Richard Willy, MPT, PT, PhD

Associate Professor

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Richard Willy

Academic contact

Richard.Willy@osumc.edu

Academic information

  • School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Research interests

  • Musculoskeletal Injuries in Runners and Military
  • Patellofemoral Pain
  • Bone stress Injuries
  • Achilles Tendon Injuries
  • Biomechanics

About

Biography

I am an associate professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University. I hold a PhD in Biomechanics and Movement Science from the University of Delaware and is a licensed physical therapist with over two decades of clinical and academic experience. My research focuses on the biomechanics of running-related injuries, bone stress injuries, and rehabilitation strategies for tactical and athletic populations.

I have authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and his work has been featured in high-impact journals such as British Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, and American Journal of Sports Medicine. I contribute to clinical practice guidelines for patellofemoral pain and running injuries. I am a frequently invited speaker at national and international conferences, including symposia for the International Olympic Committee, NBA teams, and elite sports medicine meetings.

My research has been supported by the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, and the National Institutes of Health, APTA Orthopaedics, among others. Current projects include optimizing load carriage biomechanics, developing sex-specific training interventions, and advancing wearable technologies for injury prevention.

Credentials

Education

PhD - Biomechanics and Movement Sciences
University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
MPT
Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
BS - Exercise Physiology
Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States

Research

Research interests

  • Musculoskeletal Injuries in Runners and Military
  • Patellofemoral Pain
  • Bone stress Injuries
  • Achilles Tendon Injuries
  • Biomechanics

Recent Presentation

Evans RJ, Battersby HS, Boers T, Willy RW, Pamukoff DN. The Effect of Running Cadence Manipulation on Single-Step and Cumulative Knee Loading (2025). Presented at the International Society of Biomechanics meeting, Stockholm, SWE. 27-31 July 2025

  • Willy RW, Ruby B. Tibial Accelerometry Is Not a Valid Assessment of Internal Tibial Loads during Walking and Running with Load Carriage. To be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Atlanta GA.
  • Evans RJ, Battersby HS, Boers T, Willy RW, Pamukoff DN. The Association Between Knee Biomechanics During Running and Resting Trochlea Cartilage Thickness. To be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
  • Evans RJ, Battersby HS, Boers T, Willy RW, Pamukoff DN The influence of running cadence manipulation on knee cartilage deformation in distance runners. American Society of Biomechanics, Pittsburgh, PA. August 13-16, 2025
  • Mizner RL & Willy RW. Patients Exhibit Persistent Knee Underloading. Response to Progressive Squat Demands after ACL Reconstruction.

    • Major Awards

    • 2022: Outstanding Instructor Finalist, University of Montana
    • 2021: Winner of AASPT Best Research Abstract in Sports Physical Therapy
    • 2020: Distinguished Service Award to the American Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy.

    More about my research