Applied Exercise Physiology Research Laboratory

James J. Laskin, PT, PhD
Associate Professor and Director
Reed Humphrey, PT, PhD
Professor

The Applied Exercise Physiology Laboratory (AEPL) is an integral part of The School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science and is located in the Skaggs Building Room 025. This work at this laboratory is focused on the integration of exercise physiology and physical therapy. The APEL is a well equipped fitness center and exercise physiology laboratory. The APEL and the Human Physiology Laboratory in the Department of Health and Human Performance have an excellent relationship and share resources regularly. The APEL houses a truly unique program in North America, the New Directions Wellness Center (NDWC). The New Directions program serves individuals from the Missoula community with physical disabilities and chronic illness. The APEL/NDWC contributes fully to the three main goals of The University of Montana: Teaching, Scholarship, and Service. The AEPL/NDWC provides numerous learning opportunities for students both within the Physical Therapy Program and across campus. Students have the opportunity to utilize the lab's equipment for classroom activities as well as the existing clients of the New Directions program participate in classroom activities throughout the 3 year physical therapy curriculum. New Directions is also a clinical internship site for the physical therapy program. The APEL/NDWC provides numerous scholarly opportunities for students in the physical therapy program as well as collaborative prospects for faculty across campus. The NDWC currently serves well over 100 clients per week and provides employment opportunities for UM students.

Areas of research activity include:

1. Utilization of a unweighted walking program for enhancing physical activity and weight loss for individuals with locomotor dysfunction
2. The reliability and validity of Accelerometry in assessing levels of physical activity levels in individuals with physical disabilities and chronic illness.
3. The effects of a regular supervised exercise program and health care utilization.
4. The reliability and validity of a treadmill six-minute walk test for individuals with mobility impairments
5. The efficacy of various behavioral interventions on enhancing long-term physical activity levels.

Funded Research Projects

• Living Well with a Disability. Rural Health Demonstration Grant Program sponsored by the Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of Rural Health. C. Ravesloot, P.I. (1997 - 2000) JJ. Laskin 15% contribution - Director of physical therapy and therapeutic exercise programs.
• Creative Projects Fund sponsored by the Montana Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association. Edwards, Mark, & Laskin: Effects of hiking pole use on energy expenditure. (1999)
• Cost of Treating Secondary Conditions with Physical Activity in a Cohort of Medicaid Beneficiaries with mobility impairments. Centers for Disease Control. C. Ravesloot, P.I., JJ. Laskin Collaborator 20%. (200-2003)
• Reliability and Validity of an On-Court Sub-Maximal Aerobic Capacity Test. Sports Medicine Council of Canada - Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association. JJ. Laskin, P.I.(2000)
• Creative Projects Fund sponsored by the Montana Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association.. Welles, Kozlowski, & Laskin: Reliability of a Submaximal aerobic fitness field test for wheelchair users. (2000)
• Creative Projects Fund sponsored by the Montana Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association.. Flesch, T, Gransbery, B, Krahe, N, & Laskin. Reliability of a Cadence Based Submaximal Aerobic Fitness Field Test for Wheelchair Users. (2001)
• Validity of a Submaximal aerobic fitness field test for non-athletic wheelchair users. University of Montana Grant Program JJ. Laskin, P.I. (2001)
• Health Promotion Focus on People with Spinal Cord Injury. Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation - Program Initiative Grants. C. Ravesloot & JJ. Laskin (2002)
• It Takes a Community: A Multi-Generational Osteoporosis Prevention Program for Communities in the Blackfoot Valley. Grant submitted through the Missoula City-County Health Department - Nutritional Services Unit JJ. Laskin & M. Pittaway Co-directors - (2002)
• FUNfitness: The Current State of Special Olympic Athletes. JJ. Laskin & D. Bainbridge. (2003)
• Montana Special Olympics Healthy Athlete Health Promotion Pilot Interventions. Special Olympics Healthy Athlete Initiative. . JJ. Laskin (PI) and K. Humphries. (2003)
• Creative Projects Fund sponsored by the Montana Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association.. Brueck, K, Morrison, G, Schoff, H, & Laskin, JJ. . The Validity of a Cadence Based Submaximal Aerobic Fitness Field Test for Wheelchair Users. (2003)
• Assisted Standing/Walking Program - Weight Support System. Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation - Quality of Life Grant. JJ. Laskin (2004)
• A Cadence Based Sub-Maximal Field Test to Predict Peak Oxygen Consumption for Wheelchair Users. National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Summer Undergraduate Diversity Research Program (Rebecca Looysen) Faculty Mentor: JJ. Laskin, (2004)
• Effects of a Supervised Exercise Program for Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study. NSF-EPSCOR Undergraduate Research Assistance, Laskin, JJ (2004)
• The Efficacy of Using Accelerometry to Predict Energy Expenditure in Individuals with Locomotor Dysfunction. The University of Montana, Public Health Research Development Program. Laskin, (2005)
• JJ McNair Undergraduate Research Scholarship (2005)