Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory
UCF Division of Physical Therapy
Overview
Within the last decade, it has become increasingly obvious that skeletal muscle strength is a vital biomarker of overall health. Muscle weakness independently predicts injury, illness, quality of life, and all-cause mortality. On the bright side, consistent participation in strength training has been shown to reduce the risk of disease and injury while slowing down biological aging. While the fields of exercise physiology and rehabilitation science have traditionally focused on muscle tissue, emerging evidence suggests that interventions targeting the nervous system are also worthy of scientific inquiry.
Mission
Formally established in 2018, the mission of the UCF Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory is to leverage the plasticity of the neuromuscular system – from the brain to the muscle – to test and develop interventions that enhance health and rehabilitation outcomes by preventing and minimizing skeletal muscle weakness across the lifespan.
Vision
Our vision is for our laboratory findings to support or challenge existing protocols employed by those striving to prevent disease and improve human performance. Our laboratory strives to be collaborative while seeking interdisciplinary opportunities to better understand how neuromuscular plasticity may enhance physical function.
Meet Our Team
Director
Matt Stock, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Students
External Collaborators
- Brennan J. Thompson, Ph.D., Utah State University
- Jason M. DeFreitas, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University
- Xin Ye, Ph.D., Hartford University
- Youngdeok Kim, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University
- Joshua C. Carr, Texas Christian University
- Jacob A. Mota, University of Alabama
- Gena Gerstner, Ph.D., Old Dominion University
- Michael Roberts, Ph.D., Auburn University
Research Capabilities
The UCF Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory has the equipment, technology, and expertise needed to perform objective, well-controlled experiments. Much of our equipment is portable, making it easy to collect data not only in the laboratory, but also in clinics, hospitals, schools, and athletic settings. Our areas of specialization and associated equipment include:
Neuromuscular Physiology – The UCF Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory is particularly interested in understanding how the brain and spinal cord control muscles, and how this information changes in response to aging, disuse, and various exercise/rehabilitation interventions. This information can be studied during voluntary contractions or involuntarily via stimulation of the motor cortex, nerves, and muscles.
- Delsys Trigno wireless surface EMG system
- Delsys surface EMG signal decomposition analyses (dEMG)
- Magstim BiStim2 Transcranial magnetic stimulator
- DS7AH Constant Current Stimulator
Muscle Performance – Our laboratory’s primary research areas involve the analysis of muscle strength, weakness, and fatigue. Each of these measurements can be performed in conjunction with electromyography (EMG), which allows for a better understanding of the neuromuscular system’s control of muscle force. We believe that there is scientific value in studying the performance of an individual muscle group, as well as the whole body.
- Biodex System 4 isokinetic dynamometer
- AMTI Accupower portable force plate
- Custom-built isometric devices for testing of the knee extensors and elbow flexors
Body Composition and Muscle Size and Quality – Our laboratory has the ability to study body composition (i.e., body fat and muscle mass) with the use of ultrasound, DXA, and BIS measurements. These tools can be used to compare groups of individuals or track changes in muscle hypertrophy/atrophy or fat mass in response to various interventions. B-mode ultrasound also allows for imaging of tendons and ligaments.
- GE NextGen LOGIQ e Portable Ultrasound
- ImpediMed SFB7 bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) device
- GE Lunar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
- Lange skinfold calipers and circumferences
Exercise Training – On occasion, our studies will involve training interventions in which members of the community will have the opportunity to engage in supervised exercise training. The UCF Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory has all of the exercise equipment needed to improve an individual’s muscle strength, fitness, and endurance.
- Sole TT8 Treadmill
- Sorinex Dark Horse Power Racks
- Rogue Ohio bar and Rogue B&R bar
- 500+ lbs. of free weights
Cardiorespiratory Fitness – Cardiorespiratory fitness is an important predictor of aerobic exercise performance and also has important health implications. Our laboratory is well-equipped to examine ability of the body’s circulatory and respiratory systems to supply fuel and oxygen during sustained physical activity.
- ParvoMedics TrueOne® 2400 Metabolic Measurement System
- Spirometry and maximum voluntary ventilation assessment
- Lode Corival CPET Bike
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.
- Carr, JC, Bemben, MG, Stock, MS, DeFreitas, JM. Ipsilateral and contralateral responses following unimanual fatigue with and without illusionary mirror visual feedback. Journal of Neurophysiology, 125: 2084–2093.
- Rothschild, C, Adams, J, Souffront, R, Weed, T, Stock, MS. The effect of Kinesio Tape on lower extremity kinematics and muscle activation during a unilateral squat. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice, 33(3): 138-143.
- Harmon, KK, Stout, JR, Fukuda, DH, Pabian, PS, Rawson, ER, Stock, MS. The application of creatine supplementation in medical rehabilitation. Nutrients, 13, 1825.
- Girts, RM, MacLennan, RJ, Harmon, KK, Stock, MS. Is skeletal muscle echo intensity more indicative of voluntary or involuntary strength in young women? Translational Sports Medicine, 4(4).
- Komforti, D, Magras, A, Joffe, C, Peller, A, Garib, R, Garbe, E, Trapuzzano, A, Dawson, N, Stock, MS. Does skeletal muscle morphology or functional performance better explain variance in fast gait speed in older adults? Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 33: 921-931.
- Harmon, KK, Hamilton, AS, Johnson, BD, Bartek, FJ, Girts, RM, MacLennan, RJ, Hahs-Vaughn, DL, Stock, MS. Motor unit action potential amplitude during low torque fatiguing contractions versus high torque non-fatiguing contractions: A multilevel analysis. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121(4): 1145-1157.
- Stock, MS, Thompson, BJ. Echo intensity as an indicator of skeletal muscle quality: applications, methodology, and future directions. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121(2): 369-380. Invited Review
- MacLennan, RJ, Ogilvie, D, McDorman, J, Vargas, E, Grusky, AR, Kim, Y, Garcia, JM, Stock, MS. The time course of neuromuscular impairment during short term disuse in young women. Physiological Reports, 9:e14677.
- Stock, MS, Oranchuk, DJ, Burton, AM, Phan, DC. Age, sex, and region-specific differences in skeletal muscle size and quality. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 45: 1253-1260.
- Mota, JA, Kwon, DP, Kennedy, M, Sobolewski, EJ, Kim, Y, Gonzales, JU, Stock, MS. Compensatory adjustments in motor unit behavior during fatigue differ for younger versus older men. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 32: 2259-2269.
- Girts, RM, Mota, JA, Harmon, KK, MacLennan, RJ, Stock, MS. (2020). Vastus lateralis motor unit recruitment thresholds are compressed towards lower forces in older men. Journal of Frailty and Aging, 9(4): 191-196.
- Bali, AU, Harmon, KK, Burton, AM, Phan, DC, Mercer, NE, Lawless, NW, Stock, MS. Muscle strength, not age, explains unique variance in echo intensity. Experimental Gerontology, 139: 111047.
- Oranchuk, DJ, Stock, MS, Nelson, AR, Storey, AG, Cronin, JB. Variability of regional quadriceps echo-intensity in active young men. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 45(7): 745-752.
- MacLennan, RJ, Sahebi, M, Becker, N, Davis, E, Garcia, JM, Stock, MS. Declines in skeletal muscle quality vs. size following two weeks of knee joint immobilization. PeerJ 8:e8224
- Harmon, KK, Girts, RM, MacLennan, RJ, Stock, MS. Is the motor unit mean firing rate versus recruitment threshold relationship linear? Physiological Measurement, 40.
- Swafford, AP, Kwon, DP, MacLennan, RJ, Fukuda, DH, Stout, JR, Stock, MS. No acute effects of placebo or open-label placebo treatments on strength, voluntary activation, and neuromuscular fatigue. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 119(10): 2327-2338.
- Carr, JC, Ye, X, Stock, MS, Bemben, MG, DeFreitas, JM. The time course of cross-education during short-term isometric strength training. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 119(6): 1395–1407.
- Stock, MS, Thompson, BJ, Sobolewski, EJ. Age-related differences in the predictability of fast gait speed with absolute and rapid squat strength. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise, 1: 273–280.
- Burton, AM, Stock, MS. Consistency of novel ultrasound equations for estimating percent intramuscular fat. Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging, 38(6): 1062–1066.
- Stock, MS, Whitson, M, Burton, AM, Dawson, NT, Sobolewski, EJ, Thompson, BJ. Echo intensity versus muscle function correlations in older adults are influenced by subcutaneous fat thickness. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 44(8):1597-1605.
- Carr, JC, Stock, MS, Hernandez, JM, Ortegon, JR, Mota, JA. Additional insight into biarticular muscle function: The influence of hip flexor fatigue on rectus femoris activity at the knee. The Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 42:36-43.
- Thompson, BJ, Whitson, M, Sobolewski, EJ, Stock, MS. The influence of advancing age, joint angle, and muscle group on strength production characteristics at the knee joint. Journal of Gerontology: Series A (Biological Sciences), 73(5): 603-607.
- Valipoor, S, Pati, D, Stock, MS, Bazuin, D. Safer chairs for elderly patients: design evaluation using force and electromyography measurements. Ergonomics, 61(7): 902-912.
- Thompson, BJ, Whitson, M, Sobolewski, EJ, Stock, MS. Effects of single vs multiple-joint strength tests on age-related maximal and rapid strength capacities. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 39: 124-132.
- Stock , MS, Mota, JA. Shifts in the relationship between motor unit recruitment thresholds versus derecruitment thresholds during fatigue. Medical Engineering & Physics, 50: 35-42.
- Thompson, BJ, Stock, MS, Mota, JA, Drusch, AS, DeFranco RN, Cook, TN, Hamm, MA. Adaptations associated with an after-school strength and conditioning program in middle-school aged boys: A quasi-experimental design. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31: 2840-2851.
- Mota, JA, Stock, MS, Thompson, BJ. (2017). Vastus lateralis and rectus femoris echo intensity fail to reflect knee extensor specific tension in middle-school boys. Physiological Measurement, 38: 1529-1541.
- Mota, JA, Stock, MS. Rectus femoris echo intensity correlates with muscle strength, but not endurance, in younger and older men. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 43(8): 1651-1657.
- Thompson, BJ, Stock, MS, Banuelas, VK. The effects of an accumulating nursing work shift period on performance-based fatigue using multiple maximal and explosive strength measurements in day and night shift nurses. Human Factors, 59(3):346-356.
- Stock, MS, Mota, JA, Hernandez, JH, Thompson, BJ. Echo intensity and muscle thickness as predictors of athleticism and isometric strength in middle-school boys. Muscle & Nerve, 55(5):685-692.
- Stock, MS, Mota, JA, DeFranco, RN, Grue, KA, Jacobo, AU, Chung, E, Moon, JR, DeFreitas, JM, Beck, TW. The time course of short-term hypertrophy in the absence of eccentric muscle damage. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 117(5): 989-1004.
Contact
You may contact us by either phone 407-823-0600 or with the fillable form below. We look forward to hearing from you.
UCF Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory
Education Complex and Gym, ED 174
4000 Central Florida Blvd
Orlando, FL 32816