Worcester Polytechnic Institute · Biomedical EngineeringFoot Biomechanics and Injury Prevention Lab
Karen L Troy · Worcester, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. Karen L. Troy's lab at Worcester Polytechnic Institute focuses on understanding how the biomechanics of the foot, particularly during running, relate to injuries like bone stress injuries in athletes. The lab investigates the effects of different types of footwear—minimal versus cushioned—on foot structure and strength. By studying runners who are accustomed to these different shoe types, Dr. Troy aims to uncover how habitual footwear can affect muscle and bone adaptation, which is critical for injury prevention strategies.
foot biomechanicsmetatarsal strengthbone stress injuriesrunning footwearmuscle adaptationinjury preventionbiomechanics modelingcross-sectional studyplantar intrinsic musclesfoot structure
Research Aims
3AIM 01Evaluate the role of habitual footwear on foot structure and strength in runners.
AIM 02Investigate the biomechanics of foot motion in minimal versus cushioned shoes.
AIM 03Quantify associations between foot muscle strength, biomechanics, and metatarsal strength.
Skills the Lab Values
biomechanical analysisquantitative imagingdata collectionmodeling techniquesmuscle strength assessmentfoot structure evaluationcross-sectional studiesstatistical analysisrunning gait analysisexperimental design
Output against the department
Publications120bottom 24% of dept.449th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.6kbottom 20% of dept.478th of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.