I played many sports growing up.
After having success in hockey, volleyball, basketball, golf and a few others, I found my competitive edge and future career aspiration in distance running. I ran track and cross country in college at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.
My experience introduced me to the delicate world of distance running, and how critical it is to limit injuries while improving performance.
I was fascinated by how manipulating running shoes and training modalities affected runners’ movements and injury risks. I decided I wanted to understand those dynamics, and support other athletes, as a biomechanist.
I earned my master’s degree in human kinetics and biomechanics in Canada, and then I received my PhD in biomechanics at the University of Tennessee.
I moved to Memphis in 2012 and have been at the University of Memphis ever since. Here, my research focuses on the lower limb joints, including the foot, ankle and knee joints and how shoes affect people’s movements.
The exercise science field is always evolving.
I’m grateful for the faculty and student support as we strive to help runners take safer strides.
A Hands-On Approach
At the University of Memphis, I am grateful to have access to many valuable research resources and administrative support.
When we explore rehabilitation strategies for overuse injuries, we collect data using 3D motion capture to assess body movements and other instruments to measure muscle activity and involvement. We also use force-measuring sensors like insoles and force plates embedded in the ground or in treadmills.
The primary reason I’m able to do this type of research is because of our incredible students. Their involvement in the program is research-intensive. They learn how to use the equipment, interpret the data and potentially use it for future studies in their careers.
“I’m grateful for the faculty and student support as we strive to help runners take safer strides.”
Real-world Partnerships
Once we gather our biomechanical data, we apply it to help many stakeholders including athletes, coaches and industry partners.
Our students often go on to work with athletes and coaches across all levels, from high school to professional teams. Additionally, we often work with industry partners in the sportswear and footwear industries to help them design and refine their products and several of our students have secured jobs in this industry.
With respect to footwear research, we’ve done a lot of work to understand how different populations of runners respond to newly developed footwear — specifically female and older athletes. This allows companies to better understand the movements of these athletes and design footwear that’s appropriate for them to improve their performance.
Whether I’m helping students develop their skills and understanding of the data or using that knowledge to help athletes reduce injury risks and improve performance, I can use my research to directly impact people.
And this is exactly why I entered this field in the first place.
Watch Dr. Max Paquette’s Research in a Minute video below.
