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Thomas Kernozek

Professor
Health Professions - Physical Therapy University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Thomas Kernozek

Professor

Health Professions - Physical Therapy

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. 

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

Gwen M. Fritz, Gundersen Health; Becky Heinert, Winona State University; and Thomas Kernozek, Drew Rutherford and Steni Sackiriyas, all Health Professions; co-authored the article "Concurrent Force Feedback on Load Symmetry in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients" in The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (IJSPT), published on Aug. 1 by the North American Sports Medicine Institute.

Submitted on: Aug. 2, 2023

 

published

Mikey Friedman, Andrew Pardee, C.N. Vannatta and Callie Pohlman, all Physical Therapy; and Thomas Kernozek and Drew Rutherford, both Health Professions; co-authored the article "Effects of Body Weight Support in Running on Achilles Tendon Loading" in International Journal of Sports Medicine published on July 19 by Thieme. C.N. Vannatta is a physical therapist and collaborator with Gundersen Sports Medicine. He is supported by a grant through the Gundersen Medical Foundation to work in LIMS.

Submitted on: July 25, 2023

 

published

Bryce Ertman, C.N. Vannatta and Lucas Voie, all Physical Therapy; Melissa Klaeser, Physical Therapy; and Naghmeh Gheidi, Thomas Kernozek and Drew Rutherford, all Health Professions; co-authored the article "Alterations in Achilles tendon stress and strain across a range of running velocities" in Journal of Sports Sciences and was accepted for publication by Taylor and Francis . Data published from a graduate project with recent graduates Bryce Ertman, Melissa Klaeser, and Lucas Voie. Collaborators included Drew Rutherford and Naghmeh Gheidi (UWL) as well as C. Nathan Vannatta from Gundersen Health System. Vannatta is supported by the Gundersen Medical Foundation.

Submitted on: June 19, 2023

 

published

Pedro Zavala, Biology; and C.N. Vannatta, Thomas Kernozek and Drew Rutherford, all Physical Therapy; co-authored the article "Dynamic Postural Control in Injured Collegiate Cross-Country Runners is Not Associated with Running-Related Injury" in Gait & Posture and was accepted for publication by Elsevier. Pedro Zavala was a sports physical therapy resident at Gundersen Health System during the time of this work. The residency program is affiliated with UWL Physical Therapy program and the La Crosse Institute for Movement Science (LIMS) research lab. C.N. Vannatta is a graduate of UWL Physical Therapy employed at Gundersen Sports Medicine. He is supported by Gundersen Medical Foundation to work within LIMS as a researcher.

Submitted on: June 9, 2023

 

published

Taylor Blackman, CN Vannatta and Thomas Kernozek, all Physical Therapy, co-authored the article "Kinematic and muscle force asymmetry in healthy runners: How do different methods measure up?" in Gait & Posture published on May 15 by Elsevier. CN Vannatta is a research collaborator with LIMS from the Gundersen Health System within the Sports Medicine Department. Nate helps to lead research activities relative to running athletes participating at regional high school and collegiate levels. Taylor Blackman was a recent doctoral student in Physical Therapy (May 2022). This research was supported in part by the Gundersen Medical Foundation.

Submitted on: May 16, 2023