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

