Involvement:
School or College:
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
Mentor:
Jane Kent
Bio:
Luke Arieta is a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is working towards his degree in the Muscle Physiology Laboratory under the guidance of Dr. Jane Kent. Luke earned his master's degree in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he completed his thesis project titled “In vivo rapid specific force of the quadriceps femoris muscle.” He is eager to continue his development as a researcher and ultimately reach his goal of becoming a professor.
Research:
Luke’s current research aims to address why the skeletal muscle of older adults may acidify less than younger adults during fatiguing contractile activity. Skeletal muscle acidosis has previously been shown to be related to fatigue, but the exact mechanisms driving the age-related differences in acidosis are not yet known. Several proposed mechanisms have been suggested, such as the availability of oxygen and glycogen, but there has yet to be a comprehensive assessment to understand the age-related differences in acidosis. Luke’s assessment will identify any cumulative or interactive effects of each mechanism on acidosis and further our understanding of age-related fatigue mechanisms.