Daniel Ludvig

Daniel Ludvig, PhD

Research Scientist
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University

About Me

The broad objective of my research is to investigate how disease and injury affect the neuromechanics of posture and movement and how altered neuromechanics can lead to injury and disease. The mechanical properties of our limbs both enable and constrain our ability to interact with the surrounding world. These properties are especially important in our lower-extremities, through which interaction with the environment facilitates essential mobility tasks, such as quietly standing, walking, jumping, or running. To help investigate the relationship between altered neuromechanics and injury and disease, I have been using a combination of engineering tools including: experimental studies using custom-built robotic devices, system identification, and computational modeling. Current specific research objectives include: quantifying the mechanism of impairment in chronic ankle instability; quantifying the role of muscle mechanics in controlling movement; and developing novel non-invasive techniques to characterize muscle and tendon mechanical properties.

Location

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

355 E Erie

Chicago, IL 60611

Education & Training

    Education

    Credential

    2005 - 2010
    Doctor of Philosophy. McGill University
    2003 - 2005
    Master of Engineering, McGill University
    2000 - 2003
    Bachelor of Science, McGill University
    Post-Doctoral Fellowship

    Credential

    2014 - 2017
    Montreal Rehabilitation Institute/University of Montreal
    2010 - 2014
    Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Recent Publications

Frontal plane ankle stiffness increases with axial load independent of muscle activity.
Villamar Z, Perreault EJ, Ludvig D
Journal of biomechanics
doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2022.111282
Frontal plane ankle stiffness increases with weight-bearing.
Matos M, Perreault EJ, Ludvig D
Journal of biomechanics
doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110565

Professional Affiliations

  • IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
  • Society for Neuroscience
  • International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology
  • American Society of Biomechanics

Research Interests

  • Neuromechanics
  • Musculoskeletal Injuries
  • Lower-limb mechanics
  • System Identification
  • Motor Control
  • Control Systems

Neuromuscular Control Lab

Our lab is focused on the mechanisms underlying the multijoint control of movement and posture in able-bodied individuals and in individuals with neuromotor pathologies. Specifically, we are interested in understanding the relative contributions of intrinsic muscle properties, limb geometry and neural activation in the control of whole limb function.

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