KHS Student Presents Research on Capitol Hill

A student in Kinesiology and Health Science presented research to Utah legislators at USU’s annual Research on Capitol Hill event in Salt Lake City earlier last month. Hunter Horsley, a senior studying exercise science, researches ACL injuries and neuroplasticity after an injury.

The main focus of Horsley’s research is how recovering from musculoskeletal injuries can affect neuroplasticity. By measuring neural activity in research participants who have previously recovered from an ACL injury, Horsley and his team are exploring how our brains influence movement and what happens if that connection is altered. This data could help improve standards for rehabilitation of ACL injuries to help individuals recover more quickly and reduce risk of reinjury.

Horsley is interested in attending medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon, and this research project has helped him learn more about his future career and given him more insight on musculoskeletal injury. He has also gained invaluable experience working with research participants, team members, and stakeholders interested in the findings of his research, such as Utah legislators.

Dr. Anne Beethe, faculty mentor over Horsley and the other students on the research team, said that her favorite part of the experience is working closely with student researchers. “Each of them has made it really exciting to come into work, conduct test sessions, and try to explore something new,” she said. “All our students were brought on because they showed interest in research and sports medicine.” In addition to Beethe, key mentors and contributors to this research include Bonny Lu, Kenneth Harrison, Keaton Reel, Dr. Sara Harper, Dr. Breanna Studenka, and Dr. Dave Bolton.

Read more about Hunter and the other participants in Research on Capitol Hill in this news article from the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services.