Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)
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Michael O. Harris-Love, PT, MPT, DSc, FGSA

Title: Principal Investigator; Professor, CU Physical Therapy Program
Contact: Michael.Harris-Love@cuanschutz.edu
University of Colorado webpage
Research Interest
Research Interest
Dr. Michael Harris-Love is a rehabilitation scientist whose main interest is in promoting the functional independence of older adults. Current research activities include developing viable methods of assessing muscle quality and employing innovative exercise interventions for those with sarcopenia. Ongoing activities include muscle plasticity in response to training, detraining, normal aging, and chronic disease, the development of sonographic methods for sarcopenia and myosteatosis screening, and exploring the physiologic advantages of eccentric muscle actions for use in older adult rehabilitation interventions.
Dr. Harris-Love is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. He earned his physical therapy degree (MPT) from the Mayo School of Health Sciences, completed his doctoral study at the University of Indianapolis, and post-doctoral training at Georgetown University/Children's National Hospital. His research efforts have contributed to the development of international standards for therapeutic trial outcome measures and improved understanding of muscle weakness patterns in the clinical of myopathy.
The following images visualize Dr. Harris-Love's work. The word cloud is drawn from publication titles. The research collaboration map shows research relationships (click the image to enlarge):
Publications | Grants |
---|---|
Clinical Research | Aging |
Aging | Bioengineering |
Rehabilitation | Biomedical Imaging |
Physical Rehabilitation | Rehabilitation |
Prevention | Clinical Research |
Bioengineering | Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities |
Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities | Physical Rehabilitation |
Kidney Disease | Prevention |
Rare Diseases | |
Arthritis |
Grants & Funding
Objective and subjective measures of fatigability in Veterans with chronic kidney disease before and after flywheel resistance plus aerobic exercise
Role: Co-Mentor
The VA health care system uses a health promotion-focused model which aims to provide longitudinal care through a patient-aligned care team for Veterans with chronic kidney disease.
Since the largest subpopulation of Veterans with chronic kidney disease is those not requiring dialysis, neuromuscular screening assessments may provide valuable information regarding individual overall health status and potential for future complications. Furthermore, identifying at-risk individuals early in the disease process will allow for the prescription of timely interventions.
Exercise strategies such as combination exercise, which uses flywheel resistance plus aerobic exercise, may provide a valuable treatment option for combatting neuromuscular dysfunction and functional decline in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Funder: Veterans Affairs
NIH website
Publications of note:
— Fatigability and the Role of Neuromuscular Impairments in Chronic Kidney Disease
— Rate of Force Development Is Related to Maximal Force and Sit-to-Stand Performance in Men With Stages 3b and 4 Chronic Kidney Disease
Detection and Treatment of Sarcopenia and Myosteatosis in Older African Americans
Role: PI
This project aims to improve the detection and treatment of age-related changes in muscle mass and quality in older African Americans. Muscle abnormalities in older adults often remain undetected until an injury or a disabling event occurs. The assessment of muscle wasting only after the manifestation of weakness is an inadequate screening model. Moreover, health disparities in African Americans concerning type 2 diabetes and age-related declines in functional performance may show changes in muscle quality.
Therefore, the objectives of this VA Historically Black College and University career development project are to:
1) develop a rapid, portable, cost-effective method for assessing muscle mass and quality using ultrasound imaging and
2) demonstrate how an innovative form of strength training that is appropriate for older adults can reverse age-related changes in muscle mass and quality.
Completing this project will aid the identification of risk factors for age-related muscle wasting and expand the approach to exercise-based interventions.
Funder: Veterans Affairs
Grant number: IK2RX001854
Funding amount: $1,100,000.00
Start/End date: 4/1/2015 - 3/31/2021
NIH website
Publications of note:
— Eccentric Exercise: Adaptations and Applications for Health and Performance
— Rate of Force Development Is Related to Maximal Force and Sit-to-Stand Performance in Men With Stages 3b and 4 Chronic Kidney Disease
Detection of strength deficits during telerehabilitation using low-cost smartphone medical diagnostics
Role: Project Director
The purpose of this project is to implement a low-cost smartphone grip strength and rapid questionnaire self-assessment to identify Veterans with secondary sarcopenia due to COVID-19 and chronic conditions. The long-term goal is to overcome the limitations of the physical exam during telerehabilitation visits to enhance the care of all Veterans who receive virtual patient care due to pandemic conditions or rural access gaps.
Funder: Veterans Affairs, CARES Act
Recent Publications
2023
Mañago MM, Seamon BA, Boncella KL, Wallin MT, Maloni H, Hoover B, Blackman MR, Harris-Love MO. Ultrasound measures of muscle morphology in people with multiple sclerosis are associated with muscle performance and functional mobility. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2023 May 10;75:104759. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104759. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 37192587.
Learn more about this publication on Dimensions
Smith A, Kuchnia A, Bodkin S, Harris-Love M. (2023). Editorial: Innovative imaging approaches to advance musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 4.
DOI=10.3389/fresc.2023.1110409.
Learn more about this publication on Dimensions
2022
Bodkin SG, Smith AC, Bergman BC, Huo D, Weber KA, Zarini S, Kahn D, Garfield A, Macias E, Harris-Love MO. Utilization of Mid-Thigh Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Predict Lean Body Mass and Knee Extensor Strength in Obese Adults. Front Rehabilit Sci. 2022;3:808538. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2022.808538. Epub 2022 Mar 24. PMCID: PMC9004797.
PMID: 35419566.
Learn more about this publication on Dimensions
Gollie JM, Patel SS, Harris-Love MO, Cohen SD, Blackman MR. Fatigability and the Role of Neuromuscular Impairments in Chronic Kidney Disease. Am J Nephrol. 2022 Mar 28:1-11. doi: 10.1159/000523714. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 35344954.
Learn more about this publication on Dimensions
2021
Harris-Love MO, Gollie JM, Keogh JWL. Eccentric Exercise: Adaptations and Applications for Health and Performance. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021 Nov 24;6(4):96. doi: 10.3390/jfmk6040096. PMCID: PMC8628948.
PMID: 34842737
Mamyrova G, McBride E, Yao L, Shrader JA, Jain M, Yao J, Curiel RV, Miller FW, Harris-Love MO, Rider LG. Preliminary Validation of Muscle Ultrasound in Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM). Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Nov 16:keab833. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab833. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 34791066
Mañago MM, Kline PW, Harris-Love MO, Christiansen CL. The Validity of the Single-Leg Heel Raise Test in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study. Front Neurol. 2021 Jul 21;12:650297. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.650297. PMCID: PMC8333614.
PMID: 34354656
Gollie JM, Patel SS, Scholten JD, Harris-Love MO. Preliminary Study of the Effects of Eccentric-Overload Resistance Exercise on Physical Function and Torque Capacity in Chronic Kidney Disease. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2020 Dec 18;5(4):97. doi: 10.3390/jfmk5040097. PMCID: PMC7804887.
PMID: 33467312
Maugeri G, D'Agata V, Roggio F, Cortis C, Fusco A, Foster C, Mañago MM, Harris-Love MO, Vleck V, Piacentini MF, Musumeci G. The "Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology" Journal Club Series: PhysioMechanics of Human Locomotion. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2020 Jul 18;5(3):52. PMCID: PMC7489281
PMID: 32935069
Correa-de-Araujo R, Addison O, Miljkovic I, Goodpaster BH, Bergman BC, Clark RV, Elena JW, Esser KA, Ferrucci L, Harris-Love MO, Kritchevsky SB, Lorbergs A, Shepherd JA, Shulman GI, Rosen CJ. Myosteatosis in the Context of Skeletal Muscle Function Deficit: An Interdisciplinary Workshop at the National Institute on Aging. Front Physiol. 2020 Aug 7;11:963. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00963. eCollection 2020.
PMID: 32903666
Gallo LH, Rodrigues EV, Filho JM, da Silva JB, Harris-Love MO, Gomes ARS. Effects of virtual dance exercise on skeletal muscle architecture and function of community dwelling older women. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2019 03 01; 19(1):50-61.
PMID: 30839303
Harris-Love MO, Gonzales TI, Wei Q, Ismail C, Zabal J, Woletz P, DiPietro L, Blackman MR. Association Between Muscle Strength and Modeling Estimates of Muscle Tissue Heterogeneity in Young and Old Adults. J Ultrasound Med. 2019 Jul; 38(7):1757-1768.
PMID: 30548644
Grants
Detection and Treatment of Sarcopenia and Myosteatosis in Older African Americans
Grant number: IK2RX001854
Funding amount: $0.00
Start/End date: 4/1/2015 - 3/31/2021
Funder: United States Department of Veterans Affairs
NIH website: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9966763