Tracy Dierks, PhD

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, 2005
Major: Biomechanics and Movement Science
University of Delaware (Newark, DE)

Dr. Dierks was awarded with a 4-year Research Assistantship at the University of Delaware where he completed his PhD in Biomechanics and Movement Science in the Fall of 2005. His mentor and advisor during this time was Dr. Irene Davis (McClay). He received the Graduate Travel Fund grant in 2004 and 2005.

Master of Science, 2001
Major: Exercise Science
University of Nebraska at Omaha (Omaha, NE)

Dr. Dierks was awarded with a 2-year Graduate Assistantship in Biomechanics at UNO where he earned his MS in Exercise Science in the summer of 2001. His mentor and advisor was Dr. Nick Stergiou. He was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Service Award in Exercise Science in 2001 and received the University Committee on Research grant in 2001.

Bachelor of Science, 1999
Major: Exercise Science
University of Nebraska at Omaha (Omaha, NE)

Dr. Dierks received his BS in Exercise Science from UNO in the summer of 1999. While at UNO, he was awarded the Suma Cum Laude distinction upon graduation and was elected to several honors societies, including Golden Key National Honors Society, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, Phi Epsilon Kappa, and Omicron Delta Kappa. He also won the Undergraduate Biomechanics Award in 1997 and was awarded scholarships in basketball and cross country.

Clinical and Teaching Experience

As an avid sportsman and former collegiate athlete, Dr. Dierks' clinical and teaching experience has primarily been in the field of sports medicine and exercise science. He has spent time as a personal trainer in private clubs and university clinics. He has also served as an assistant for the running clinics at the Universities of Delaware and Nebraska at Omaha.

Dr. Dierks has been an instructor for several biomechanics laboratory classes and exercise science methodology laboratory classes at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He has been the primary instructor for undergraduate biomechanics and introductory computer classes. His teaching responsibilities in the IU Department of Physical Therapy include P513 Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics (with Dr. Vreeman) and P646 Therapeutic Interventions (with Dr. Ippensen Vreeman).

Research Interest

Research is a primary component of Dr. Dierks' work in the IU Department of Physical Therapy. The majority of his research focuses on the mechanisms contributing to lower extremity running injuries. This includes the role of variability in running mechanics and running injury prevention, and the effect of fatigue on lower extremity function during running. The goal of this research is to identify and apply intervention techniques to reduce the risk of running related injuries. These interventions include, gait retraining using realtime feedback, foot orthoses, and muscle strengthening of the lower extremities and core. Of particular interest are runners with patellofemoral pain. Please visit the Motion Analysis Research Laboratory web page for further information on Dr. Dierks' research interest, publications, current projects, and projects needing subjects.

Professional

Dr. Dierks is an active member of the American Society of Biomechanics, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the International Society of Biomechanics. He has presented posters and podium presentations at the annual conferences for ASB and ACSM for the past several years.

Presentations/Publications

Dr. Dierks has presented and published his work at local, regional, national, and international conferences and in peer-reviewed publications. Recent publications include:

Dierks, TA, & McClay Davis, I. Discrete and continuous joint coupling relationships in uninjured recreational runners. Clinical Biomechanics (In Review).

Stergiou, N, Deffeyes, JE, Dierks, TA, and Kurz, MJ. Number of footfalls necessary to calculate the Lyapunov exponent from accelerometer gait data. Journal of Biomechanics (In Review).

Dierks, TA, Davis, I, and Hamill, J. (2006). Lower extremity joint timing during prolonged treadmill running in runners with patellofemoral joint pain. ACSM 53rd Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, 2006.

Mullineaux, DR, Dierks, TA, and Davis, I. (2006). Variability in coordination of leg kinematics in males and females during treadmill running. ACL Research Retreat III, Lexington, KY, 2006.

Dierks, TA, Davis, I, Manal, KT, and Hamill, J. (2005). Kinematics of runners with and without patellofemoral pain during prolonged treadmill running. Proceedings of the International Society of Biomechanics XXth Congress/29th annual convention of ASB, Cleveland, Ohio, August 2005.

Dierks, TA, Davis, I, Scholz, J, Manal, KT, and Hamill, J. (2005). Hip strength and hip kinematics during prolonged running in runners with patellofemoral joint pain. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(5), s157.

DeLeo, AT, Dierks, TA, Ferber, R, & McClay Davis, I. (2004). Lower extremity joint coupling during running: a current update. Clinical Biomechanics, 19, 983-991.

Dierks, TA, Davis, I, & Hamill, J. (2004). Lower extremity joint coupling in runners who developed patellofemoral pain syndrome. Proceedings of the 28th annual convention of ASB, Portland, Oregon, September 2004.

Dierks, TA, & Davis, I. (2004). Lower extremity joint coupling and patellofemoral joint pain during running. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(5), s56.

Personal Interests

Dr. Dierks is an avid sports fan, faithfully following college basketball and the Kansas Jayhawks, the NFL and the Minnesota Vikings and our own Indianapolis Colts, and college football and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He also participates in most fantasy sports games and especially enjoys fantasy March Madness and NFL football. Dr. Dierks also enjoys playing most sports, especially basketball, running, lifting weights, and playing other games and activities, such as pool and ping-pong.

Dr. Dierks' greatest enjoyment is every moment that he gets to spend with his wife, Tricia, and their dog, Laredo. In addition, he also greatly enjoys spending time with other family members and friends. Activities during this time often include eating at favorite restaurants, watching movies or TV on the hi-def big screen, playing games, happy hours, and just sitting around and talking. His most unique interest is that he is a fanatical Star Wars fan.