• Biography

Thomas completed his university studies at the Faculty of Sport Sciences in Amiens, where he successively obtained a Bachelor’s degree in 2004, and then a Research Master’s degree in Physiology–Pathophysiology (2006), during which he discovered his passion for neuromuscular physiology research.

He then joined the “Physiological Adaptations to Exercise and Exercise Rehabilitation” laboratory of Amiens as a PhD candidate. He defended his dissertation, entitled “Effects of Repeated Tendon Vibrations on the Neuromechanical Properties of the Triceps Surae in Healthy Adults,” on December 8, 2009. He continued his research on the adaptive capacities of neuromuscular function within the same laboratory as a teaching and research assistant during the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 academic years.

Thomas subsequently received a postdoctoral research fellowship from CNES (the French National Centre for Space Studies), which enabled him to join the CNRS Joint Research Unit “Biomechanics and Bioengineering” at the University of Technology of Compiègne. Involved in a project investigating the determinants and progression of musculo-tendinous and neuromuscular adaptations during long-duration spaceflights, he was also able to pursue his work on a countermeasure program based on repeated tendon vibrations.

In 2012, Thomas was appointed as an Associate Professor in the Sport Sciences Department at Jean Monnet University in Saint-Étienne, joining the “Exercise Physiology Laboratory,” which became the “Interuniversity Laboratory of Human Movement Biology” (LIBM) in 2016. His research focuses on the plasticity of neuromuscular function (contractile and elastic properties, activation capacities, spinal and cortical excitability), particularly in the context of vibration therapy. Since his doctoral work, his objective has been to demonstrate that focal muscle or tendon vibration can serve as a novel neuromuscular reconditioning modality. His studies initially validated the concept of focal vibration training in young and older healthy individuals while identifying the underlying neural adaptations. These findings now enable him to promote the use of focal vibration in clinical settings, while also seeking to better understand its effects and develop practical recommendations for its application. Beyond focal vibration, Thomas has expanded his research to include the study of fatigue/fatigability and musculo-tendinous properties in both athletes and patients, as well as the therapeutic use of physical activity and its alternatives in rehabilitation (e.g., neuromuscular electrical stimulation or motor imagery). He earned his habilitation to supervise research (HDR) in 2018 and became a Full Professor in 2025.

Thomas served as Academic Director of the Sport Sciences Department from 2016 to 2018 and has been Deputy Director of the LIBM since 2020 (head of the laboratory’s Saint-Étienne site). His research has received €2,000,000 in funding. He has supervised or currently supervises 12 PhD students, 3 postdoctoral fellows, 61 Master’s interns, and 5 research assistants. His work and that of his students have been honored with 13 awards and distinctions. In 2024, he was appointed to an Innovation Chair of the Institut Universitaire de France.

His research output includes 91 scientific publications. He has also widely disseminated his findings through 112 conference communications, 17 invited presentations, a book chapter, and various science outreach activities.

Thomas Lapole

Thomas Lapole (thomas.lapole @ univ-st-etienne.fr)

Phone: 04 77 42 18 91

Institution

Université Jean Monnet

(Saint-Etienne)

Responsability

Deputy Director

Head of the St Etienne site

Team: [PAF]

Position

Full professor

Publications

     
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