School of Biomedical Sciences

In 1992 I received a Bachelor of Sports Science (exercise science) from the University of New South Wales and a Diploma of Education (physical education) in 1993 from the same institution. In 1995 I received a 1st Class Honours Degree from the University of Wollongong and a PhD in 2002 which focussed on the activation patterns of skeletal muscle segments around the shoulder joint. From 1999 to mid 2008 I worked as an Anatomy Lecturer at La Trobe University in Melbourne. I have been employed at CSU from mid 2008 to the present as a Human Anatomy and Physiology Lecturer. My current research interests include exercise in the elderly, mechanisms of central fatigue and using electromyography to quantify muscle activation patterns.

 

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Teaching

Teaching philosophy

My key objective as a teacher is to encourage students to develop a real interest and enthusiasm in the subject matter and hence to empower students with an intrinsic motivation to learn and gain new knowledge.

Current subjects taught

• BMS129 - Physiological Sciences 1
• BMS130 - Physiological Sciences 2

 

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Research

The experiments done in my Honours and continuing into my PhD work at Wollongong University have been designed to investigate the extent to which the CNS can control the activation of individual subunits (segments) of single muscles.  This work involved using electromyography to quantify differences in intensity and timing of motor units around the shoulder joint.  Further to this, research that I did at La Trobe University investigated the comparison of muscle activity around the shoulder in ‘normals and pathological shoulders (multidirectional instability).  We compiled a comprehensive database detailing shoulder muscle activation patterns (EMG) during various standardised shoulder joint movements for normal subjects and compared this with pathological shoulders where we found significant differences in muscle activation patterns.  Since starting at Charles Sturt University I have become involved with projects on central fatigue in which I will be working with staff from Biomedical Sciences and Human Movement staff from Bathurst to help determine the mechanisms of central fatigue.  My other active area of research is in exercise for the elderly and the prevention of falls.

 

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Publications

• Wickham, JB., Pizzari, T., Stansfeld, K., Burnside, A & Watson, L. (2009). Quantifying ‘normal’ shoulder muscle activity during abduction.  Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 20 [Epub ahead of print].
• Murley, G.S., Buldt, A.K., Trump, P.J. & Wickham, J.B. (2009).  Tibialis posterior EMG activity during barefoot walking in people with neutral foot posture.  Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 19 pp e69-e77.
• Brown, J.M.M., Wickham, J.B., McAndrew, D.J. & Huang, X-F. (2007). Muscles within muscles: Coordination of 19 muscle segments within three shoulder muscles during isometric motor tasks, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 17 (1) pp 57-73.
• Brown, J.M.M. & Wickham, J.B. (2006). Neuromotor coordination of multisegmental muscle during a change in movement direction. Journal of Musculoskeletal Research, 10, (2) pp 63-74
• Buldt, A., Trump, P., Murley, G & Wickham, J.B. Electromyographic activity
  of tibialis posterior in neutral foot types during barefoot walking. (2007). Clinical Anatomy, 20: p 573.
  
• Wickham, J.B., Brown, J.M.M., McAndrew, J.M., & Green,R. (2004). Muscles within muscles:The classical triphasic EMG burst and its applicability to segments of large radiate agonist/antagonistic muscles, Journal of Musculoskeletal Research, 8, Nos 2 & 3, pp107-117.
  
• Wickham, J.B., Brown, J.M.M. & McAndrew, J.M. (2004). Muscles within muscles: anatomical and functional segmentation of selected shoulder joint musculature, Journal of Musculoskeletal Research, 8 (1) pp 57-73.
  
• Dowling, A., Downey,B.,Green,R., Wickham,J., & Reddy, P. (2003) Anatomical and possible clinical relationships between the calcaneofibular ligament and peroneus brevis-a pilot study. Manual Therapy, 8 (3), pp 170-175.
  
• Wickham, J.B. (2002) Muscles within muscles: the neuromotor activation patterns of intramuscular segments, PhD Thesis, University of Wollongong. Wickham, J.B. and Brown, J.M.M. (1998). Muscles within muscles: the neuromotor control of intramuscular segments. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 78, pp 219-225.

   

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