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Professional Experience

• 2008 – present Assistant Professor of Sport & Exercise Science, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
  
• Aug. 2007 – Dec. 2007 Lecturer of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
  
• 2005 - 2007 Instructor of Physical Education, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Research

A major research interest of mine focuses on the effects of lower extremity structural limitations on the mechanics and energetics of locomotion. I use an interdisciplinary approach to my research that draws from three primary areas: biomechanics, exercise physiology, and motor control. Thus, my research philosophy is one that involves a number of research collaborators with expertise in different areas. Research collaborators include Gary Heise, David Hydock, and Carole Schneider from UNC; David Hahn from the Denver Clinic for Extremities at Risk; Cory Christiansen from UC-Denver; Phil Martin from Iowa State University; Brian Umberger from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst; and ChengTu Hsieh at California State University-Chico.

Prosthesis inertia design has progressed substantially over the last decade or two resulting in lower limb prostheses with reduced inertia compared the anatomy theses devices are meant to replace. Prosthesis design continues to progress with a current thrust focusing on the development of more active prosthetic components (e.g., motor-driven prosthetic ankle) to offset functional limitations resulting from lower limb amputations.  Introducing active components to the prosthesis generally increases the inertia characteristics of the limb. My research has focused on understanding the consequences of increasing the inertia of the prosthesis. In addition to this work with amputees, in collaboration with several colleagues we have begun to investigate the functional outcomes following transtibial amputation. Specifically, we are interested in determining whether an osteomyoplastic transtibial amputation has any functional advantages over the more commonly used posterior flap amputation. This project is in the early stages and will be on going for the next few years.

Common side effects of cancer treatments are peripheral neuropathy and vestibular dysfunction. These side effects can lead to a loss of balance in cancer survivors and increase their risk of falling. In collaboration with colleagues in exercise physiology, we have begun to investigate the effects of exercise on mitigating these side effects of cancer treatments. We currently use both a rat model and a human model to answer questions in this area. In the rat model we are investigating the effects of cancer treatments on locomotion patterns to understand the consequences of muscle dysfunction due to cancer treatments. In humans, we have just begun to assess postural steadiness in cancer survivors at various stages of treatment and will be investigating the influence of exercise on improving balance and posture in this population.

Recent Presentations & Publications

Smith, J.D. & Martin, P.E. (in press). Short and long term changes in amputee walking patterns due to increased prosthesis inertia. Submitted to Journal of Prosthetics & Orthotics.

Hsieh, C., Smith, J.D., Bohne, M., & Knudson, D. (in press). Factors related to students’ learning of biomechanical concepts. Submitted to Journal of College Science Teaching.

Heise, G.D., Smith, J.D., & Martin, P.E. (in press). Lower extremity mechanical work during stance explains interindividual variability of running economy. Submitted to European Journal of Applied Physiology.

Weinhandl, J.T., Smith, J.D., & Dugan, E. L. (2011). The effects of repetitive drop jumps on impact phase kinematics and kinetics. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 27(2), 108-115.

Recent Presentations

Carpenter, A. L., Smith, J.D., Heise, G.D., Repka, C.P., & Challis, J.H. Time-to-boundary predictions based on other center of pressure measures in cancer survivors. Presented at the American Society of Biomechanics 35th Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA, August 2011.

Smith, J.D., Carpenter, A. L., Heise, G.D., Repka, C.P., & Challis, J.H. Relationships between quiet standing and limits of stability assessments in cancer survivors. Presented at the American Society of Biomechanics 35th Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA, August 2011.

Carpenter, A. L., Smith, J. D., Heise, G.D., Repka, C.P., & Schneider, C.M. Postural steadiness in cancer survivors based on time domain measures of center of pressure. Presented at the 58th Annual Meeting and 2nd World Congress on Exercise is Medicine of the American College of Sports Medicine. Denver, CO, June 2, 2011.

Smith, J.D., Carpenter, A. L., Heise, G.D., Repka, C.P., & Schneider, C.M. Center of pressure frequency measures for assessing postural steadiness in cancer survivors. Presented at the 58th Annual Meeting and 2nd World Congress on Exercise is Medicine of the American College of Sports Medicine. Denver, CO, June 2, 2011.

Carpenter, A. L., Smith, J.D., Heise, G.D., Repka, C.P., & Challis, J.H. Predicting time-to-boundary based on traditional center of pressure measures in cancer survivors. Presented at the Rocky Mountain Regional American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, Estes Park, CO, April 8, 2011.

Leich, A., Kneisel, K., Heise, G.D., Smith, J.D., & Hoke, M. Force platform center of pressure measures used to predict Nintendo Wii Fit balance scores during yoga poses. Presented at the Rocky Mountain Regional American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, Estes Park, CO, April 8, 2011.

Kneisel, K., Leich, A., Heise, G.D., Smith, J.D., & Hoke, M. Is dynamic stability related to Nintendo Wii Fit balance scores during yoga poses? Presented at the Rocky Mountain Regional American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, Estes Park, CO, April 8, 2011.

Allen, A., Heise, G.D., & Smith, J.D. Lower extremity mechanical work of different prosthetic feet: An immediate response case study. Presented at the American Society of Biomechanics 34th Annual Meeting. Providence, RI, August 19, 2010.

Heise, G.D., Allen, A., Allen, A., & Smith, J.D. Ground reaction force characteristics of different prosthetic feet: An immediate response case study. Presented at the American Society of Biomechanics 34th Annual Meeting. Providence, RI, August 20, 2010.

Smith, J.D., Villa, S., Orpet, R.E., & Heise, G.D. Intersegmental dynamics are refined over time to accommodate changes in leg inertia. Presented at the American Society of Biomechanics 33rd Annual Meeting. University Park, PA, August 28, 2009.

Heise G.D., Liu, K, Smith, J.D., Allen, A., & Hoke, M. Dynamic stability assessed with frequency analysis compared to spatiotemporal analysis. Presented at the American Society of Biomechanics 33rd Annual Meeting. University Park, PA, August 28, 2009.

Smith, J.D. & Martin, P.E. Short and longer term changes in amputee walking patterns due to increased prosthesis inertia. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society. Denver, CO, March 11, 2009.

Behrens, A.J., Smith, J.D., Rifkin, J.R., & Heise, G.D. Ground reaction forces during walking with two prosthetic feet: a preliminary study. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society. Denver, CO, March 11, 2009.