•
PORTLAND, Maine

Lara Carlson invited speaker at the NASCAR Summit for second time

Lara Carlson

Lara Carlson, DPE, FACSM, CSCS, associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, recently presented her research as an invited speaker at the 2017 NASCAR Summit in Concord, North Carolina.

The NASCAR Summit is an annual conference attended by hundreds of medical, safety, and security personnel in preparation for the 2017 racing season. Carlson’s presentation, “Hydration Status & Thermoregulatory Responses in Motorsports Drivers During Competitive Racing” was presented to medical professionals concerned with performance and safety in motorsport.

Carlson published the first study that quantified the thermoregulatory and physiological challenges associated with competitive stock car racing in 2014. Since then, she has continued collaborating with the U. S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) on the project, because a similar predicament exists with military personnel (aviation pilots, soldiers in armored vehicles, etc.). Carlson’s study confirmed that completing physical tasks in elevated cabin temperatures (racecar cockpit) with the addition of protective uniforms, which hinders evaporative cooling, results in significant stress: increased thermal stress, cardiovascular strain, and fluid losses. “Without a fluid replacement strategy, fluid losses for these drivers may exceed 3% body weight and it could negatively impact driving performance,” said Carlson. “Drivers are athletes and we should advocate for their safety and performance when competing in their sport.”

To learn more about the 91AV’s Westbrook College of Health Professions visit

To apply, visit 

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.