Faculty Research in the News
- Dancers kick up new theories about mobility
Laura Bailey
UM News Service
October 19, 2009
An Irish dancer's lightning-fast, precision feet might blur with speed, but that limb awareness doesn't extend to arms, which are usually planted squarely on a dancer's hips or sides.
Modern dancers, on the other hand, are highly aware of their upper limb positioning, findings that suggest rethinking the emphasis on the lower body when developing training programs to keep the elderly functional and mobile, says Susan Brown, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and associate professor of kinesiology, School of Kinesiology.
Proprioception, sometimes called the sixth sense, is the awareness of positioning and speed of limb movements, says Elizabeth Schweiger, a research assistant at the School of Kinesiology Motor Control Laboratory, whose undergraduate thesis project yielded the surprising results. More...
- McLean Helps Explain Knee Injuries, New Preventions
Laura Bailey
UM News Service
September 8, 2009
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are the most common form of knee injury and women suffer them eight times more than men. Currently, most ACL injury prevention programs are based on gender and on large populations, said Scott McLean, assistant professor of Kinesiology and lead researcher on a new study. McLean said this approach doesn't fully account for individual knee joint differences and how gender influences these differences. Video.
Related:
- When Eating and Dieting, Follow Your Gut
Laura Bailey
U-M News Service
July 29, 2009
Exercising after a small meal can reduce the sensation of hunger and potentially help lose weight, according to Katarina Borer, Professor and principal investigator on the study.
Borer’s findings disclaim the widely held position that the hormone leptin acts as a satiety signal in controlling appetites, and that the hormone ghrelin signals hunger, Borer says. More...
- Knee injuries may start with strain on the brain, not the muscles
Laura Bailey
U-M News Service
July 24, 2009
Training your brain may be just as effective as training your muscles in preventing ACL knee injuries. Scott McLean, Assistant Professor, discusses how training programs could shift from performance-based regimens to exercises that focus on preventing injuries.
“These findings suggest that training the central control process—the brain and reflexive responses—may be necessary to counter the fatigue induced ACL injury risk,” said McLean, who also has an appointment with the U-M Bone & Joint Injury Prevention Center. More, including podcast...
- Rosentraub on Filling Sports Arenas and Globalizing Basketball
Bickner Professor of Sport Management Mark Rosentraub was quoted recently in two newspapers on the current market for filling stadiums of professional teams: in one case the Indianapolis Colts' home stomping ground, Lucas Oil Stadium; in the other, the numerous venues for New York/New Jersey sport franchises.
In May an investment group led by businessman Jianhua (Kenny) Huang signed an agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers to become 15 percent owners of the team and Quicken Loans Arena.
“This will be the future - the internationalization of sport,” said Mark Rosentraub, professor of sports management at the University of Michigan.
- Special Bicycles Make Childhood Rite of Passage Possible for Kids with Autism and Down Syndrome
Ron Cammel
The Grand Rapids Press
June 20, 2009
“You reduce the fear, and all of a sudden the learning just explodes,” said Dale Ulrich, director of U-M's Center for Motor Behavior & Pediatric Disabilities. He is studying the impact of bike riding on children with special needs. Ulrich has organized lessons through Lose the Training Wheels Inc. since 2005. He has found bike riding improves leg strength and increases overall physical activity.
More...
- NFL: Marketer Logos on Practice Jerseys Not a Tryout for Future Deals
Rich Thomaselli
Advertising Age
June 10, 2009
The NFL has given another inch on marketing deals between teams and advertisers, but it's promising it won't give a mile. More...
At least one expert said this can be interpreted as a move toward logos on game jerseys.
“It is, at least, a test of fan reaction to it,” said Bettina Cornwell, professor of marketing and sports management at the University of Michigan. “I'm sure [the league] is mulling over the future and how to make the most of the potential change. Times are tough, admittedly, and the search for new revenue streams is understandable. On the other hand, economic pressures may allow acceptable justification for introducing a practice that has been waiting in the wings for decades.”
- Yankees’ Patrons in Not-So-Cheap Seats Also Deserve a Break
Richard Sandomir
New York Times
April 30, 2009
In a piece about ticket prices at the new Yankee Stadium, Jason Winfree, associate professor of Sport Management, said that although fans complain about the price of tickets, they usually buy them.
“If you raise prices, you usually won't have a very big effect,” he said. But as an economist interested in how teams maximize their ticket revenue, he said, “I hope no one shows up, so we can figure out what people are willing to pay.” (Full article)
- Scientists closer to understanding how to control high blood sugar
Laura Bailey
U-M News Service
March 18, 2009
Scientists are closer to understanding which proteins help control blood sugar, or glucose, during and after exercise. This understanding could lead to new drug therapies or more effective exercise to prevent Type 2 diabetes and other health problems associated with having high blood sugar.
Insulin resistance happens when insulin produced by the body doesn't properly stimulate the transport of glucose into the cells for energy. Too much glucose in the bloodstream can cause a host of medical problems, including Type 2 diabetes, said Gregory Cartee, professor at the U-M School of Kinesiology. (Full article)
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