Dr. Geoffrey A. Power

A photograph of Dr. Geoffrey A. Power.
Associate Professor
Email: 
gapower@uoguelph.ca
Phone number: 
ext. 53752 (Office)
Office: 
ANNU 330B
Lab: 
Human Neuromuscular Lab: ANNU 276 Muscle Mechanics Wet Lab: ANNU 325

I completed my undergraduate and MSc degrees at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN).  During my graduate training at MUN I became quite interested in neuromuscular physiology which coupled with my general interest in the physiology of aging lead me to pursue a PhD at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (University of Western Ontario; UWO) under the supervision of Drs. Anthony Vandervoort and Charles Rice.  During my PhD, I investigated various research questions centred around: Neuromuscular fatigue following shortening and lengthening muscle actions, Motor unit loss with age and the effects of life-long exercise, and the history-dependence of force production.  Upon completing my PhD it was clear I developed more questions than answers which led me to explore more basic mechanisms of muscle mechanics.

To learn new research techniques and complement my training in neuromuscular physiology, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Walter Herzog (Human Performance Lab, University of Calgary) where I investigated age-related alterations to muscle mechanics at the cellular and sub-cellular levels.

My current research program at the University of Guelph uses various in vitro, in vivo, in situ and whole human techniques and tools to investigate muscle function and neuromuscular control of movement in healthy young adults and across the lifespan.

BKin (Honours) - Memorial University of Newfoundland

M.Sc. (Integrative Physiology) - Memorial University of Newfoundland

Ph.D. (Neuromuscular Physiology) - University of Western Ontario

Banting/Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellow - University of Calgary

  • Structural and functional effects of aging on basic muscle contractile function
  • Muscle mechanics and lengthening muscle actions
  • Cross-bridge and non-cross-bridge based forces
  • History dependence of force production
  • Age-related alterations to muscle mechanics, acute and chronic alterations to the​ neuromuscular system as a result of muscle fatigue, damage and natural aging
  • Masters athletes and neuroprotective effects of exercise
  • Muscle architecture plasticity
  • Neural control of human movement

Power GA, Dalton BH, Gilmore KJ, Allen MD, Doherty TJ, Rice CL (2017). Maintaining Motor Units into Old Age:  Running the Final Common Pathway. European Journal of Translational Myology. 27(1): 71-73.

Power GA, Allen MD, Gilmore KJ, Stashuk DW, Hepple RT, Doherty TJ, Taivassalo T, Rice CL (2016). Motor Unit Number and Transmission Stability in Octogenarian World Champion Master Athletes: Can Age Related Deficits be Outrun? Journal of Applied Physiology121(4):1013-1020. PDF Awarded APSselect - A Collection of the Very Best Original Research Papers Published by the American Physiological Society.

Power GA, Flaaten N, Dalton BH, Herzog W (2016). Age-Related Maintenance of Eccentric Strength:  A Temperature Dependence Study. AGE. 38(2): 43. PDF

Power GA, Minozzo FC, Spendiff S, Filion ME, Konokhova K, Purves-Smith MF, Pion C, Aubertin-Leheudre M, Morais JA, Herzog W, Hepple RT, Taivassalo T, Rassier DE (2016). Reductions in Single Fibre Rate of Force Development with Aging is Not Attenuated in World Class Octogenarian Masters Athletes. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology.  310(4): C318-27. PDF

Power GA, Dalton BH, Doherty TJ, Rice CL (2016). If You Don’t Use It You’ll Likely Lose It. Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging. 36(6):497-498. PDF

Power GA, Makrakos DM, Stevens DE, Rice CL, Vandervoort AA (2015). Velocity-Dependence of Eccentric Strength in Young and Old Men: The Need for Speed! Appl. Physiol. Nutr. & Metab. 40 (7): 703-10. PDF

 
Power GA, Makrakos DP, Stevens DE, Herzog W, Rice CL, Vandervoort AA (2014). Shortening Induced Torque Depression in Old Men: Implications for Age-Related Power Loss. Exp. Gerontology. 57: 75-80. PDF
 
 
Power GA, Dalton BH, Rice CL. (2013). Human Neuromuscular Structure and Function in Old Age:  A Brief Review. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2(4): 215-226. Invited Review. 2(4): 215-226. PDF
 
Power GA, Dalton BH, Rice CL, Vandervoort AA. (2013). Peak Power is Reduced Following Lengthening Contractions Despite a Maintenance of Shortening Velocity. Appl. Physiol. Nutr & Metab. 38(12): 1196-205. PDF
 
 
 
 
Power GA, Dalton BH, Behm DG, Doherty TJ, Vandervoort AA, Rice CL. (2012). Motor Unit Survival in Life-Long Runners is Muscle-Dependent. Med. Sci. Sports. Exerc.  44(7):1235-1242. PDF
 
Power GA, Dalton BH, Rice CL, Vandervoort AA. (2012). Power Loss is Greater Following Lengthening Contractions in Old Versus Young Women. AGE (Dordr.)  34(3):737-50.  PDF
 
Power GA, Dalton BH, Behm DG, Doherty TJ, Vandervoort AA, Rice CL. (2010). Motor Unit Number Estimates in Masters Runners:  Use It or Lose it? Med. Sci. Sports Exerc.  42(9): 1644-50. PDF
  • HK*3402 - Human Anatomy
  • HK*3502 - Human Anatomy
  • SCMA*3100 - Biomechanics
Name Role
Mashouri, P. PhD Student
Leake, E. MSc Student
Khangura, P. MSc Student
Hinks, A. PhD Student
Gale, H. Undergraduate Research Student
Njai, B. Undergraduate Research Student
Patterson, M. Undergraduate Research Student
Rilling, A. Undergraduate Research Student