Frontiers-page 1, President's Report 2000, Oregon State University

Nationally Recognized Research
Researchers at OSU's Bone Research Laboratory, led by Christine Snow, are gaining national recognition for their studies on osteoporosis prevention. This year, the team worked with 7- and 8-year-old volunteers and their parents, creating a fitness program in local schools that had the kids jump off two-foot boxes 100 times. Those young students who did the exercises three times a week for seven months had 5 percent more bone mass than a control group of classmates who used the time for stretching and non-impact exercise.

"A 5 percent increase may not sound like a lot," Snow said, "but it translates into a 30 percent decrease in the risk of a hip fracture at adulthood."

OSU is now working on a three-year, $400,000 federal grant to expand the study.

Above, Corvallis third-grader Haley Schuster demonstrates her jump for better bones.

OSU research is helping people improve their quality of life

Throughout his childhood and into young adulthood, Michael Clark had been a doer, a self-proclaimed exercise buff.

Until one day, Clark became stricken with multiple sclerosis, a chronic, degenerative disease that adversely affects muscle coordination. Exercise has long been thought to exacerbate its frustrating conditions. Clark heard about a new program at Oregon State University, where researchers in the College of Health and Human Performance were working with MS patients to measure the real effects of exercise on their symptoms.

OSU students work with young children in the Special Physical and Motor Fitness Clinic.

The OSU researchers found that persons with MS who did a certain regimen of exercise were not adversely affected and, in fact, many actually improved.

"Exercise has helped me from being racked with spasms and non-functionality to getting out in the world, rolling along, meeting every obstacle with a smile -- and even looking for new challenges," said Clark. "I think my brain, my heart and my soul have benefitted the most."

Movement for the Disabled
Research on exercise and MS is just one component of OSU's nationally recognized program on movement studies in disability. One of just four major nationally funded programs of its kind, OSU not only works with people who have disabilities, it also trains students for careers in movement studies in disability. Doctoral students from OSU are now teaching and directing programs at other universities, as well as outside academia.

"They are making a significant impact around the United States and, increasingly, around the world," said program director Jeff McCubbin.

researcher Carr, with Linus Pauling photo in background

Researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute (including Anitra Carr, left) investigate the role that vitamins, micronutrients and other dietary constituents play in human aging and chronic diseases.

The Linus Pauling Institute: A National Voice on Nutrition
One of the most active research units on campus is the Linus Pauling Institute, which recently moved to OSU from Palo Alto, California.

Pauling Institute researchers specialize in the study of micronutrients and their effect on human health and disease. This past year they made national headlines with a study showing that Americans could lower their risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease by taking specific antioxidants and vitamins, including vitamin E, selenium, and vitamin C.

Other research at the institute has focused on lessening the risk of exposure to different cancers by proper diet and nutrient supplements. One such study found that drinking green and black teas could help offset the risks of cancer from mutagenic compounds generated when meat is cooked on the barbecue -- welcome news to outdoor grillers.

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Last Update: Thursday, 17-Feb-2000 17:00:50 PST

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