Research & Scholarship
Research Interests:
Human cortical and spinal plasticity after central nervous system lesions
Human motor control and motor learning
Recent Publications:
Littmann AE, McHenry CL, Shields RK. Variability of motor cortical excitability using a novel mapping procedure. J Neurosci Methods 2013; 214(2): 137-143.
Littmann AE, Iguchi M, Madhavan S, Kolarik JL, Shields RK. Dynamic-position-sense impairment’s independence of perceived knee function in women with ACL reconstruction. J Sport Rehabilitation 2012; 21:44-53.
Iguchi M, Littmann AE, Chang S-H, Wester L, Knipper J, Shields RK. Heat stress and cardiovascular, hormonal, and heat shock proteins in humans. J Athl Train 2012; 47(2): 184-190.
Chang S-H, Tseng S-C, McHenry C, Littmann AE, Suneja M, Shields RK. Limb segment vibration modulates spinal reflex excitability and muscle mRNA expression after spinal cord injury. Clin Neurophysiol 2012; 123(3): 558-568.
Dudley-Javoroski S, Littmann AE, Chang S-H, McHenry CL, Shields RK. Enhancing muscle force and femur compressive loads via feedback-controlled stimulation of paralyzed quadriceps in humans. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2011; 92: 242-9.
Dudley-Javoroski S, Littmann AE, Iguchi M, Shields RK. Doublet stimulation protocol to minimize musculoskeletal stress during paralyzed quadriceps muscle testing. J Appl Phys 2008; 104(6):1574-82
Recent Presentations:
Dudley-Javoroski S, Adams CM, Suneja M, Faidley EA, Littmann AE, Tseng S-C, Shields RK. Electrical and mechanical stimulation regulate mRNA expression in human paralyzed muscle. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, November 2011.
Dudley-Javoroski S, Adams CM, Littmann AE, Suneja M, McHenry CL, Saha P, Shields RK. Long-term training with electrical stimulation regulates muscle gene expression and bone architecture after SCI. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, June 2011.
McHenry CL, Littmann AE, Chang J, Ivey M, Schirmer H, Veltri J, Shields RK. Heat stress influences neuromuscular control during a novel weight-bearing task. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 2010.
Littmann AE, Chang J, McHenry CL, Houska E, Huey S, Waggoner J, Shields RK. Passive heat stress and neuromuscular training influence motor cortical excitability of the FDI muscle. Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 2010.
Dudley-Javoroski S, Littmann AE, Chang S-H, Shields RK. Feedback controlled quadriceps stimulation to optimize musculoskeletal loading in stance after spinal cord injury. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, October 2009.
Shields RK, Dudley-Javoroski S, Littmann AE. Active standing under electrical stimulation control influences muscle adaptations after spinal cord injury. Combined Sections Meeting Of The American Physical Therapy Association, Las Vegas NV, February 2009.
Shields R, Iguchi M, Littmann AE, Wester L. Influence of whole body heat stress on muscle fatigue in humans. Combined Sections Meeting Of The American Physical Therapy Association, Las Vegas, NV, February 2009.
Shields RK, Dudley-Javoroski S, Littmann AE. Active resistive standing influences musculoskeletal adaptations after spinal cord injury. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, November 2008.
Iguchi M, Dudley-Javoroski S, Littmann AE, Shields RK. Doublet stimulation: a safer technique for testing paralyzed quadriceps force and contractile speed. Combined Sections Meeting Of The American Physical Therapy Association, Nashville, TN, February 2008.
Littmann AE, Iguchi M, Shields RK. Influence of knee ACL reconstruction on dynamic position sense: evidence using a sequential movement task. Combined Sections Meeting Of The American Physical Therapy Association, Nashville, TN, February 2008.