»PROF. LOU OSTERING
attaches the electrodes
to the muscles of the
athlete and has her flex
and extend her leg.
Ostering. a University
physical education pro
fessor, uses tests like this to determine
what a normal knee should look like and
how it should perform.
Although knees are extremely
vulnerable parts of the body, with over
100.000 knee injuries occurring in the
United States each year, little conclusive
research is available about injuries,
rehabilitative exercise and the normal
Osternig wants to change that.
Since 1976, Ostemig’s research has
focused on knees — looking at the ef
fects of surgery, the way the knees of dif
ferent types of athletes differ and finding
out how normal knees and the muscles
around them work together.
Testing athletes in high risk groups to
develop a profile of their knees has been
one part of Ostemig's research. However,
few of the athletes tested have actually
gotten hurt so the usual procedure is for
trainers to compare the injured knee with
the uninjured limb. But without data
before the accident, “you can never know
exactly,” he says.
It has been impossible for Osternig to
test massive amounts of athletes
because of the time it takes for the tests
— one hour for each athlete — and the
difficulty of scheduling. For example, to
test the whole football team would take
about two weeks of solid work, assuming
that the athletes would ail have the time
and interest in being tested.
Looking at different types of athletes
and the differences between knee struc
ture is another aspect of Ostemig's
research.
He has tested athletes in explosive ac
tivities like gymnastics and those involv
ed in endurance activities like long
distance running.
■We wanted to assess them because
we feel their muscles are quite different,*’
says Osternlg. “They do vary
dramatically.'’
Athletes involved in endurance ac
tivities have smaller "force curves” than
those in explosive activities. Force
curves are a measure of the amount of
force a muscle exerts while doing a cer
tain motion.
Some trainers may think that a smaller
force curve is a negative thing and that
the athlete needs to build up strength,
but this could be detrimental, says Oster
nig. A long distance runner does not need
the same level of performance In the
muscles as the gymnast — the dif
ferences in the curves simply reflect the
differences in the sports.
How the muscles around the knee in
teract also concerns Ostemig. Certain
muscles work antagonistically — when
trying to develop one, the athlete finds
the other muscle will inhibit
performance
One important thing Ostemig has
discovered is that antagonism between
muscle groups lessens as the muscle Is
developed. This is positive for serious
athletes, says Ostemig, because it gives
them the ability to improve.
Ostemig and his associate Prof, ©any
Bates, also in physical education, haw
received two, two-year grants between
1976 and i960 from the Northwest Area
Foundation for a total of about $149,006.
Examining muscles around the knee
after rehabititatory surgery is another
area of Ostemig's research.
Through working with about 20
‘We have a better idea as to what
happens to muscle function after
a specific kind of surgery’
—Lou Ostemig
.....
Coming Soon to the
University of Oregon Campus
The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
October 9 - 15, 1983
All interested men, and transfer Lambda Chis, should contact
Bob Curran, Associate Director of Chapter Services at
(317) 872-8003
or Marti Chaney, 1FC Advisor 686-3216
or the IFC Office 686-5276
be a part of the Lambda Chi Alpha experience!
jam
Main Desk
<
What is available at
the EMU Main Desk?
(Main Floor, New Addition)
Sales: Key chains, candy, cameras, film,
greeting cards, postcards, bicycle locks,
school supplies, magazines, padlocks.
Services: Check cashing for University
students, faculty and staff with proper I.D.
Huh Center ticket sales
Theater discount tickets
Film developing
Trading post ads
Greyhound bus tickets
Fast passes and bus tokens
ODE classified ads
Pay telephone, EWEB & gas bills
Concert tickets
Shakespearean Festival tickets
Oregon Coast Line Bus Tickets
International I.D. cards
Amer. Youth Hostel Cards
r
Tape duplication
instant cassette copies!
Quality stereo or monaural duplication.
Check the prices today at your
Bookstore.