Lab Director:
Christopher Modlesky, PhD

Lab Personnel:
• Deepti Bajaj, masters student
• Brianne Mulrooney, masters student
• Jarvis Smith, doctoral student
• Joshua Kirby, research assistant

The focus of the research in our lab is to understand the mechanical signals and nutrients that optimize growth and development of the musculoskeletal system. We are particularly interested in studying the effect of conditions that compromise bone and muscle development due to limited mobility, such as cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury.

Another research focus in our lab is on the development and application of techniques that enable a detailed assessment of musculoskeletal health in humans. We have developed magnetic resonance imaging software that allows us to evaluate the structural features of trabecular and cortical bone, skeletal muscle mass and adipose tissue infiltration of skeletal muscle in humans.

Effect of a high-frequency, low-magnitude mechanical stimulus on bone in children with osteogenesis imperfecta: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder associated with increased bone fragility. One challenge in treating patients with OI is that the primary measure used to assess bone status [i.e., areal bone mineral density (aBMD)] is flawed. aBMD is particularly problematic in children because it is dependent on bone size. Fortunately, advances in magnetic resonance imaging now allow for the assessment of trabecular bone microarchitecture and cortical bone macroarchitecture, important skeletal features that may improve fracture risk assessment in children.

However, these techniques have not been applied to the study of children with OI. Another challenge associated with pediatric OI patients is the lack of effective treatment options for facilitating bone growth and minimizing fractures. One nonpharmacological treatment that has shown great promise as a way to increase bone mass and improve bone architecture is high-frequency, low magnitude mechanical stimulation (HLS). Studies in animals and in humans with low bone mass suggest that a daily HLS treatment can increase aBMD and improve bone structure.

Despite the considerable promise of HLV as a treatment strategy for children with OI, to date, there are no published reports. One aim of this project is to determine if we can use magnetic resonance imaging to detect the underdeveloped trabecular bone microarchitecture and cortical bone macroarchitecture in children with OI type I. A second aim is to conduct a pilot/feasibility study focused on determining if a daily HLS treatment can improve trabecular bone microarchitecture, cortical bone macroarchitecture and bone mass in children with OI type I.

Funded by the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation

1. 2009 Modlesky, C.M., Kanoff, S.A., Johnson, D.L., Subramanian, P., Miller, F. Evaluation of the femoral midshaft in children with cerebral palsy using magnetic resonance imaging. Osteoporos Int. 20(4):609-15.
2. 2009 Johnson, D.L, Miller, F., Subramanian, P. Modlesky, C.M. Adipose tissue infiltration of skeletal muscle in children with cerebral palsy. J Pediatr. 154(5):715-20.
3. 2009 Mackenzie, S.J., Getchell, N., Modlesky, C.M., Miller, F., Jaric, S. Using grasping tasks to evaluate hand force coordination in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 90(8):1439-42
4. 2008. Modlesky, C.M., Subramanian, P., Miller, F. Underdeveloped trabecular bone microarchitecture is detected in children with cerebral palsy using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Osteoporos Int 19:169-176.
5. 2008 Modlesky, C.M., Majumdar, S., Dudley, G.A. Trabecular bone microarchitecture in female collegiate gymnasts. Osteoporos Int. 19:1011-8
6. 2006 Pollock, N., Laing, E.M., Modlesky, C.M., O’Connor, P.J., Lewis, R.D. Former college artistic gymnasts maintain higher BMD: a nine month follow-up. Osteoporosis Int 17(11):1691-7.
7. 2006 Stein, EM, Laing, EM, Hall, DB, Hausman, DB, Kimlin, MG, Johnson, MA, Modlesky, CM, Wilson, AR, Lewis, RD. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in girls aged 4–8 y living in the southeastern United States. Am J Clin Nutr 83:75-81.
8. 2005 Slade, J.M., Bickel, S.B., Modlesky, C.M., Majumdar, S., Dudley, G.A. Trabecular bone is more deteriorated in spinal cord injured versus estrogen-free postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int 16(3):263-272.
9. 2005 Modlesky, C.M., Slade, J.M., Bickel, C.S., Meyer, R.A., Dudley, G.A. Deteriorated geometric structure and strength of the mid-femur of men with complete spinal cord injury. Bone 36:331-339.
   2005 Laing, E.M., Wilson, A.R., Modlesky, C.M., O’Connor, P.J., Hall, D.B., Lewis, R.D. Initial years of recreational gymnastics training improves lumbar spine bone mineral accrual in 4 to 8 year old females. J Bone Miner Res 20(3):509-19.
10. 2005 Evans, E.M., Prior, B.M., Modlesky, C.M. A mathematical method to estimate body composition in tall individuals using DXA. Med Sci Sports Exerc 37:1211-5.
11. 2004 Modlesky, C.M., Majumdar, S., Narasimhan, A., Dudley and G.A. Trabecular bone microarchitecture is deteriorated in men with spinal cord injury J Bone Miner Res 19(1):48-55.
12. 2004 Modlesky, C.M., Bickel, C.S., Slade, J.M., Meyer, R.A., Cureton, K.J., Dudley, G.A. Assessment of skeletal muscle mass in men with spinal cord injury using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging. J Appl Physiol 96:561-65.