The Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham has emerged over the last four decades as a world leader in fitness, recreation, research and health promotion for people with disabilities, including veterans and seniors.
A nonprofit founded in 1984, the foundation serves about 4,000 people annually and is a leader in paralympic sports training and advocacy.
Last year, the foundation reached an even higher level in serving athletes in adaptive sports when it opened its new, cutting-edge, data-driven Lakeshore Sports Science and Performance Center (SSPC).
By combining the foundation’s decades of experience in adaptive sports with the help of experts, Lakeshore SSPC aims to greatly expand the opportunity for all athletes to take advantage of advanced sports science research and to achieve peak performance.
The Lakeshore SSPC provides disabled athletes an unrivaled training experience, combining science-driven sports performance services with great facilities, expert knowledge and extensive online resources.
To maximize their potential, athletes must know where to start, so Lakeshore SSPC uses performance testing and data analysis to provide a clear picture of a competitor’s current fitness. Using such data, the experts at Lakeshore SSPC create personalized training programs for athletes.
Food is the fuel that drives performance, and the nutritionists at Lakeshore SSPC teach athletes how to improve their daily eating habits. They also create personalized meal plans for athletes that are tailored to their individual needs and help boost their strength, speed, skills and mental health.
In the facility’s strength and conditioning program, athletes work one-on-one with certified specialists to achieve their potential.
In order to compete at peak performance, athletes need to be fit mentally as well as physically, so the mental performance experts at Lakeshore SSPC help athletes develop customized training plans that enhance their focus, confidence, resilience and stress management.
Lakeshore SSPC has partnered with two technology companies to bring mental wellness into the training routine. For example, the facility recently added software that does brainwave measurements for concussions and other aspects of mental wellness.
The Lakeshore SSPC Learning Lab is an online library of resources designed for coaches, sports professionals and athletes, with a self-guided curriculum that addresses key performance areas.
It’s important to put athletes in adapted sports in the front end of technology, and that is what makes Lakeshore Foundation so special. The nonprofit serves a lot of communities and audiences, but it shines brighter than anyone in America when it comes to adapted sports and training.
In 2023, the facility served hundreds of athletes in adapted sports including teams and Paralympians.
The foundation is a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training site and serves as the National Governing Body for USA Wheelchair Rugby and Boccia United States.
For more information about the Lakeshore Foundation and Lakeshore SSPC, call 205-313-7400 or go to lakeshore.org.
