Dr. Kenneth Games

Dr. Kenneth Games
Prof & Dir Graduate Studies
Applied Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of
Health and Human Services, College of
567 North 5th Street
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812-237-3961

Education

  • Other - Life and Career Coaching, Rider University - 2017
  • Ph.D. - Kinesiology, Auburn University - 2013
  • Other - College/University Teaching, Auburn University - 2012
  • M.Ed. - Exercise Science, Auburn University - 2011
  • B.S. - Athletic Training, Grand Valley State University - 2009

Research Interests

  • -Tactical Athlete Healthcare Delivery Systems
    -Development of the Conscious Healthcare Provider

Dr. Kenneth Games is an Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the Doctor of Athletic Training Program within the Department of Applied Medicine and Rehabilitation.  Additionally, he serves as the Director of the Tactical Athlete Research & Education Center, the Tactical Athlete Care Clinic, and the Neuromechanics, Interventions, and Continuing Education Research (NICER) Laboratory at Indiana State.  Prior to joining the Department in 2013, the Noblesville, Indiana native earned his PhD in Kinesiology (2013) and MEd in Exercise Science (2011) from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.  While at Auburn University, Dr. Games also earned a Graduate Certificate in College and University Teaching (2012).  In 2009, he earned his Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.  Dr. Games' research interest is to develop and deploy interventions and education focused on injury prevention, physical and technical performance, and health-related quality of life for Tactical Athletes and their families.

ATTR 691: Research Methods in Athletic Training
ATTR 712: Evidence-Based Practice
ATTR 798: Research Project in Athletic Training
ATTR 810: Evidence-Based Integrative Care II
ATTR 811: Practice-Based Research in Athletic Training
ATTR 830: Evidence-Based Integrative Prevention
ATTR 856: Clinical Experience in Athletic Training IV

PhD - Kinesiology: Auburn University, 2013

Graduate Certificate - College and University Teaching: Auburn University, 2012

MEd - Exercise Science with Specialization in Athletic Training: Auburn University, 2011

BS - Athletic Training: Grand Valley State University, 2009

  • Tactical Athlete Healthcare
  • Firefighter Health and Safety
  • Military Health and Safety
  • Law Enforcement Health and Safety
  • Corrections Officer Health and Safety
  • Innovative Models for Athletic Training Service Delivery
     

Tactical Athlete Health and Safety

The goal of this research line is to develop and deploy interventions and education focused on injury prevention, physical and technical performance, and health-related quality of life of tactical athletes.  Much of our work in the past 18 months has focused on tactical athlete health and safety.  Currently our research group is examining the relationship between firefighter personal protective equipment and musculoskeletal injury.  Personal protective equipment has greatly reduced exposure to occupational hazards in firefighting (smoke, flames, etc), but it has had the unintended consequence of increasing musculoskeletal injuries due to the increased loads now placed on firefighters.  Through this work, I have developed and currently direct the Tactical Athlete Research and Education Center (TAREC) at Indiana State University.  The Tactical Athlete Research and Education Centers serves as a center for collaboration between researchers and public or private agencies to further the development of new knowledge in health and wellness.  It works to improve resiliency and provide leadership through research, education, training, and implementation of new knowledge to better serve our Civil Servants, Soldiers, Veterans, their families, and the community.  Most recently, the work of the TAREC has resulted in a new collaboration among the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative, the Terre Haute Fire Department, and Indiana State University to create an injury prevention and care clinic for local firefighters.  This collaboration will provide experiential learning and scholarship opportunities for students and faculty at Indiana State University.  Faculty and researchers associated with the TAREC have submitted external funding proposals to the Centers for Disease Control, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Justice.

 

Military Aviator Health and Safety

The goal of this research line is to improve the health and safety of Military aviators, specifically rotary-wing aviators (helicopter pilots).  Due to increased worldwide conflicts and the need for 24/7 strike capability, Military helicopters have increased their flight time capabilities from 3 hours to 24+ hours.  Unfortunately, this increased flight time places aviators in dangerous positions.  Specifically, prolonged restricted sitting has created temporary paresthesia and decreased neuromuscular control during flights lasting longer than 8 hours.  Decreased lower extremity neuromuscular control in flight has led to increased errors and unfortunately, death in aviators and crew due to an inability to control the aircraft’s flight control systems.  My work in this area has been to specifically identify the physiologic and neuromechanical etiology of this decreased neuromuscular control during flight.  My work has successfully determined that the edge of seat pan is the location at which the peripheral nervous system is compromised which is creating the decreased neuromuscular control.  Additionally, we worked to create a unique, MRI compatible robot which replicates the mechanical stresses of flight on the buttocks of pilots and allows researchers to examine the soft tissue changes occurring in response to these mechanical stresses.

 

Effectiveness of Athletic Training Interventions

The goal of this research line is to reduce the burden and number of musculoskeletal injuries and create patient-centered prevention and intervention programs.  By investigating the neuromuscular and physiologic effects of musculoskeletal injury and interventions we are able to identify best practices for athletic trainers and other health care providers treating musculoskeletal injuries as part of their daily practice.  Often in today’s medical marketplace, there are interventions which remain untested, but marketed as an effective treatment for any number of conditions.  Our research in this area focuses on collecting objective physiologic, neurologic, and patient-oriented evidence in order to examine the physiologic effects and patient care outcomes of these interventions.  This work has bolstered Indiana State University’s international reputation as a leader in athletic training interventions research.