My name is Jolie Soukup and I am a student at Montezuma-Cortez High School. This summer I am studying neuroscience at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville.
Much of my first week was spent filling out paperwork and reading articles in preparation for the sessions I’d be watching. It sounds dreadfully boring, but luckily I had a great view of Louisville as I accomplished these tasks. Most of the days consisted of paperwork in the morning, and session observation in the afternoon.
I observed neuro-muscular electric stimulation sessions in which electrodes are attached to a person in order to stimulate muscle movement. Other sessions that I observed were gait training sessions; these sessions included large — and very expensive — treadmill equipment.
These machines are designed to support a certain percentage of the patients body weight so, while walking on the treadmill, their muscles develop with correct memory of function; the support provided makes it easier for the personal trainers to control the leg movements of the patient as they walk.
I also met tons of interesting employees and patients!
Proud of you Jolie .. You girls ROCK !