Jakob obtained his BSc in kinesiology from University of Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2014. He then continued his studies at Neuromuscular Research Centre, Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. There, he graduated with an MSc in sport science (biomechanics major) in 2016 with a thesis entitled ‘Neural mechanisms of bilateral deficit in maximal force production’. Since October 2016, Jakob has been a Ph.D. candidate at Northumbria University. Though seated with Applied Sciences his studies are cross-departmental with Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation.
A force exerted by a muscle is not constant, but rather fluctuates about an average value. These force fluctuations, likely modulated by neural factors, are greater during lengthening contractions and in specific populations such as the elderly and individuals with pathological forms of tremor. The aging nervous system may have a greater difficulty modulating lengthening contractions and several changes within the nervous system associated with aging seem to support that. Furthermore, lengthening contractions are known to be differently modulated by the nervous system when compared to shortening and isometric ones. Whilst the evidence shows support for resistance exercise as a viable strategy to improve force steadiness, none of the available studies have explored training using lengthening contractions, which may have a greater potential for improvement.
The aim of Jakob’s Ph.D. is to provide the link between reduced steadiness of lengthening contractions and changes within the nervous system associated with aging. Furthermore, the aim is to explore lengthening contractions in a resistance training program to improve force steadiness in both the elderly and individuals with pathological forms of tremor.
Škarabot, J., Cronin, N., Strojnik, V. & Avela, J. (2016). Bilateral deficit in maximal force production. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 116(11-12), 2057-2084.
Škarabot, J., Alfonso, R.P., Cronin, N., Bon, J., Strojnik, V. & Avela, J. (2016). Corticospinal and transcallosal modulation of unilateral and bilateral contractions of lower limbs. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 116(11-12), 2197-2214.
Beardsley, C. & Škarabot, J. (2015). Effects of self-myofascial release: A systematic review. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, 19(4), 747-758.
Škarabot, J., Beardsley, C. & Štirn, I. (2015). Comparing the effects of self-myofascial release on ankle range-of-motion in adolescent athletes. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 10(2), 203-212.
Monteiro, E.R., Škarabot, J., Vigotsky, A.D., Brown, A.F., Gomes, T.M. & Novaes, J.S. (2017). Maximum repetition performance after different antagonist foam rolling volumes in the inter-set rest period. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 12(1), 1-9.
Monteiro, E.R., Škarabot, J., Vigotsky, A.D., Brown, A.F., Gomes, T.M. & Novaes, J.S. (2017). Acute effects of different self-massage volumes on the FMSTM overhead squat deep squat performance. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 12(1), 1-11.
Škarabot, J., Alfonso, R.P., Bon, J., Strojnik, V. & Avela, J. (2016). Corticospinal and transcallosal modulation of unilateral and bilateral contractions. Presented at XXI Annual Congress of European College of Sport Science. Vienna, Austria.
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