Listed
below are a number of projects that are currently underway. If you are
interested in getting involved with any of these projects contact the person
listed at the end of the project description.
Y
Kids in Motion
—This is a strength and conditioning program we are
piloting to develop physical skills and self-esteem in children who have
survived cancer or other chronic diseases such as juvenile rheumatoid
arthritis. This program is a collaborative effort with the YMCA, Intermountain
Orthopaedics, and St. Alphonsus Physical Therapy. The program was held three
days per week for 4 weeks from July 9 through August 3, 2001.
Contact: Linda
Petlichkoff, Ph.D.
Playing
Fair--This project consists of three phases. Phase 1—will
survey attitudes of middle and junior high school students toward
sportsmanship and fairplay in sports and is scheduled to begin in the fall of
2001; Phase 2—will focus on behavioral observations of these students
in actual game and practice situations; and, Phase 3—will consist of
in-depth interviews of students engaged in appropriate and inappropriate
behaviors while playing sports. We hope to intervene where necessary to
improve behaviors of those involved in data collection. Contact:
Linda
Petlichkoff, Ph.D.
Female
High School ACL Injury Prevention Study—This
two-year duration study is currently underway in 12 Treasure Valley high
schools and involves female athletes competing in soccer, volleyball and
basketball (approximately 800 athletes). Half of
the schools have implemented a new type of neuromuscular training program
dubbed the KLIP (Knee Ligament Injury Prevention) program and the other half
of the schools are serving as controls. The researchers are monitoring
the incidence of non-contact ACL injuries in both groups to determine if the
KLIP program may serve to reduce the risk of this seriously disabling
injury. This project recently received funding from the St.
Alphonsus Orthopaedic Institute in Boise, Idaho. Contact:
Ron Pfeiffer, Ed.D, A.T.C.,
A.T.R.
Adolescent
Jump Landing Study—This study is planned
for early 2002 and will involve a group of 30 adolescent females (15 treatment
and 15 control). The objective will be to assess the neurophysiologic
and biomechanical impact of eight weeks of training using the KLIP (Knee
Ligament Injury Prevention) program. Subjects will be tested on their
jump-landing mechanics and data will be collected to assess knee mechanics and
muscle activity in the lower extremity. This study recently received
funding from the St. Alphonsus Orthopaedic Institute, Boise, Idaho. Contact:
Ron Pfeiffer, Ed.D, A.T.C.,
A.T.R.
Effects
of Moderate Exercise on the Effectiveness of the McConnell Taping Procedure
for Stabilization of the Patellofemoral Joint--This
study, presently underway, is seeking to assess the effects of a bout of
moderate exercise (circuit-agility running) on the effectiveness of the
McConnell taping procedure to control patellofemoral joint (PFJ)
position. A group of 15 asymptomatic college age females will be taped
using this procedure, have their PFJ imaged using a kinematic analysis
technique with a Lunar
Artoscan Extremity MRI Scanner, then imaged again after 15 minutes of
moderate intensity exercise. Measurements will be made on the MRI
studies for several key quantitative indicators of PFJ position to test for
differences between pre- and post-exercise conditions. This study has
been made possible by the loan of an extremity MRI scanning system from
Intermountain Orthopaedics, Boise, Idaho. Contact:
Ron Pfeiffer,
Ed.D, A.T.C., A.T.R. or Lorrie L. Kelley, M.S. (BSU Radiologic Sciences).
Functional
Capacity of Older Adults—Several faculty are investigating the
effects of resistance training on muscular fitness and functional abilities in
the older adult. These latest projects are designed to identify optimal
intensities of training for the senior population and to assess the effects of
detraining on previous strength gains. Future projects with this population
are planned to investigate further the dose effects of resistance training, as
well as optimization of power production—an important component to
functional task performance. Contact:
Chad Harris, Ph.D. or Terry-Ann
Gibson
