Dr Tomasz Cudejko

Assistant Professor

School: Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation

I completed a PhD in Medical Sciences at , where I investigated the effects of an orthotic device on clinical and biomechanical outcomes in people with knee osteoarthritis as part of the KNEEMO EU Horizon 2020 Innovative Training Network. I subsequently undertook postdoctoral research at the , focusing on the development of “smart” footwear for fall prevention in older adults, and at , where I worked on validating wearable technologies for health monitoring. I have also held visiting researcher appointments at the University of Melbourne, University of Southern Denmark, and Peacocks Medical Group.

My research integrates clinical rehabilitation, biomechanics, and digital health technologies. I have authored 12 first-author publications and my research has been featured in , and . I am recognized as an emerging leader in musculoskeletal biomechanics and digital health, as evidenced by editorial roles at and , and by serving as a peer reviewer for international journals in medicine and bioengineering (full record on ). I currently teach on SP5026 Research Design and Analysis and PT4000 Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Physiology. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and a physiotherapist by training with several years of clinical experience.

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Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

Global Question
I am motivated by the question of how biomechanical and neuromechanical principles, combined with wearable technologies and assistive devices, can improve human movement, prevent injury, and optimize functional outcomes in musculoskeletal health.

Research Approach
My research integrates laboratory-based experiments (electromyography, motion capture, force plates), wearable sensor data (smart insoles, inertial measurement units), patient-reported outcomes, and large-scale data analytics to explore the biomechanical and neuromechanical underpinnings of musculoskeletal conditions and functional movement. By combining quantitative biomechanics with analyses of neural control mechanisms and technology-driven interventions, I aim to generate insights that inform clinical practice, technology design, and broader healthcare decision-making.

Current Work
The current focus of my research is on the development, validation, and application of wearable technologies for health monitoring, as well as the design and evaluation of footwear and orthotic interventions to improve stability, gait, and overall musculoskeletal health. My work spans:

Wearable Technologies for Biomechanical and Neuromechanical Monitoring: Validation and application of smart insoles and inertial measurement units (IMUs) to quantify lower-limb biomechanics and infer neuromuscular control strategies during functional activities such as walking. This includes examining variability, symmetry, and coordination as markers of motor control and adaptation.
Neuromechanics of Human Locomotion: Investigating how neural control strategies interact with musculoskeletal mechanics to produce stable and efficient gait. This includes analysis of muscle activation patterns, inter-segmental coordination, and movement variability in populations with conditions such as osteoarthritis and anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Footwear Design and Neuromechanical Adaptation: Developing footwear interventions to prevent falls, enhance stability, and modify lower-limb biomechanics through altered sensory feedback and neuromuscular responses. This includes testing how design features (sole geometry, cushioning, and support structures) influence not only gait mechanics and balance but also proprioceptive feedback, muscle activation strategies, and adaptive neuromuscular control in healthy and clinical populations.

Research Collaborators
My research spans multiple countries and scientific disciplines and includes collaborators from both academia and industry. I work(ed) with colleagues in Australia (University of Melbourne, University of Western Australia), Poland (Wrocław University of Science and Technology), United Kingdom (University of Liverpool, Cardiff University), Netherlands (Aacademic Medical Centers Amsterdam), Norway (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) and Denmark (University of Southern Denmark), integrating expertise from rehabilitation, biomechanics, rheumatology, orthopedics, biomedical engineering, and geriatrics. My industry collaborations includes manufacturers of footwear (), inertial measurement units (), and smart insoles ().

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Key Publications