Paul DeVita
- Bio
- Degrees:
B.A. Biology, State University of New York at Binghamton, 1977
M.S. Biomechanics, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 1984
Ph.D. Biomechanics, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 1986
Dr. DeVita has been investigating the biomechanics and motor control of human locomotion for the past 25+ years. He has published in the areas of ACL injury, knee osteoarthritis, aging, obesity, and locomotion in healthy people.
Dr. DeVita teaches a variety of courses in the areas of structural kinesiology, biomechanics, and research procedures.
Dr. DeVita has served on the Executive Board for the American Society of Biomechanics and on several study sections for the NIH. He is currently on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Applied Biomechanics and a Fellow of the American Society of Biomechanics and of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is also a member of the International Society of Biomechanics and the National Academy of Kinesiology.
Sometimes he plays a good game of ping pong. - CV
- Link to CV
- Current Projects
- Mechanical Plasticity In Locomotion With Age (Co-Investigators: Hortobagyi and Rider): The premise of this work is that healthy human aging involves mechanical plasticity in locomotion that produces a distal to proximal shift in muscle function. We express this idea in this manner also: aging produces a redistribution of joint torques and powers such that greater hip torque and power is used to compensate for reduced knee and ankle torque and power during gait. One current study along this line invesitgates the effect of plantarflexor strength training on gait biomechanics in older adults. We are asking the question, can the distal to proximal shift in muscle function be attenuated or even eliminated?
Intensive Dietary Restriction with Exercise in Arthritis (IDEA, P.I. Steve Messier, Wake Forest University): This NIH funded research investigates the effects of intensive dietary restriction and exercise leading to weight loss on bio-markers of inflammation and knee joint compressive loads in older adults with osteoarthritis. This five year project seeks to identify highly effective mechanisms to improve the quality of life in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
Strength Training and Arthritis Trial (START, P.I. Steve Messier, Wake Forest University): This NIH funded research investigates the effects of an 18-month, high-intensity strength-training intervention on thigh composition, clinical outcomes, knee joint forces, inflammation, and pain in older adults with knee OA. Results of this trial will provide critically needed guidance for clinicians in a variety of health professions who prescribe and oversee treatment and prevention of OA-related complications.
Quadriceps Strength Training in Knee OA (Co-Investigators: Rider, Henriksen, Aaboe, Parker Institute, Copenhagen): This study investigates whether increased quadriceps strength after strength training actually changes quadriceps function during locomotion in adults with knee OA. - Selected Publications
- DeVita, P., Hortobagyi, T. & Barrier, J. (1998). Gait biomechanics are not normal after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and accelerated rehabilitation. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30, 1481-1488.
DeVita, P. and Hortobagyi, T. (2000). Age causes a redistribution of joint torques and powers during gait. Journal of Applied Physiology, 88, 1804-1811.
DeVita, P. & Hortobagyi, T. (2003). Obesity is not associated with increased knee joint torque and power during walking. Journal of Biomechanics, 36, 1355-1362.
DeVita, P., Helseth, J. & Hortobagyi, T. (2007). Muscles do more positive than negative work in human locomotion. Journal of Experimental Biology, 210, 3361-3373.
Messier, S., Legault, C., Loeser, R., Van Arsdale, S., Davis, C., Ettinger, W. & DeVita, P. (2011). Does high weight loss in older adults with knee osteoarthritis affect bone-on-bone joint loads and muscle forces during walking?" Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 19, 272-280. - Contact
- 332-B Ward Sports Medicine Building
Greenville, NC 27858
(252)737-4563
devitap@ecu.edu
Zachary Domire
- Bio
BS, Honors Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, 1999
MS, Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, 2000
Ph.D. Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, 2004- CV
- Link to CV
- Current Projects
- Dr. Domire is interested in aging, skeletal muscle mechanics and the simulation of human movement.
- Selected Publications
- Domire, Z.J., McCullough, M.B., Chen, Q., and An, K.N. (2009). Feasibility of Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography to Study the Effect of Aging on Shear Modulus of Skeletal Muscle. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 25(1): 93-97.
Domire, Z.J., McCullough, M.B., Chen, Q., and An, K.N. (2009). Wave attenuation as a measure of muscle quality as measured by magnetic resonance elastography. Journal of Biomechanics. 42: 537-540.
Domire, Z.J., and Challis, J.H. (2010). A critical examination of the maximum velocity of shortening used in simulation models of human movement. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. 13(6): 693-699.
Domire, Z.J., Boros, R.L., and Hashemi, J. (2011). An examination possible quadriceps force at the time of anterior cruciate ligament injury during landing: A simulation study. Journal of Biomechanics. 44(8):1630-2. - Contact
- 332-A Ward Sports Medicine Building
Greenville, NC 27858
(252)737-4564
domirez@ecu.edu
Tony Kulas
- Bio
B.S. Movement Science, Westfield State College
M.A. Physical Education with emphasis in Athletic Training, Western Michigan University
Ph.D. Exercise and Sport Science with emphasis in Biomechanics, UNC Greensboro, 2005
Dr. Kulas is interested in how trunk biomechanics influences lower extremity biomechanics. From an athletic training background, Dr. Kulas relates mechanical factors to lower extremity injury.
Dr. Kulas is teaching undergraduate and graduate programs in the Department of Health Education and Promotion.- CV
- Link to CV
- Current Projects
- Dr. Kulas is currently investigating the effects of added trunk load and trunk position adaptations on lower extremity biomecanics. He is also investigating the effects of trunk flexion angle on lower extremity joint work during drop-jumps.
- Selected Publications
- Kulas A., Zalewski P., Hortobagyi T., DeVita P. Effects of added trunk load and corresponding trunk position adaptations on lower extremity biomechanics during drop-landings. Journal of Biomechanics. In press. E-pub available at publishers website.
Schmitz R.J., Kulas A.S., Perrin D.H., Riemann B.L., Shultz S.J. Sex differences in lower extremity biomechanics during single leg landings. Clinical Biomechanics. 2007; 22(6): 681-688.
Kulas A.S., Schmitz R.J., Shultz S.J., Henning J.M., & Perrin D.H. Sex-specific abdominal activation strategies in landing. Journal of Athletic Training. 2006; 41(4): 381-386.
Kulas A.S., Schmitz R.J., Shultz S.J., & Perrin D.H., & Watson M.A. Energy absorption as a predictor of leg impedance in highly trained females. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 2006; 22(3): 177-185. - Contact
- 249 Ward Sports Medicine Building
Greenville, NC 27858
(252)737-2884
kulasa@ecu.edu
Patrick Rider
- Bio
BS, Exercise Physiology, East Carolina University, 2005
MS, Exercise Science Biomechanics Concentration, East Carolina University, 2007
Mr Rider spends most of his time clickity clacking on the keyboard trying to make science look cool with moderate results. and serves as the biomechanics laboratory manager.- CV
- Link to CV
- Current Projects
- Mr. Rider currently is investigating lower extremity kinematics and ground reaction forces during baseball pitching in collaboration with Dr. Blaise Williams.
- Selected Publications
- Hortobagyi, T., Finch, A., Solnik, S., Rider, P., & DeVita, P. (2011). Association between muscle activation and metabolic cost of walking in young and old adults. Journal of Gerontology, Medical Sciences.
Hortobagyi, T., Herring, C., Pories, W., Rider, P., & DeVita, P. (2011). Massive weight loss-induced mechanical plasticity in obese gait. Journal of Applied Physiology.
Howatson, G., Taylor, M., Rider, P., Motawar, B., McNally, M., Stanislaw Solnik, Paul DeVita, Tibor Hortobagyi, (2010). Ipsilateral motor cortical responses to TMS during lengthening and shortening of the contralateral wrist flexors. European Journal of Neuroscience.
Solnik, S., Rider, P., Steinweg, K., DeVita, P., & Hortobagyi, T. (2010). Teager-Kaiser energy operator signal conditioning improves EMG onset detection. European Journal of Applied Physiology. - Contact
- 360 Ward Sports Medicine Building
Greenville, NC 27858
phone: (252)737-2370
riderp@ecu.edu
