2008 Woodie Awards
Kinesiology wins grant to study paralysis
BRITTANY COFER
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: News
The College of Education's department of kinesiology received a $1.77 million grant for its continued research with victims suffering from paralysis.
The department has been collaborating with the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta for six years and the grant will allow five additional years of research. Pre-diabetic and diabetic paralyzed patients from the Center are participating in the study on an outpatient basis.
"The initial approach was to increase cardiovascular fitness through stimulation training," said Kevin McCully, professor of exercise science and principal investigator of the study .
The study began when McCully and the late University professor Gary Dudley discovered that through electrical stimulation training, the glucose tolerance of paralysis victims improved. Upon that discovery, the team submitted the grant to further study the phenomenon.
McCully said the goal is to see if electrical stimulation can help paralyzed people who already have diabetes.
"This is one of the few things that could offer a benefit to people with complete paralysis," McCully said. "It's something that is positive and can really help their quality of life."
The study will involve four graduate students and seven undergraduates from the kinesiology and biology departments. McCully said the opportunity for undergraduates to be involved in such research is "pretty amazing" and the students involved have enjoyed the experience.
As increases in technology have occurred, people with paralysis have begun living longer lives and running into health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There are many cutting edge programs for incomplete paralysis, but McCully said this study could create a niche and possibly lead to more studies for those with complete paralysis.
"The whole idea is improving quality of life so people will live longer and better," he said.
The department has been collaborating with the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta for six years and the grant will allow five additional years of research. Pre-diabetic and diabetic paralyzed patients from the Center are participating in the study on an outpatient basis.
"The initial approach was to increase cardiovascular fitness through stimulation training," said Kevin McCully, professor of exercise science and principal investigator of the study .
The study began when McCully and the late University professor Gary Dudley discovered that through electrical stimulation training, the glucose tolerance of paralysis victims improved. Upon that discovery, the team submitted the grant to further study the phenomenon.
McCully said the goal is to see if electrical stimulation can help paralyzed people who already have diabetes.
"This is one of the few things that could offer a benefit to people with complete paralysis," McCully said. "It's something that is positive and can really help their quality of life."
The study will involve four graduate students and seven undergraduates from the kinesiology and biology departments. McCully said the opportunity for undergraduates to be involved in such research is "pretty amazing" and the students involved have enjoyed the experience.
As increases in technology have occurred, people with paralysis have begun living longer lives and running into health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There are many cutting edge programs for incomplete paralysis, but McCully said this study could create a niche and possibly lead to more studies for those with complete paralysis.
"The whole idea is improving quality of life so people will live longer and better," he said.
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