Understanding the Neurophysiology of Ankle Instability to Improve Rehabilitation Outcomes
Faculty: Adam Rosen, Christopher Burcal, Brian Knarr, Elizabeth Wellsandt
Students: Sarah Woelfel, Madison Kerr, Jake Decker, Cara Self
Project Description: This project explores how the brain may play a critical role in recovery from chronic ankle instability following an ankle sprain. Led by Adam Rosen, Ph.D., alongside collaborators in sports medicine and rehabilitation, the NIH-funded study examines how neurocognitive function and brain activity influence balance, movement, and long-term ankle stability. The research suggests that traditional rehabilitation may overlook important neurological factors that contribute to persistent instability and recurrent injury. By combining biomechanics, neurophysiology, and rehabilitation science, the team aims to develop more personalized, evidence-based treatment strategies that improve recovery outcomes and reduce the long-term impact of ankle injuries.
Funding Source: NIH Project #1R15AG085105-01
Learn More: Is Your Brain Preventing You From Recovering From an Ankle Injury?
Maverick Peak Performance Program
Faculty: Sam Wilkins, Brian Knarr, Adam Rosen, Taryn Ninemire
Research Assistants: Billy Lozowski, Dimitri Haan, Tomohiro Ide, Jake Decker, Cara Self, Sarah Woelfel, Cameron Jensen, Brandon Muczynski, Brandon Doehne
Project Description: The Maverick Peak Performance Program (MP3) is an innovative, interdisciplinary initiative designed to elevate student-athlete performance, health, and well-being through the integration of sports science, biomechanics, athletic training, and performance analytics. Led by Sam Wilkins, the MP3 was developed through a collaboration between Omaha Athletics and the UNO Sports Medicine and Biomechanics Research Lab. The program leverages evidence-based practices and data-driven strategies to optimize athletic performance, reduce injury risk, and enhance long-term athlete development.
Funding Source: UNO Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund
Learn More: Maverick Peak Performance Program to Advance Athlete Health, Research, and Community Impact
Understanding Environment-Dependent Physiological Response Relationships to Athlete Performance
Faculty: Brian Knarr
Students: Brandon Doehne, Brandon Muczynski
Project Description: This project investigates how athletes’ physiological responses differ between practice and game environments and how these responses relate to sport-specific performance. While athletic performance is commonly evaluated using performance metrics such as pitching velocity, race times, or scoring statistics, environmental factors such as competition, crowd presence, stress, and adrenaline may influence both physiological responses and performance outcomes. By collecting and comparing heart rate, breathing rate, and performance metrics across practice and game settings, this study aims to identify meaningful relationships between physiological patterns and athletic success, providing new insights into how environmental conditions affect sports performance.
Funding Source: GRACA
Analysis of Kinematics, Kinetics, Energy Demands, and Injury Risk Markers Across Pitch Types in Collegiate and Youth Fastpitch Softball Pitchers
Faculty: Brian Knarr
Students: Paden Collard, Kevin Starnes
Project Description: This project investigates the biomechanical and physiological factors that influence both performance and injury risk in softball pitchers. By analyzing pitching mechanics, joint forces, energy demands, and performance measures across a variety of pitch types, the study aims to identify factors associated with pitching effectiveness and increased stress on the upper extremity. Additional assessments of shoulder and hip function will be used to examine how mobility, strength, and movement patterns relate to pitching performance and injury risk. The findings may help improve athlete monitoring, optimize performance, and inform injury prevention strategies in softball pitchers.
Cognitive-Motor Interaction During Unconstrained Movement in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Faculty: Chris Burcal
Student Researchers: Ikheon Song
Project Description: This project explores how dual-tasking affects gait in people with chronic ankle instability. This study will evaluate gait using an adaptive speed treadmill to determine dual-task cost during unconstrained conditions, while evaluating multiple domains of cognitive function in people with and without chronic ankle instability.
Funding source: UNO, Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association, National Athletic Trainers’ Association
Comparing Visual Training Techniques in those with Chronic Ankle Instability
Faculty: Chris Burcal
Research Assistant: Jake Decker
Project Description: This project compares the use of Strobe Goggles and Virtual Reality during a rehabilitation program to reduce reliance on vision to for balance and stability in people with ankle instability.
Funding source: UNO, Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association, Nebraska State Athletic Trainers’ Association
Source Not Site: Understanding the Biomechanical Origins of Arm Pain in Baseball Pitchers
Faculty: Brian Knarr, Sam Wilkins
Research Assistants: Billy Lozowski, Cameron Jensen
Project Description: Arm pain is a persistent challenge for baseball pitchers and is often linked to repeated exposure to high joint loads during pitching. While previous research has identified associations between pitching biomechanics and arm pain, interventions frequently focus on treating the site of pain rather than addressing the underlying mechanical causes. This project aims to identify the earliest biomechanical flaws in the pitching motion that contribute to excessive arm loading and pain. By targeting these deficiencies, we hope to develop more effective biomechanical interventions that improve throwing mechanics and provide longer-term benefits for injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Assessing the Interaction between Visual Occlusion and Cognitive Loading
Faculty: Chris Burcal
Collaborators: Jiho Kang (University of Kentucky)
Project Description: This project aims to understand the behavioral and neurophysiological interactions between sensory reweighting and cognitive-motor dual tasking. People with and without chronic ankle instability perform single leg balance under dual task conditions while vision is progressively occluded or blocked.
Funding source: UNO, Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association, National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Nebraska State Athletic Trainers’ Association
Biomechanical Determinants of Single-leg Side Hop Test Performance
Faculty: Brian Knarr, Adam Rosen
Research Assistants: Billy Lozowski, Madison Kerr
Project Description: The side-hop test (SHT) is a functional performance assessment commonly used to evaluate lower-limb function. While its discriminatory properties are well established, comparatively little is known about factors modulating performance. With a better understanding of the key factors driving performance (i.e. anthropometric constraints, movement strategy differences etc.), the interpretability and clinical utility of the SHT will be enhanced.