Philip E. Martin

Effects of age and walking speed on coactivation and cost of walking in healthy adults

Our goal was to determine how age and walking speed affect metabolic cost of walking (C(w)), lower, extremity antagonist coactivation, and relationships between coactivation and C(w) in healthy, active, individuals. Fourteen young (25+/-3 years) and 14 older (71+/-4 years) participants walked on a treadmill at, four speeds (0.89, 1.12, 1.34, and 1.57 m s(-1)) while electromyography (EMG) and oxygen consumption, were measured. Coactivation indices were calculated for musculature about the thigh and shank. C(w), was higher in older adults across all speeds (p<0.001). Coactivation about the thigh was also higher in, older adults (p<0.001), whereas coactivation about the shank was not different between age groups (p=0.60). Total coactivation (thigh coactivation plus shank coactivation) showed significant positive, relationships to C(w) at all walking speeds (r=0.46-0.57). Higher C(w) and coactivation in older adults, along with the positive relationship between C(w) and coactivation implies coactivation contributes to, higher C(w) of older adults.

Trends in Interdisciplinary and Integrative Graduate Training: An NSF IGERT Example.

In a report entitled Reshaping the Graduate Education of Scientists and Engineers (National Academy of Sciences, 1995), the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy proposed a modified PhD training model that retains an emphasis on intensive research experiences, while incorporating additional experiences to prepare graduates for an increasingly diverse job market. The National Science Foundation (NSF) subsequently instituted the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program to foster interdisciplinary training of doctoral students. Faculty in kinesiology graduate programs are often well positioned to contribute to such interdisciplinary training programs. We highlight an example of such a program, specifically the NSF IGERT program on Musculoskeletal and Neural Adaptations in Form and Function at Arizona State University. Both benefits and challenges of IGERT participation are considered.