Muscle Performance Laboratory

The mission of the Muscle Performance Laboratory is to understand the causes of lower extremity muscle weakness that impairs function after total knee arthroplasty and to improve functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty.

Personnel:
Jennifer Stevens, MPT, PhD (Director)
Jackie Balter, MS (Professional Research Assistant)
Kristin Carpenter (DPT Student Research Assistant)
Mahera Jeevanjee (DPT Student Research Assistant)
Laurie Kramer (DPT Student Research Assistant)
John Kvale (DPT Student Research Assistant)
Sheng Wu (DPT Student Research Assistant)

Office:: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Physical Therapy Program
Anschutz Medical Campus
13001 E. 17th Place-Bldg. 500, Rm. EG501
Aurora, CO 80045
Phone:: 303-724-9170 or fax 303-724-9016
Email:: jennifer.stevens@uchsc.edu

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

“NMES after Total Knee Arthroplasty to Counter Quadriceps Muscle Activation Deficits”
The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of NMES on countering quadriceps activation deficits after TKA and relate acute measures of quadriceps muscle presynaptic inhibition to longer term outcomes.
“Optimizing Lower Extremity Muscle Function after Total Knee Arthroplasty”
The goal of this study is to investigate quadriceps force and reflex inhibition after TKA and explore rehabilitation strategies to minimize these deficits after TKA.
“Functional Outcomes Following Minimally Invasive Total Knee Arthroplasty”
The goal of this study is to determine if minimally invasive TKA improves quadriceps muscle force production and activation, increases knee range of motion, and decreases post-operative pain compared to traditional TKA.

LAB RESOURCES AND RESEARCH FOCUS

We use a multifaceted approach to study skeletal muscle dysfunction in older adults to ultimately enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. We use a dynamometer to test lower extremity muscle strength, superimposed electrical stimulation for measures of central activation of muscle, electromyography, and clinical measures of functional performance.

The laboratory is equipped with 2 isokinetic dynamometers (HUMAC NORM and KinCom), physiological data acquisition modules to monitor force and EMG, and accelerometers. The laboratory is closely tied to clinical facilities in the General Clinical Research Center and the IMAGE group.

FUNDED GRANTS

Foundation for Physical Therapy Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge Grant (Stevens, PI)
3/07-8/08 $40,000
American College of Rheumatology New Investigator Award (Stevens, PI)
7/07-6/09 $100,000
NIH RO3 (Stevens, PI)
7/08-6/11 $150,000

PEER-REVIEWED MANUSCRIPTS PUBLISHED IN 2007

Shah PK, Gregory CM, Stevens JE, Pathare NC, Jayaraman A, Behrman AL, Walter GA, Vandenborne K. Non-invasive Assessment of Lower Extremity Muscle Composition after Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury. In Press: Spinal Cord.
Jayaraman A, Shah PK, Gregory CM, Stevens JE, Bowden MG, Bishop M, Behrman AL, Walter GA, Vandenborne K. Muscle Adapatations and Locomotory Training after Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Series. In Press: Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine: January 2008.
Mintken PE, Carpenter KJ, Eckhoff D, Kohrt WM, Stevens JE. Early Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Optimize Quadriceps Muscle Function Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Study. The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 37(7):364-71, 2007.
Pathare N, Vandenborne K, Liu M, Stevens JE, Li Ye, Frimel TN, Walter GA. Alterations in inorganic phosphate in mouse hindlimb muscles during limb disuse. NMR in biomedicine. 2007 May 21; [Epub ahead of print].

ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS