Lengthening Your Perspective: Using Eccentric Exercise to Treat Neural and Morphological Deficits After Injury

THIS PRESENTATION IS A REPLAY FROM NATA 2019 IN LAS VEGAS, OFFERING A SECOND CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE EVENT'S VALUABLE CONTENT AND INSIGHTS.

Abstract:
Imprudent translation of in situ and in vitro stretch protocols to the clinic has perpetuated a misconception in the literature that exposing an untrained muscle to eccentric exercise leads to injury. This session will present the evidence in support of eccentric exercise as an efficacious intervention to optimize neural activity and muscle morphology after injury. Mechanisms by which eccentric exercise facilitates recovery and how to translate these results into the clinic will be discussed.

Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to develop an eccentric exercise protocol that directly targets insufficiencies in neural activity and muscle morphology after injury., 
  • Participants will be able to summarize how eccentric exercise can mechanically engage muscle to promote beneficial adaptations in muscle health., 
  • Participants will be able to understand clinical scenarios of when to apply eccentric exercise to enhance recovery following injury.

Level:
Advanced

Domains:
Domain 4: Therapeutic Intervention

CEUs:
1.0 Category A

Keywords: eccentric exercise, protocol, neural activity, muscle morphology, injury, rehabilitation, treatment

Lindsey Lepley, PhD, ATC

Dr. Lindsey Lepley is an associate professor of Athletic Training, director of the Comparative Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Laboratory (CORL), and co-director of the Orthopedic Rehabilitation & Biomechanics Laboratory (ORB) at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology. In 2014, she earned a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan and subsequently completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Kentucky’s Center for Muscle Biology. Dr. Lepley took her first faculty position at the University of Connecticut and has been at the University of Michigan since 2019.

Dr. Lepley’s research program focuses on elucidating the mechanisms that regulate skeletal muscle strength, activation, and structure after traumatic joint injury to establish interventions that optimize muscle recovery. To advance clinical practice, her research group utilizes non-invasive animal injury models and human subject research to design, test, and translate new sports medicine strategies from conception to practice. This rare blend of scientific approaches empowers her lab to make fundamental discoveries about musculoskeletal health that can change rehabilitation.

This work has received several research awards and been selected for featured presentations at national and international scientific meetings. In 2018, Dr. Lepley was awarded a K01 Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health. In 2022, Dr. Lepley translated key findings from her K01 award to R01 funding. Other notable accomplishments include the 2022 Dr. Freddie & Mrs. Hilda Pang New Investigator Award by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the 2015 New Investigator Award by New England American College of Sports Medicine. 

Dr. Lepley has authored more than 50 research articles in peer-reviewed journals including the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Exercise and Sport Sciences Review, Frontiers in Physiology, Journal of Applied Physiology, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, and Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.

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