Chris Powers, BA, MS, PhD

Dr. Powers’ research and teaching interests relate to the biomechanical aspects of human movement. More specifically, his research focuses on how altered kinematics, kinetics, and muscular actions contribute to lower extremity injury. He is particularly interested in the pathomechanics underlying knee and patellofemoral joint dysfunction. He is currently the Co-Director of the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Laboratory and the Director of the Program in Biokinesiology at USC.

• 35TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF BIOMECHANICS
  NIH · R13EB013939 · Jul 1, 2011 – Jun 30, 2012 · Role: Principal Investigator
• An innovative tool for assessment of gait dysfunction in the clinical setting
  NIH · R44AG052199 · Jun 1, 2011 – May 31, 2018 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• An innovative tool for assessment of gait dysfunction in the clinical setting
  NIH · R43HD068147 · Jun 1, 2011 – Mar 31, 2012 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• New concepts on mechanisms underlying disordered movement: Force generation impa
  NIH · R13HD062117 · Jul 20, 2009 – Jun 30, 2010 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Mechanics of non-contact ACL injuries in female athletes
  NIH · R01AR053073 · Apr 15, 2005 – Mar 31, 2010 · Role: Principal Investigator

• Core Content Related to Teaching Biomechanical Aspects of Human Movement for Physical Therapist Students: A Modified Delphi Study. J Phys Ther Educ. 2026 May 27.. View in PubMed
• Author Response – Letter to the Editor Concerning:”A Biomechanical Review of the Squat Exercise: Implications for Clinical Practice.” Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2026; 21(5):459-461. Straub RK, Powers CM . View in PubMed
• Bridging the Gap: A Systematic Evidence and Gap Map of Risk Factors and Preventive Strategies for Patellofemoral Pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2026 02; 56(2):85-97.. View in PubMed
• Characterizing Landing Strategies during the Drop Jump Task: A Proposed Data-Driven Approach to Identify Increased Exposure to Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2026 Jun 01; 58(6):1132-1139.. View in PubMed
• Prediction of secondary ACL injury in female athletes using 2D video-based measurements obtained during dynamic tasks: a retrospective case-control study. Br J Sports Med. 2025 Oct 10; 59(20):1418-1425.. View in PubMed
• Quantification of patellofemoral joint stress in females who have undergone ACL reconstruction: Implications for early onset osteoarthritis. J Biomech. 2025 Aug; 189:112844.. View in PubMed
• Females who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction exhibit altered patellofemoral joint contact area and alignment. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2025 Jun; 126:106543.. View in PubMed
• Targeting the hip and/or knee extensors during the back squat in males and females: A repeated measures decision tree analysis using the relative difference in trunk and tibia inclination and knee flexion angle. Phys Ther Sport. 2025 May; 73:94-99.. View in PubMed
• Scapular Stabilization for Shoulder Pain: Putting the Cart Before the Horse? Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2025; 20(2):275-282. Elder A , Powers CM . . View in PubMed
• Influence of hip and lumbar extensor strength on lumbar moments during a squat lift: An evaluation of persons with and without low back pain. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2025 Feb; 122:106444.. View in PubMed
• Array of metabolic pathways in a kleptoplastidic foraminiferan protist supports chemoautotrophy in dark, euxinic seafloor sediments. ISME J. 2025 Jan 02; 19(1).. View in PubMed
• Biomechanical predictors of primary ACL injury: A scoping review of prospective studies. Gait Posture. 2025 02; 116:22-29.. View in PubMed
• Risk factors for patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis following ACL reconstruction: A cluster analysis of anatomy and alignment. J Orthop Res. 2025 03; 43(3):567-575.. View in PubMed
• The effect of femoral strapping on hip internal rotation and pain response in females with patellofemoral pain. Gait Posture. 2024 10; 114:222-226.. View in PubMed
• Patellar articular overlap is better associated with patellar alignment during weight-bearing than traditional measures of patellar height. Knee. 2024 Aug; 49:176-182.. View in PubMed
• A Biomechanical Review of the Squat Exercise: Implications for Clinical Practice. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2024; 19(4):490-501.. View in PubMed
• Reliability of a method to assess corticomotor excitability of lower limb muscles using a normalized EMG motor thresholding procedure. Sci Rep. 2024 01 24; 14(1):2052.. View in PubMed
• Reactive responses of the arms increase the Margins of Stability and decrease center of mass dynamics during a slip perturbation. J Biomech. 2023 08; 157:111737.. View in PubMed
• Femoral and acetabular features explain acetabular contact pressure sensitivity to hip internal rotation in persons with cam morphology: A finite element analysis. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2023 07; 107:106025.. View in PubMed
• Comparison of electromyographic activity of the gluteal muscles and tensor fascia lata in persons with patellofemoral pain: evaluation of selected, hip-targeted exercises using indwelling fine-wire electrodes. Physiother Theory Pract. 2024 Aug; 40(8):1775-1783.. View in PubMed
• Is muscular strength a predictor for primary or secondary ACL injury? A scoping review of prospective studies. Phys Ther Sport. 2023 May; 61:91-101.. View in PubMed
• Does the 2D Frontal Plane Projection Angle Predict Frontal Plane Knee Moments during Stepping, Landing, and Change of Direction Tasks? Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2022; 17(7):1259-1270. Straub RK, Powers . View in PubMed
• Gluteal activation during squatting reduces acetabular contact pressure in persons with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: A patient-specific finite element analysis. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2023 01; 101:105849.. View in PubMed
• Persons with Patellar Tendinopathy Exhibit Greater Patellar Tendon Stress during a Single-Leg Landing Task. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2023 04 01; 55(4):642-649.. View in PubMed
• Constraining the arms during a slip perturbation results in a higher fall frequency in young adults. Hum Mov Sci. 2022 Dec; 86:103016.. View in PubMed
• Persons with patellar tendinopathy exhibit anatomical features that alter knee extensor mechanics: A comparison of persons with and without symptoms. J Biomech. 2022 11; 144:111343.. View in PubMed
• Quadriceps strength symmetry predicts vertical ground reaction force symmetry during running in patients who have undergone ACL reconstruction. Phys Ther Sport. 2022 Sep; 57:89-94.. View in PubMed
• Persons with patellofemoral pain exhibit altered hip abductor muscle recruitment while performing hip abductor exercises. Physiother Theory Pract. 2024 Jan 02; 40(1):11-20.. View in PubMed
• Predictors of Quadriceps Strength Asymmetry after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detection Decision Tree Analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2022 12 01; 54(12):2005-2010.. View in PubMed
• The influence of isolated femur and tibia rotations on patellar tendon stress: A sensitivity analysis using finite element analysis. J Orthop Res. 2023 02; 41(2):271-277.. View in PubMed
• Classification of Runners with High versus Low Hip Adduction Based on Measures of Pelvis and Femur Morphology. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2022 04 01; 54(4):590-597.. View in PubMed
• Activation training facilitates gluteus maximus recruitment during weight-bearing strengthening exercises. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2022 Apr; 63:102643.. View in PubMed
• Utility of 2D Video Analysis for Assessing Frontal Plane Trunk and Pelvis Motion during Stepping, Landing, and Change in Direction Tasks: A Validity Study. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2022; 17(2):139-147.. View in PubMed
• Quantification of reactive arm responses to a slip perturbation. J Biomech. 2022 03; 133:110967.. View in PubMed
• The influence of hip flexion mobility and lumbar spine extensor strength on lumbar spine flexion during a squat lift. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2022 Apr; 58:102501.. View in PubMed
• The influence of hip extensor and lumbar spine extensor strength on lumbar spine loading during a squat lift. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2022 Feb; 62:102620.. View in PubMed
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case Report Highlighting Diagnosing and Treatment Challenges and the Possibility of Jarisch-Herxheimer Reactions If High Infectious Loads Are Present. Healthcare (Basel). 2021 Nov 10; 9(11).. View in PubMed
• Hip Adduction during Running: Influence of Sex, Hip Abductor Strength and Activation, and Pelvis and Femur Morphology. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021 11 01; 53(11):2346-2353.. View in PubMed
• Immediate Improvements in Patellofemoral Pain Are Associated With Sagittal Plane Movement Training to Improve Use of Gluteus Maximus Muscle During Single Limb Landing. Phys Ther. 2021 10 01; 101(10).. View in PubMed
• Hip Abductor Rate of Torque Development as Opposed to Isometric Strength Predicts Peak Knee Valgus During Landing: Implications for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury. J Appl Biomech. 2021 10 01; 37(5):471-476.. View in PubMed
• Estimation of vertical ground reaction force parameters during athletic tasks using 2D video. Gait Posture. 2021 10; 90:483-488.. View in PubMed
• Influence of hip and knee positions on gluteus maximus and hamstrings contributions to hip extension torque production. Physiother Theory Pract. 2022 Nov; 38(13):2650-2657.. View in PubMed
• Confidence to Return to Play After ACL Reconstruction: An Evaluation of Quadriceps Strength Symmetry and Injury Mechanism in Male Athletes. Sports Health. 2022 Sep-Oct; 14(5):758-763.. View in PubMed
• Clinical Estimation of the Use of the Hip and Knee Extensors During Athletic Movements Using 2D Video. J Appl Biomech. 2021 10 01; 37(5):458-462.. View in PubMed
• Sex Difference in Hip Adduction during the Stance Phase of Running: A Swing Phase Problem? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021 07 01; 53(7):1412-1416. Liu J, Salem GJ, Powers CM . View in PubMed
• REPORT-PFP: a consensus from the International Patellofemoral Research Network to improve REPORTing of quantitative PatelloFemoral Pain studies. Br J Sports Med. 2021 Oct; 55(20):1135-1143.. View in PubMed
• Corticomotor excitability of gluteus maximus and hip extensor strength: The influence of sex. Hum Mov Sci. 2021 Aug; 78:102830.. View in PubMed
• Trunk Inclination During Squatting is a Better Predictor of the Knee-Extensor Moment Than Shank Inclination. J Sport Rehabil. 2021 Feb 16; 30(6):899-904.. View in PubMed
• Confidence to Return to Play After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Is Influenced by Quadriceps Strength Symmetry and Injury Mechanism. Sports Health. 2021 May-Jun; 13(3):304-309.. View in PubMed
• Selective Atrophy of the Vastus Medialis: Does It Exist in Women With Nontraumatic Patellofemoral Pain? Am J Sports Med. 2021 03; 49(3):700-705. Ho KY, Chen YJ, Farrokhi S, Tsai LC, Liao TC, Haas N, P . View in PubMed
• Improvements in Hip Extensor Rate of Torque Development Influence Hip and Knee Extensor Feed-Forward Control. J Mot Behav. 2021; 53(6):750-757.. View in PubMed
• Addition of specific hip strengthening exercises to conventional rehabilitation therapy for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil. 2020 Nov; 34(11):1368-1377.. View in PubMed
• Pathomechanics Underlying Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Theoretical Framework to Inform Clinical Practice. Phys Ther. 2020 05 18; 100(5):788-797.. View in PubMed
• Corticomotor Excitability of Gluteus Maximus Is Associated with Hip Biomechanics During a Single-Leg Drop-Jump. J Mot Behav. 2021; 53(1):40-46.. View in PubMed
• Lower Extremity Stiffness Predicts Ground Reaction Force Loading Rate in Heel Strike Runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019 08; 51(8):1692-1697.. View in PubMed
• Persons with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome exhibit altered pelvifemoral coordination during weightbearing and non-weightbearing tasks. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2019 05; 65:51-56.. View in PubMed
• Tibiofemoral kinematics in the transverse and frontal planes influence the location and magnitude of peak patella cartilage stress: An investigation of runners with and without patellofemoral pain. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2019 02; 62:72-78.. View in PubMed
• National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Management of Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain. J Athl Train. 2018 Sep; 53(9):820-836.. View in PubMed
• Runners With Patellofemoral Pain Exhibit Greater Peak Patella Cartilage Stress Compared With Pain-Free Runners. J Appl Biomech. 2018 Aug 01; 34(4):298-305.. View in PubMed
• Active Scapular Retraction and Acromiohumeral Distance at Various Degrees of Shoulder Abduction. J Athl Train. 2018 Jun; 53(6):584-589.. View in PubMed
• 2018 Consensus statement on exercise therapy and physical interventions (orthoses, taping and manual therapy) to treat patellofemoral pain: recommendations from the 5th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia, 2017. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Sep; 52(18):1170-1178.. View in PubMed
• Corrigendum to “Changes in patellofemoral pain resulting from repetitive impact landings are associated with the magnitude and rate of patellofemoral joint loading” [Clin. Biomech. 53 (2018) 31-36]. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2018 05; 54:151.. View in PubMed
• The influence of isolated femur and tibia rotations on patella cartilage stress: a sensitivity analysis. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2018 05; 54:125-131.. View in PubMed
• Antigravity treadmill training during the early rehabilitation phase following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: A case series. Physiother Theory Pract. 2019 May; 35(5):489-494.. View in PubMed
• Changes in patellofemoral pain resulting from repetitive impact landings are associated with the magnitude and rate of patellofemoral joint loading. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2018 03; 53:31-36.. View in PubMed
• TRUNK LEAN DURING A SINGLE-LEG SQUAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRUNK LEAN DURING PITCHING. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2018 Feb; 13(1):58-65.. View in PubMed
• A Tale of Two Treatments for Patellofemoral Pain. PM R. 2017 12; 9(12):1283-1289.. View in PubMed
• Hip Strength as a Predictor of Ankle Sprains in Male Soccer Players: A Prospective Study. J Athl Train. 2017 Nov; 52(11):1048-1055.. View in PubMed
• Evidence-based framework for a pathomechanical model of patellofemoral pain: 2017 patellofemoral pain consensus statement from the 4th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Manchester, UK: part 3. Br J Sports Med. 2017 Dec; 51(24):1713-1723.. View in PubMed
• Rate of Torque Development and Feedforward Control of the Hip and Knee Extensors: Gender Differences. J Mot Behav. 2018 May-Jun; 50(3):321-329.. View in PubMed
• The Influence of Squat Kinematics and Cam Morphology on Acetabular Stress. Arthroscopy. 2017 Oct; 33(10):1797-1803.. View in PubMed
• ACL Injury Prevention Training Results in Modification of Hip and Knee Mechanics During a Drop-Landing Task. Orthop J Sports Med. 2017 Sep; 5(9):2325967117726267.. View in PubMed
• Increasing hip and knee flexion during a drop-jump task reduces tibiofemoral shear and compressive forces: implications for ACL injury prevention training. J Sports Sci. 2017 Dec; 35(24):2405-2411.. View in PubMed
• Does Patella Tendon Tenodesis Improve Tibial Tubercle Distalization in Treating Patella Alta? A Computational Study. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2016 Nov; 474(11):2451-2461.. View in PubMed
• Hip-Extensor Strength, Trunk Posture, and Use of the Knee-Extensor Muscles During Running. J Athl Train. 2016 Jul; 51(7):519-24.. View in PubMed
• Comparison of Electromyographic Activity of the Superior and Inferior Portions of the Gluteus Maximus Muscle During Common Therapeutic Exercises. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Sep; 46(9):794-9.. View in PubMed
• 2016 Patellofemoral pain consensus statement from the 4th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Manchester. Part 1: Terminology, definitions, clinical examination, natural history, patellofemoral osteoarthritis and patient-reported outcome measures. Br J Sports Med. 2016 Jul; 50(14):839-43.. View in PubMed
• Evidence of altered corticomotor excitability following targeted activation of gluteus maximus training in healthy individuals. Neuroreport. 2016 Apr 13; 27(6):415-21.. View in PubMed
• Lower limb dynamics vary in shod runners who acutely transition to barefoot running. J Biomech. 2016 Jan 25; 49(2):284-8.. View in PubMed
• Hip Muscle Strength Predicts Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Male and Female Athletes: A Prospective Study. Am J Sports Med. 2016 Feb; 44(2):355-61.. View in PubMed
• Rothstein Roundtable Podcast-“Putting All of Our Eggs in One Basket: Human Movement System”. Phys Ther. 2015 Nov; 95(11):1466.. View in PubMed
• Hip kinematics and kinetics in persons with and without cam femoroacetabular impingement during a deep squat task. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2016 Jan; 31:87-92.. View in PubMed
• Sagittal plane pelvis motion influences transverse plane motion of the femur: Kinematic coupling at the hip joint. Gait Posture. 2016 Jan; 43:120-4.. View in PubMed
• Femur Rotation Increases Patella Cartilage Stress in Females with Patellofemoral Pain. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015 Sep; 47(9):1775-80.. View in PubMed
• Meaningful use stage 2 e-prescribing threshold and adverse drug events in the Medicare Part D population with diabetes. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2015 Sep; 22(5):1094-8.. View in PubMed
• The influence of footwear tread groove parameters on available friction. Appl Ergon. 2015 Sep; 50:237-41.. View in PubMed
• Pressure-controlled treadmill training in chronic stroke: a case study with AlterG. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2015 Apr; 39(2):127-33.. View in PubMed
• Influence of trunk posture on lower extremity energetics during running. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015 Mar; 47(3):625-30.. View in PubMed
• Sagittal plane trunk posture influences patellofemoral joint stress during running. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Oct; 44(10):785-92.. View in PubMed
• Recreational runners with patellofemoral pain exhibit elevated patella water content. Magn Reson Imaging. 2014 Sep; 32(7):965-8.. View in PubMed
• Patellofemoral joint stress during weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing quadriceps exercises. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 May; 44(5):320-7.. View in PubMed
• Comparison of three-dimensional patellofemoral joint reaction forces in persons with and without patellofemoral pain. J Appl Biomech. 2014 Aug; 30(4):493-500.. View in PubMed
• Patellofemoral pain: consensus statement from the 3rd International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat held in Vancouver, September 2013. Br J Sports Med. 2014 Mar; 48(6):411-4.. View in PubMed
• The 3rd International Patellofemoral Research Retreat: an international expert consensus meeting to improve the scientific understanding and clinical management of patellofemoral pain. Br J Sports Med. 2014 Mar; 48(6):408.. View in PubMed
• Improvements in hip muscle performance result in increased use of the hip extensors and abductors during a landing task. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Mar; 42(3):602-9.. View in PubMed
• Posterolateral hip muscle strengthening versus quadriceps strengthening for patellofemoral pain: a comparative control trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 May; 95(5):900-7.. View in PubMed
• Individuals with diminished hip abductor muscle strength exhibit altered ankle biomechanics and neuromuscular activation during unipedal balance tasks. Gait Posture. 2014 Mar; 39(3):933-8.. View in PubMed
• Lower extremity dexterity is associated with agility in adolescent soccer athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2015 Feb; 25(1):81-8.. View in PubMed
• Running-induced patellofemoral pain fluctuates with changes in patella water content. Eur J Sport Sci. 2014; 14(6):628-34.. View in PubMed
• Control of dynamic foot-ground interactions in male and female soccer athletes: females exhibit reduced dexterity and higher limb stiffness during landing. J Biomech. 2014 Jan 22; 47(2):512-7.. View in PubMed

• Sigward, Susan
• Wren, Tishya
• Michener, Lori
• Weber, Alexander
• Wang, Jeffrey
• Kay, Robert