Dr Justin Andrushko

Justin is a member of the Neuromuscular Function Research Group at Northumbria University. As a member of this group, he investigates the neuromuscular/neurophysiological mechanisms of exercise and motor training strategies to enhance human motor performance. Justin also has an interest in developing feasible, patient-centred protocols that are clinically efficacious for individuals that have suffered an orthopaedic or neurological injury primarily affecting one side of the body. 

Cross-education:

Justin is primarily interested in understanding the neural mechanisms of the cross-education effect; where exercising one side of the body elicits a positive benefit to the same muscle group on the opposite side of the body. Though mechanistic investigations Justin aims to identify how we can maximise the effectiveness of cross-education and determine how best cross-education can be implemented to improve rehabilitation outcomes after injury. 

Neuromuscular adaptations to resistance training:

Justin is interested in studying how exercise variables such as intensity, volume, and contraction type impact neuroplasticity throughout the neuromuscular system. Justin has a particular interest in the effectiveness of eccentric (i.e., muscle lengthening) muscle actions and how they can be use clinically to maximise motor recovery outcomes. Additionally, within this research focus, Justin carries out work that investigates the role of the cortico-reticulospinal tract (A secondary motor pathway) and brain activity in the ipsilateral motor network (i.e., the same side of the brain as the moving limb) for motor function, adaptations and performance.

Justin uses the following tools and methods to address his research questions:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Functional MRI (fMRI)
  • Diffisuion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
  • Structural MRI (Volumetric Analyses)
• Isokinetic Dynamometry
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Potential role of cross-education in early-stage rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, Andrushko, J., Carr, J., Farthing, J., Lepley, L., DeFreitas, J., Goodall, S., Hendy, A., Howatson, G., Grooms, D., Zult, T., Hortobágyi, T., Harput, G., Papandreou, M., Nosaka, K., Carson, R., Manca, A., Deriu, F., Behm, D., Kidgell, D., Clark, N., Boyd, L. 1 Dec 2023, In: British Journal of Sports Medicine
• Exercise prescription and strategies to promote the cross-education of strength: a scoping review, Voskuil, C., Andrushko, J., Huddleston, B., Farthing, J., Carr, J. 1 Aug 2023, In: Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
• Repeated unilateral handgrip contractions alter functional connectivity and improve contralateral limb response times, Andrushko, J., Levenstein, J., Zich, C., Edmond, E., Campbell, J., Clarke, W., Emir, U., Farthing, J., Stagg, C. 20 Apr 2023, In: Scientific Reports
• High force unimanual handgrip contractions increase ipsilateral sensorimotor activation and functional connectivity, Andrushko, J., Gould, L., Renshaw, D., Ekstrand, C., Hortobágyi, T., Borowsky, R., Farthing, J. 1 Jan 2021, In: Neuroscience
• Unilateral strength training leads to muscle-specific sparing effects during opposite homologous limb immobilization, Andrushko, J., Lanovaz, J., Björkman, K., Kontulainen, S., Farthing, J. 1 Apr 2018, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
• Females exhibit smaller volumes of brain activation and lower inter-subject variability during motor tasks, Andrushko, J., Rinat, S., Kirby, E., Dahlby, J., Ekstrand, C., Boyd, L. 17 Oct 2023, In: Scientific Reports

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Invited talk: Accelerating recovery post-ACLR with early-stage eccentric cross-education 2024

• Sports Science PhD August 09 2021
• Sports Science MSc September 21 2017
• Physical Education BA