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Research in the Biomechanics laboratory focuses on exploring the role of muscles in the three dimensional control and coordination of limb movements, particularly those of the lower limb during locomotion. Project objectives are to examine the subtle elements that relate to the activation and mechanical output of skeletal muscle in healthy subjects. Clinical application of this information addresses the compensatory responses in patient populations following neuromuscular loss or degeneration. (eg, loss of proprioception due to injury or changes typically associated with age).
Current projects
- Differential activation of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during turning.
- Analysis of activation patterns of ankle musculature during experimentally controlled force trajectories.
- The effect of ACL graft type on the neuromuscular profiles of lower extremity muscles following ACL reconstruction.
Current Funding
Spinal and musculoskeletal mechanisms of coordination during locomotion, (TR Nichols, PI) Part of program project grant ?Spinal circuits and the musculoskeletal system? (Art English, PI)
Selected Publications
Abelew, T.A., A.R. Burgess and T.R. Nichols. Differential activation of medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during voluntary turning. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. CD-ROM, Program # 267.7, 2002
Murinas, K.I., T.A. Abelew, C.M.J. Huyghues-Despointes and T.R. Nichols. Contributions of individual muscles to forces exerted by the feline hindlimb on the ground. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., CD-ROM, Program # 366.2, 2002
Abelew, T.A., P.A. Catlin, I. Gaz, C. Johnson, K. Revis and C. Zollinger. Changes in muscle activation patterns following reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. Vol. 26,p. 1230, 2000
Abelew, T.A., M.D. Miller, T.C. Cope and T.R. Nichols. Local loss of proprioception results in disruption of inter-joint coordination during locomotion in the cat. J. Neurophysiol. 84: 2709-2714, 2000
Nichols, T.R., T.C. Cope and T.A. Abelew. Rapid spinal mechanisms in motor coordination. Exer. Sports Sci. Rev. Vol. 27, 255-284, 1999
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