Motor Control and Health Lab
Junior Research Group “Motor Control and Health”
Lab Head (Postdoctoral Researcher): PD Dr. Simon Steib
Scientific Assistants/PhD-Students:
Student Research Assistants:
| Jacopo Cristini | Florence Theil |
| Tamara Pavlova | Michael Croner |
Movement Science Lab
Equipment: i.a. spiroergometry (Viasys), lactate diagnostics (EKF Diagnostics), dynamometry (Schnell M3, Digimax), isokinetics (ISOMED 2000), force plates (Kistler), stabilometer (Lafayette Instruments), treadmill with integrated pressure plate (sensor matrix) (h/p/cosmos/Zebris)
Motion Capturing Lab
Equipment: i.a. Qualisys motion capturing system (8 high-speed infrared cameras); EMG (wireless, Noraxon), split-belt treadmill with integrated force plates (Bertec)
FaST-PD – Facilitating Motor Skill Learning by Aerobic Training in Parkinson’s Disease
Partner: Prof. Dr. Jochen Klucken, Prof. Dr. Jürge
n Winkler (Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen); PD Dr. Martin Winterholler (Klinik für Neurologie, Sana-Krankenhaus Rummelsberg/Nuremberg); German Foundation Neurology (Deutsche Stiftung für Neurologie – DSN)
Aim: To investigate whether a single moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise bout can improve motor learning processes in Parkinson’s disease.
Pre-registration: clinicaltrials.gov I clinicaltrials.gov II
Project description: FaST-PD_I FaST-PD_II FaST-PD_III
Further information: Project homepage
FaMoS – Facilitating Motor Skill Learning
Aim: 
To investigate (i) whether a single cardiovascular exercise bout can improve motor learning of a complex whole-body task, and (ii) whether the effects are intensity or timing dependent.
Pre-registration: open science framework (OSF) PROSPERO
Project description: FaMoS_I FaMoS_II Meta-Analysis
TraCE – VisuomotorTracking skills and Cortical plasticity – Exercise induced interference effects
Aim: To determine whether, and to what extent, high-intensity exercise bout interferes with the motor learning process when the motor task involves muscle groups similar to the exercie bout.
Pre-registration: open science framework (OSF)
Project description: TraCE
Motivation, affective reactions, and motor skill learning
Partner: Dr. Martin Köllner, Prof. Dr. Oliver Schultheiss (Department of Psychology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg)
Ziel: The main questions of the study are (i) whether the strength of the implicit power motive is associated with the ability to learn a gross motor skill when winning or losing a competition, and (ii) whether affective response to winning or losing a competition is associated with motor learning efficacy.
Pre-registration: open science framework (OSF)
StaBLE – Stability and Balance in Locomotion through Exercise
Partner: Prof. Dr. Jochen Klucken, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Winkler (Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen); Prof. Dr. Björn Eskofier (Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg); German Foundation Neurology (Deutsche Stiftung für Neurologie – DSN); Zebris Medical GmbH
Aim: This study investigates the effectiveness of a sensorimotor treadmill intervention to improve walking and balance abilities in persons with early stages of Parkinson’s disease. The sensorimotor treadmill training is conducted on a special treadmill device, which is challenging the participants by small oscillations. This intervention, which is supposed to simulate walking on natural, uneven surfaces, is compared to a conventional treadmill training.
Project description: StaBLE
SensAbLE – Sensorimotor Abilities following Injuries to the Lower Extrimity
Partner: Prof. Dr. Björn Eskofier (Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg); Prof. Dr. Astrid Zech, Dr. Daniel Hamacher (Institute of Sport Science, University Jena)
Aim: The project aims at understanding the influence of physical fatigue on different aspects of sensorimotor control and its relation to an increased risk of re-injury in athletes with previous injuries.
Project description: SENSABLE
- Steib, S., Rahlf, A.L., Pfeifer, K., & Zech, A. (2017). Dose-response relationship of neuromuscular training for injury prevention in youth athletes: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Physiology, 8, 920. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.00920
- Steib, S., Streber, R., & Pfeifer, K. (2017). Motorische Tests für die bewegungsbezogene Gesundheitsförderung. In Klaus Bös (Hrg.), Handbuch Motorische Tests. Göttingen: Hogrefe.
- Steib, S., Klamroth, S., Gaßner, H., Pasluosta, C.F., Eskofier, B., Winkler, J.,... Pfeifer, K. (2017). Perturbation during treadmill training improves dynamic balance and gait in Parkinson’s disease: A single-blind randomized controlled pilot trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 31(8), 758-768. https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968317721976
- Klamroth, S., Steib, S., Gaßner, H., Goßler, J., Winkler, J., Eskofier, B.,... Pfeifer, K. (2016). Immediate effects of perturbation treadmill training on gait and postural control in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Gait & Posture, 50, 102-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2016.08.020
- Klamroth, S., Steib, S., Devan, S., & Pfeifer, K. (2016). The effects of exercise therapy on postural instability in Parkinson´s disease: A Meta-analysis. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 40(01), 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1097/NPT.0000000000000117
- Steib, S., Zech, A., Hentschke, C., & Pfeifer, K. (2013). Fatigue-induced alterations of static and dynamic postural control in athletes with a history of ankle sprain. Journal of athletic training, 48(2), 203-208. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-48.1.08
- Steib, S., Wanner, P., Adler, W., Winkler, J., Klucken, J., & Pfeifer, K. (2018). A Single Bout of Aerobic Exercise Improves Motor Skill Consolidation in Parkinson’s Disease. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 10, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2018.00328
- Wanner, P., Schmautz, T., Kluge, F., Eskofier, B., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2019). Ankle angle variability during running in athletes with chronic ankle instability and copers. Gait & Posture, 68, 329–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2018.11.038
- Steib, S., Klamroth, S., Gaßner, H., Pasluosta, C.F., Eskofier, B., Winkler, J.,... Pfeifer, K. (2019). Exploring gait adaptations to perturbed and conventional treadmill training in Parkinson’s disease: Time-course, sustainability, and transfer. Human Movement Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2019.01.007
- Wanner, P., Müller, T., Cristini, J., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2020). Exercise Intensity Does not Modulate the Effect of Acute Exercise on Learning a Complex Whole-Body Task. Neuroscience, 426, 115-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.11.027
- Wanner, P., Hamacher, D., Schmautz, T., Eskofier, B., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2020). Dynamische Laufstabilität des Fußes bei Sportlern mit und ohne chronischer Sprunggelenksinstabilität nach Sprunggelenksdistorsion unter Berücksichtigung des Lauftempos und neuromuskulärer Ermüdung. In Tagungsband 3. Gamma-Kongress (S. 77-78). München, DE.
- Wanner, P., Cheng, F.-H., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2019). Effekte akuter Herz-Kreislauf-Beanspruchungen auf das motorische Lernen: Ein systematisches Review mit Meta-Analyse. Poster presentation at 24. Sportwissenschaftlicher Hochschultag der dvs, Berlin, DE.
- Wanner, P., Hamacher, D., Schmautz, T., Eskofier, B., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2019). Einfluss von Lauftempo und neuromuskulärer Ermüdung auf die dynamische Laufstabilität des Fußes bei Sportlern mit chronischer Sprunggelenkinstabilität. Paper presentation at 24. Sportwissenschaftlicher Hochschultag der dvs, Berlin, DE.
- Steib, S., Wanner, P., Adler, W., Winkler, J., Klucken, J., & Pfeifer, K. (2019). A Single Bout of Cardiovascular Exercise Improves Motor Memory Consolidation in Parkinson’s Disease. In Abstractband zur 16. Jahrestagung der dvs-Sektion Sportmotorik vom 16.-18. Januar 2019 in Bern. Bern, CH.
- Wanner, P., Müller, T., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2019). Effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise on motor skill acquisition and consolidation: a comparison of different exercise intensities. In Klostermann, A., Vater, C., & Hossner, E.-J. (Eds.), Abstractband zur 16. Jahrestagung der dvs-Sektion Sportmotorik. Bern, CH.
- Wanner, P., Schmautz, T., Kluge, F., Eskofier, B., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2019). Athletes with chronic ankle instability demonstrate altered ankle angle variability during running compared to copers. In Klostermann, A., Vater, C., & Hossner, E.-J. (Eds.), Abstractband zur 16. Jahrestagung der dvs-Sektion Sportmotorik. Bern, CH.
- Wanner, P., Adler, W., Winkler, J., Klucken, J., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2018). Herz-Kreislauftraining zur Optimierung motorischer Lernprozesse in der Neurorehabilitation. In Neurologie & Rehabilitation (Hrg.), Neurologie & Rehabilitation. Erlangen: Hippocampus Verlag.
- Wanner, P., Müller, T., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2019). Effects of a single bout of cardiovascular exercise on balance learning: A comparison of different exercise intensities. In Abstract Book ISPGR WORLD CONGRESS 2019 (pp. 623 - 624). Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Wanner, P., Müller, T., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2018). Effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise on motor skill acquisition and consolidation: a comparison of different exercise intensities. In Murphy, M., Boreham, C., De Vito, G., Tsolakidis, E. (Eds.), 23rd Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science. 4th-7th July 2018, Dublin - Ireland. Book of Abstracts. (pp. 364).
- Wanner, P., Schmautz, T., Kluge, F., Eskofier, B., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2017). Sportler mit Sprunggelenksinstabilität weisen im Vergleich zu Copern keine Veränderungen der Sprunggelenkskinematik beim Laufen auf. In Schwirtz, A., Mess, F., Demetriou, Y. & Senner, V. (Hrsg.) (Eds.), Innovation & Technologie im Sport. Abstractband des 23. dvs-Hochschultags vom 13. bis 15. September 2017 in München. (pp. 206). Hamburg: Feldhaus.
- Böhm, H., Wanner, P., Rethwilm, R., & Döderlein, L. (2018). Prevalence and predictors for the ability to run in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Clinical biomechanics, 58, 103-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2018.07.014
- Wanner, P., Schmautz, T., Kluge, F., Eskofier, B., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2018). Unterschiede in der Sprunggelenksvariabilität beim Laufen zwischen Sportlern mit chronischer Instabilität und Copern. Paper presentation at 2. GAMMA Kongress, Hamburg, DE.