DIVISION OF ATHLETIC TRAINING FACULTY PROFILES
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Patrick O
McKeon, PhD, ATCDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences
210, College of Health Sciences Building
900 South Limestone Ave
Lexington, KY 40536-0200
Tel: 859-323-1100 Ext 80885
Fax: 859-323-6005
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| Recent Publications
PubMed
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Curriculum Vitae |
pmckeo2@uky.edu |
Dr. Patrick McKeon is a NATABOC certified athletic trainer and
will be joining the faculty of the Division of
Athletic Training in the summer of 2007. He
recently completed his doctorate of philosophy at the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville.
My research focuses on sensorimotor alterations
associated with lower extremity joint injury, specifically ankle
instability. I have identified postural control and gait alterations
associated with chronic ankle instability utilizing novel instrumented
techniques derived from the dynamical systems theory of motor control.
According to the dynamical systems theory, musculoskeletal injury
constrains the sensorimotor system, resulting in decreased variability
in coordination strategies. The impaired postural control and gait
mechanics associated with chronic ankle instability may reflect a loss
of functional variability in the sensorimotor system resulting in an
impaired defense against injury. It is unknown whether or not this
functional variability can be restored. Currently I am examining the
effect of a progressive balance training program designed from current
athletic training clinical practice on these measures of movement
variability in those with chronic ankle instability. We hypothesize
that as these measures of movement variability increase, there will be a
concomitant increase in self-reported functional outcome measures.
My goals in the future include developing a greater
understanding of the role of movement variability related to deficits in
postural control and gait mechanics associated with ankle instability
and other lower extremity joint pathology. By utilizing these novel
instrumented techniques to assess movement variability within postural
control and gait, I aim to elucidate the link between deficits in
movement variability both as a risk factor and sequela of lower
extremity injury. I also seek to develop a greater understanding of the
restoration of sensorimotor function associated with rehabilitation. By
combining the laboratory measures described above with the current
athletic training rehabilitation techniques, I plan to design clinical
trials to examine the restoration of movement variability after lower
extremity pathology. I believe information from this line of research
will provide insight into effective clinical interventions for the
sports medicine clinician to improve patient functional outcomes and
provide insight into prevention strategies for lower extremity injury.
