The LANCE Laboratory

LANCE (Laboratory for Advanced Neuromuscular Control of Exercise) is a lab within the Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Promotion that researches the intersection of muscle recruitment, contractile function, metabolism and how these respond to exercise stimuli. We use in vivo approaches to muscle imaging (ultrasound and magnetic resonance), motor unit recruitment (electromyography), and contractile function (isokinetic dynamometry and electrically-evoked twitch) to understand muscle function in humans. We collaborate with researchers within the College of Health Sciences, Center for Muscle Biology, and Sports Medicine Research Institute. We adapt our techniques to study how various stimuli such as disuse atrophy, exercise, and sleep restriction affect physical performance and health.

LANCE explores how muscle size, architecture, motor unit recruitment, and contractile performance respond to various acute and chronic exercise and de-training stimuli using human in vivo research techniques. We further explore the mechanistic basis underpinning these responses.

Lance Bollinger, PhD (Director): Dr. Bollinger obtained his PhD in Bioenergetics and Exercise Science from East Carolina University in 2013. Leveraging previous applied experience and mechanistic work in cellular and molecular biology, Dr. Bollinger now uses human in vivo approaches to answer mechanistic questions about motor control and metabolism.

Jordan Hughes (PhD Candidate): Jordan uses surface electromyography decomposition approaches with torque- and EMG-clamped trapezoidal contractions to understand recruitment/derecruitment and potentiation in skeletal muscles.

Masafumi Uchiumi (PhD candidate): Masa explores how sleep quality and duration relate to motor unit recruitment, muscle strength, and balance regulation. In addition to his research, Masa owns a private sports medicine practice in Japan and regularly works with the Japanese national team athletes in international competitions.

Dalton Harris (PhD student): Dalton explores how motor unit recruitment and rate coding map onto oxygen consumption, substrate utilization, and bioenergetic systems during aerobic exercise.

Thapelo Molefhi (MS student): T investigates how motor unit properties compare between people with and without chronic ankle instability and how this relates to plantarflexor force steadiness and postural control.