Research Laboratories

Neuromuscular Research/Motor Control Laboratory

Richard K. Shields, PT, Ph.D., Director

Locations

0716B University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics
(319) 356-8203
1-151 Medical Education Building
(319) 335-9808

Personnel

  • Director: Richard K. Shields, PhD, PT
  • Research Assistant: Shauna Dudley-Javoroski
  • Postdoctoral Scholar: Shuo-Hsiu "James" Chang
  • Graduate Students: Melanie House (PhD), Andrew Littmann (PhD), Nora Riley (PhD), Michael Shaffer (PhD)

Front Row: Melanie House, Shauna Dudley-Javoroski, Colleen McHenry, Nora Riley

Back Row: Andy Littmann, Jason Wu, Richard Shields, Masaki Iguchi, Mike Shaffer

Recent Graduates

  • Masaki Iguchi (Ph.D., 2009)
  • Shauna Dudley-Javoroski (Ph.D., 2009)
  • Kim Eppen (Ph.D., 2007)
  • Sangeetha Madhavan (Ph.D., 2007)
  • Preeti Deshpande (Ph.D., 2007)
  • Bryon Ballantyne (Ph.D., 2006, St. Ambrose University)
  • Laura Frey Law (Ph.D., 2004, The University of Iowa)
  • Sheila Schindler-Ivens (Ph.D., 2001, Northwestern University)
  • Ya-Ju Chang (Ph.D., 1999, Chang Gung University)
  • Andy Messaros (Ph.D., 1998, Medical College of Ohio)
  • Debbie Heiss (Ph.D., 1997, Ohio State University)
  • Sangeetha Madhavan (M.A., 2003)
  • Andy Littmann (M.A., 1998)
  • Lori Enloe (M.A., 1996)
  • Janet Ruhland (M.A., 1996)
  • Ya-Ju Chang (M.A., 1995)

Current Research Projects

  • Neuromusculoskeletal Plasticity following Spinal Cord Injury: The effects of disuse from spinal cord injury are studied with respect to skeletal changes (bone density), muscular adaptations, fatigue, contractile properties (fiber type), and reflex excitability (H-reflex, withdrawal reflex). The extent to which these adaptations are influenced by training under acute and chronic conditions are examined during longitudinal and cross-sectional studies.
  • Neuromuscular control of the knee after acute and chronic adaptations from pathology (ACL, fatigue, spasticity, spinal cord injury).

Sources of Funding

  • Foundation for Physical Therapy
  • Spinal Cord Research Foundation: Paralyzed Veterans of America
  • Carver Trust
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 HD39445-01