Rich Willy, MPT, PT, PhD
Associate Professor
richard.willy@osumc.edu
614-814-6472
243F Atwell Hall
453 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Professional Areas of Interest
- Musculoskeletal Injuries in Runners and Military
- Patellofemoral Pain
- Bone stress Injuries
- Achilles Tendon Injuries
- Biomechanics
Overview
Dr. Rich Willy is an Associate Professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University. He holds a PhD in Biomechanics and Movement Science from the University of Delaware and is a licensed physical therapist with over two decades of clinical and academic experience. His research focuses on the biomechanics of running-related injuries, bone stress injuries, and rehabilitation strategies for tactical and athletic populations.
Dr. Willy has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and his work has been featured in high-impact journals such as British Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, and American Journal of Sports Medicine. Dr. Willy contributes to clinical practice guidelines for patellofemoral pain and running injuries. He is a frequently invited speaker at national and international conferences, including symposia for the International Olympic Committee, NBA teams, and elite sports medicine meetings.
His research has been supported by the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, and the National Institutes of Health, APTA Orthopaedics, among others. Current projects include optimizing load carriage biomechanics, developing sex-specific training interventions, and advancing wearable technologies for injury prevention.
Recent Publications
Willy RW, Christensen K, Hanser B, Plemmons M, Ruby BC. Average Vertical Load Rate and Tibial Accelerometry are Not a Valid Assessment of Internal Tibial Loads when Walking or Running With or Without Load Carriage: A Cross-Sectional Laboratory Study. J. Sport Sci (accepted, in press).
Sirls, Evan R.; Roux, Elizabeth; Gaudette, Logan; Bruneau, Michelle; Willy, Richard; Tenforde, Adam. Biomechanical Associations with Bone Stress Injuries in Running: A Scoping Review. PM&R (accepted, in press).
Willy RW, Simon JE, Hanser B, Plemmons M, Christensen K, Klawitter K, Doutt A, Ruby BC. Females exhibit greater peak and cumulative patellofemoral joint stress with moderate and heavy load carriage compared with males. Eur. J. of Sp. Sci (2025). doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70046
Anderson Laura M, Warden SJ, Willy RW, Menz Hl, Bonanno DR. Make no bones about it: medial tibial stress syndrome needs a new name. JOSPT (2025) 55.10 (2025): 1-7.
Gaudette LW, Ackerman KE, Bouxsein ML, Bruneau MM, de Souza Junior JR, Garrahan M, Gehman S, Hughes JM, Outerleys J, Willy RW, Davis IS, Popp KL, Tenforde AS. Biomechanics associated with bone stress injury in athletes differ by proximal and distal anatomical locations: a cross-sectional analysis. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2025 Jun 30;11(2):e002469. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002469. PMID: 40599165
Recent Presentations
Evans RJ, Battersby HS, Boers T, Willy RW, Pamukoff DN. The Effect of Running Cadence Manipulation on Single-Step and Cumulative Knee Loading (2025). Presented at the International Society of Biomechanics meeting, Stockholm, SWE. 27-31 July 2025
Willy RW, Ruby B. Tibial Accelerometry Is Not a Valid Assessment of Internal Tibial Loads during Walking and Running with Load Carriage. To be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Atlanta GA.
Evans RJ, Battersby HS, Boers T, Willy RW, Pamukoff DN. The Association Between Knee Biomechanics During Running and Resting Trochlea Cartilage Thickness. To be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Evans RJ, Battersby HS, Boers T, Willy RW, Pamukoff DN The influence of running cadence manipulation on knee cartilage deformation in distance runners. American Society of Biomechanics, Pittsburgh, PA. August 13-16, 2025
Mizner RL & Willy RW. Patients Exhibit Persistent Knee Underloading. Response to Progressive Squat Demands after ACL Reconstruction.
Major Awards
- 2022: Outstanding Instructor Finalist, University of Montana
- 2021: Winner of AASPT Best Research Abstract in Sports Physical Therapy
- 2020: Distinguished Service Award to the American Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy.
Education
- PhD, Biomechanics and Movement Sciences, University of Delaware
- MPT, Ohio University
- BS Exercise Physiology, Ohio University