Education

University of Delaware                                                                              2007 – 2011

Doctor of Philosophy, Biomechanics & Movement Science

     Dissertation: “Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Sex differences in gait, joint alignment, and cartilage contact area and an investigation of a neuromuscular treatment”

     Advisor: Irene S. Davis, PhD, PT, FACSM, FAPTA

     

Ohio University                                                                                             June 1999

Master of Physical Therapy

      

Ohio University                                                                                             June 1997

Bachelor of Sport Science, Exercise Physiology

Research Interests

1) Develop clinically-relevant evaluation and intervention strategies to reduce risk of lower extremity injury in at-risk individuals during activities with and without load carriage. Ideally, evaluation and interventions can be performed in-field to maximize ecological validity while minimizing training disruption. Key populations of interest include runners and tactical athletes.

2) Develop and better understand optimal prevention and treatment strategies for patellofemoral pain and bone stress injuries.

Selected Publications

Willy RW, Hoglund LT, Barton CJ, Bolgla LA, Scalzitti D, Logerstedt DS, Lynch AD, Snyder-Mackler L, McDonough C. Anterior knee pain/Patellofemoral pain Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) (2019) J. Orthop. Sp. Phys. Ther.

Willy, RW., Paul DeVita, Stacey A. Meardon, Michael Baggaley, Christopher C. Womble, and John D. Willson. "Effects of Load Carriage and Step Length Manipulation on Achilles Tendon and Knee Loads." Military Medicine (2019). PMID: 30839070

Willy, RW, Brorsson A, Powell HC, Willson JD, Tranberg R, Silbernagel KG. (2017). Elevated Knee Joint Kinetics and Reduced Ankle Kinetics Are Present During Jogging and Hopping After Achilles Tendon Ruptures.  Am J Sports Med.45(5): 1124-1133. PMID: 28186834

Willy RW, Willson, JD, Clowers K, Baggaley M, Murray N. (2016). The effects of body-borne loads and cadence manipulation on patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joint kinetics during running. J. of Biomechanics. 49(16):4028-4033. PMID:  27839698

Willy RW, Meira E. (2016) Biomechanical interventions for the treatment of patellofemoral pain. Int. J. Sp. Phys. Ther. 11(6):877-890. PMID: 27904791

Willy RW, Buchenic L, Rogacki K, Ackerman J, Schmidt A, Willson JD. (2016) In-field gait retraining and mobile monitoring to address running biomechanics associated with tibial stress fracture. Scand. J. Med & Sci Sp. 2016. Feb;26(2):197-205.  PMID: 25652871.

Publications

Please see Google Scholar profile page.

1.            Van Waerbeke C, Willy RW, Jacques A, Berton E, Paquette MR, Rao G. Increasing load carriage and running speed differentially affect the magnitude, variability and coordination patterns of muscle forces. J Biomech. 2023 Sep 8;159:111794. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111794. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37690366.

2.            Pairot de Fontenay B, Roy JS, Plemmons M, Willy RW. Knee joint underloading does not evolve after a two-week reintroduction to running program after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Phys Ther Sport. 2023 Mar 29;61:122-128. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.03.003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37023590.

3.            Sancho I, Willy RW, Morrissey D, Malliaras P, Lascurain-Aguirrebeña I. Achilles tendon forces and pain during common rehabilitation exercises in male runners with Achilles tendinopathy. A laboratory study. Phys Ther Sport. 2023 Mar;60:26-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.01.002. Epub 2023 Jan 10. PMID: 36640640.

4.            H Paul Dijkstra, Sean Mc Auliffe, Clare L Ardern, Joanne L Kemp, Andrea Mosler, Amy Price, Paul Blazey, Dawn P Richards, Abdulaziz Farooq, Andreas Serner, Eugene McNally, Vasco Mascarenhas, Richard W. Willy, Jason Oke, Karim M Khan, Sion Glyn-Jones, Mike Clarke, Trisha Greenhalgh. (2023). Oxford consensus on primary cam morphology and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: part 1—definitions, terminology, taxonomy and imaging outcomes. British Journal of Sports Medicine. PMID: 36588401 PMCID: DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106085

5.            H Paul Dijkstra, Sean Mc Auliffe, Clare L Ardern, Joanne L Kemp, Andrea Mosler, Amy Price, Paul Blazey, Dawn P Richards, Abdulaziz Farooq, Andreas Serner, Eugene McNally, Vasco Mascarenhas, Richard W. Willy, Jason Oke, Karim M Khan, Sion Glyn-Jones, Mike Clarke, Trisha Greenhalgh. (2023). Oxford consensus on primary cam morphology and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: part 2—research priorities on conditions affecting the young person’s hip. British Journal of Sports Medicine. PMID: 36588402 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106092

6.            Dijkstra HP, Mc Auliffe S, Ardern CL, Kemp JL, Mosler AB, Price A, Blazey P, Richards D, Farooq A, Serner A, McNally E, Mascarenhas V, Willy RW, Stankovic I, Oke JL, Khan KM, Glyn-Jones S, Clarke M, Greenhalgh T; Young Athlete’s Hip Research (YAHiR) Collaborative. Infographic. Oxford consensus on primary cam morphology and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome-natural history of primary cam morphology to inform clinical practice and research priorities on conditions affecting the young person's hip. Br J Sports Med. (2023) Mar;57(6):382-384. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106094. Epub 2023 Jan 17. PMID: 36650034; PMCID: PMC9985723.

7.            Esculier JF, Besomi M, Silva DO, Passigli S, Rathleff MS, Van Middelkoop M, Barton C, Callaghan MJ, Harkey MS, Hoens AM, Krowchuk NM, Teoli A, Vicenzino B, Willy RW, Hunt MA. Do the General Public and Health Care Professionals Think That Running Is Bad for the Knees? A Cross-sectional International Multilanguage Online Survey. Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 Sep 30;10(9):23259671221124141. doi: 10.1177/23259671221124141. PMID: 36199830;

8.            Pazzinatto MF, Barton CJ, Willy RW, Ferreira AS, Azevedo FM, de Oliveira Silva D. Are Physical Function and Fear of Movement Risk Factors for Patellofemoral Pain? A 2-Year Prospective Study. J Sport Rehabil. 2022 Jul 20:1-7. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2021-0392.

9.            Sancho I, Morrissey D, Willy RW, Tayfur A, Lascurain-Aguirrebeña I, Barton C, Malliaras P. Recreational runners with Achilles tendinopathy have clinically detectable impairments: A case-control study. Phys Ther Sport. 2022 May;55:241-247. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.05.002.

 

10.         Corrigan P, Hornsby S, Pohlig RT, Willy RW, Cortes DH, Grävare Silbernagel K. Tendon loading in runners with Achilles tendinopathy: relations to pain, structure, and function during return-to-sport. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2022 Apr 30. doi: 10.1111/sms.14178. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35488734.

11.         Willy RW, Hoglund LT, Glaviano NR, Bolgla LA, Bazett-Jones DM. Survey of confidence and knowledge to manage patellofemoral pain in readers versus nonreaders of the physical therapy clinical practice guideline. Phys Ther Sport. 2022 May;55:218-228. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.04.009. Epub 2022 May 2. PMID: 35550496.

12.         Hutchinson LA, Lichtwark GA, Willy RW, Kelly LA. The Iliotibial Band: A Complex Structure with Versatile Functions. Sports Med. 2022 May;52(5):995-1008. doi: 10.1007/s40279-021-01634-3. Epub 2022 Jan 24. PMID: 35072941; PMCID: PMC9023415.

13.         Alexander JLN, Willy RW, Culvenor AG, Barton CJ. Running Myth: recreational running causes knee osteoarthritis. Br J Sports Med. 2022 Mar;56(6):357-358. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2021-104342. Epub 2021 Nov 24. PMID: 34819274.

14.         Napier C, Willy RW. The Prevention and Treatment of Running Injuries: A State of the Art. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Aug 1;16(4):968-970. doi: 10.26603/001c.25754. PMID: 34386275; PMCID: PMC8329326.

15.         Meardon SA, Derrick TR, Willson JD, Baggaley M, Steinbaker CR, Marshall M, Willy RW. Peak and Per-Step Tibial Bone Stress During Walking and Running in Female and Male Recreational Runners. Am J Sports Med. 2021 Jul;49(8):2227-2237. doi: 10.1177/03635465211014854. Epub 2021 Jun 2. PMID: 34077287.

16.         Napier, C., Willy, R. W., Hannigan, B. C., McCann, R., & Menon, C. (2021). The effect of footwear, running speed, and location on the validity of two commercially available inertial measurement units during running. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, 102. PMID: 33981991 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2021.643385

17.         Warden SJ, Edwards WB, Willy RW. Optimal Load for Managing Low-Risk Tibial and Metatarsal Bone Stress Injuries in Runners: The Science Behind the Clinical Reasoning. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Jul;51(7):322-330. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2021.9982. Epub 2021 May 7. PMID: 33962529.

18.         Warden SJ, Edwards WB, Willy RW. Preventing Bone Stress Injuries in Runners with Optimal Workload. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2021 Jun;19(3):298-307. doi: 10.1007/s11914-021-00666-y. Epub 2021 Feb 26. PMID: 33635519; PMCID: PMC8316280.

19.         Gabbett T, Sancho I, Dingenen B, Willy RW. When progressing training loads, what are the considerations for healthy and injured athletes? Br J Sports Med. 2021 Sep;55(17):947-948. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103769. Epub 2021 Apr 9. PMID: 33837004.

20.         Pazzinatto MF, Silva DO, Willy RW, Azevedo FM, Barton CJ. Fear of movement and (re)injury is associated with condition specific outcomes and health-related quality of life in women with patellofemoral pain. Physiother Theory Pract. 2020 Oct 27:1-10. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1830323. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33106118.

21.         Paquette MR, Napier C, Willy RW, Stellingwerff T. Moving Beyond Weekly ‘Mileage’ – Optimizing Training Quantification in Running. (2020) Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 50(10), 564-56 PMID: 32741325 DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2020.9533

22.         De Oliveria Silva, D, Willy RW, Barton CJ, Christensen K, Pazzinatto MF, Azevedo FM. (2020). Pain and disability in women with patellofemoral pain relates to kinesiophobia, but not to patellofemoral joint loading variables. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sp. Ex. 30(11), 2215-2221. PMID: 33106118 DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1830323

23.         Whittier T, Willy RW, Heidner GS, Niland S, Melton C, Mizelle JC, Murray N. (2020). The Cognitive Demands of Gait Retraining in Runners: An EEG Study. Journal of Motor Behavior, 52(3), 360-371. DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2019.1635983

24.         Van Hooren B, Fuller JT, Buckley JD, Miller JR, Sewell K, Rao G, Barton C, Bishop C, Willy RW. Is Motorized Treadmill Running Biomechanically Comparable to Overground Running? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Over Studies. Sports Med. 2020 Apr;50(4):785-813. doi: 10.1007/s40279-019-01237-z. PMID: 31802395; PMCID: PMC7069922.

25.         Davis IS, Tenforde AS, Neal BS, Roper JL, Willy RW. Gait Retraining as an Intervention for Patellofemoral Pain. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020 Feb;13(1):103-114. doi: 10.1007/s12178-020-09605-3. PMID: 32170556; PMCID: PMC7083994.

26.         Alexander JLN, Willy RW, Napier C, Bonanno DR, Barton CJ. Running myth: switching to a non-rearfoot strike reduces injury risk and improves running economy. Br J Sports Med. 2021 Feb;55(3):175-176. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102262. Epub 2020 May 18. PMID: 32423913.

27.         Wolthon A, Nielsen-Ostergaard R, Taylor-Haas J, Willy RW, Paquette M. (2020) Running shoes, pronation, and injuries: Do beliefs of injury risk factors among running shoe salespersons and physiotherapy students align with current etiology frameworks? Footwear Science. pp.1-11.

28.         Alexander J, Willy RW, Barton CB. (2020) Running Myth: Strength training should be high repetition low load to improve endurance running performance. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 54(13), 813-814. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101168

29.         Alexander JLN, Barton CJ, Willy RW. Running myth: static stretching reduces injury risk in runners. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Sep;54(17):1058-1059. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101169. Epub 2019 Nov 6. PMID: 31694812.

30.         Moore IS, Willy RW. (2019). The Use of Wearables: Tracking and Retraining in Endurance Runners. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 18 (12), 437-444. PMID: 31834174 DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000667

31.         Willy RW, Hoglund LT, Barton CJ, Bolgla LA, Scalzitti D, Logerstedt DS, Lynch AD, Snyder-Mackler L, McDonough C. (2019) Patellofemoral pain: Clinical practice guidelines linked to the international classification of functioning, disability and health from the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association (CPG) J. Orthop. Sp. Phys. Ther. 49(9), CPG1-CPG95. PMID: 32291214 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2020.02.008

32.         Sancho I, Morrissey D, Willy RW, Barton C, Malliaras P. Education and exercise supplemented by a pain-guided hopping intervention for male recreational runners with midportion Achilles tendinopathy: A single cohort feasibility study. Phys Ther Sport. 2019 Nov;40:107-116. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2019.08.007. Epub 2019 Aug 14. PMID: 31518777.

33.         Sancho I, Malliaras P, Barton C, Willy RW, Morrissey D. Biomechanical alterations in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy during running and hopping: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Gait Posture. 2019 Sep;73:189-201. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.07.121. Epub 2019 Jul 12. PMID: 31351358.

34.         Pairot-de-Fontenay B, Willy RW, Elias ARC, Mizner RL, Dubé MO, Roy JS. Running Biomechanics in Individuals with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2019 Sep;49(9):1411-1424. doi: 10.1007/s40279-019-01120-x. PMID: 31102111.

 

35.         Miller JR, Van Hooren B, Bishop C, Buckley JD, Willy RW, Fuller JT. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Crossover Studies Comparing Physiological, Perceptual and Performance Measures Between Treadmill and Overground Running. Sports Med. 2019 May;49(5):763-782. doi: 10.1007/s40279-019-01087-9. PMID: 30847825.

36.         Willy RW, DeVita P, Meardon SA, Baggaley M, Womble CC, Willson JD. Effects of Load Carriage and Step Length Manipulation on Achilles Tendon and Knee Loads. Mil Med. 2019 Oct 1;184(9-10):e482-e489. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usz031. PMID: 30839070.

37.         Willy RW, Paquette MR. The Physiology and Biomechanics of the Master Runner. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2019 Mar;27(1):15-21. doi: 10.1097/JSA.0000000000000212. PMID: 30601395.

38.         Napier C, Willy RW. Logical fallacies in the running shoe debate: let the evidence guide prescription. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Dec;52(24):1552-1553. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100117. Epub 2018 Oct 23. PMID: 30352861.

39.         Mansfield CJ, Vanetten L, Willy R, di Stasi S, Magnussen R, Briggs M. The Effects of Needling Therapies on Muscle Force Production: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Mar;49(3):154-170. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2019.8270. Epub 2018 Nov 30. PMID: 30501386.

40.         Adams, D., Pozzi, F., Willy, RW., Carrol, A., & Zeni, J. (2018). Altering cadence or vertical oscillation during running: effects on running related injury factors. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 13(4), 633. PMID: 30140556

41.         Willy RW. (2018) Innovations and pitfalls in the use of wearable devices in the prevention and rehabilitation of running related injuries. Phys. Ther. Sport. 29:26-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2017.10.003

42.         Powell HC*, Silbernagel KG, Brorsson A,* Tranberg R, Willy RW. (2018) Individuals post-Achilles tendon rupture demonstrate increased knee kinetics with reduced ankle function during a single leg drop countermovement jump. J. Orthop Sport Phys. Ther. 48(1):34-43.  doi: 10.2519/jospt.2018.7684

43.         Brorsson A*, Willy RW, Tranberg R, Silbernagel KG. (2017) Heel-rise height deficit 1-year post-Achilles tendon rupture relates to changes in ankle biomechanics in the long-term. Am J Sports Med. 45(13):3060-3068. doi: 10.1177/0363546517717698

44.         Esculier JF*, Willy RW, Baggaley MW, Meardon SA, Willson JD. (2017) Kinetic and kinematic predictors of medial tibiofemoral force during walking and running. Knee. 24(6):1317-1325. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2017.08.054

45.         Willy RW, Brorsson A, Powell HC, Willson JD, Tranberg R, Silbernagel KG. (2017). Elevated Knee Joint Kinetics and Reduced Ankle Kinetics Are Present During Jogging and Hopping After Achilles Tendon Ruptures.  Am J Sports Med.45(5): 1124-1133. doi: 10.1177/0363546516685055.

46.         Bowersock CD*, Willy RW, DeVita P, Willson JD. (2017) Reduced step length reduces knee joint contact forces during running following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction but does not alter inter-limb asymmetry. Clin. Biomech. 43:79-85. doi: 10.1080/02640414.201

47.         Bowersock C*, DeVita P, Willy RW, Willson JD. (2017) Independent effects of step length and foot strike pattern on tibiofemoral joint forces during running. J. Sports Sciences. 35(20):2005-2013. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2016

48.         Werner D, Willy RW, Willson JD, Barrios JA. (2017) Validity, reliability and normative values for clinically-assessed frontal tibial orientation as a measure of varus-valgus knee alignment. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training. 22(2): 29-33. doi/10.1123/ijatt.2016-0047.

49.         Willy RW, Bigelow MA, Kolesar A, Willson JD, Thomas JS. (2017). Lower extremity joint kinetics and tibiofemoral contact forces during running in young individuals with and without a history of partial meniscectomy. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 1:115-122. doi: 10.1007/s00167-016-4143-9

50.         Baggaley M, Willy RW, Meardon SA. (2017)  Primary and secondary effects of real-time feedback to reduce vertical loading rate during running. Scand. J. Med & Sci Sp. 5:501-507. doi: 10.1111/sms.12670

51.         Willy RW, Meardon SA, Schmidt A, Blaylock NR, Hadding SA, Willson JD. Changes in tibiofemoral contact forces during running in response to in-field gait retraining. J Sports Sci. 2016 Sep;34(17):1602-11. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2015.1125517. Epub 2015 Dec 17. PMID: 26679058

52.         Willy RW, Halsey L, Hayek A, Johnson H, Willson JD. (2016). Patellofemoral Joint and Achilles Tendon Loads During Overground and Treadmill Running. J. Orthop. Sports PT. 46(8): 664-672. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2016.6494.

53.         Willy RW, Willson, JD, Clowers K, Baggaley M, Murray N. (2016). The effects of body-borne loads and cadence manipulation on patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joint kinetics during running. J. of Biomechanics. 49(16):4028-4033. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.10.043

54.         Willy RW, Meira E. (2016) Biomechanical interventions for the treatment of patellofemoral pain. Int. J. Sp. Phys. Ther. 11(6):877-890. PMID: 27904791

55.         Blackmore T, Willy RW, Creaby MW. The high frequency component of the vertical ground reaction force is a valid surrogate measure of the impact peak. J Biomech. 2016 Feb 8;49(3):479-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.12.019. Epub 2016 Jan 6. PMID: 26783094.

56.         Willy RW, Buchenic L, Rogacki K, Ackerman J, Schmidt A, Willson JD. In-field gait retraining and mobile monitoring to address running biomechanics associated with tibial stress fracture. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2016 Feb;26(2):197-205. doi: 10.1111/sms.12413. Epub 2015 Feb 4. PMID: 25652871.

57.         Willson JD, Loss JR, Willy RW, Meardon SA. Sex differences in running mechanics and patellofemoral joint kinetics following an exhaustive run. J Biomech. 2015 Nov 26;48(15):4155-4159. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.10.021. Epub 2015 Oct 25. PMID: 26525514.

58.         Willson JD, Ratcliff OM, Meardon SA, Willy RW. Influence of step length and landing pattern on patellofemoral joint kinetics during running. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2015 Dec;25(6):736-43. doi: 10.1111/sms.12383. Epub 2015 Jan 14. PMID: 25585589.

59.         Willy RW, Davis IS. Kinematic and kinetic comparison of running in standard and minimalist shoes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014 Feb;46(2):318-23. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182a595d2. PMID: 23877378.

60.         Willy RW. (2013). A pathomechanical paradigm for treating the injured runner. Norwegian J. of Sports Med. 28(3), 6-10.

61.         Willy RW, Davis IS. (2013). Varied response to mirror gait retraining of gluteus medius control, hip kinematics, pain, and function in 2 female runners with patellofemoral pain. J. Ortho Sports PT. 43(12):864-74. PMID: 24175611

62.         Willy RW, Scholz J, Davis IS. (2012). Mirror gait retraining for the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome in female runners. Clin. Biomech. 27(10):1045-51. PMID: 22917625.

63.         Willy RW, Manal K, Witvrouw E, Davis IS. (2012). Are mechanics different between male and female runners with patellofemoral pain? Med. Science Sport and Ex. 44(11):2165-71. PMID: 22843103.

64.         Silbernagel KG, Willy R, Davis IS (2012). Pre- and post-injury running analysis along with measurements of strength, endurance, and tendon length in a patient with an Achilles tendon rupture. J. Ortho Sports PT. 42(6):521-9 PMID: 22282229.

65.         Willy RW, Davis IS. (2011). The Effect of a Hip Strengthening Program on Hip Mechanics during Running and during a Single Leg Squat. J. Ortho Sports PT, 41(9):625-632. PMID: 21765220.

66.         Willy RW, Kyle BA, Moore SA, Chleboun GS. (2001). The effect of cessation and resumption of a hamstring muscle stretching program on joint range of motion.  J. Ortho Sports PT, 31(3):138-144. PMID: 11297019.