Recent Publications

Read the latest research from our department

Histamine-Receptor Antagonists Slow 10-km Cycling Performance in Competitive Cyclists
John Halliwill, professor

Histamine, a signal molecule, is released within skeletal muscle during exercise and may play important roles in human athletic performance and adaptation to exercise training. We tested the impact of histamine on time trial performance in cyclists by blocking its ability to bind to histamine receptors. We found that the exercise-related histamine signal may play a role in facilitating optimal function during high-intensity endurance exercise.

Read the published research in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise Journal.


Characteristics of Waveform Shape in Parkinson’s Disease Detected with Scalp Electroencephalography
Nicole Swann, assistant professor

We showed that Parkinson’s disease is characterized by changes in the waveform shape of brain recordings collected from the surface of the scalp with EEG. This is a safe, accessible, and affordable method for recording brain activity raising the possibility that waveform shape could be an electrophysiological biomarker for Parkinson’s disease which can be easily and safely acquired.

Read the published research in the eNeuro Journal.


Response preparation involves a release of intracortical inhibition in task-irrelevant muscles
Isaac N. Gomez, Ph.D '22; Kara Ormiston, B.S. '19; Ian Greenhouse, assistant professor

We used brain stimulation and muscle activity recordings to show that inhibition within the cortex is released during the preparation of movements and that the signature of released inhibition can be detected in muscles that are not involved in the prepared movement. This is a transient phenomenon and implicates a novel mechanism involved in the preparation of actions.

Read the published research in the Journal of Neurophysiology.


Cellular and morphological changes with EAA supplementation before and after total knee arthroplasty
Hans C. Dreyer, associate professor

We have previously shown in two placebo-controlled clinical trials that essential amino acid (building blocks of proteins that come from the diet) supplementation before and after total knee replacement helps to reduce muscle atrophy and accelerate functional recovery vs. placebo. This paper looked to see if changes at the cellular and molecular level could help us understand why or how these positive changes are occurring. We found that muscle stem cells (satellite cells), which are important for muscle function and repair, increased with essential amino acid supplementation while markers of muscle inflammation decreased vs. placebo--and this may be a potential mechanism for improved recovery after this common surgery performed in older adults.

Read the published research in the Journal of Applied Physiology.


Physiological aspects of cardiopulmonary dysanapsis on exercise in adults born preterm 
Andrew T. Lovering, professor

Adults born preterm with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia have reduced aerobic exercise capacity and increased risk for early mortality and cardiovascular disease for reasons that are not well understood. This review highlights the work examining the role of the respiratory system in limiting aerobic exercise capacity in the adults born preterm. Surprisingly, the respiratory limitations in those born preterm are similar but not identical to those respiratory limitations to exercise in other obstructive lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Read the published research in the Journal of Applied Physiology.


Sex Differences in the Relation Between Frailty and Endothelial Dysfunction in Old Mice
Ashley Walker, assistant professor

Among older populations, there is often a high amount of variability in physiological functions. Frailty index is a clinical assessment of overall health status and is gaining popularity as a predictor of biological age. We sought to determine if frailty index explains the heterogeneity in vascular function among old mice. We found that the association between frailty index and vascular function is different for males and females.

Read the published research in The Journals of Gerontology.


Ankle Dorsiflexion Promotes Irradiation of Ipsilateral Quadriceps Musculature in a Healthy Population
Emily Lahne, M.S. '19; Grace M. Golden, senior instructor; Shelley W. Linens

This work was conducted to determine whether convincing evidence exists on the benefit of activation of muscle groups distal (ankle dorsiflexors) to the targeted muscle (quadriceps) to improve isometric contraction as part of a literature review to address application of irradiation as a technique when providing rehabilitation exercises for patients.

Read the published research in the Human Kinetics Journal.


The Effect of Attentional Focus on Gluteus Medius Recruitment and Force Production
Molly J. Taylor, M.S. '17; Grace M. Golden, senior instructor

This work was conducted to determine the influence of focus of attention (internal vs. external) during a commonly prescribed rehabilitation exercise (side-lying hip abduction) influences gluteus medius muscle recruitment (muscle activation) and force production (normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contraction) and co-contraction ratio (relative to the adductor longus). External focus of attention conditions significantly improved gluteus medius muscle force production compared to internal focus of attention or control conditions, informing clinicians who instruct patients on foci of control during rehabilitation exercise performance.

Read the published research in the Athletic Training & Sports Health Care Journal.


Maternal Obesity and Western-Style Diet Impair Fetal and Juvenile Offspring Skeletal Muscle Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Transport in Nonhuman Primates
Carrie E. McCurdy, associate professor

Increasing evidence finds the early life environment is critical to offspring’s life-long health trajectory. In this study, we looked at the characteristics of muscle from the offspring of obese mothers consuming a typical western-style diet. The muscle is less responsive to the hormone insulin, which impacts glucose uptake. This impairment persisted in juvenile offspring even when they eat a healthy diet. These findings provide biological mechanisms for the increased risk of metabolic disease in offspring of mothers with obesity and suggest early interventions are warranted.

Read the published research in the Diabetes Journal.