HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE
laboratories
Sports Medicine Research Laboratory
Sports Medicine Research Lab
Sports Medicine Research Laboratory
The Sports Medicine Research Laboratory is located at the 3600 Centre in Richmond, Virginia. It is conveniently located at the junction of three major interstates within the Richmond metropolitan area. The laboratory provides research opportunities for three faculty members focused on sports medicine, and three affiliate faculty from Physical Therapy. In addition, graduate students in the master of science in Health and Movement Sciences, the master of science in Athletic Training, and the doctor of philosophy in Rehabilitation and Movement Science are trained in this laboratory. The Sports Medicine Research Laboratory is a 1400 square foot facility with an additional 200 ft 2 of quiet space for proprioception testing. The laboratory includes three 120 ft 2 office spaces. All offices are fully equipped with computer support and networking capabilities, and are located within walking distance of the Sports Medicine Athletic Training Research Laboratory where data collection is conducted. The general focus of the laboratory is lower extremity injury with emphases on anatomical, biomechanical, and proprioceptive factors contributing to injury. Current research activities are focused on factors contributing to functional ankle instability. The lab is accessible year-round, and includes state of the art instrumentation for assessment of human neuromuscular performance, joint laxity, and postural stability.
The equipment in the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory includes:
Laptop Computers (3)
Vicon 12 Camera Motion Analysis System
- This system is capable of assessing full body and extremity kinematics in three dimensions. The system also includes two Bertec force plates allowing for inverse dynamic analysis of the kinetics of motion.
- EMG from up to 16 different muscles can be collected simultaneously.
- This system can be interfaced with the Vicon motion analysis system.
- This is a standard force plate that can be configure to allow assessment of ground reaction forces during, jumping, running, and walking.
- The Accusway is a portable force plate with specialized software for conducting static unipedal and bipedal postural stability assessments.
- The biodex dynamometer permits isokinetic strength assessments of all major joints of the body.
- The Primus dynamometer permits functional performance assessments of all major joints of the body.
- The Telos device in combination with the Fluoroscan allows researchers in the lab to measure joint laxity with controlled joint loads.
- The fluoroscope permits stress radiographs to be performed in the laboratory.
- These load cells are portable and can be mounted to a variety of frames and jigs to allow force measurement of both tensile and compressive loads.
- The Datapack software is the primary collection and analysis software used by the lab.
- Gait Rite systems uses a five meter pressure sensitive mat to track foot pressure as well as basic gait parameters such as stride length, width, etc.
- This software provides control of the stochastic resonance system (see below) as well as data processing of selected instruments with the laboratory.
- This equipment allows for the delivery of subsensory stochastic noise to the proprioceptors producing enhanced kinesthesia.
- This stimulator provides a controlled electrical pulse to stimulate the H-reflex to assess motorneuron pool excitability.
- This oscilloscope is used in conjunction with the Grass stimulator for H-reflex testing.
Permits proprioception testing and assessment of range of motion of the ankle’s plantarflexion and dorsiflexion movements.
Laboratory Faculty:
• Brent L. Arnold, PhD, ATC – Laboratory Director
• Scott Ross, PhD, ATC – Athletic Training
• Alan Freedman, MEd, ATC – Athletic Training
Affiliate Faculty:
• Sheryl Finucane, PhD, PT – Physical Therapy
• Peter Pidcoe, PhD, PT – Physical Therapy
• Lori Michener, PhD, PT, ATC – Physical Therapy
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