KSU student studies VR's use in strengthening physically limited adults
Kayla Anderson is an exercise science major at Kennesaw State University who is participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) under the mentorship of Garrett Hester, associate professor of exercise science in the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services.
Anderson's project, “Enhancing Central Nervous System Adaptations Using Novel Technological and Cognitive Strategies,” searches for a method of strength training for people who are not able to participate in traditional strength training. People who would benefit include the elderly, people with injuries, and post stroke patients.
One of the main questions Anderson's work addresses is whether imagining explosive muscle contractions, meaning a sudden burst, produces different effects on how easily signals are able to travel through the nerves to the muscles and then how quickly the muscles can generate force. This force is what is meant by the use of the word explosiveness.
Anderson and her team are using several different tests to gather data, including transcranial magnetic stimulation, which is a noninvasive way of tracking changes in corticospinal excitability (CSE). CSE refers to the reactivity of the pathway that sends neural signals from the brain to the muscles for voluntary motor control.
They are also using the Biodex Dynamometer which is a tool that provides highly detailed and accurate data regarding muscle strength and rate of force development. Finally, Anderson also uses electromyography to measure the electrical activity in muscles as well as the muscles’ response to various stimuli.
– Alyssa Ozment
