Kornelia Kulig, PH.D., P.T.

Lead Investigator: Kornelia Kulig, Ph.D., PT (USC) will lead the phase I RCT, Muscle-Specific Strength Training Effectiveness Post Lumbar Microdiscectomy (MUSSEL) to assess the immediate and long-term effects of trunk-specific resistance exercises on decreasing pain and improving function in people status-post lumbar microdiscectomy. Dr. Kulig’s primary training in biomechanics, her previous research experience dealing with muscle activation as determined from MRI (Kulig et al., 2001) and her recently funded project, “The effects of single intervention session on pain response and lumbar segmental mobility in persons with low back pain: A comparison of spine mobilization and active extension using dynamic MRI.” (Foundation for Physical Therapy, PI, Powers, Co-PI, Kulig) provides an excellent foundation for this project. Her Co-PI on this project is Christopher Powers, Ph.D., PT (USC).