Josh Leonardis, PhD
Assistant Professor
Division of Occupational Therapy
PhD Program: P Status
243E Atwell Hall
453 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Professional Areas of Interest
- Upper Extremity Biomechanics
- Quantitative Musculoskeletal Imaging
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Wheelchair Biomechanics
- Breast Cancer Survivorship
Overview
Dr. Josh Leonardis is an Assistant Professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University, where he directs a research program dedicated to optimizing musculoskeletal health in populations at elevated risk for upper extremity pain and pathology.
Dr. Leonardis’s research integrates biomechanics, quantitative musculoskeletal imaging, and rehabilitation engineering to advance the preservation of upper extremity function in breast cancer survivors and manual wheelchair users - two groups disproportionately affected by secondary musculoskeletal complications. Ultimately, Dr. Leonardis aims to uncover mechanisms of impairment and translate those findings into clinical strategies that improve long-term outcomes.
Dr. Leonardis’s research is supported by the National Institutes of Health and can be found in leading journals spanning biomechanics, orthopaedics, oncology, plastic surgery, and neurophysiology. His contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including the Translational Research Award from the International Shoulder Group, the Vogel Award for Best Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Research from the American Spinal Injury Association, and the Pre-Doctoral Scientist Achievement Award from the American Society of Biomechanics.
Recent Publications
C. Cordes, J. Leonardis, J. Samet, A. Schnorenberg, M. England, S. Mukherjee, L. Vogel, A. Seitz, B. Slavens, "Handrim Kinetics and Quantitative Ultrasound Parameters for Assessment of Subacromial Impingement in Wheelchair Users with Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury", Gait and Posture, 2024, doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2024.08.075.
J. Leonardis, A. Momoh, D. Lipps, "Choosing Breast Conserving Therapy or Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction: Implications for Pectoralis Major Function", Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 2024, doi.org/10.1007/s10549-024-07381-z
C. Cordes, J. Leonardis, J. Samet, S. Mukherjee, A. Seitz, B. Slavens, "Quantitative Musculoskeletal Imaging of the Pediatric Shoulder", American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2024, doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000002515
J. Leonardis, A. Schnorenberg, L. Vogel, G. Harris, B. Slavens, “Sex-Related Differences in Shoulder Complex Dynamics Variability during Pediatric Manual Wheelchair Propulsion", Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 2023, doi.org/10.1123/jab.2022-0276
J. Leonardis, A. Schnorenberg, L. Vogel, G. Harris, B. Slavens, “The Influence of Age at Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury and Years of Wheelchair Use on Shoulder Complex Joint Dynamics During Manual Wheelchair Propulsion", Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, 2022, doi:10.1016/j.arrct.2022.100235
Recent Presentations
D. Hutzelmann, S. Rudy, H. Henninger, J. Leonardis, “The Impact of Manual Wheelchair Use During Childhood and Adolescence on Shoulder Joint Complex Muscle Elasticity”, Proceedings of the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Pittsburgh, PA, 2025
W. Wolff, J. Leonardis, “Neck and Shoulder Kinematics During Seated Computer Work in Women with Chronic Neck Pain”, Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society Annual Meeting, Columbus, OH, 2025
C. Cordes, J. Samet, J. Leonardis, M. England, K. Goodfriend, K. Zebracki, A. Seitz, S. Muhkerjee, B. Slavens, “Shoulder Health in Youth Manual Wheelchair Users: A Novel Comparison with Non-Wheelchair Users”, Proceedings of the 79th Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 2025
D. Hutzlemann, C. Vogel, S. Rudy, H. Henninger, F. Bossuyt, J. Leonardis, “The Sex-Specific Impact of Wheelchair use on Glenohumeral Muscle Elasticity”, Proceedings of the 30th Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Stockholm, Sweden, 2025
C. Vogel, D. Hutzelmann, H. Henninger, J. Leonardis, “Coracoid and Coracoacromial Arch Morphology as Contributors to Shoulder Pain in Menopause”, Proceedings of the 30th Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Stockholm, Sweden, 2025
Major Awards
2024 – Best Paper, Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society
2022 – Vogel Award for Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Research, American Spinal Injury Association
2021-2027 – Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program Award, National Institutes of Health
2020 – Pre-Doctoral Achievement Award, American Society of Biomechanics
2018 – Translational Research Award, International Shoulder Group
Education
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rehabilitation Biomechanics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
PhD, Kinesiology, University of Michigan
MS, Exercise and Sport Science, East Carolina University
BS, Exercise Science, Salisbury University