Biomechanics on our Minds

This is a special episode all about the Boston Marathon. The 129th Boston Marathon will take place on April 21, 2025 and holds a special place in the hearts of those in this episode. There are also 174 charities participating in the marathon. See below on how to show your support. Our guest in this episode is Dr. Kristin Whitney, who is an Assistant Professor in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Director of the Injured Runners Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is also the Boston Marathon Medical Tracking Program Team Captain. We talk about Kristin's experiences and perspectives in these roles and how she has used her learnings and expertise to improve performance for others. She shares her story of a clinical care team that made a huge impact in her and her family's life and how that fueled her passion to bring excellent clinical care to so many today. Kristin also shares a groundbreaking study with a team that is on the frontiers of performance research. We were inspired by this conversation and hope it inspires you too! Thank you to our sponsors! The Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance: https://humanperformancealliance.org/ Connect with Dr. Kristin Whitney! Website: https://www.childrenshospital.org/directory/kristin-whitney Instagram: @kristinwhitney.md Twitter: @KristinWhitney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-schwarz-whitney-md-ma-a1037947/ Boston Marathon Research Study: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/59/4/222 Donate to Team Challenge ALS via Hannah's page: https://www.givengain.com/project/hannah-raising-funds-for-the-als-association-89275 Learn more about the ALS Association: https://www.als.org/ Donate to other 2025 Boston Marathon charities: https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/charity-program Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website: biomechanicsonourminds.com More from Kristin and her team: Runners World Magazine feature: https://www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a63084616/low-energy-availability/ Boston Children's Hosp Blog: https://answers.childrenshospital.org/low-energy-availability-boston-marathon/

Thank you for six incredible years. Biomechanics on our minds! <3 Melissa and Hannah

Our guest in this episode is Jenn Heil, a Canadian freestyle skier, two-time Olympic medalist, and reigning world champion in dual moguls. Jenn is a Guinness World Record Holder, Canadian Order of Sport Recipient, Stanford Graduate School of Business Leadership Award Winner, Founder of a startup focused on improving maternal mental health, and a mother of two boys herself. We talk about Jenn’s experiences and perspectives from these roles and how she has used her learnings and expertise to improve performance for others. Even at eight years old, she had an intensity for chasing challenges and fighting fear and is a clear example of what greatness can stand on the other side of fear. Our conversation inspired us to “choose the impossible” and “take joy in the process.” We hope it inspires you too! Thank you to our sponsors! The Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance: https://humanperformancealliance.org/ Connect with Jenn Heil! Website: https://www.jenniferheil.com/ Instagram: @jennheil Twitter: @JennHeil LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-heil/ KoKo Health: https://www.kokohealth.ai Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com

This is Part 3 of our series on human performance supported by the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance! In this episode, we talked with Dr. Satchin Panda, a professor in the Regulatory Biology Laboratory and the Rita and Richard Atkinson Chair at the Salk Institute, as well as the Director of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Salk. Satchin is an expert researcher on circadian rhythms, even authoring a book on the topic called Circadian Code. We discuss everything from why circadian rhythms are important for our health, what we know and don’t know about these rhythms from scientific studies, and how we can experiment with our own systems to optimize our own health and performance. Thank you to our sponsors! Delsys: Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom The Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance: https://humanperformancealliance.org/ Connect with Satchin Panda! Twitter: @SatchinPanda LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/satchin-panda-926ba369/ Research Bio: https://www.salk.edu/scientist/satchidananda-panda/ Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Resources: https://www.salk.edu/news-release/benefits-of-time-restricted-eating-depend-on-age-and-sex/ https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)00977-3 https://www.salk.edu/news-release/mobile-app-records-our-erratic-eating-habits/

Welcome to Part 2 of the Human Performance Series supported by the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance! In this episode, we talked with NiCole Keith who is a Professor at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and the current president of American College Sports Medicine. NiCole shared her research in health equity and physical activity and the importance of making physical activity accessible to everyone. Thank you to our sponsors! Delsys: Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom The Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance: https://humanperformancealliance.org/ Connect with NiCole Keith! Twitter: @nicolekeithphd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-keith-2370083/ Research Bio: https://www.regenstrief.org/person/nicole-keith/ Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Resources [ADD ANY RESOURCES USED HERE] “Achieving Equity in Physical Activity Participation: ACSM Experience and Next Steps”: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27870795/ Duke presentation: https://sites.duke.edu/eimduke/files/2020/02/2020-Colloquium-Keynote-Slides-edited.pdf “COVID-19: Implications for Physical Activity, Health Disparities, and Health Equity”: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/15598276211029222 “COVID-19: Implications for Physical Activity, Health Disparities, and Health Equity”: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/9/133

In this episode, we interview Caroline Kryder, the Women’s Health Lead and Product Marketing Manager at Oura, a company that makes a smart ring device to track sleep, physical activity, and much more. Caroline shares how Oura is working to close the gap in Women’s health research and how they use customer insights to provide meaningful and actionable data-driven health feedback. We learn about the results from studies on using body surface temperature to determine menstrual cycles and predict pregnancy in as little as 5 days after conception. Thank you to our sponsors! Delsys: Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom The Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance: https://humanperformancealliance.org/ Connect with Caroline Kryder! Caroline’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-kryder/ The Pulse Blog: https://ouraring.com/blog/ How Your Menstrual Cycle Impacts Your Entire Body: https://ouraring.com/blog/your-menstrual-cycle/ Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Resources UC San Diego feasibility study on using the Oura ring for early prediction of pregnancy: https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0000034#:~:text=This%20preliminary%20study%20supports%20the,after%20self%2Dreported%20conceptive%20sex.

We talked to Dr. Ryan McGinnis, an Associate Professor and Assistant Director in the department of electrical and biomedical engineering at the University of Vermont. He leads the M-Sense research group which takes the tools we make in biomechanics and empowers people out in the real world. We discuss the importance of user-centered design and research and how this is key to success in all of Ryan’s projects, notably one that links objective biomarkers and mental health. We are continually inspired by Ryan’s work, humility, and impact, and hope you are too. Thank you to our sponsor, Delsys! Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom Connect with Ryan and the M-Sense Research Team! M-Sense Research Group Website: https://www.uvm.edu/~rsmcginn/ M-Sense Twitter: @MSenseGroup Ryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryansmcginnis/ Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com

In this episode, we are joined by Professor Rafael Reimann Baptista. Rafael is a professor in the School of Health and Life Sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. He coordinates the Laboratory of Evaluation and Research in Physical Activity, currently carrying out studies on the biomechanics of gait in older adults. He was also the President of the XVII Brazilian Congress of Biomechanics in 2017. He shares his experiences in these different roles, highlighting his learnings from building a lab from the ground up and his focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. Thank you to our sponsor, Delsys! Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom Connect with Rafael! Bio: https://www.pucrs.br/researchers/rafael-reimann-baptista/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baptistarafael Recent publications: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=8873682800 Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com

In this epsiode, we are joined by Jonas Grau Thomsen, the CEO of Nordic Bionics. When Jonas was six, he was told that I would only be able to walk for ten more years. This was the beginning of his search for a bionic solution. Now, he is an expert wheelchair user and exoskeleton influencer. His goal is to get exoskeletons out of the lab and into the world. He shares stories as an exoskeleton tester and his passion for connecting individuals who could benefit from exoskeletons with the latest developing technologies. Thank you to our sponsor, Delsys! Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom Connect with Jonas! Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-grau-thomsen/ Instagram: @NordicBionics Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com

In this episode, Dr. Ray Browning and Dr. Zach Lerner shared their experiences, stories, and wisdom with us on their journeys in biomechanics, collaboration, and founding the rehabilitation robotics company Biomotum. Biomotum is currently developing robotic systems that help people improve their mobility by not only assisting motion but also training and rehabilitating the body. It was great to hear from Ray and Zach’s different perspectives, Ray’s more from the translation and business standpoint as an entrepreneur and Zach’s more from the science and technology standpoint as an academic professor, and how they bring them together to create impact. Both speak about the value of user-centered design in each of their current roles and throughout their career. Thank you to our sponsor, Delsys! Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom Connect with Biomotum! Biomotum Website: https://www.biomotum.com/ Biomechatronics Laboratory: ​​https://biomech.nau.edu/ Biomotum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomotum/ Biomotum Instagram: @biomotumhealth Ray’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-browning/ Zach’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-lerner-phd/ Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Other resources: Bit of BOOM: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abj3487 Professor Elliot Rouse‘s website: http://www.elliottjrouse.com/

In this episode, Brent Shaw joins us to talk about topics including goal setting, avoiding distractions, and enjoying the journey. Brent is the Director of Research at The Darrow Stem Cell Institute as well as a personal coach and host of the Student Performance Podcast. Brent shared science-backed tips and really actionable advice to help you achieve your goals! Try out the Organized Researcher Quarterly Planner: https://tinyurl.com/2p8aeddx Thank you to our sponsor, Delsys! Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom Connect with Brent Shaw! Instagram: @therealstudentmentor ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brent-Shaw Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com

Happy 2023! We start the year off with a wonderful conversation with Professor Silvia Blemker from the University of Virginia and who is the CSO/co-founder of Springbok Analytics. She talked about her lab’s research exploring muscle from cellular to whole-body levels and also on neuromuscular disorders like Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Silvia highlights the importance of teaching students diverse research skills and rebranding “soft skills” to power skills. She also discusses a collaborative entrepreneurial endeavor co-founding an AI-powered analytics company, and how she balances that with her academic duties. Listen to learn more about this awesome professor and role model in biomechanics. Thank you to our sponsor, Delsys! Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom Connect with Silvia! Lab Twitter: @UvaM3Lab Springbok: https://www.springbokanalytics.com/about Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com

In this episode, Professor Antonia Zaferiou shares her journey through art and science to becoming an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, as well as some of the exciting research projects in her lab. We discuss her recent and innovative NSF CAREER Award project using adaptive biofeedback (think the strings section of an orchestra responding to changes in angular momentum while you walk) to improve balance during everyday mobility. Antonia openly shares her passion for outreach in the episode and via the American Society of Biomechanics Teaching Repository. Thank you to our sponsor, Delsys! Enter a prize draw to win a two-sensor Trigno Lite system: https://delsys.com/boom Connect with Antonia Zaferiou! Lab website: https://www.zaferioulab.com/ Personal website: http://antonia-zaferiou.squarespace.com/ Twitter: @AZaferiou Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com

Today we are talking with Professor Jacob Goodin. Jacob is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, and was previously the head strength and conditioning coach and sport scientist for Eastern Tennessee State University's men’s and women’s tennis teams. We learn more about Jacob’s work in the lab and as a biomechanics teacher for many students around the world through his fantastic YouTube channel. His videos spanning movement science - from at-home workouts to statistics in kinesiology, all taught in a free, accessible, and exciting way - so much to learn from! Thank you to our sponsors! SageMotion: sagemotion.com Link to past BOOM episode with Dan Lieberman: https://biomechanicsonourminds.com/episode-31-born-to-run-pt-3-dan-lieberman/?v=7516fd43adaa Connect with Jacob Goodin! Jacob’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrJacobGoodin/ Jacob’s faculty profile: https://www.pointloma.edu/faculty/jacob-goodin-phd-cscs-isak-ii Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Other resources: The Biomechanics of Movement course on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3vG2068

We had a great conversation with Professor Nadia Azar, an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Windsor. For the first time on BOOM, we learn about the biomechanics of drumming and playing other musical instruments. Nadia shares her findings on the mechanics of how playing-related injuries occur and how to prevent them, along with her own journey through biomechanics and music, and how learnings from each can inform the other. One of our favorite takeaways was from Nadia is where she talks about her quest to be an imperfectionist, and learns that at some point you just have to say, “F*** it, the essence is there.” Thank you to our sponsors! SageMotion: sagemotion.com Connect with Nadia! Bio: https://www.uwindsor.ca/kinesiology/455/dr-nadia-azar Twitter: @DrNadiaAzar Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Additional resources: - TED Ed animation from Bit of BOOM “How playing an instrument benefits your brain - Anita Collins”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng - Music Education and the Brain: What Does It Take to Make a Change? - Anita Collins, 2014: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/8755123313502346

This Student Voices episode is hosted by Michael Rose, a former clinical research coordinator and soon-to-be PhD student. In the episode Michael interviews three friends and colleagues – Ophelie Herve from UCLA, Gabi Diaz from CU Boulder, and Garrett Weidig from Michigan State University – on their experiences starting their PhD programs in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics range from integrating into new environments under lockdown measures and the pandemic’s impact on early research progress to how expectations were managed and advice for future graduate students. Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com

We talked with Professor Hamid Charkhkar from Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland VA Medical Center and Anna Smith, a former Case Western student and research assistant in Professor Charkhkar’s neuroprosthesis group. We discussed the importance of being open to feedback from all stakeholders for human-centered research, how to translate that into holistic treatment strategies personalized to individual users, and about the impactful neuroprostheses that integrate sensory abilities being developed by Hamid’s lab. Anna highlights her experience learning that “I don’t know” is a valid answer in research while Hamid reminds us that things not going according to plan is an expectation in human research. Thank you to our sponsors! SageMotion: sagemotion.com Connect with Hamid! Hamid’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charkhkar/ Hamid’s Profile: https://www.aptcenter.research.va.gov/staff/investigators/charkhkar/ Connect with Anna! Anna’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aks174/ Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Resources Bit of BOOM: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-00966-9

This month we have two awesome interviews with people developing approaches to apply biomechanics in practice so things like performance training or even just standard weight training but in a safer way. This episode is Part 2 with Bill DeSimone. Bill is a personal trainer who focuses on teaching and sharing biomechanics-informed training to help prevent injury and improve performance. Part 1 was released earlier this month with Dr. Bryon Weinberg and Dr. Patrick Welsh from Athletic Movement Assessment. They are two doctors of chiropractic medicine who develop movement screens and can be used with everyday patients and clients, elite athletes, and teams. So if you haven’t listened to that, make sure to go back and check it out. Thank you to our sponsors! SageMotion: sagemotion.com Connect with Bill! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jffproject/ Twitter: @BillDeS Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Resources Bit of BOOM: https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381211056089

If you’re interested in learning more about how research in biomechanics can be translated into real and practical guidelines for improving training performance and safety, this episode is for you! We learn about putting biomechanics into practice with Dr. Bryon Weinberg and Dr. Patrick Welsh from Athletic Movement Assessment. Bryon and Patrick are doctors of chiropractic medicine who develop movement screens and can be used with everyday patients and clients, elite athletes, and teams. They are developing approaches to apply biomechanics in practice so things like performance training or even just standard weight training but in a safer way. Thank you to our sponsors! SageMotion: sagemotion.com Connect with Bryon and Patrick! Website: http://www.athleticmovementassessment.com/ Instagram: @athleticmovementassessment Twitter: @AssessMovement Facebook: Athletic Movement Assessment Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Resources Bit of BOOM: https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381211056089

In this episode we talk with Professor Robin Queen, a professor at Virginia Tech in the department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics and the principal investigator of the Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics Lab. We discuss her diverse research projects including how she investigates the intersection of race and biomechanics and how she is developing better biomechanical metrics to better quantify and prevent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reinjury. She also shares the importance of building diverse teams, vulnerability, and connecting with others to do impactful work. Thank you to our sponsors SageMotion: sagemotion.com Connect with Robin Queen! Lab website: https://www.granatalab.beam.vt.edu/ Lab twitter: @GranataLab Personal twitter: @rmqueen_VT Connect with BOOM! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @biomechanicsonourminds LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biomechanicsoom/ YouTube: Biomechanics On Our Minds Website and shop: biomechanicsonourminds.com Resources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8959750/pdf/0200157.pdf https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14763141.2022.2056075 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021929020304942 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451865421000703