Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2006

Mentor: Patricia K. Winchester, P.T., Ph.D.
Department: Physical Therapy
Room number: V1.500
Mail Code: 8876
Phone number: 214-648-1551
E-mail: patricia.winchester@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title:

1) Changes in Lower Extremity Muscle Activation Patterns During Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training

2) Influence of Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training on Patterns of Brain Activation

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

1) 0603-334

2) 0301-169

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Both projects are patient-based research.

Brief Description of Project:

1) The aim of this study is to assess the role of sensory information related to lower extremity muscle activation (EMG activity) during manually assisted or Lokomat robotic assisted stepping on a treadmill with body weight support. Specifically, EMG activity in key lower extremity and trunk muscles will be measured during varying loads and treadmill speeds in spinal cord injured subjects during body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT).

2) The purpose of this research is to determine if the improvements in mobility following body-weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) may result from changes in cerebral cortical or cerebellar centers in the brain (as opposed to involvement of only spinal motor centers).

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Winchester P, McColl R, Querry R, Foreman N, Mosby J, Tansey K, Williamson J. Changes in Supraspinal Activation Patterns following Robotic Locomotor Therapy in Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 19(4):313-324, 2005.

Winchester P, Kendall K, Peters H, Sears N, Winkley T.: The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on gross motor function and gait speed in children who are developmentally delayed. Phys Occup Ther in Pediatr, 3/4:38-50, 2002

Williamson, J.W., Nobrega, A.C.L., McColl, R., Mathews D., Winchester, P., Friberg, L., Mitchell, J.H.: Activation of the insular cortex during dynamic exercise in humans. J Physiol (Lond) 1997 503, 2:277-83, 1997.

Smith, J.C., Stephens, D.P., Winchester, P.K. , Williamson, J.W.: Facial cooling-induced bradycardia: Attenuating effect of central command at exercise onset. Med Sci Sports Exerc 29(3): 320-325, 1997.

Williamson, J.W., Nobrega, A.C.L., Winchester, P., Zim, S., Mitchell, J.H.: Instantaneous heart rate increase with dynamic exercise: Central command and muscle-heart reflex contributions. J Appl Physiol 78(4) 1273-1279, 1995.

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