AUT - Simeon Cairns

Simeon Cairns

Associate Professor, Research Head

Phone: 921 7125

Email: simeon.cairns@aut.ac.nz

Postal Address:
School of Sport and Recreation, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, North Shore Campus, AUT University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142

Links to relevant web pages:
IBTec - Institute of Biomedical Technologies (AUT University)
HRRI - Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute (AUT University)
MyoNaK - International Research Interest group – Potassium, Sodium and the Function of Heart and Skeletal Muscle
Auckland Bioengineering Institute (Auckland University)
Table Tennis New Zealand
New Zealand Physiological Society
Australian Physiological Society
New Zealand Federation of Sports Medicine

Teaching Areas:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Exercise Physiology
• Research Methods and Industry Experience
• Cooperative Education

Research areas:

• Cellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle fatigue (in particular the role of electrolytes – potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride, hydrogen ions)
• Assessment of fatigue during prolonged exercise
• Nervous system control of muscle/exercise performance
• Influence of supplements on muscle/exercise performance
• Sleep deprivation and muscle performance
• Immobilisation/disuse and muscle disorders
• Mechanics of airways smooth muscle contraction
• Stress response during white-water kayaking

Research Summary:

Simeon’s main research area is muscle/exercise physiology where he is a world authority on the topic of electrolytes and muscle fatigue. He has published original articles, reviews and book chapters in highly rated physiology and exercise science journals (see below) and has presented invited seminars throughout the world - including two World tours. Has strong collaborative links with well-known international academics (in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Australia), as well as national academics (in Dunedin, Auckland).

The experimental approaches employed vary from studies on isolated single muscle fibres to simulated sport activities. He is a former New Zealand table tennis representative and Olympic coach, which provided the impetus for recent work involving extended career elite athletes. Currently is the sport science coordinator for Table Tennis New Zealand. Has supervised 12 post-graduate students to completion and is currently supervising three PhD and two Masters Students.

Current Research Projects:

• Potassium, fatigue and muscle paralysis
• Measurement of action potential trains in isolated muscle fibres
• Modelling of action potentials under simulated fatigue conditions
• Symptoms of fatigue during sport competition
• Central fatigue and human limb muscle function
• Longevity in extended career Olympic athletes

Publications:

CAIRNS, S.P., TABERNER A.J., and LOISELLE, D.S. (2009) Changes of surface and t tubular membrane excitability during fatigue with repeated tetani in isolated mouse fast- and slow-twitch muscle. J. Appl. Physiol. 106 (1): 101-112.

CAIRNS, S.P., and LINDINGER. M.I. (2008) Do multiple ionic interactions contribute to skeletal muscle fatigue? J. Physiol. (Lond.) 586 (17): 4039-4054.

CAIRNS, S.P., ROBINSON, D.M., and LOISELLE, D.S (2008) Double-sigmoid model for fitting fatigue profiles in mouse fast- and slow-twitch muscle. Exp. Physiol. 93 (7): 851-862.

CAIRNS, S.P., CHIN, E.R., and RENAUD, J-M. (2007) Stimulation pulse characteristics and electrode configuration determine site of excitation in isolated mammalian skeletal muscle: implications for fatigue. J. Appl. Physiol. 103 (1): 359-368.

CAIRNS, S.P. (2006) Lactic acid and exercise performance: culprit or friend? Sports Med. 36 (4): 279-291.

STUART, G.R., HOPKINS, W.G., COOK, C., and CAIRNS, S.P. (2005) Multiple effects of caffeine on simulated high-intensity team-sport performance. Med. Sci. Sport Exerc. 37 (11): 1998-2005.

PRESLAND, J.D., DOWSON, M.N., and CAIRNS, S.P. (2005) Changes of motor drive, cortical arousal and perceived exertion following prolonged cycling to exhaustion. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 95 (1): 42-51.

CAIRNS, S.P., KNICKER, A.J., THOMPSON, M.W., and SJØGAARD, G. (2005) Evaluation of models used to study neuromuscular fatigue. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev. 33 (1): 9-16.

CAIRNS, S.P., RUZHYNSKY, V., and RENAUD, J-M. (2004) Protective role of extracellular chloride in fatigue of isolated mammalian skeletal muscle. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 287 (3 56-3): C762-C770.

CAIRNS, S.P., BULLER, S.J., LOISELLE, D.S., and RENAUD, J-M. (2003) Changes of action potentials and force at lowered [Na+]o in mouse skeletal muscle: implications for fatigue. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 285 (5 54-5): C1131-C1141.

Awards:

• Student Oral Presentation Award of the Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society (1989)
• Junior Speaker Award from the Otago Medical Research Foundation (1986)