Graduate Studies in Sports Medicine
The
study of sports medicine encompasses the medical and scientific knowledge
related to the prevention, recognition, assessment, clinical management,
and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses associated with sport. The
practice of sports medicine includes allied health professionals with
diverse academic and clinical backgrounds, e.g., athletic trainers, physical
therapists, biomechanists, exercise physiologists, physician assistants.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) defines sports medicine as multidisciplinary, including the physiological, biomechanical, psychological, and pathological phenomena associated with exercise and sports. Basic and clinical science research efforts within these disciplines are intended to improve or maintain functional capacity for exercise, sport, and/or physical labor. Sports medicine research efforts, as defined by ACSM, are also directed at the prevention and treatment of injuries and diseases related to exercise and sports. The primary purpose of Oregon State University's graduate sports medicine area is to provide a specialized, advanced study for allied health practitioners who are interested in conducting clinical and applied research.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Science (MS) degree programs
in sports medicine at Oregon State University are directed by three Department
of Exercise and Sport Science faculty utilizing laboratories with state-of-the
art equipment. Historically, funding for sports medicine research has
been obtained through grants from the National Athletic Trainers' Association
Research and Education Foundation, American Federation of Aging Research,
the American College of Sports Medicine Foundation, the United States
Tennis Association, Aircast, Inc., StairMaster Sports/Medical Products
Inc., and Swede-O-Universal, Inc.
Current and Recent Sports Medicine Laboratory Research Projects:
- The Effects Of Estrogen On Motoneuron Activity And Knee Joint Laxity.
- Reflex Modulation During Manipulation Of The Sensory Systems.
- The Effects Of 3-Months Of Foot Orthotic Wear On Measures Of Postural Stability In Persons With Chronic Injury And Normal Lower Limb.
- The Comparison Of 3 Balance Testing Protocols In Individuals With Functional Ankle Instability.
- Bilateral Comparison Of The Spinal Reflexes Of The Leg Muscles.
- Postural Control Performance During A Cognitive Task.
- Postural Control Dysfunction In The Unstable Ankle.
- Evaluation Of Postoperative Outcomes Following Thermal And Open Glenohumeral Capsulorrhaphy.
- Quantification Of Glenohumeral Joint Laxity In Normal, Clinically Unstable, And Post surgical Individuals.
- Effects Of Increased Calcium On Bone Mass In Competitive Female Runners.
- Biomechanical Comparison Of Various Ankle Prophylactic Devices For The Prevention Of Ankle Injuries.
- Biomechanical And EMG Analyses Of One-Handed And Two-Handed Backhand Strokes In Tennis Players With And Without Elbow Pain. The Effects Of Calcium Channel Blockers On Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage.
- Quantification Of The Strain (Load) Placed On The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) During Various Open And Closed Kinetic Chain Rehabilitation Exercises In ACL-Reconstructed Knees.
- The Comparative Effectiveness Of Static And Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching Techniques In Increasing Hip Flexion Range Of Motion.
- Effects Of High Impact Loading On Bone Mass In Adolescent Girls.
Sports Medicine Research Facility
The Sports Medicine/Disabilities Research Laboratory is located on the ground floor of the Women's Building in the center of the Oregon State University campus, and is directed by Dr. Mark Hoffman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Several other research laboratories are located on the same floor in Women's Building and are frequently utilized in collaborative research studies.
