Neuromotion Lab

Research

There is a global demand to keep larger segments of the population mobile for the preservation of independence and quality of life. Young, healthy adults often take for granted how complicated it is to stably transition in their inside surroundings and the outside environment. In short, we constantly modify our movement patterns in order to smoothly and safely transition between various scenarios. A gait transition is the process of changing from an initial condition to a final condition during walking or running. Examples of these transitions include gait initiation, gait termination, modifications to surface slope, alterations in surface stiffness, changes in direction, and navigation of stairs. The maintenance and precision of mobility is dependent upon the ability to make these gait transitions seamlessly.

Our lab is presently quantifying how young, healthy adults transition between level and sloped surfaces. Concurrently, we are also collecting preliminary data on three populations; aging adults (with or without neural disabilities), pregnant women (prenatal through postnatal), and orthopedic patients (with either deficient or reconstructed knee ligaments). Such information will guide rehabilitation and formulate protocols that have strong potential to increase mobility accuracy.

Protocols

Ramp Walking

 

Publications

  • Gottschall, J.S. and Palmer, B.M. The acute effects of cycling on running step frequency and step length. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 14:97-101, 2000.
  • Gottschall, J.S. and Palmer, B.M. The effects of prior cycling cadence on running performance and kinematics. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 34:1518-1522, 2002.
  • Gottschall, J.S. and Kram, R. Energy cost and muscle activity required for propulsion during walking. Journal of Applied Physiology, 94:1766-1772, 2003.
  • Gottschall, J.S. and Kram, R. Ground reaction forces during downhill and uphill running. Journal of Biomechanics, 38:445-452, 2005.
  • Gottschall, J.S. and Kram, R. Energy cost and muscular activity required for leg swing during walking. Journal of Applied Physiology, 99:23-30, 2005.
  • Zani, P.A., Gottschall, J.S., and Kram, R. Giant-tortoises walk without inverted pendulum mechanical-energy exchange. Journal of Experimental Biology, 208:1489-1494, 2005.
  • Gottschall, J.S. and Kram, R. Mechanical energy fluctuations during downhill and uphill walking: Alterations in inverted pendulum energy exchange. Journal of Experimental Biology, 209:4895-4900, 2006.
  • Gottschall, J.S. and Nichols, T.R. Head pitch on affects muscle activity in the decerebrate cat hindlimb during walking. Experimental Brain Research, 182;131-135, 2007.

People

Spring 2009

Faculty: Jinger Gottschall
Graduate Students: Riley Sheehan, Keith Stern
Research Assistants: Sarah Gascon
Honors Students: Andy Harkins
Undergraduate Students: Gary Aghazarian, Zac Dunkle, Kerry Fitzpatrick, Michael Giordano, Matt Hinkley, Bethany King, Andy Michael, John Nicotera, Dan Pirrman, Liz Rohrbach, Julianne Rose, Jess StPierre, Sarah Taylor

Fall 2008

Neuromotion Lab – Fall 2008
Top: Andy Michael, Christina Bash, Jinger Gottschall
Middle: Dmitri Okorokov, Gary Aghazarian, John Staffi
Bottom: Liz Rohrbach, Riley Sheehan, Andy Harkins

Summer 2008

Neuromotion Lab – Summer 2008
Top, then left-to-right: Jinger Gottschall, Dmitri Okorokov, Jessi Ritegno, Rob Leo, Todd Leo, Elise Goodyear

Contact

Jinger Gottschall, Ph.D.
29J Recreation Hall
University Park, PA 16802
814-867-2318
jinger@psu.edu

Jinger with Penny (left) and Pippi (right) at the Lion Shrine

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