WCHP faculty receives grant to help stroke survivors with exercise
Nicholas Siekirk, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Georgia Southern University Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, has been awarded a $3,083 grant to support his ongoing research of how recumbent exercise may help those who have experienced a unilateral stroke.
Siekirk and second-year graduate research assistant Jordan Brown will use the grant money, which was awarded by Georgia Southern University’s Faculty Research Committee, to provide stroke survivors in the local community access to supervised exercise.
“Exercise adherence is influenced by patient motivation but also by the availability of resources,” stated Siekirk. “Rural communities often lack adequate access to many health care resources. Commonly, these communities are also plagued by commonplace lifestyle factors that increase the risk of chronic disease. The community’s advancing age, limited insurance and co-founding financial burdens also exacerbate the problem.”
The intervention Siekirk will provide will focus on improving the function of the stroke survivor’s affected side and examine how recumbent exercise may transfer to the patient’s walking ability.
“Exercise programs for stroke survivors should be aimed at not only increasing independence but also reducing risk factors related to chronic disease,” said Siekirk. “Recumbent exercise can be a useful tool that requires minimal supervision and combines aspects of strength and cardiovascular training.”
Brown is grateful for the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with research, which she described as one of the best parts of her time at Georgia Southern.
“I share similar research interests with Siekirk to include topics on unilateral stroke and how exercise can help these individuals,” Brown said. “While working with Dr. Siekirk, I have been able to learn so much about the research process, proper data collection techniques and how to work various pieces of equipment in the labs. Additionally, Dr. Siekirk has taught me how to write IRBs and informed consents.”
The research will be conducted in the newly renovated Waters College of Health Professions Kinesiology Research Laboratories located on Georgia Southern’s Statesboro Campus.
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