Recent Events
Abstract accepted to 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics
My abstract as first author was accepted to the ASB Annual Meeting. The abstract is titled "Ankle landing strategy during a vertical stop-jump maneuver alters knee joint resultant forces." The meeting is September 4-7, 2013 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Manuscript published in Isokinetics and Exercise Science
I published a manuscript as first author in Isokinetics and Exercise Science in February 2013. The manuscript is titled "Postural stability and isokinetic strength do not predict knee valgus angle during single-leg drop-landing or single-leg squat in elite male rugby union players." This work was the result of my International Research Fellowship with Drs. Maurizio Bertoni and Giorgio Galanti at the Training Lab, University of Florence. We found that postural stability and isokinetic strength were not predictors of knee valgus angle in male rugby players and that hip abduction strength training may be beneficial for enhancing postural stability. (citation)
Launch of Sports Injury Prevention Project at the Training Lab in Florence, Italy
Last week (October 2012), I worked with the Training Lab to launch the Sports Injury Prevention Project. The aim of the project is to reduce injuries and optimize performance using scientifically based protocols. The first group we worked with was Il Bisonte Azzurra San Casciano Volleyball. Based near Florence, Il Bisonte play in the top Italian women's volleyball league. We also evaluated elite waterpolo, tennis, and golf athletes. I still managed to see a Firenze Rugby 1931 match, the rugby team I worked with previously. For photos and more information (in Italian) visit the Il Bisonte website.
Manuscript published in Journal of Biomechanics
We published a manuscript titled "Validation of a video-based motion analysis technique in 3D dynamic scapular kinematic measurements." We collaborated with Dr. Scott Tashman and utilized his Orthopaedic BioDynamics Laboratory. Dynamic Stereo X-Ray (DSX) and high resolution computed tomography (CT) scans were collected and a model-based tracking approach was used to determine 3D joint kinematics. Video-based motion analysis was simultaneously collected and compared to the model-based results. The novel video-based motion analysis technique was successfully validated and will be used in future studies. (citation)
International research study highlighted in FACETS feature story, Expanding Our Global Reach
The research study I conducted in Florence, Italy was recently highlighted in FACETS. FACETS is a magazine published by the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences of the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, the work of my friend Padmaja Kankipatia and current NMRL research are included. Take a few moments to read about Pitt's global footprint. (pdf 3.2MB)
Manuscript published in Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy
We published a manuscript titled "Local anaesthetics use does not suppress muscle activity following an ankle injection." We found that injection of lidocaine to ankle ligament regions did not suppress muscle activity during inversion perturbation or running. These results suggest that lidocaine can be injected into ankle ligament regions without sacrificing ankle muscle activation patterns. (citation)
Manuscript published in Gait & Posture
I published a manuscript as the first author in Gait & Posture in January 2012. The manuscript is titled "Test-retest reliability and descriptive statistics of geometric measurements based on plantar pressure measurements in a healthy population during gait." This is the first manuscript to publish test-retest reliability on geometric measurements based on plantar pressure. (citation)
Presentation at the 2011 BMES Annual Conference in Hartford, CT
On Thursday, October 13, 2011, I presented my poster presentation titled "Validation Study of a Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Model for Drop Landing and Stop Jump Tasks." Funding was provided by my Freddie H. Fu Graduate Research Award (conference website)
Tech-Link 2011
This is the 4th year I have worked with Tech-Link Lego robotics team and another exciting season is under way with several new faces. Every year we have two teams that compete in the FIRST® LEGO® League competition at the National Robotics Engineering Center in Pittsburgh.
Research Fellowship with the University of Florence
I led a collaborative effort between the NMRL and the University of Florence in Florence, Italy to determine the effectiveness of a hip-centric training program to improve the performance of elite rugby and soccer players with gluteal inhibition. (more) An Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, featured our research project.
Data Collection with Operators from Special Boat Team 22
The Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) Special Boat Team 22 at Stennis Space Center provide rapid infiltration and exfiltration for Navy SEALs Operators into and out of battlefield. I had the opportunity to collect accelerometer data in the field. For SWCC, the "field" was in their high performance SOC-R riverine boat on the river.
