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Dr Dominic Farris

Dr Dominic Farris

Associate Professor of Neuromuscular Biomechanics / Co-Director of Global Engagement

 2490

 Richards Building 

 

Richard's Building, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK

Overview

I am an academic with broad interests in neuromuscular biomechanics of the human musculoskeletal system. Having pursued knowledge and skills in this area by working in different research groups and in several countries, I now look to further the field as part of Sport & Health Sciences at the University of Exeter. I am always interested in hearing from potential collaborators and research students who wish to join me in this endeavour.

 

Qualifications

2010 - PhD in musculoskeletal biomechanics, University of Bath

2006 - BSc(Hons) 1st class in Sport and Exercise Science, University of Bath 

Career

I attained my PhD from the Department of Health at the University of Bath in 2010. I then worked as a post-doctoral researcher in the Joint Dept of Biomedical Engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina State Universities (USA) for 3 years. In 2013 I joined the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland (Australia) where I worked as a Research Fellow in the Centre for Sensorimotor Neuroscience for 5-years. I took up an appointment as a Senior Lecturer within Sport & Health Sciences at the University of Exeter in 2018 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2023.

Research

Research interests

Human movement requires that many muscles exert forces on the skeleton in an efficient and coordinated manner. By studying how we coordinate muscle force production to generate bodily movement, we can understand how muscle structure has been shaped by evolution to perform a function. Armed with this knowledge, we can better understand impaired musculoskeletal function, and inform biologically inspired prosthetics or assistive devices.

To investigate muscular function in human movement, my work incorporates ultrasound imaging, motion analysis, electromyography and computer simulation techniques to experimentally and theoretically study muscle mechanics during locomotion. I am also interested in taking inspiration from biological musculoskeletal mechanisms to help develop wearable devices that augment or assist human movement.

Enquiries from prospective research students interested in this general area and related topics are always welcome. Some potential opportunities to fund a research degree can be found on this web page including the EPSRC DTP scholarships.

Research projects

Current project themes include:

  • Examining the adaptable neuromechanical function of the human foot during walking and running
  • Musculoskeletal modelling of human foot function
  • Lower limb exoskeletons and their interaction with the human neuromuscular system
  • Studying lower limb and muscle mechanics during jumping to understand movement preferences and design a jumping exotendon
  • How do muscles with series elasticity contribute to mechanical work in a range of tasks
  • How does the human foot interact with different surfaces

Funded projects:

  • 2023-2025: DSTL. LISA- Low-Impact Soldier Augmentation Research Phase 1 [PI]
  • 2022-2023: DSTL (Human Social Science Research Capability). Project HS1.052d Human Augmentation: strategies to enable on-demand adaptation to operational stressors [PI]
  • 2020-2022: DSTL (Human Social Science Research Capability). Project HS1.020-Exoskeletons [PI]
  • 2020: DSTL (Human Social Science Research Capability). Project: Kinematics of Knife Detection [PI]
  • 2017- 2020: Optimising the spring in your step to enhance footwear design. Australian Research Council Linkage with ASICS Oceania and Australian Institute of Sport [Co-I]
  • 2014-2017: The role of muscle & tendon mechanics in human muscle damage. Australian Research Council Linkage Project with Australian Institute of Sport [Co-I]
  • 2014: modulating muscle mechanics for powering human locomotion. University of Queensland  Early Career Researcher Grant [PI]
  • 2012 - Modelling the effects of wearing spring-loaded ankle exoskeletons on lower-limb muscle function during two-legged hopping. National Centre for Simulation in Rehabilitation Research Visiting Scholars Program [PI]

Research grants

  • 2020 dstl
    HS1.020 Exoskeletons
  • 2017 Australian Research Council
    Optimising the spring in your step to enhance footwear design
  • 2013 Australian Research Council
    The role of muscle & tendon mechanics in human muscle damage

Publications

Journal articles

Wade L, Lichtwark G, Farris D (In Press). Joint and muscle-tendon coordination strategies during submaximal jumping. Journal of Applied Physiology
Birch J, Kelly L, Cresswell A, Dixon S, Farris D (In Press). Neuromechanical adaptations of foot function to changes in surface stiffness during hopping. Journal of Applied Physiology
Riddick R, Farris D, Cresswell A, Kuo A, Kelly L (In Press). Stepping onto the unknown: reflexes of the foot and ankle while stepping with perturbed perceptions of terrain. Journal of the Royal Society Interface
Ebisch I, Lazaro-Pacheco D, Farris DJ, Holsgrove TP (2024). Replicating spine loading during functional and daily activities: an in vivo, in silico, in vitro research pipeline. Journal of Biomechanics, 163
Farris DJ, Harris DJ, Rice HM, Campbell J, Weare A, Risius D, Armstrong N, Rayson MP (2023). A systematic literature review of evidence for the use of assistive exoskeletons in defence and security use cases. Ergonomics, 66(1), 61-87. Abstract.  Author URL.
Smith R, Lichtwark G, Farris D, Kelly L (2023). Examining the intrinsic foot muscles' capacity to modulate plantar flexor gearing and ankle joint contributions to propulsion in vertical jumping. J Sport Health Sci, 12(5), 639-647. Abstract.  Author URL.
Farris D (2023). Musculoskeletal simulations to examine the effects of accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) on jump height. PeerJ – the Journal of Life & Environmental Sciences
Birch JV, Farris DJ, Riddick R, Cresswell AG, Dixon SJ, Kelly LA (2022). Neuromechanical adaptations of foot function when hopping on a damped surface. J Appl Physiol (1985), 133(6), 1302-1308. Abstract.  Author URL.
Wade L, Birch J, Farris DJ (2022). Walking with increasing acceleration is achieved by tuning ankle torque onset timing and rate of torque development. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 19(191). Abstract.
Smith R, Lichtwark G, Farris D, Kelly LA (2021). Examining the intrinsic foot muscles’ capacity to modulate plantar flexor gearing. Footwear Science, 13(S1), S87-S89.
Riddick RC, Farris DJ, Brown NAT, Kelly LA (2021). Stiffening the human foot with a biomimetic exotendon. Scientific Reports, 11(1). Abstract.
Farris D, Birch J, Kelly L (2020). Foot stiffening during the push-off phase of human walking is linked to active muscle contraction, and not the windlass mechanism. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 17 (168)
Nuckols RW, Takahashi KZ, Farris DJ, Mizrachi S, Riemer R, Sawicki GS (2020). Mechanics of walking and running up and downhill: a joint-level perspective to guide design of lower-limb exoskeletons. PLOS ONE, 15(8), e0231996-e0231996.
Wade L, Lichtwark GA, Farris DJ (2019). Comparisons of laboratory‐based methods to calculate jump height and improvements to the field‐based flight‐time method. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 30(1), 31-37. Abstract.
Brennan SF, Cresswell AG, Farris DJ, Lichtwark GA (2019). The Effect of Cadence on the Mechanics and Energetics of Constant Power Cycling. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 51(5), 941-950. Abstract.
Riddick R, Farris DJ, Kelly LA (2019). The foot is more than a spring: human foot muscles perform work to adapt to the energetic requirements of locomotion. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE, 16(150).  Author URL.
Farris DJ, Kelly L, Cresswell A, Lichtwark G (2019). The functional importance of human foot muscles for bipedal locomotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(5), 1645-1650.
Wade L, Lichtwark G, Farris DJ (2019). The influences of added mass on muscle activation and contractile mechanics during submaximal and maximal countermovement jumping in humans. Journal of Experimental Biology, 222
Kelly L, Farris DJ, Cresswell A, Lichtwark G (2018). Intrinsic foot muscles contribute to elastic energy storage and return in the human foot. Journal of Applied Physiology
Lichtwark G, Farris DJ, Chen X, Hodges P, Delp S (2018). Microendoscopy reveals positive correlation in multiscale length changes and variable sarcomere lengths across different regions of human muscle. Journal of Applied Physiology, 125, 1812-1820.
Wade L, Lichtwark G, Farris DJ (2018). Movement Strategies for Countermovement Jumping are Potentially Influenced by Elastic Energy Stored and Released from Tendons. Scientific Reports, 8(1). Abstract.
KELLY LA, FARRIS DJ, LICHTWARK GA, CRESSWELL AG (2018). The Influence of Foot-Strike Technique on the Neuromechanical Function of the Foot. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 50(1), 98-108.
Brennan SF, Cresswell AG, Farris DJ, Lichtwark GA (2018). The effect of muscle-tendon unit vs. fascicle analyses on vastus lateralis force-generating capacity during constant power output cycling with variable cadence. Journal of Applied Physiology, 124(4), 993-1002. Abstract.
Kelly LA, Cresswell AG, Farris DJ (2018). The energetic behaviour of the human foot across a range of running speeds. Scientific Reports, 8(1). Abstract.
Mayfield D, Farris D, Cresswell A, Lichtwark G (2017). Effect of muscle force during stretch on eccentric contraction-induced muscle damage. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20, 56-56.
Farris DJ, Raiteri BJ (2017). Elastic ankle muscle-tendon interactions are adjusted to produce acceleration during walking in humans. Journal of Experimental Biology Abstract.
Brennan SF, Cresswell AG, Farris DJ, Lichtwark GA (2017). In vivo fascicle length measurements via B-mode ultrasound imaging with single vs dual transducer arrangements. Journal of Biomechanics, 64, 240-244.
Brennan S, Cresswell A, Farris D, Lichtwark G (2017). Mechanical and energetic determinants of optimal cycling cadence. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20, e72-e72.
Farris DJ, Raiteri BJ (2017). Modulation of leg joint function to produce emulated acceleration during walking and running in humans. Royal Society Open Science, 4(3), 160901-160901. Abstract.
Lichtwark G, Farris D, Chen X, Hodges P, Sanchez G, Delp S (2017). The variable relationship between sarcomere number and fascicle length when measured in vivo in human lower limb muscle. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20, 56-56.
Farris DJ (2016). Emulating constant acceleration locomotion mechanics on a treadmill. Journal of Biomechanics, 49(5), 653-658. Abstract.
Kelly LA, Lichtwark GA, Farris DJ, Cresswell A (2016). Shoes alter the spring-like function of the human foot during running. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 13(119), 20160174-20160174. Abstract.
Brennan SF, Cresswell AG, Farris DJ, Lichtwark GA (2016). The effect of cadence on the muscle‐tendon mechanics of the gastrocnemius muscle during walking. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(3), 289-298. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Lichtwark GA, Brown NAT, Cresswell AG (2016). The role of human ankle plantar flexor muscle-tendon interaction and architecture in maximal vertical jumping examined in vivo. Journal of Experimental Biology, 219(4), 528-534. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Lichtwark GA (2016). UltraTrack: Software for semi-automated tracking of muscle fascicles in sequences of B-mode ultrasound images. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 128, 111-118. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Lichtwark GA, Brown NAT, Cresswell AG (2015). Deconstructing the power resistance relationship for squats: a joint‐level analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 26(7), 774-781. Abstract.
Robertson BD, Farris DJ, Sawicki GS (2015). Erratum: More is not always better: Modeling the effects of elastic exoskeleton compliance on underlying ankle muscle-tendon dynamics (Bioinspiration and Biomimetics (2014) 9 (046018)). Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, 10(1).
Mahon CE, Farris DJ, Sawicki GS, Lewek MD (2015). Individual limb mechanical analysis of gait following stroke. Journal of Biomechanics, 48(6), 984-989. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Hampton A, Lewek MD, Sawicki GS (2015). Revisiting the mechanics and energetics of walking in individuals with chronic hemiparesis following stroke: from individual limbs to lower limb joints. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 12(1). Abstract.
Farris D (2014). Does unloading muscles save you energy? Paradoxical effects of spring-loaded ankle exoskeletons on plantar flexor muscle mechanics and energetics. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 18, e129-e130.
Lichtwark G, Farris D, Kelly L, Brown N (2014). Lower limb biomechanics and muscle function. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 18, e128-e128.
Robertson BD, Farris DJ, Sawicki GS (2014). More is not always better: Modeling the effects of elastic exoskeleton compliance on underlying ankle muscle-tendon dynamics. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, 9(4). Abstract.
Farris DJ, Hicks JL, Delp SL, Sawicki GS (2014). Musculoskeletal modelling deconstructs the paradoxical effects of elastic ankle exoskeletons on plantar-flexor mechanics and energetics during hopping. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217(22), 4018-4028. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Trewartha G, McGuigan MP, Lichtwark GA (2013). Differential strain patterns of the human Achilles tendon determined in vivo with freehand three-dimensional ultrasound imaging. Journal of Experimental Biology, 216(4), 594-600. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Robertson BD, Sawicki GS (2013). Elastic ankle exoskeletons reduce soleus muscle force but not work in human hopping. Journal of Applied Physiology, 115(5), 579-585. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Sawicki GS (2013). Erratum: Linking the mechanics and energetics of hopping with elastic ankle exoskeletons (Journal of Applied Physiology (2012) 113 (1862-1872) DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00802.2012). Journal of Applied Physiology, 115(2).
Farris DJ, Sawicki GS (2012). Human medial gastrocnemius force-velocity behavior shifts with locomotion speed and gait. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(3), 977-982. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Sawicki GS (2012). Linking the mechanics and energetics of hopping with elastic ankle exoskeletons. Journal of Applied Physiology, 113(12), 1862-1872. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Trewartha G, McGuigan MP (2012). The effects of a 30-min run on the mechanics of the human Achilles tendon. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 112(2), 653-660. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Buckeridge E, Trewartha G, McGuigan MP (2012). The effects of orthotic heel lifts on achilles tendon force and strain during running. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 28(5), 511-519. Abstract.
Farris DJ, Sawicki GS (2012). The mechanics and energetics of human walking and running: a joint level perspective. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 9(66), 110-118. Abstract.
Lichtwark G, Farris D, Newsham-West R (2011). Achilles tendon (3D): Do the mechanical properties of tendon change in response to exercise?. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 14, e9-e10.
Farris DJ, Trewartha G, Polly McGuigan M (2011). Could intra-tendinous hyperthermia during running explain chronic injury of the human Achilles tendon?. Journal of Biomechanics, 44(5), 822-826. Abstract.
Farris D, Buckeridge E, Trewartha G, McGuigan P (2008). The effects of orthotic heel lifts on Achilles tendon force and strain during running. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 150(3), S82-S82.


Dominic_Farris Details from cache as at 2024-04-16 07:14:36

Refresh publications

External Engagement and Impact

Awards/Honorary fellowships

2018 : present - Honorary Senior Research Fellow - School of Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland (Australia)

2019 - OpenSim Fellow (National Centre for Simulation in Rehabilitation Research -Stanford University, USA)

2019 - Fellow of  the Higher Education Academy

2013 - Outstanding Researcher Award - National Centre for Simulation in Rehabilitation Research

2012 - Visiting Scholar - National Centre for Simulation in Rehabilitation Research, Stanford University

 


Editorial responsibilities

2022-present: Associate Editor for Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

2022-present: Editorial Board Member of Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

2022-present: Editorial Board Member of Journal of Biomechanics


Conferences and invited presentations

2022    Reflections on using OpenSim for student projects. 9th World Congress of Biomechanics. Taipei

2022    Linking the muscle-tendon and joint-level ankle mechanics required for accelerative strides in human walking. 9th World Congress of Biomechanics. Taipei

2022    The interaction of active and passive tissue contributions to human foot mechanics. Annual Congress of the European College of Sports Science. Seville

2021    Muscular adaptability of Human Feet to Various Underfoot Conditions. Staffordshire Conference on Clinical Biomechanics, Virtual Conference

2019    Muscular adaptation of ankle-foot function to produce accelerations in human gait. 24th Annual Congress of the European College of Sports Sciences, Prague

2019    Assessment of muscle mechanical properties – how and why? International Symposium on Ultrasound Elastography for Musculoskeletal Biomechanics. Nantes, France

2018    New perspectives on human foot mechanics. Ruhr University – Bochum, Germany.

2017    B-mode Ultrasound Imaging Methods for Investigating Muscle-Tendon Function. Invited tutorial session at the International Society of Biomechanics Congress XXVI, Brisbane, Australia

2016    Introduction to UltraTrack. Invited workshop at American Society of Biomechanics Meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

2015    The mechanics and energetics of normal and exoskeleton assisted locomotion: towards a muscle level understanding. Autumn School on Movement Science, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany

2015    Putting a spring in your step: studying the role of elastic tendons for robotic bioinspiration. Centre for Musculoskeletal Research Seminar Series, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia

2014    Paradoxical effects of elastic ankle exoskeletons on plantar-flexor muscle mechanics and energetics. In 'Elastic Mechanisms' at the 7th World Congress of Biomechanics, Boston, USA

2014    Training for Optimal Power: The Influence of Resistance and Muscle Mechanics on Power Output. Australian Institute of Sport SMART talk, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia. (link to recording)

2014    B-mode ultrasound imaging for studying muscle -tendon interaction in-vivo. in 'An integrative multi-scale assessment of ankle and foot function in human locomotion'  at The Gait & Clinical Movement Analysis Society Annual Meeting, Newark, Delaware, USA.

2014    Does unloading muscles save you energy? Paradoxical effects of elastic ankle exoskeletons on plantar-flexor muscle mechanics and energetics. In 'Lower Limb Biomechanics & Muscle Function' at Sports Medicine Australia Be Active Conference, Canberra Australia

2014    An OpenSim framework to estimate muscle dynamics during locomotion with elastic ankle exoskeletons. National Center for Simulation in Rehabilitation Research Webinar Series. (available on the NCSRR website)

2013    Sources of Mechanical Power in Human Locomotion. Australian Institute of Sport SMART talk, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia. (link to recording)

2013    The Mechanics & Energetics of Normal & Robotically Assisted Human Locomotion. School of Human Movement Studies Seminar Series, School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Australia.

2012    B-mode ultrasound imaging for studying human muscle mechanics. Direct measurement techniques to characterize musculo-skeletal performance in animals & humans. Dynamic Walking, Pensacola Beach, FL, USA

2012    Muscle mechanics in human locomotion: implications for injury and function. Sport Health & Exercise Sciences Group Seminar. School for Health, University of Bath, UK.


External doctoral examining nationally and internationally

PhD Examiner for: University of Jyväskylä, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, University of Western Australia, Griffith University (Australia)

Supervision / Group

Postgraduate researchers

  • Ruth Tavares
  • Sam Wisdish

Alumni

  • Jonathon Birch
  • Scott Brennan (University of Queensland - Co advisor)
  • Logan Wade (University of Queensland)

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