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, Richard W., 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. Meardon SA, Derrick TD, Willson JW, Baggaley M, Steinbaker R, Marshall M, Willy RW. (accepted) Peak and per-step tibial bone stress during walking and running in female and male recreational runners. American Journal of Sports Medicine.

2. Warden SJ, Edwards W, Willy RW. (Accepted) Optimal workload for managing low-risk tibial and metatarsal bone stress injuries in runners: the science behind the clinical reasoning. J. Orthop. Sports Phys. Ther.

3. Warden, SJ., Edwards WB, and Willy RW. "Preventing Bone Stress Injuries in Runners with Optimal Workload." Current Osteoporosis Reports (2021): 1-10.

4. Pazzinatto M, De Oliveira Silva D, Willy RW, Azevedo F, Barton CB. (e-pub 2020) Fear of movement is associated with condition specific outcomes and quality of life in women with patellofemoral pain. . Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. Bas Van Hooren, MSc; Joel Fuller, PhD; Jonathan Buckley, PhD; Jayme Miller, Msc; Kerry Sewell; Guillaume Rao, PhD; Christian Barton, PhD; Chris Bishop, PhD; Richard Willy, PhD.(2020) Is motorized treadmill running biomechanically comparable to overground running? A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-over studies. Sports Medicine (1-29).

9. Davis, I. S., Tenforde, A. S., Neal, B. S., Roper, J. L., & Willy, R. W. (2020). Gait Retraining as an Intervention for Patellofemoral Pain. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, 1-12.

10. Alexander, JL., Willy, RW., Napier, C., Bonanno, DR., & Barton, CJ. (2020). Infographic. Running myth: switching to a non-rearfoot strike reduces injury risk and improves running economy. British Journal of Sports Medicine.

11. 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.

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

13. Alexander, J. L., Barton, C. J., & Willy, R. W. (2019). Infographic running myth: static stretching reduces injury risk in runners. British Journal of Sports Medicine.

14. Moore IS, Willy RW. (2019). The Use of Wearables: Tracking and Retraining in Endurance Runners. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 18 (12), 437-444.

15. 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.

16. Sancho I, Morrissey D, Willy RW, Barton C, Malliaras P. (e-pub 2019). Education and exercise supplemented by a pain-guided hopping intervention for male recreational runners with midportion Achilles tendinopathy: A single cohort feasibility study. Physical Therapy in Sport.

17. Sancho, I., Malliaras, P., Barton, C., Willy, R. W., & Morrissey, D. (2019). Biomechanical alterations in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy during running and hopping: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Gait & Posture. PMID: 30501386

18. Pairot-de-Fontenay B, Willy RW, Elias ARC, Mizner RL, Dubé MO, Roy JS. Running after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review. Sports Medicine. (In press). PMID: 31102111

19. Miller, Jayme R., Bas Van Hooren, Chris Bishop, Jonathan D. Buckley, Richard W. Willy, and Joel T. Fuller. "A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Crossover Studies Comparing Physiological, Perceptual and Performance Measures Between Treadmill and Overground Running." Sports Medicine (2019): 1-20. PMID: 30847825

20. Willy, Richard W., 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

21. Willy RW, & Paquette MR. (2019). The physiology and biomechanics of the Master runner. Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review. 27(1): 15-21. PMID: 30601395

22. Napier C., Willy RW. (2018). Logical fallacies in the running shoe debate: Let the evidence guide prescription. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 52(24) 1552-1553. PMID: 30352861

23. Mansfield, C. J., Vanetten, L., Willy, R., Di Stasi, S., Magnussen, R., & Briggs, M. (2019). The Effects of Needling Therapies on Muscle Force Production: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 49(3), 154-170. PMID: 30501386

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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.

30. 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

 31. 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

32. 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.

33. 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

34. 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

35. Willy RW, Meardon SA, Schmidt A, Blaylock NR, Hadding SA,  Willson JD. (2016). Changes in tibiofemoral contact forces during running in response to in-field gait retraining. J. Sports Sciences. Sep;34(17):1602-11. PMID: 26679058

36. 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.

37. 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

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

39. Blackmore T, Willy RW, Creaby M. (2016) The high frequency component of the vertical ground reaction force is a valid surrogate measure of the impact peak. J. of Biomech. PMID: 26783094

40. 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.

41. Willson JD, Loss JR, Willy RW, Meardon SA. (2015). Sex differences in running mechanics and patellofemoral joint kinetics following an exhaustive run. J. of Biomech. 2015 Nov 26;48(15):4155-9. PMID: 26525514

42. Willson JD, Ratcliff OM, Meardon SA, Willy RW. (2015). Influence of step length and landing pattern on patellofemoral joint kinetics during running. Scand. J. Med & Sci Sp. 2015 Dec;25(6):736-43. PMID: 25585589

43. Willy RW, Davis IS. (2014). Comparison of minimalist shoe running and standard shoe running on kinematics and impact forces associated with common running injuries. Med. Science Sport and Ex. 46(2):318-23. PMID: 23877378.

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

45. 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

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. 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.

49. 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.

50. 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.