Research Overview

The focus of our research team is on muscle function and neuromuscular physiology and the effects of aging, resistance training, and fatigue. We also have a keen interest in female specific muscle health and physiology, and sex differences. This research involves collaboration between undergraduate and graduate students as well as other faculty in a team setting that emphasizes critical thinking and hands-on experience. We use several laboratory techniques to comprehensively investigate outcomes such as muscle strength and explosiveness, skeletal muscle size and quality, muscle activation, central nervous system function, and physical function capacity.

Research Assistance

There is the potential for students to join our team as a volunteer. Academic credit may be earned through ES 3398: Internship in Exercise Science or BIOL 4400: Directed Study. If an ES major, assisting with research can be used towards your required 1 credit hour internship. If sincerely interested in assisting with research, contact me at ghester4@kennesaw.edu.

Select Publications (* indicates student first-author)

Dalton, B.*, Hester, G.M., Alesi, M.G., McDougle, J., Cooper M., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Buresh, R.J., Feito, Y. (2024). Central and Peripheral Neuromuscular Fatigue following Ramp and Rapid Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contractions. Front Physiol. – Exercise Physiology Section

Hester, G.M., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Ha, P.L., Kiani, K., Olmos, A.A., Jabbari, M., Kallandanthyil, S., SooBin, A., Bailly, A.R., Dalton, B.E., Bryantsev, A. (2022) Microbiopsy sampling for examining age-related differences in skeletal muscle fiber morphology and composition. Front Physiol. - Methods and Application in Striated Muscle Physiology Section

Ha, P.L.*, Dalton, B.E., Alesi, M.G., Smith, T.M., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Feito, Y., Hester, G.M. (2022) No sex differences in evoked contractile properties after fatiguing isometric and isotonic exercise for the plantar flexors. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact.

Ha, P.L.*, Dalton, B.E., Alesi, M.G., Smith, T.M., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Feito, T., Hester, G.M. (2021). Isometric vs. isotonic contractions: Sex differences in the fatigability and recovery of isometric strength and high-velocity contractile parameters. Physiol Rep.

Smith, T.M.*, Hester, G.M., Ha, P.L., Olmos, A.A., Stratton, M.T., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Feito, Y., Dalton, B.E. (2020). Sit-to-Stand Kinetics and Correlates of Performance in Young and Older Males. Arch Gerontol Geriatr.

Hester, G.M., Ha, P.L., Dalton, B.E., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Olmos, A.A., Stratton, M.T., Bailly, A.R., Vroman, T.M. (2020). Rate of force development as a predictor of mobility in older adults. J Geriatr Phys Ther.

Olmos, A.A.*, Stratton, M.T., Ha, P.L., Dalton, B.E., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Mangine, G.T., Feito, Y., Poisal, M.J., Jones, J.A., Smith, T.M., Hester, G.M. (2020). Early and late rapid torque characteristics and select physiological correlates in middle-aged and older males. PLoS One.

Olmos, A.A.*, Stratton, M.T., Ha, P.L., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Bailly, A.R., Feito, Y., Mangine, G.T., Poisal, M.J., Jones, J.A., Dalton, B.E., Smith, T.M., Hester, G.M. (2019). Neuromuscular function of the plantar flexors and predictors of peak power in middle-aged and older males. Exp Gerontol. 125. 110677.

Research Equipment

Biodex Dynamometer

- Measures strength and velocity for various muscle groups during isometric, isokinetic, and eccentric muscle actions

Muscle and Nerve Stimulation/ Non-invasive Transcutaneous Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Digitimer constant current stimulator used for electrical stimulation of nerve or muscle for the study of involuntary contractions to determine muscle and nervous system changes. TMS stimulates motor cortex to study corticospinal adjustments.

Ultrasonography

- Provides measures of skeletal muscle size and quality

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portable Force Plate and Wireless EMG

- Measures ground reaction forces and muscle activation during practical movements (chair rise, jumping)

Biodex Balance

- Measures postural stability and provides fal risk index during static and dynamic tests