Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

This proposal requests funding to procure an advanced isokinetic dynamometer system for assessing muscle strength, administering exercise protocols, and measuring muscle force output. The inclusion of the dynamometer is intended to augment the multi-disciplinary research infrastructure at the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen's University, and support the research programs of several early career investigators including Gerome Manson (Asst. Prof. Neuromechanics), Jessica Selinger (Asst. Prof. Neuromechanics), Chris McGlory (Asst. Prof. Nutrition and Metabolism), and Pouya Amiri (Asst. Prof. Biomechanics). In addition to the diverse team of early-career researchers, the acquisition of this device will also support collaborations with other early-career and established researchers at Queen's University and across Canada. The requested system will play a pivotal role across a broad range of high-impact research programs. It will be used to examine how exercise-induced muscle damage and muscle fatigue affect rapid movement control. Such knowledge will be important for coaches and rehabilitation practitioners. Concurrently, the dynamometer will be employed in investigations into the nutritional variables influencing muscle strength and muscle growth, potentially leading to the formulation of nutritional strategies conducive to muscle health. Moreover, the dynamometer is a significant asset in research programs developing methods employing electrical stimulation to enhance muscle control post injury, which could lead to the development of innovative rehabilitative techniques. The dynamometer will also be central to studies examining energy use during human walking mechanics, revealing key knowledge about the interplay between biomechanical and physiological systems. The urgency of procuring this system is underscored by the current non-operational status of an existing device, which has already impeded the progress of numerous trainees and research projects. A delay in acquiring a functional dynamometer could further hinder several ongoing and prospective research programs, underlining the urgency and significance of this request in the context of fostering multidisciplinary mechanistic research. The proposed acquisition of a new isokinetic dynamometer will provide a substantial stride towards strengthening an already diverse, collaborative, research environment.