The Neuromechanics Laboratory in the Department of Kinesiology under the directorship of Dr. Adam Knight and Dr. Harish Chander focuses on a comprehensive biomechanical, neuromuscular, motor learning and performance analysis of human movement. The aim of the lab is to enhance understanding in biomechanical, behavioral, neural, and cognitive mechanisms underlying human movements and to improve performance and prevent injuries in a variety of populations ranging from recreational, athletic, occupational, geriatric and special populations.
Check out our research: Neuromechanics Laboratory - We Ring True!
Directors of the Neuromechanics Laboratory
Dr. Adam Knight
- Professor
- Graduate Coordinator
- Co-Director of the Neuromechanics Laboratory
Dr. Harish Chander
- Associate Professor
- Co-Director of Neuromechanics Laboratory
Current Doctoral Students
- Aaron Griffith
- Hunter Derby
- Kristy Gourley
Current Masters Students
- Sally Barfield
- Megan Moorehead
Lab Student Awards
- 2021 ORED/COE Graduate Student Researcher of the Year Award – Sachini Kodi
- 2021 Kinesiology Doctoral Student of the Year Award – Sachini Kodi
- 2020 ORED/COE Undergraduate Student Researcher of the Year Award – Luke Ramsey
- 2020 ORED/COE Graduate Student Researcher of the Year Award – Alana Turner
- 2020 ORED/COE Undergraduate Student Researcher of the Year Award – Hannah Freeman
- 2020 Graduate School Donald Zacharias GTA of the Year Award – Sachini Kodi
- 2019 Kinesiology Master’s Student of the Year Award – Sachini Kodi
- 2018 Kinesiology Master’s Student of the Year Award – Alana Turner
- 2018 Graduate School Research Poster Presentation Winner – Sachini Kodi
- 2017 ORED/COE Undergraduate Student Researcher of the Year Award – Alana Turner
- 2016 ORED/COE Graduate Student Researcher of the Year Award – Jeffrey Simpson
- 2015 ORED/COE Graduate Student Researcher of the Year Award – Chris Hill
Lab Alumni
- Dr. Sachini Kodi - Assistant Professor - Weber State University
- Dr. Alana Turner - Assistant Professor - Coastal Carolina University
- Dr. Hunter DeBusk - Human Factors Engineer - John Deere
- Dr. Chris Hill - Assistant Professor - Northern Illinois University
- Dr. Jeffrey Simpson - Assistant Professor - University of West Florida
- Hannah Freeman - Doctor of Occupational Therapy Student - University of Alabama-Birmingham
Research
Human factors and ergonomics research focuses on population such as military, firefighters, warehousing, construction and manufacturing. Clinical and sports biomechanics research focuses on chronic ankle instability, pediatrics, geriatrics, and on athletes at various levels in a variety of sports.
Human Factors and Ergonomics
- Physical and cognitive ergonomics
- Safety promotion and injury prevention
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Fall prevention
- Postural control and balance training
- Workload, work task and fatigue
- Virtual reality (VR)
- Wearable technology and sensors
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Occupational footwear
Clinical and Sports Biomechanics
- Performance enhancement and injury prevention
- Chronic ankle instability
- Foot-ankle biomechanics
- Balance assessment and training
- Wearable technology and sensors
- Ergogenic aids
- Sporting and casual footwear
- Adapted physical activity in pediatrics
- Fall prevention in obese and geriatrics
Research Publications & Funding
Click here for a full list of research publications
Projects funded by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Science Foundation (NSF) [NSF-PFI, NSF-MRI, NSF I-Corps], National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute (NHLBI), Mississippi Center for Clinical & Translational Research (MCCTR).
Facilities
- 10-camera Motion Analysis motion capture system
- 8-channel wireless Noraxon EMG system
- 16-channel wireless Delsys EMG system
- 32-channel EMOTIV EEG system
- 14-channel EMOTIV EEG system
- Dual AMTI force plates with walkway
- BTrackS balance platform
- HTC Vive Pro-Eye - Full VR system with eye tracking
- Meta Quest 2 VR system
- Blazepod cognitive response time trainer system
- Foot arch height measurement index tool
- Pressure pain algometer
- Digitimer electrical stimulator
- Fall harness system
- Treadmill
- Cycle ergometer
- Vibration plate
- Multiple exercise tools for fatigue induction
- Motorsport racing simulator with cockpit (Xbox Gaming Console) for E-Sports/E-Racing/Sim-Racing
- Pediatric exercise therapy equipment
Research Collaborators
- Athlete Engineering
- Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS)
- Industrial Systems and Engineering
- Electrical and Computer Engineering (Sensor Lab and Radar Lab)
- Computer Science and Engineering (Hi5 Lab)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Agriculture and Biomedical Engineering (NERD)
- Fashion Design and Merchandising
- Building Construction Science
Recent Research Presentations
- The Impact of Noise Interference and Fatigue on Simple and Choice Response Times
- Efficacy of a Novel Virtual Reality Fall Prevention Training Tool on Limits of Postural Stability
- Postural Control Behavior in a Virtual Moving Room Paradigm
- Quick on Your Feet: Revamping the Star Excursion Balance Test with a Response Time Task
- Limits of Stability in Postural Control Are Not Impacted by Compression Socks in Healthy Adults
- Impact of Different Personal Floatation Devices During a Simulated Workload on Physiological Responses
- The Impact of Sub-Clinical and Clinical Compression Socks During the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration of Balance
- Influence of Real-World and Virtual Reality Slip-Trip Training on Gait and Balance Confidence
Current and Prospective Students
Undergraduate Students:
Neuromechanics Research Group (NRG) – Undergraduate Research Club.
Description
This organization is for students interested in Neuromechanics research. Neuromechanics is a field of study that focuses on the effects of neural interventions on muscle activity to produce human movement. The goal of the group is to further understand the nature of neuromechanics and how it can be applied to real world situations.
Requirements:
To become a member, you must meet the following requirements:
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Interested in Neuromechanics research
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CITI certified through the IRB website to conduct human subjects’ research
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Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of membership. Freshman must have at least 12 hours of college credit at MSU to be eligible for membership.
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For other research opportunities, please contact Dr. Knight and Dr. Chander.
Graduate Students:
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Masters’ students who want to opt for the “thesis” or the “directed individual study (DIS)” concluding option and interested to do this in the Neuromechanics Laboratory, should contact Dr. Knight and Dr. Chander, as early as possible into their respective academic curriculum.
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Potential Doctoral students, interested in Neuromechanics, please contact Dr. Knight and Dr. Chander.
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Graduate students who are interested in the Neuromechanics Laboratory are welcome to attend our weekly research meetings. Follow us on Twitter @MSU_NMLab for the most recent updates and meeting times.
Resources:
- American Society of Biomechanics (ASB)
- Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society (GCMAS)
- National Athletic Training Association (NATA)
- Society for Neuroscience (SfN)
- International Society of Posture & Gait Research (ISPGR)
- National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Prospective Students
Thank you for your interest in the Neuromechanics Laboratory. The NM Lab focuses on research encompassing neuroscience and biomechanics and offers research, learning, directed individual studies (DIS) and internship opportunities, working with one or multiple faculty members, based on your research interests.
- For more information on undergraduate programs, visit: http://www.kinesiology.msstate.edu/undergraduate/
- For more information on graduate programs, visit: http://www.kinesiology.msstate.edu/graduate/
Contact Us
299-9 Morrill Rd, (Old Music Building C)
Mississippi State, MS 39762
The Neuromechanics Laboratory's research core faculty members include Drs. Adam Knight, Harish Chander, Zhujun Pan, Chih-Chia Chen, Zack Gillen and John Lamberth.
Follow us on Twitter
For more recent lab updates and ongoing research, please follow the Neuromechanics Laboratory @MSU_NMLab on Twitter.