By: Natalie Bolinger

  IUPUI is extremely~ fortunate to have Dr. Alan Mikesky as a member of its faculty. Dr. Mikesky teaches exercise science at both the undergraduate and graduate level and is also the director of the Human Performance and Biomechanics lab at the university. Additionally, he holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Anatomy in the School of Medicine where he assists in teaching gross anatomy to the first year medical students.

   One responsibility as a member of the IUPUI faculty is to conduct research and publish articles. Recently, Dr. Mikesky has been successful in publishing his research focused on strength training among older adults. Dr. Mikesky’s studies have contributed to our understanding of how strength training can impact the daily lives of senior citizens. His research and other are finding that strength training can improve an older adults functional independence and quality of life.

   When people think of research, they think of technical, computerized testing equipment, rigorous testing protocols or even breakthrough drugs, but Dr. Mikesky uses the performance of daily tasks to determine if his studies are successful. These tasks include such things as getting up and out of a bed, standing up from a chair or the toilet, getting up from the floor and even getting in and out of a car.

   Dr. Mikesky conducts each study by recruiting elderly adults from the Indianapolis area. Each volunteer submits to performing 3 strength training sessions per week for six to twelve weeks so that changes resulting from strength training can be assessed. The goal is to try and better understand how exercise can impact one’s fitness level and functional independence.

   Previous studies have included such things as home-based training programs using elastic bands as the device to increase strength. Dr. Mikesky chose an elastic band program over a more conventional weight program because today’s mega-gyms often intimidate senior citizens, or they simply do not have the money or the transportation to commit themselves to a regular exercise program at a gym. The findings of this study were quite interesting in that subjects demonstrated an 82% in muscle strength and nearly all said that they found daily activities to be less demanding after the study. Additionally, the program was a success because most of the subjects were able to continue their strength program after the study because they could continue to train with the elastic bands at home.

   Currently, Dr. Mikesky is involved in a study to see if strength training in older adults has an influence on joint position sense. He defined this as “a person’s ability to judge body positioning in space without relying on vision.” Falling for older adults is a frequent and potentially devastating problem. This occurs because many times an elderly person’s joint receptors are late in telling the brain that the person is falling, so the person cannot take corrective actions or catch themselves. The goal of this study is to determine whether the joint receptors can be resensitized through strength training to be better at sensing a senior citizen’s position in space and decrease the chance of a fall. Additionally, he is about to embark on a national study to determine if strength training can affect the progression of osteoarthritis or even prevent it.

   Although there needs to be more research concerning strength training for adults, Dr. Mikesky has found that “older adults can adapt to exercise just as well as some of the younger adults, so you can’t usage as an excuse anymore.” Moreover, he adds, “it’s never too late to start exercising.”

   A native of Texas, Dr. Mikesky received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Texas A&M. He then attended the University of Michigan where he received a master’s degree in Physical Education with a specialization in Exercise Physiology. Finally, Dr. Mikesky earned his Doctorate at the University of Texas, Southwest Medical Center. Upon completion of his Doctorate, he was hired by the National Institute for Fitness and Sport (NIFS) here in Indianapolis in
1988. In 1991, IUPUI decided to begin an exercise science program and hired Dr. Mikesky as its exercise physiologist, a position he has held ever since. He is now a tenured professor at the university and is quite happy with IUPUI citing its “great faculty members.”

   Dr. Mikesky enjoys Indianapolis and plans on staying at IUPUI “for a quite while.” This is good news. While IUPUI strives to become well-known throughout the country, having a person like Alan Mikesky on the faculty is only an asset. He is a leader in the study of strength training with senior citizens and IUPUI is proud to have him as a faculty member.

TAP Test
By: Pat May

  The Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional and Tourism Management Department has been selected as a site for the June 19, Travel Agent Proficiency Test (TAP). The TAP test developed by the American Society of Travel Agents and the Institute of Certified Travel Agents and others is a standard for measuring entry-level knowledge of the travel business. To quote Travel Trade “people who take and pass the TAP test will be able to reduce the waiting time for eligibility for their IATAN card from 6 months to 3 months”. Content areas covered in the TAP test are: air transportation, accommodations, ground transportation, cruises, tours, international travel, sales and service, agency operations, professional development and destination geography.

  A 3 credit hour intense course on Travel Career Development (RH IT 119) will be offered during the Summer I session (May 11-June 11 on Monday and Wednesday evenings, 6:00 - 9:00 pm to prepare students for the TAP test. To register for this course, you must be either an undergraduate student, adult special student, or graduate non-degree seeking student at IUPUI. For more information, call Dr. Sotiris Avgoustis at 317-274-2599.

We Applaud
By: Linda Brothers

  The School of Physical Education Honors Day Convocation will be Sunday, April 26 at the Hoosier Room in the Union Building.

   The efforts of our RHIT students and the eventual rewards deserve special mention and congratulations.

Community Service Scholars:

  Greg Studebaker is a sophomore in RHIT in the Food Service and Lodging Supervision Program. He is a math tutor and recreational assistant at the Plainfield Correctional Juvenile Facility with boys aged 13-17. For five years he has been active in the Big Brothers Program as a mentor. Greg trains long distance runners through his involvement in lndy Runners Club. On campus he tutors other students in algebra and trigonometry.

  Juana Watson is a senior in RHIT majoring in Hospitality Management. She is designing mentoring programs and identifying ways that IUPUI students can volunteer at the Hispanic Education Center. Last year as a Community Service Scholar, she tutored students at Crispus Attacks Middle School. Juana continues to organize a yearly memorial scholarship lunch in the name of a deceased classmate and coordinated her fourth alternative spring break trip for high school students to Mexico.

Max M. Shapiro Restaurant Excellence Scholarship:
Tor Myhre
Elias and Fofo Stergiopoulos Scholarship:
To be announced
American Hotel Foundation Hyatt Minority Scholarship:
Juana Watson
American Hotel Foundation Conrad N. Hilton Memorial Scholarship:
Jennifer Hurst, Joseph Lee and James Rankin
National Restaurant Association’s Education Foundation Salute to Excellence:
Meredith Ardeel and Kelly Perkins
Raymond A. Dault “Care, Pride and Skill” Scholarship:
Kristin Bradley

International Dinners

  The RHIT Advanced Food Service Management class continues to offer dinner on Thursday evening with seating from 5:30-7:00 pm at the Hoosier Room in the Union Building. Cost is $12; call Pat May at 274-2599 for reservations.

April 2: Calcutta Connection
April 9: Thailand Treasures April 16: Down Under Wonders
April 23: Northwest Canadian
April 30: South American Favorites