Name: Michaela Khan
Program: PhD
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Hunt
Tell us a little bit about your lab!
I work with Dr. Michael Hunt, Director of the Motion Analysis and Biofeedback Laboratory. Our work brings clinicians and researchers together to conduct biomechanics research to optimize physical function in people with musculoskeletal injuries or disease.
What project are you currently working on?
I’m sure you’ve heard someone say that “running ruins your knees”. However, current scientific evidence does not support the wide-spread belief that running can lead to or aggravate knee osteoarthritis. My research focuses on runners who already have knee osteoarthritis. I use medical imaging to look inside the knee joint and examine how it responds to running, as well as motion capture technology to quantify running biomechanics. I also have a special interest in running shoes. This research will be used to develop evidence-based guidelines to help people with knee osteoarthritis keep running for as long as they can!
What do you like to do outside of academia?
Outside the lab, I can usually be found hiking or biking up mountains, at the beach, eating weird and wonderful foods, or at classic rock concerts. I also enjoy coaching a Learn to Run program and helping out at local sports events.
Congratulations Michaela on being our featured Student of the Month for December!
Interested in seeing what else our Rehabilitation Sciences students and trainees are working on? Stay tuned for our next feature!