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Did you know?
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During exercise, a client is able to work out at a heart rate of approximately 70% of their maximum heart rate. This is often equal to the exercising heart rate of a person without disabilities.
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This LWMB revolves around various commercial whole-body, bilateral devices, allowing for continuous movement and enabling those who are paralyzed to exercise their legs and torso, thereby giving them a rigorous aerobic workout that actually strengthens their cardiovascular and muscular systems. In essence, these allow participants to incorporate the same principles of wellness and physical exercise that are recommended for the non-injured population.

Previous lab research has revealed the amazing power of exercise training. We learned from biopsy studies of paralyzed muscles that high-repetition, whole-body exercise produces improvements in all moving parts, including the paralyzed muscles. Dr. Joe Priest Director of the Lab for Wellness and Motor Behavior (LWMB) pioneered the program which would especially benefit those who have spinal cord injuries, stroke, or other neurological disabilities.

LWMB specializes in helping people who have been released from conventional healthcare and usually have had a stroke or injury that has left them paralyzed. The rehabilitation in this laboratory is under the supervision of Tarleton’s kinesiology students. Using the lab is free, all you need is a note from the doctor!

About the Director

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Dr. Joe W. Priest, Professor, is a graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce with a Doctorate in Physical Education (1983). He earned his Master’s Degree in Biology from Sul Ross State University (1972), and his undergraduate work was completed at Sul Ross in 1970 with a bachelor’s of science degree. Dr. Priest has an extensive background in both the public school system while coaching and teaching and also in the corporate fitness world as a former director at the Cooper Aerobics Institute in Dallas. He currently directs the Team Kinesiology® program at Tarleton where they train individuals with neurological disabilities. He teaches exercise physiology, kinesiology and electrocardiography along with other classes, and he has been at Tarleton since 1991.

Contact Us

Dr. Joe Priest

 Kinesiology Building, Room 141

 Box T-0370, Stephenville, TX 76402

 priest@tarleton.edu