Neuromuscular Fatigue
We investigate the central and peripheral mechanisms underlying neuromuscular fatigue using electromyography, force measurements, and AI-driven analysis methods across athletic, military, and tactical populations.
Research
Our research program investigates neuromuscular fatigue, shoulder joint stability, and human performance — with applications spanning athletic, clinical, military, and Paralympic populations.
Research Focus Areas
Three interconnected areas that define the lab's scientific identity.
Upper Extremity Fatigue Modeling
We examine the dynamic, individualized factors that contribute to and predict fatigue responses that manifest as dangerous compensatory movement patterns — leading to increased risk of shoulder injuries over time.
Key Methods
Athletic Performance Prediction & Monitoring
We are working to develop novel testing methods and analytical frameworks to understand how to predict individual training and athletic performance outcomes — and developing new tools to monitor active people to understand how intense training impacts their body and highlight injury risk factors.
Current Research
Active studies underway in the Performance & Fatigue Laboratory.
A single-use moisture-wicking prosthetic liner that is performance-specific to improve skin health and comfort in lower-limb prosthesis usersActive
- Co-Investigators
- SE Riechman, Finco, M (TCU), Freeman, C (TCU)
- Funding
- $25,000 · JP Bramhall Faculty Research Grant
- Timeline
- 2026-2028
AI-Powered Breakthroughs in Human Performance: Synergizing the Education to Research ContinuumActive
Integrating AI-powered motion analysis and machine learning tools into the research-to-education pipeline — developing scalable assessment protocols that bridge laboratory precision with real-world coaching and training applications.
- Co-PI / Mentor
- JB Mann, JM Yentes
- Study Personnel
- AJ Burmeier, BP Doyle, Francisco Aguilar, Faith Gage
- Funding
- $46,259 · AI: Emerge-CEHD, Texas A&M University
- Timeline
- 2024–2025
Athletic Performance Analysis of Four-Wall Handball PlayersActive
Analyzing neuromuscular performance characteristics and fatigue patterns in competitive four-wall handball players — providing sport-specific data to inform training design and injury prevention strategies.
- Co-Investigators
- JB Mann
- Study Personnel
- AJ Burmeier, BP Doyle, Francisco Aguilar, M Mulkerrins, E Owens, B Balthazor
- Timeline
- 2025–2026
Classifying Acute Fatigue Phenotypes in Repetitive Overhead Shoulder TasksActiveRecruiting
Classifying how individuals respond differently to overhead shoulder loading — identifying distinct fatigue phenotypes using EMG, force plates, and AI-assisted pattern recognition to improve athletic screening and training prescription.
- PI
- BP Doyle
- Co-PI / Mentor
- SE Riechman (Mentor)
- Co-Investigators
- JB Mann, JM Yentes, J Kim
- Funding
- $2,500 · Huffines Institute Student Research Grant
- Timeline
- 2026–2027
Recruiting participants — Learn how to participate →
Load Velocity Profiling of the Lat Pulldown for Upper-Body Dominant AthletesActiveRecruiting
Developing individualized load-velocity profiles for the lat pulldown movement in upper-body dominant athletes — establishing velocity-based training thresholds to optimize strength programming and reduce fatigue-related performance decrements.
- PI
- BP Doyle
- Co-PI / Mentor
- SE Riechman (Mentor), JB Mann
- Co-Investigators
- B Crutcher, JD Tebbetts
- Study Personnel
- Yuzhen Xie, D Hastings, M Cote, J White, N Hsyung
- Timeline
- 2026
Recruiting participants — Learn how to participate →
Spirometry Study — BioMed Engineering PartnershipActive
Collaborative investigation with the BioMed Engineering department (University of Texas at Austin) examining respiratory function in relation to exercise performance and fatigue assessment.
- Funding
- · BioMed Engineering Partnership (Austin)
The Effects of a Custom-Fitted Mouthguard on Isometric Cervical Muscle StrengthActiveRecruiting
Examining whether a custom-fitted mouthguard affects isometric cervical muscle strength and activation patterns — with implications for athletic performance and injury prevention protocols.
- Co-PI / Mentor
- SE Riechman (Mentor)
- Co-Investigators
- JB Mann, B Crutcher
- Study Personnel
- AJ Burmeier, BP Doyle, Francisco Aguilar, Faith Gage, M Higgins
- Funding
- $1,725 · Huffines Institute Student Grant
- Timeline
- 2025–2026
Recruiting participants — Learn how to participate →
Validation of Standing and Posterior Athletic Shoulder Testing (PASH)ActiveRecruiting
Validating a gold-standard protocol for assessing posterior shoulder strength and stability in overhead and throwing athletes — comparing standing and posterior testing positions to establish normative data and clinical cutoffs.
- PI
- BP Doyle
- Co-PI / Mentor
- SE Riechman (Mentor), JB Mann
- Co-Investigators
- JM Yentes, CM Higgins
- Study Personnel
- AJ Burmeier, Faith Gage, EJ Williams, JD Tebbetts
- Timeline
- 2025–2026
Recruiting participants — Learn how to participate →
Completed Research
Projects that have concluded — with links to published findings where available.
Integrated Fatigue Analysis and Prediction using Breath Analysis and Wearable SensorsCompleted
A large-scale, multi-investigator project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) investigating integrated approaches to predicting fatigue in military personnel — combining breath analysis biomarkers with wearable sensor data and AI-assisted modeling.
- PI
- R Jafari
- Co-PI / Mentor
- SE Riechman, Ranjana Mehta, Heather Bean, Ivan Ivanov
- Funding
- $4,800,000 · DoD-DARPA
- Timeline
- 2022–2025
Unsupervised Machine Learning Reveals Poor Test Validity of the NFL 225-lb Bench Press for Intra-Position Variance and Draft OutcomesCompleted
Applying unsupervised machine learning to NFL Combine data to evaluate the validity of the 225-lb bench press repetition test — examining whether performance on this test predicts draft outcomes and whether variance within positions undermines its predictive utility.
- PI
- BP Doyle
- Co-PI / Mentor
- SE Riechman (Mentor), JB Mann
- Co-Investigators
- ST Stanelle
- Funding
- $800 · Huffines Institute Student Travel Grant
- Timeline
- 2025