Deconditioning is an integrated physiological response of the body, or given body systems, to a reductionin in metabolic rate, usage, and/or mechanical loading. This book consists of a review of the current literature concisely covering and summarizing the pertinent research related to disuse-induced alterations of the neuromuscular system, and potential countermeasures to mitigate the negative consequences. Additionally, it presents a series of scientific experiments whose overall aim was to characterize the adaptations in the neurologic and skeletal muscle properties, and determine their relative contribution in the disuse-induced muscle weakness.

Brian Clark received a BS from Western Carolina University, and a M.S. and Ph.D. from Syracuse University. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Ohio University, and is the Director of the Institute for Neuromusculoskeletal Research. He has published more than 40 articles and book chapters.