This lab focuses its attention on youth football players, as nearly 70 percent of all participants in this sport are younger than high school age, and the developing brains of youth players may be more susceptible to traumatic injury. Because of those numbers, the lab aims to make scientific discoveries that can inform evidence-based recommendations intended to improve health and safety in youth football.

Primary Research Group

Environmental Influences on Health and Disease

Secondary Research Groups

(605) 312-6685

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About the Munce Lab

About Thayne Munce, Assistant Scientist

An exercise physiologist and sports scientist, the research of Dr. Thayne Munce encompasses several areas of athletic health and performance, with a particular focus on brain injury risk and concussion in sport, athletic readiness (e.g., optimizing performance and reducing injury risk) and human thermoregulation.

In addition to his research, Dr. Munce works with many high school, collegiate and professional athletes by providing elite testing services and performance consultations.

BA: Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD (1993-1998)
PhD: Penn State University, University Park, PA (1998-2002)
Postdoctoral Fellow: Penn State University, University Park, PA (2002-2003)

Academic Affiliations and Training

Academic Affiliations:

  • Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (2010-present)

Administrative Roles:

  • Associate Director, Sanford Sports Science Institute
  • Member, Strategic Health Initiative-Youth Sports & Health Committee, American College of Sports Medicine

Professional Memberships:

  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • Northland Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine
  • Fellow, American College of Sports Medicine (2016-present)

Highlighted Publications

Evaluation of the Functional Movement Screen and a Novel Basketball Mobility Test as an Injury Prediction Tool for Collegiate Basketball Players. Bond CW, Dorman JC, Odney TO, Roggenbuck SJ, Young SW, Munce TA. J Strength Cond Res. 2019 Jun;33(6):1589-1600. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001944. PMID: 28426513

Head Impact Exposure and Neurologic Function of Youth Football Players. Munce TA, Dorman JC, Thompson PA, Valentine VD, Bergeron MF. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015 Aug;47(8):1567-76. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000591. PMID: 25437194


Evaluation of the Functional Movement Screen and a Novel Basketball Mobility Test as an Injury Prediction Tool for Collegiate Basketball Players.
Bond CW, Dorman JC, Odney TO, Roggenbuck SJ, Young SW, Munce TA.J Strength Cond Res. 2019 Jun;33(6):1589-1600. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001944.PMID: 28426513

Read All Publications

Lab Projects and News

Youth Football Study

The youth football study investigates head impact exposure and neurologic function of middle school football players.

Neurologic Function of Collegiate Athletes Study

This study investigates the neurologic function among contact/collision sports and non-contact/collision sports in collegiate athletes.

MMA Brain Health & Performance Study

The MMA brain health and performance study investigates the neurologic function and head impact exposure of MMA fighters.

NeuroTracker Norms & Training Study

NeuroTracker is a cognitive training program designed to improve mental performance. This study investigates NeuroTracker performance (multiple object tracking) and NeuroTracker training.

Heat Tolerance and Concussion Study

The heat tolerance and concussion study investigates thermoregulation and heat tolerance in individuals who recently suffered a concussion.

Collegiate Basketball Readiness and Recovery Study

The collegiate basketball readiness and recovery study investigates the readiness and recovery of college basketball student-athletes.

Meet the Munce Lab Team

Daniel Poel, MS

Senior Sport Science Specialist

Daniel Poel creates, designs and conducts human subjects research in the Munce Lab. He recruits the subjects and collects data, and then analyzes and interprets the data before preparing and disseminating the findings.

Poel earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Dordt College, and then added a master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.