The Department of Exercise Science is involved in a wide
range of research. Our faculty and staff are located
in the Blatt PE Center as well as the new Arnold School
Research Building.
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BEHAVIORAL
SCIENCE LABORATORY |
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The
Behavioral Science Laboratory is directed by
Sara Wilcox, Ph.D. The laboratory studies
factors that influence physical activity as well as
interventions to promote physical activity and
healthy eating in individuals and in communities.
Current projects focus on health promotion with
older adults, women, and African American churches. |
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CHILDREN'S
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RESEARCH GROUP |
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The
Children’s Physical Activity Research Group (CPARG)
is an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff, and
graduate students who are dedicated to expanding the
body of knowledge on physical activity and its
promotion in children and adolescents. An
overarching aim of CPARG is to enhance the health of
young people by generating the knowledge needed to
design and implement effective public health
policies. |
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CHRONOBIOLOGY
LABORATORY |
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The Chronobiology Laboratory is directed by
Shawn Youngstedt, Ph.D. Our laboratory focuses
on sleep, circadian rhythms, and psychological
benefits of exercise and bright light exposure. Our
research has been supported by NIH, ACSM, USC, the
Litebook Company and the Gatorade Sports Science
Institute.
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CLINICAL EXERCISE
RESEARCH CENTER |
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The laboratory is equipped for state-of-the-art
measurement of metabolic and cardiorespiratory
responses and adaptations to exercise in human
subjects. A fully automated system for measurement
of metabolism is included. Also, this laboratory
includes a hydrostatic weighing system for
measurement of body composition that is equipped for
on-line data reduction. This facility is also now
equipped with the state-of-the-art DEXA machine for
body composition and bone mineral analysis. Full
phlebotomy capability and a TMS (transcranial
magnetic stimulation) apparatus are also available.
The facility is the site for laboratory instruction
in exercise physiology and for the conduction of
exercise physiology graduate student research. |
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FUNCTIONAL HEALTH BEHAVIORS
ASSESSMENT LABORATORY |
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Dr. Harriet
Williams directs the
Functional Health Behaviors Assessment Laboratory.
The research of Dr. Williams has three major foci:
developmental and age-related aspects of balance and
postural control, the potential benefits of physical
activity and other related interventions on
cognitive executive function in older adults, and
the role of motor skill development in promoting an
active lifestyle in children. A specific interest of
the research emphasis on balance and postural
control is the implementation and evaluation of fall
prevention programs in community settings. Dr.
Williams also studies ways of preventing declines in
cognitive function in healthy older adults and in
those with some form of dementia. Her work with
children also has a community-based focus. Most of
Dr. Williams’ recent work has been done with young
children and older adults. |
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INTEGRATIVE MUSCLE BIOLOGY
LABORATORY |
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The Integrative Muscle Biology Laboratory is
directed by
Dr. James Carson. Investigations examine
cellular and molecular mechanisms that influence
muscle plasticity in skeletal and cardiac muscle.
Specific attention is given to the interaction of
endocrine signaling and muscle mass regulation
through extracellular matrix remodeling and
inflammation. Scientific models examine alterations
in muscle activity due to disuse, increased loading
and regeneration from injury. The regulation of
these processes in conditions of underlying disease
(cancer cachexia, diabetes) or aging is also
examined. |
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LABORATORY OF MUSCLE
& TRANSLATIONAL THERAPEUTIC RESEARCH |
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The mission of the lab is to
utilize scientific experimentation to understand the
molecular mechanisms of muscle growth, repair, and
function and the application to a human context;
such that this understanding will ultimately be used
to prevent, treat, or rehabilitate muscle from the
effects of disease, aging, or injury in order
optimize human health. Current projects include the
manipulation and examination of gene expression in
skeletal muscle in vivo and in vitro and a
pharmacologic trial in the study of Duchenne
muscular dystrophy. Laboratory Director:
Matt Kostek, PhD. |
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PHYSICAL THERAPY REHABILITATION LABORATORY |
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The Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Laboratory
is directed by
Dr. Bruce McClenaghan, PED, PT. Faculty in this
laboratory also includes
Dr. Stacy Fritz, PhD, PT. Their work has been
recognized by the National Institutes of Health and
the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund
and have published their findings in journals such
as Stroke, Physical Therapy, Gait and Posture, and
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Individuals have traveled, both nationally and
internationally, to participate in the different
research studies offered in the Rehabilitation Lab. |
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PREVENTION RESEARCH
CENTER |
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Steven P. Hooker, Ph.D., is a Research Associate
Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and
Director of the CDC-funded
Prevention Research
Center (PRC), whose theme is Promoting
Health Through Physical Activity. Dr. Hooker, along
with other faculty in the USC PRC, conducts research
exploring environmental and policy approaches to
promoting physical activity. In addition, Dr.
Hooker is involved with research investigating the
factors that influence physical activity in
middle-aged and older African American men (CRISP abstract), and the relationship between physical activity and
the risk of stroke and cognitive function in older
adults. |
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