Week 0 - Background and Introduction

Hello everyone : )! My name is Rahul Janga, and welcome to the first blog post for my senior project. In this post, I’ll delve into the background of my research, the purpose of my project, and the initial steps I’ve taken and will take in my exciting research journey.

As an active participant in short-track speed skating, I’ve experienced firsthand the toll that high-intensity sports can take on the body. Since the beginning of 2023, I began to notice sharp pain developing in the soles of my feet, affecting my performance and overall well-being. After trying to resolve the pain myself by trying on different boot-blade combinations, and experimenting with different weight distributions for my boot, I decided to look into my problem medically. An MRI scan showed muscle strain in the soles of the feet and visible inflammation prompting the doctor to prescribe five weeks of rest, which later proved to be inadequate.

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Inspired by my own experiences with inflammation and currently taking the neuroscience capstone, I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of muscle inflammation in correlation to nerve compression. Understanding the anatomy of nerves and neural cells in Neuroscience will serve as a base knowledge. The content learned in relevant AP classes will also assist me in understanding further core concepts in this Senior Project. My expertise as a skater and an understanding from a skating point of view, alongside my academic rigor, will allow me to tackle this project from multiple angles. As I gain more in-depth knowledge on nerve compression and muscle inflammation, I will also be able to have more insight into solutions targeted for this specific problem for people with chronic pain.

My project aims to unravel the intricate relationship between muscle inflammation and nerve compression, particularly in athletes engaged in high-intensity sports. By gaining insights into the factors contributing to chronic pain associated with sole inflammation, I aim to identify effective strategies for managing and mitigating the symptoms.

To achieve my project goals, I’ve adopted a comprehensive research methodology encompassing both literature review and practical investigation. The initial phase involves an in-depth literature review on muscle inflammation, nerve compression, and related anatomical structures. Through this process, I aim to establish a solid foundation of knowledge to guide my subsequent research endeavors which will involve diving into case studies found in public journals alongside consulting with medical professionals through my external advisor and interviewing patients on their personal mitigation of symptoms. This independent research is crucial and will take place during the first three weeks of my allocated project time.

I am extremely passionate about this project because of its potential significance in finding better solutions and mitigating symptoms but also for the project’s significance in my struggle with chronic inflammation.