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Thomas Kernozek

Professor
Health Professions - PT University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Thomas Kernozek

Professor

Health Professions - PT

Specialty area(s)

Biomechanics of Human Movement, Clinical Research Methodology, Biomechanics Instrumentation and Statistics

 

Brief biography

Have taught in the Physical Therapy Program since 1996.  Developed the Strzelczyk Clinical Biomechanics Laboratory in the Health Science Center. Served as the founding director of the La Crosse Institute for Movement Science (LIMS)  (est. 2005). 

We currently have two active biomechanics laboratories where we study lower extremity injury mechanics and joint/soft tissue loading with computer based musculoskeletal models informed by testing human subjects. Much of our work examines the biomechanical factors related to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, patellofemoral joint loading and Achilles tendon loading during therapeutic exercise, walking, running, jumping and landing.  We also currently use biomechanical instrumentation to provide augmented feedback to performers that blends biomechanics with motor control/motor learning to reduce the knee injury incidence potential in female athletes.  We work with various athletic programs at UW-La Crosse and within the region.

Currently, I serve as the Director of the La Crosse Institute for Movement Science (LIMS), teach graduate courses in the Physical Therapy program and serve as the Chair of the Department of Health Professions. 

Students have access to advanced technology and equipment that allows for cutting-edge research in areas such as motion analysis, biomechanics and rehabilitation.

Here is an article highlighting my research at UWL featured in the La Crosse Tribune.  My work was also recently featured in this blog from Motion Analysis Corporation.

Links to our laboratory, instruments, and published research -
La Crosse Institute for Movement Science (LIMS) est. 2005. LIMS website
Strzelczyk Clinical Biomechanics Laboratory and Performance Analysis for Clinical Exercise and Running Performance (PACER) Laboratory Lab website

Education

Post doctoral associate, University of Minnesota
PhD, University of Minnesota (GO GOPHERS!)

Career

Professional history

Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, member of the American Society of Biomechanics, Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Biomechanics.

Research and publishing

Have published over 130 research manuscripts with my colleagues and graduate students. Students have an excellent opportunities to be mentored by faculty on clinically relevant research projects within one of our laboratories at UW La Crosse.  I treat my research as a faculty/student partnership and have had great outcomes working with my colleagues and students.  Often, students are listed as co-authors on publications or presentations at professional meetings from their efforts working to further our lab research. 

Follow the link to see what we are currently publishing within our LIMS research group  (Pubmed Publications website). Our research has been cited by many other scientists in the field.  Follow the Google link to learn more about which papers have been most often cited by other scientists (Google Scholar Kernozek Citations website)  Here is my profile in web of science (https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/B-1446-2009) and my orcid https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3044-6076.

UWL has exciting research partnerships with the Gundersen Sports Physical Therapy residency program and the Mayo Clinic Healthcare System in La Crosse.

If you want to become a physical therapist and become engaged in contemporary research in movement science, UW La Crosse is a really great place to be!  Become involved in LIMS research!

Kudos

published

Thomas Kernozek and Drew Rutherford, both Health Professions; Sherwin Toribio, Mathematics & Statistics; Hannah Jaime, Gundersen Sports Medicine; C.N. Vannatta, Physical Therapy (now with Gundersen Health System); and Becky Heinert, Physical Therapy (now with Winona State University); co-authored the article "Augmented feedback response by vertical ground reaction force in adolescent female athletes" in International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, which was accepted for publication by American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy. Hannah Jaime was a resident with Gundersen Health System in the Sports Physical Therapy residency program. This project was a result of ongoing collaboration between the La Crosse Institute for Movement Science (LIMS) in the UWL Physical Therapy Program and Gundersen. Annually, residents participate in research through LIMS. CN Vannatta directs the research component of the residency.

Submitted on: Nov. 4

published

Thomas Kernozek and Steni Sackiriyas, both Physical Therapy, co-authored the article "Real-Time Visual Feedback in Reducing Medical Compartment Load in the Knee" in "Critical Reviews™ in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine" and was accepted for publication by Begell House, Inc.

Submitted on: Sept. 21

interviewed

Thomas Kernozek, Health Professions, was interviewed by Caitlin Carlson of "Runner's World" on Aug. 5 about UWL's LIMS research on manipulating cadence in running. The linked article describes the conversation that appeared in "Runner's World."

Submitted on: Aug. 19

presented

C. N. Vannatta, Gundersen Health System; Thomas Kernozek and Drew Rutherford, both Health Professions; and Meghan Fraser, Maria Turco and Kaelyn Wagner, all Physical Therapy students; presented "Comparison of Achilles Tendon loading variables in running between dominant and non-dominant legs in recreational runners" at American Society of Biomechanics on Aug. 7 in Madison, Wisconsin. Graduate student Kaelyn Wagner attended this meeting and was supported by UWL Graduate Studies with a Travel Grant. Gundersen Medical Foundation supports C.N. Vannatta's collaborative work in UWL's La Crosse Institute for Movement Science (LIMS).

Submitted on: Aug. 19

presented

C. N. Vannatta, Gundersen Health System; and Thomas Kernozek, Alex Olver, Haley Reierson, Drew Rutherford and Amanda Thiers, all Health Professions; presented "Sex differences in Achilles Tendon loading in recreational runners " at American Society of Biomechanics on Aug. 6 in Madison, Wisconsin. Graduate students Alex Olver, Haley Reierson, and Amanda Thiers attended this meeting and were supported by UWL Graduate Studies with a Travel Grant. Gundersen Medical Foundation supports C.N. Vannatta's collaborative research work in UWL's La Crosse Institute for Movement Science (LIMS) in the Department of Health Professions, Physical Therapy Program.

Submitted on: Aug. 19