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

Dr. Munce specializes in athletic health and performance research, with a primary focus on studying the effects of repetitive head impacts and concussions on brain health in athletes. He leads the First Down Project, which aims to improve the health, safety, and performance of football players through sports science research and education. Notably, this project includes a multi-year study examining head impact exposure and neurologic function in youth football players. Additionally, Dr. Munce is a founding member of the Long-term Impact of Military-related Brain Injury and Military and Tactical Athlete Research Study (LIMBIC MATARS) consortium. This consortium is dedicated to studying total brain health in military and athletic populations.

 

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:

  • Adjunct Graduate Faculty Member, Division of Kinesiology and Sports Management, University of South Dakota (2019-present)
  • Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (2010-present)

Leadership Positions:

  • Medical Advisory Panel, USA Football
  • Leadership Board, National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute
  • Sports Medicine Advisory Council, South Dakota High School Activities Association

Professional Memberships:

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

Honors/Awards:

  • Fellow, American College of Sports Medicine

Highlighted Publications

  • Munce TA, Peplowski AD, Bowman TG, Kelshaw PM, Campbell TR, Ahonen SB, Valentine VD, Cifu DX, Resch JE. Concussion diagnosis and recovery in relation to collegiate athletic department classification: a LIMBIC MATARS consortium investigation. Brain Inj. 2024 Feb 9:1-11. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2024.2310800. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38334036Link
  • Fickling SD, Poel DN, Dorman JC, D'Arcy RCN, Munce TA. Subconcussive changes in youth football players: objective evidence using brain vital signs and instrumented accelerometers. Brain Commun. 2021 Dec 15;4(2):fcab286. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab286. PMID: 35291689; PMCID: PMC8914875Link
  • Dorman JC, Poel DN, Valentine VD, Munce TA. Head Impact Exposure of a Youth Football Team over Eight Consecutive Seasons. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2022 Jan 1;54(1):3-11. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002756. PMID: 34310490Link
  • Munce TA, Dorman JC, Thompson PA, Valentine VD, Bergeron MF. Head Impact Exposure and Neurologic Function of Youth Football Players. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015 Aug;47(8):1567-76. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000591. PMID: 25437194 Link
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

Allison Peplowski, MS

Senior Research Specialist

Allison Peplowski coordinates and assists with all aspects of human subjects research in the Munce Lab. She prepares research protocols and IRB submissions, recruits subjects, and collects and analyzes data. Allison also interprets results and disseminates findings through scientific abstracts, presentations and manuscripts.

Peplowski earned a bachelor's degree with honors in medical biology and a master's degree in biology from the University of South Dakota.