School of Human Movement Studies
Research
Associate Professor Frank Marino
The main focus is related to understanding the mechanisms of fatigue during prolonged exercise. In particular, the relationship between the control of body temperature and central (Central Nervous System) fatigue.
Dr Michael Gard
Michael's Focus's include:
- The social construction of masculinity within professional dance
- Gender, masculinity and physical education
- The use, misuse and non-use of dance in school physical education
- The social and cultural politics of the so-called 'obesity epidemic'
- The shortcmings of biological determinism in all its forms
Dr Jack Cannon
Age-Related Changes in the Determinants of Peak Force in Women and the Effect of Resistance Exercise.
The aim of this research is to determine the mechanism most responsible for the reduction in peak force with age in women and examine the effect of resistive exercise in attenuating such degenerative changes in muscle function. Specifically, this research will examine the contribution of changes in muscle cross-sectional area, central activation, neuromuscular recruitment, and the force generation capacity of the contractile apparatus to the age-associated reduction in isometric peak force in women. Furthermore, this research will investigate the effect of progressive high-intensity resistance training on these variables in young and older women, and examine the effect of high versus low training volumes on these relationships.
Dr Rylee Dionigi
Involves qualitative research into understanding the experiences of older adults who compete in sport.
Mr Stephen Bird (PhD)
Influence of nutritive interventions on biochemical signals and modification of molecular programs controlling protein degradation following resistance training in untrained men
My area of interest focuses on the interactions between resistance exercise (weight training), nutritive intervention (CHO/EAA ingestion), biochemical signals (hormonal response), and modification of molecular programming (genetic expression), following resistance exercise, as there is little information regarding hormonal and nutritional regulation of proteolytic pathways. The principal purpose of my research is to examine and describe whether the modification of biochemical signals (hormonal response) via nutritive interventions (CHO, EAA or a combined CHO/EAA supplement) can further modify molecular programming (genetic expression), and positively impact the skeletal muscle hypertrophic adaptation to resistance training. Accordingly, such research will attempt to improve our understanding of the physiological response(s) associated with nutrient status; hormonal action; and genetic programming, as to date, no research has examined the independent or synergistic effect of CHO/EAA nutritive interventions during an acute bout of resistance exercise and chronic resistance training with respect to the mechanism(s) responsible for protein turnover. Elucidating the role of nutritive interventions on post-prandial and exercise-induced biochemical responses is warranted as the anabolic and catabolic hormonal milieu plays a significant role in regulating metabolic balance during resistance exercise. Blocking or inhibiting catabolic mediators (signals activating the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway) may favour the conservation of myofibrillar protein, thereby enhancing skeletal muscle growth by suppressing mechanism(s) responsible for protein degradation.