James Agostinucci

Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
(401) 874-4066
gusser@uri.edu

I independently run the neuromuscular research laboratory in the Independence Square II building. My primary research focus is investigating the effect that various treatments used in physical therapy have on motoneuron reflex excitability and muscle tone. Physical Therapists use a variety of treatment methods to affect the nervous system to improve movement, patient independence and functional ability. Many of these methods have recently come under scrutiny because there isn't any current evidence to suggest these treatments permanently affect the nervous system. To show these treatments are efficacious I use various electromyographic (EMG) techniques that assess the excitability of spinal cord motoneurons and interneurons to evaluate the neurophysiologic affects of that respective treatment. My latest experiments have looked at the effects that circumferential pressure has on muscle activity and ramp movements. Additional studies conducted in the lab are motor unit analysis, motor preparation, reaction time and general quantitative EMG.