Current Research


Mountain Warfare School Research Study
The Neuromuscular Research Laboratory is currently conducting a study with cadre and students at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC) in Bridgeport, CA titled, "Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Comprehensive Human Performance Screening Battery and Load Monitoring Testing." This study is a human optimization study evaluating cadre and students at Mountain Warfare school through a comprehensive performance screening battery and continuous, in-field load monitoring during training courses offered at the training center. Some of the specific goals of the study are to be able to predict musculoskeletal injuries among cadre and students undergoing courses and to longitudinally track the health and physical fitness of the cadre during the time they are stationed at MCMWTC.


Bone Adaptations to Physical Training 
The overall objective of this proposal is to determine the bone density, structure and strength adaptations that result from various exercise programs which differ based on the frequency and intensity of bone loading. We will measure these bone adaptations with state-of-the-science bone imaging technology which provides greater resolution allowing for the ability to detect small, but clinically relevant changes. Additionally, we seek to determine the physiological responses and adaptations to training that contribute to improved bone health including changes in hormones, factors released from active skeletal muscle, and body composition. We believe that exercise programs that emphasize frequent, high impact loading will cause greater improvements in bone health. Additionally, we believe that exercise training can induce specific changes in hormones, skeletal muscle released signaling factors and body composition that contribute to these bone adaptations.

Athlete Bone Study
This is an observational study designed to understand the effects of exercise training on body composition and bone health in University of Pittsburgh Division I athletes. Measurements will include assessments of bone density, microarchitecture, and failure load, body composition and morphology.

Collaborations

The NMRL collaborates with several research groups at the University of Pittsburgh and other external institutions. We regularly perform two- and three-dimensional bone imaging scans to assess bone mineral density and bone microarchitecture in ageing and clinical populations. Current efforts include two ongoing intervention studies examining the effects of 1) transdermal estrogen in women with anorexia nervosa (PI: Fazeli) and 2) a soy-based dietary supplement in older adults (PI: Cauley) on bone health outcomes.