In This Issue

• Message from Director
• Research
• Outreach
• Service
• Philanthropy

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Message from Director

Dear Friends:

June 14, 2018 marked one year since the opening of the UK Sports Medicine Research Institute (SMRI). Throughout this past year, we have embarked on our mission to conduct interdisciplinary research to optimize the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and performance.

Looking back on this past year, I am filled with a great sense of gratitude and pride. The tremendous support from our partners: the College of Health Sciences, UK HealthCare, UK Athletics, and the College of Medicine; the collaborative efforts of our faculty; and the warm welcome from the UK and Lexington communities have all contributed to making the inaugural year of SMRI a success. In addition, I am deeply proud of the accomplishments of the SMRI faculty, staff, and students. Through their dedication and hard work, they have played integral roles in forging our path and have helped establish SMRI’s role and impact at UK, in the Commonwealth, and beyond.

As we look forward to the next year, we are enthusiastic about all that is to come. Thank you for your support.
 
Sincerely,
John Abt

Research

Research over the past year included continuation with the Department of Defense, expansion of the Jockey/Equestrian initiative, and creation of new initiatives to address the physical, musculoskeletal, cognitive, and psychosocial needs of Veterans, Athletes, and Active Women. Specific research focused on:

• Optimizing physical performance in the tactical athlete
• Determining the effect of sleep restriction on performance and injury risk
• Anti-inflammatory post-ACL reconstruction intervention
• Post-concussion recovery and risk of musculoskeletal injury
• Virtual and augmented reality post-concussion rehabilitation development
• Physical improvements in novice riders enrolled in the North American Riding Academy
• Heart rate and force comparison between real and simulated riding

Research and resource funding received during the past year included:

• Marines Special Operations Preparedness (PI: John Abt), Office of Naval Research- $4M/3 years
• Addressing Neuromuscular Deficits for Improved Outcomes in Ankle Rehabilitation (PI: Phillip Gribble), US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command- $2.5M/4 years
• Improving Functional and Self-Reported Outcomes in Females with History of Musculoskeletal Knee Injury (PI: Johanna Hoch), CCTS New Investigator- $25,000/1 year
• Hero Tribute Wall (PI: Meaghan Beck), Herman Lee and Nell Stuart Donovan Memorial Trust- $12,500/1 year
• Connecting the Pieces: How Low Back Pain Alters Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Shock Attenuation in Active Individuals (PI: Alexa Johnson), American Society of Biomechanics Student Award- $2000/1 year

Outreach

The SMRI was actively engaged in several outreach opportunities this past year. Outreach by the SMRI provides a venue by which we can contribute to improving the health and wellness of the citizens of the Commonwealth, exposing students to future opportunities as scholars, and immersive experiences to develop and expand research skills.

• Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB)- led weekend seminar to develop skills necessary for community leaders to engage veterans and civilians through physical activity instruction
• Operation Wildcat- collaborative event with Team RWB, Kentucky Army National Guard, and Lexington Fire Department that promoted community engagement around a fitness challenge at Kroger Field
• Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)- share decade’s worth of research and provide consultation on injury prevention and physical readiness to UK Army and Air Force ROTC; provided research summary to regional Army ROTC cadre
• Army National Guard- presented on strategies to improve physical fitness and overall health and wellness
• Army-Baylor Physical Therapy/Internships- provided research internship to students wanting to learn basic laboratory and clinical-based research procedures
• Area Health Education Center Summer Camps/Biomechanics Day- students instructed in different aspects of research methodologies

Service

Performance and wellness services were established to improve the awareness of performance optimization, health improvements, and quality of life to the public of the Commonwealth. To find more information about these services visit: https://www.uky.edu/chs/smri/services.

Philanthropy

The support by people committed to furthering the care of athletes, tactical athletes, and physically active individuals contributes greatly to the success of UK Sports Medicine Research Institute. Tax-deductible gifts help fund programs that propel new ideas from the laboratory and clinic onto the field and into the training room. Gifts to the UK Sports Medicine Research Institute Fund support:

• Endowed Professorships
• Research Fellowships
• Graduate Research Assistantships
• Student Travel to Professional Conferences
• Research Project
• Community Seminars
• Equipment
• Operations

You can give online at https://bit.ly/2z3YZi4. For more information about giving, please contact Loralyn Cecil at laceci2@uky.edu or 859-218-0563.