The NEuromodulation And Rehabilitation (NEAR) Laboratory focuses on developing mechanism-driven clinically relevant rehabilitation strategies for individuals with musculoskeletal injuries. The laboratory integrates non-invasive neuromodulation, exercise-based rehabilitation, and neurophysiological assessments to investigate how musculoskeletal injuries affect central nervous system function in relation to pain, motor dysfunction, and functional limitations. The overarching goal of the NEAR lab is to generate rigorous evidence that informs rehabilitation interventions and improves clinical outcomes.
Laboratory Director: Joosung Kim, PhD, ATC
Research Focus Areas
Target Populations
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Chronic ankle instability
- Acute ankle sprain
- Other musculoskeletal and joint-related injuries
Interventions Approaches
- Non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g., transcranial electrical stimulation),
- Targeted exercise and rehabilitation interventions
Primary Outcomes
- Cortical excitability and motor cortical mapping (via transcranial magnetic stimulation)
- Spinal reflexive excitability
- Pain and sensorimotor function
- Muscle strength and postural control
- Functional performance and patient-reported outcomes
Facilities and Instrumentation
The NEAR Laboratory is located within the Biomechanics/Sports Medicine Lab (B130) Jowers Center and provides a well-equipped environment to support neurophysiological, biomechanical, and clinical research.
Core instrumentation includes:
- Magstim BiStim² Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation System, with 110mm Double Cone and D702 Coils
- Brainsight® Neuronavigation System for precise cortical targeting and reproducibility
- StarStim 8 system for transcranial electrical stimulation with simultaneous EEG monitoring
- CED Micro1401 data acquisition unit
- Digitimer D360R (two 4-channel amplifiers) and Digitimer DS8R constant-current stimulator
- AMTI AccuSway force plate for postural control assessment
- Wagner Pressure Algometer for quantitative pain sensitivity assessment
- Fully electric testing chair to support standardized and accessible data collection
For additional information regarding laboratory participation or research inquiries, please contact Dr. Joosung Kim, j_k145@txstate.edu