NACOB 2022 Student Committee Members, Chris Bailey, Victor Chan, Olena Klahsen, and Jenny Leestma, promote student-focused events at the upcoming North American Congress on Biomechanics Conference. They also recommend fun attractions to attend while visiting Ottawa. 

Dr. Usha Kuruganti, Professor at the University of New Brunswick, discusses the use of electromyography signals to control prosthetic devices. She also explains some of her research on bilateral strength deficits in athletic, aging, and occupational contexts. 

Dr. Clark Dickerson, Professor at the University of Waterloo, explains the majesty and complexity of the shoulder complex and its stability. He also discusses his research on fatigue-related rotator cuff injuries, comparative shoulder biomechanics, and digital human modelling for the purpose of human shoulder evaluation in occupational contexts. Click to learn more about the DIESEL lab. 

Dr. Emily McWalter, Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, discusses her research on the use of MRI for the study of knee joint and soft tissue function in disease states. She also explains the development of novel quantitative MRI techniques to study the structure and function of tendons and ligaments in the knee. 

Dr. Cheryl Quenneville, Associate Professor at McMaster University, discusses her research on bone fracture related to high energy impact exposures and the development of injury thresholds. She further discusses ongoing research on safety systems intended to prevent traumatic injury and orthopaedic fixation devices for comminuted fracture. 

Recent graduates of MSc (Laura Healey, Rob Mackowiak) and PhD (Heather Johnston, Anthony Gatti) programs share their experiences with selecting a graduate program and pivoting their research plans due to COVID-19 interruptions. They also described their transitions between degrees and from graduate school to industry employment and postdoctoral positions. 

Dr. Cheryl Kozey, Professor at Dalhousie University, discusses her research on the functional and neuromuscular adaptations associated with bone and joint disorders; namely, knee osteoarthritis and low back pain. She also discusses her experiences with knowledge translation and collaboration. 

Dr. Ryan Graham, Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa, discusses his research on the use of machine learning and dynamical systems tools for the evaluation of movement quality and movement screening. As co-chair of the upcoming NACOB conference, Dr. Graham further shares important updates and information about the conference program and Ottawa as the host city. 

Dr. Salvatore Federico, Professor at the University of Calgary, discusses principles of continuum mechanics in the context of soft musculoskeletal tissues, particularly articular cartilage. He also discusses the evolution of properties included in microstructural constitutive models of cartilage and his research on growth and remodelling of biological tissues. 

Dr. Mike Holmes, Associate Professor at Brock University, discusses how principles of neuromechanics and neural control are used to study upper extremity performance and injury, specifically in the context of E-sports and adaptive robotics. He further discusses his past research on upper extremity proprioception and its relation to neck pain history.