Clinical Kinesiology Research Laboratory
Rich Gajdosik, PT, PhD
Professor and Director
PT graduate students test the ankle strength of a subject participating in their Research Project.
The Clinical Kinesiology Laboratory is located within The School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science, Skaggs Building Room 021. The Laboratory is devoted to research and teaching associated with the integration of principals of kinesiology, biomechanics and muscle physiology in order to foster greater understanding of physical therapy assessment methods and the results of therapeutic interventions. The Laboratory is equipped with a Computerized Kin-Com Isokinetic Force Dynamometer, Electromyographic (EMG) hardware and software, the ability to integrate force, speed, angle and EMG data for the study of muscle function and movement analysis.
Areas of research activity include:
Professor Gajdosik works with several students examining the results of their research project.
- Skeletal muscle length, extensibility, passive-elastic stiffness, strength, and mutability in normal and abnormal states,
- The influence of therapeutic interventions on muscle impairments and performance characteristics in persons from across the life span with emphasis on aged muscle,
- Establishing objective, reliable and valid physical therapy assessment instruments and procedures, and
- The search for evidence to support the efficacy of both current and new therapeutic interventions.
Funding
Funding for the laboratory has been provided by The MJ Murdock Charitable Trust Foundation, The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Andrus Foundation, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) through RehabNet~West (The Western Rehabilitation Research Network) of The University of Washington, The Montana Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, The University of Montana and The Clinical Kinesiology Student Research Fund.
A research subject receiving orientation to the research laboratory and the student project in which she is participating.
A research subject positioned on the Kin-Com® isokinetic dynamometer for experimental testing of calf muscle function.
