Strategies for Therapeutic Rehabilitation and Optimization of Neuromuscular Growth (STRONG) Laboratory
UCF Division of Kinesiology
Overview
The primary focus of the UCF Strategies for Therapeutic Rehabilitation and Optimization of Neuromuscular Growth (STRONG) Laboratory is to identify exercise and/or rehabilitation strategies that elicit the most robust physiological responses among men and women with a particular emphasis on neuromuscular and cardiovascular function. The laboratory examines various interventions to determine the applicability of exercise, devices, and/or external stimuli to promote or maintain human function in asymptomatic and clinical populations. The laboratory is currently applying BFR exercise as a rehabilitative strategy to help restore neuromuscular and muscle function among people with multiple sclerosis. The laboratory is also evaluating the utility of BFR as a countermeasure to offset the effects of prolonged spaceflight on cardiovascular function.
Research Techniques/Equipment
Blood Flow Restriction
- Hokanson rapid cuff inflators
- SujiBFR systems (version 3)
Cardiovascular Testing
- MGC Diagnostics Mobile Ultima Cardio2 System
- Trackmaster TMX
- Corival 400 cycle ergometer
Endothelial Function
- MOOR VMS laser doppler blood flow and temperature monitor
- Flow-mediated dilation and wall tracking software
Neuromuscular Function
- Delsys Trigno Wireless EMG
- BIOPAC MP150 System
- BIOPAC BioNomadix Wireless Dual-Channel EMG
- Digitimer High Voltage Constant Current Stimulator
Strength/Power Testing
- HUMAC Norm isokinetic dynamometer
- Biodex isokinetic dynamometer
- Pancake load cells
- Resistance exercise equipment (upper and lower body)
Equipment with Overlapping Purposes
- Artinis PortaLite MKII near infrared spectroscopy
- GE Logiqe ultrasound
Meet Our Team
Director
Ethan Hill, Ph.D., CSCS, ACSM-EP
Graduate Assistants
Research Assistants
Niriham Shah
Nihar Patel
Anuj Prajapati
Esteban Tarazon
Emily Wagner
Lauren Rejko
Lab Alumni
Aaron Wizenberg (MS) is a Naval Aerospace and Operational Physiologist. Over the next 3 years he will complete his training in all aspects of Aerospace Physiology while serving in Whidbey Island. While there he will fly in the EA-18G Growler, P-8A Poseidon, and MH-60S Knighthawk. Previously Aaron worked as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Rehabilitation through Innovative Strategies in Exercise (RISE) Lab where he studied the application and effect of blood flow restriction on muscular adaptations, the use of near-infrared spectroscopy, and electromyography. Aaron’s research focused on exercise modalities and interventions to produce the most robust muscular adaptations.
David H. Gonzalez Rojas, earned his bachelor’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science and master’s degree in Kinesiology at the University of Central Florida. He was a graduate assistant in the Rehabilitation through Innovative Strategies in Exercise (RISE) lab, under the mentorship of Ethan C. Hill. Currently, David is a research physiologist contractor for the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) supporting the Thermal Mountain Medicine Division (TMMD). In the future he hopes to work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an Astronaut, Strength, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation Specialist (ASCR).
Paola Rivera is an Assistant Professor in the School of Sport Science at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. Paola graduated with her PhD in Kinesiology from UCF in 2024. Her research is focused on blood flow restriction exercise and its effects on neuromuscular function among clinical and healthy populations.
Chris Proppe has been a certified athletic trainer for 10 years and spent 6 of those years in the college setting. He earned his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Texas Christian University, master’s in Exercise Science from Middle Tennessee State University, and recently earned his PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Central Florida. Currently, he is an assistant professor at Wichita State University. He began using blood flow restriction exercise while working as an athletic trainer and had the opportunity to move into a role researching blood flow restriction in healthy and clinical populations. He has also worked with industry partners on projects related to blood flow restriction. Dr. Proppe’s research continues to be influenced by his work as an athletic trainer and focuses on neuromuscular responses to exercise, pain management, and blood flow restriction training.
Cristian is a graduate of the University of Central Florida UCF, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science and a Master’s in Kinesiology. During his academic career, he was actively engaged in research and was a research team member within the Rehabilitation through Innovation Strategies in Exercise (RISE) laboratory. With over a decade of experience as a soccer coach and personal trainer, he has honed his practical skills in kinesiology. Cristian is currently an Officer in the U.S. Navy, serving as an Aerospace and Operational Physiologist, where he leverages his expertise to optimize the performance and health of Naval pilots and Marines.
Selected Relevant Publications
Our laboratory makes a concerted effort to publish our findings in respected academic journals and present at regional, national, and international conferences. In addition to contributing to collective body of knowledge in a given field, presenting original data at conferences is a fun way for the lab’s students to enhance their self-confidence and network with other scientists.
- Olmos, A.A., Montgomery, T.R., Sears, K.N., Dinyer-McNeely, T.K., Hammer, S.M., Bergstrom, H.C., Hill, E.C., Pasquale, J.S.., Lubiak, S., and Trevino, M.A. Blood flow restriction increases motor unit firing rates and input excitation of the biceps brachii during a moderate-load muscle action. Journal of Sports Sciences, 2024.
- Perlet, M.R., Traylor, M.K., Ransom, K.V., Batman, G.B., Hill, E.C., Weir, J.P., and Keller, J.L. Contributions to forearm desaturation during transient ischemia in healthy, adult males and females across the lifespan. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2024.
- Proppe, C. D., Aldeghi, T.M., Rivera, P.M., Gonzalez, D.R., Lawson, J.E., Fukuda, D.H., Wilson, A.T., Hansen, M.A., and Hill E.C. Muscle swelling and neuromuscular responses following low load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction in untrained women. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2024. DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2024.2391422
- Batman, G.B., Cooper, C.B., Traylor, M.K., Ransom, K.V., Hill, E.C., Hill, B.D., and Keller, J.L. Various modalities of resistance exercise promote similar acute cognitive improvements and hemodynamic increases in young, healthy adults. Cerebral Circulation – Cognition and Behavior, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.cccb.2024.100363
- Lubiak, S., Lawson, J,E., Proppe, C.E., Rivera, P.M., Gonzalez Rojas, D.H., Hammer, S., Trevino, M., Bergstrom, H., Succi, P.J.., Montgomery, T., Olmos, A., Burleson, K., Keller, J.L., and Hill, E.C. A moderate blood flow restriction pressure does not affect maximal strength or neuromuscular responses. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2024. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004907
- Hill, E.C., Schmidt, J, T., Reedy, K. R., Lubiak, S. M., Proppe, C.D., Rivera, P.M., Gonzalez, D.R., Lawson, J.E., Prajapati, A.N., Shah, N.M., Patel, N.N., Guirgis, A.M., Silverio, A., Howard, M.A., Choi, H., Keller, J.L. Progression and perceptual responses to upper and lower body blood flow restriction resistance training among people living with multiple sclerosis. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2024. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-024-05584-2
- Starling-Smith, J., Park, J.H.,. Hill, E.C., Wells, A.J., Stout, J.R., and Fukuda, D.H. Reliability of an intermittent handgrip fatiguing protocol. Sport Sciences for Health, 2024. DOI:10.1007/s11332-024-01254-y
- Proppe, C. D., Kelly, R.T., Rotenberger, N.P., Salazar, S., Rivera, P.M., Lubiak, S.M., and Hill E.C. Indices of exercise induced muscle damage following low load resistance exercise in untrained males. Journal of Medicine & Science in Sport & Physical Fitness, 2024. DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.24.15896-3
- Montgomery, T.R., Hammer, S.M., Sear, K., Olmos, A.A., Pasquale, J.S.., Hill, E.C., Bergstrom, H.C., Trevino, M.A., Dinyer-McNeely, T.K. Influence of blood flow restriction on neuromuscular function and fatigue during forearm flexion in men. Published ahead of print. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2024. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004762
- Hill, E.C., Rivera, P.M., Proppe, C.E., Gonalez-Rojas, D.H.., Lawson, J.E., Lubiak, S., Keller, J.L., Choi, H., Mansy, H. Blood flow restriction attenuates surface mechanomyography lateral and longitudinal, but not transverse oscillations during fatiguing exercise. Physiological Measurement. 9;45(4), 2024. DOI: 10.1088/1361-6579/ad360b
- Gonzalez, D.R., Wizenberg, A.A., Rivera, P.M., Proppe, C. D., Lawson, J.E., Stock, M.S., Stout, J.R., Billaut, F., and Hill E.C. Acute effects of sprint interval training and blood flow restriction on neuromuscular and muscle function. Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions. 1;24(1):38-46, 2024. PMID: 38427367
- Beausejour, J.P., Knowles, K.S., Wilson, A.T., Mangum, L.C., Hill, E.C., Hanney, W.J., Wells, A.J., Fukuda, D.H., Stout, J.R., and Stock, M.S. Innovations in the assessment of skeletal muscle health: a glimpse into the future. Published ahead of print. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 2024. DOI: 10.1055/a-2242-3226
- Olmos, A.A., Montgomery, T.R., Sears, K.N., Dinyer-McNeely, T.K., Hammer, S.M., Bergstrom, H.C., Hill, E.C., Pasquale, J.S.., Lawson, J., Trevino, M.A. Blood flow restriction increases necessary muscle excitation of the elbow flexors during a single high-intensity contraction. Published ahead of print. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2024. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05405-y
- Hammer, S.M., Sear, K., Montgomery, T.R., Olmos, A.A., Pasquale, J.S.., Hill, E.C., Bergstrom, H.C., Trevino, M.A., Dinyer-McNeely, T.K. Sex differences in muscle contraction-induced limb blood flow limitations. Published ahead of print. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2023. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05339-5
- Boffey, D., DiPrima, J.A., Kendall, K., Hill, E.C., Stout, J.R., and Fukuda, D.H. Influence of body composition, load-velocity profiles, and sex-related differences on Army combat fitness test performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 37(12) 2467-2476, 2023. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004563
- Proppe, C. D., Rivera, P.M., Gonzalez, D.R., Lawson, J.E., and Hill E.C. Low-load resistance exercise completed to volitional failure decreases pain perception post exercise in females and males. Kinesiology. 55(2):359-366, 2023. DOI 10.26582/k.55.2.16
- Renziehausen, J.M., Bergquist, A.M., Joon-Hyuk, P.., Hill, E.C., Wells, A.J., Stout, J.R., and Fukuda, D.H. Time of day effects on Anaerobic performance using a nonmotorized treadmill. Published ahead of print. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2023. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004521
- Wizenberg, A.M., Gonzalez-Rojas, D., Rivera, P.M., Proppe, C.E., Laurel, K.P., Stout, J.R., Fukuda, D.H., Billaut, F., Keller, J.L., and Hill, E.C. The acute effects of continuous and intermittent blood flow restriction on sprint interval performance and muscle oxygen responses. Published ahead of print. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2023. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004518
- Keller, J.L., Traylor, M.K., Gray, S.M., Hill, E.C., and Weir, J.P. Sex differences in NIRS derived values of reactive hyperemia persist after experimentally controlling for the ischemic vasodilatory stimulus. Journal of Applied Physiology. Published ahead of print, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00174.2023
- Gray, S., Cuomo, A., Proppe, C.E., Traylor, M.K., Hill, E.C., and Keller, J.L. Effects of sex and cuff pressure on physiological responses during blood flow restriction resistance exercise in young adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 1;55(5):920-931 2023. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003103
- Proppe, C. D. Hill E.C., and Rivera, P.M. Neuromuscular responses to failure versus non failure during blood flow restriction exercise in untrained females. International Journal of Exercise Science. 1;16(1):293-303, 2023. PMCID: PMC10124729
- Rivera, P.M., Proppe, C. E., Gonzalez-Rojas, D., Wizenberg, A., & Hill, E.C. Effects of load matched isokinetic versus isotonic blood flow restricted exercise on neuromuscular and muscle function. European Journal of Sport Science 2023. DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2023.2184724
- Proppe, C. E., Aldeghi T. M., Rivera, P. M., Gonzalez, D. R., Wizenberg, A. M., and Hill, E.C. 75-Repetition protocol versus sets to failure of blood flow restriction training on indices of delayed onset muscle soreness in untrained women. European Journal of Sport Science. Published ahead of print, 2023. DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2023.2201813
- Hill, E.C., Rivera, P.M., Proppe, C.E., Gonzalez-Rojas, D., Lawson, J.E. Acute effects of low load blood flow restricted and non restricted exercise on muscle excitation, electrical efficiency, and average torque. Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions. 2023. PMCID: PMC10233231
Contact
The UCF Strategies for Therapeutic Rehabilitation and Optimization of Neuromuscular Growth (STRONG) Laboratory is located inside the Division of Kinesiology at the Education Complex and Gym, ED 174. Several handicapped parking spots are available outside.
"*" indicates required fields
UCF Strategies for Therapeutic Rehabilitation and Optimization of Neuromuscular Growth (STRONG) Laboratory
Education Complex and Gym, ED 174
4000 Central Florida Blvd
Orlando, FL 32816
