Dr. Stephen Perry, PhD

The primary goal of my research is to gain a better understanding of the control of human movement. I am interested in the control of whole-body mechanics via sensory information from the environment (visual, proprioceptive, mechanoreceptive and vestibular). Additionally, I am interested in the effects of injury- or age-related damage/deformity and footwear/orthotic therapies upon the role of the foot in postural control, gait and sports. I hope to translate the outcomes of this research into interventions for reducing falls in the elderly and improving shoes/orthotics for everyday activities and sport.

• University ‘Research Matters’ Representative 2013-2014.

We are always looking for graduate and undergraduate students interested in biomechanics/neuroscience research; please contact me for information and/or questions.

Projects that are on-going in the laboratory involve the mechanical and sensory function of the foot and footwear (including orthotics) in dynamic balance control in older adults and other activities (including running and work related situations). Perry's research is focused upon how the musculoskeletal and sensory systems are utilized in the control of human movement. As the population ages it is important to understand both the "normal," healthy young adult functions and then how the age-related deterioration of our musculoskeletal and sensory systems may have serious consequences especially when considering how important these systems are in controlling the postural reactions that prevent us from falling. This is an opportunity to work in a laboratory investigating an emerging research area (how footwear and foot disorders influence control of dynamic movements) that could have a dramatic impact on our quality of life as we grow older.

Robb KA, Perry SD. The importance of foot posture when recording lower leg electromyography when walking in non-textured and textured foot orthoses. Journal of Biomechanics. 2024 Mar;165:111999. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.111999. Epub 2024 Feb 15. PMID: 38401331.

Robb KA, Green LA, Perry SD. The use of textured foot orthoses to facilitate cutaneous afferent input during walking. Neurosci Lett. 2024 Jan 1;818:137566. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137566. Epub 2023 Nov 22. PMID: 37996050.

Robb KA, Perry SD. The topographical attenuation of cutaneous input is modulated at the ankle joint during gait. Exp Brain Res. 2024 Jan;242(1):149-161. doi: 10.1007/s00221-023-06737-z. Epub 2023 Nov 18. PMID: 37979067.

Robb KA, Perry SD. Capitalizing on skin in orthotics design: the effects of texture on plantar intrinsic foot muscles during locomotion. Exp Brain Res. 2023 Dec 22. doi: 10.1007/s00221-023-06758-8. PMID: 38135819.

Tran S, Brooke C, Kim YJ, Perry SD, Nankoo JF, Rinchon C, Arora T, Tremblay L, Chen R. Visual and vestibular integration in Parkinson's disease while walking. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2023 Nov;116:105886. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105886. Epub 2023 Oct 12. PMID: 37866253

Robb KA, Howe EE, Perry SD. The effects of foot orthoses and sensory facilitation on lower limb electromyography: A scoping review. Foot (Edinb). 2022 Sep;52:101904. doi: 10.1016/j.foot.2022.101904. Epub 2022 Jan 6. PMID: 36049264.

Robb KA, Perry SD. The effect of texture under distinct regions of the foot sole on human locomotion. Exp Brain Res. 2022 Aug;240(7-8):2175-2189. doi: 10.1007/s00221-022-06402-x. Epub 2022 Jun 30. PMID: 35771285.

Saumur TM, Nestico J, Mochizuki G, Perry SD, Mansfield A, Mathur S. Associations Between Lower Limb Isometric Torque, Isokinetic Torque, and Explosive Force With Phases of Reactive Stepping in Young, Healthy Adults. J Appl Biomech. 2022 May 17;38(3):190-197. doi: 10.1123/jab.2021-0028. PMID: 35580844.

Robb KA, Hyde JD, Perry SD. The role of enhanced plantar-surface sensory feedback on lower limb EMG during planned gait termination. Somatosens Mot Res. 2021 Mar 31:1-11. doi: 10.1080/08990220.2021.1904870.

Nestico J, Novak A, Perry SD, Mansfield A. Does increased gait variability improve stability when faced with an expected balance perturbation during treadmill walking? Gait Posture. 2021 May;86:94-100. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.03.014. Epub 2021 Mar 8. PMID: 33711616.

Robb KA, Melady HD, Perry SD. Fine-wire electromyography of the transverse head of adductor hallucis during locomotion. Gait Posture. 2021 Jan 19;85:7-13. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.12.020.

Saumur TM, Mathur S, Nestico J, Perry SD, Mochizuki G, Mansfield A. Test-retest reliability of force plate-derived measures of reactive stepping. J Biomech. 2021 Jan 22;115:110185. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.110185.

Protopapas K, Perry SD. The effect of a 12-week custom foot orthotic intervention on muscle size and muscle activity of the intrinsic foot muscle of young adults during gait termination. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2020 Aug;78:105063. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2020.105063.

Robb KA and Perry SD. Textured Foot Orthotics on Dynamic Stability and Turning Performance in Parkinson's Disease. Journal of Motor Behavior, 2020, 52:4, 396-403, doi: 10.1080/00222895.2019.1639609

(Underlined indicates student/trainee at time of publication)

Laurier
SHARCNET University Site Leader (also Chair of Siteleaders)
University Representative, Ontario Interdiscplinary Council on Aging and Health (OICAH, COU)
Member, Footwear Committee, ASTM

External
Associate Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, U of Toronto
Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, U of Toronto
Affiliate Scientist, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, Ontario

• Laurier researchers receive over 1.7 million from natural sciences and engineering research council