What we do
Our work sits at the intersection of biomechanics, quantitative imaging, and oncology — understanding how tissue structure shapes shoulder function, and how cancer treatment disrupts it.
01
Quantify muscle and tissue structure in vivo with ultrasound shear-wave elastography and medical imaging.
02
Capture shoulder strength, stiffness, and motion with robotic biomechanics, EMG, and wearable sensors.
03
Relate tissue properties and treatment exposures to clinical pain, mobility, and patient-reported function.
04
Develop better tools to detect impairment early and guide rehabilitation for cancer survivors.
Ultrasound shear-wave elastography lets us map the stiffness of the pectoralis major directly in living tissue. Brighter regions indicate stiffer muscle. Comparing breast cancer survivors treated with different surgical and radiation approaches to healthy controls reveals how treatment reshapes the mechanical properties of the muscle — both at rest and during contraction.
Mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and radiation therapy can compromise the strength, stiffness, and mobility of the shoulder. We quantify these neuromuscular and biomechanical changes to understand who is most at risk and why.
Using ultrasound shear-wave elastography, we measure the region-specific stiffness and material properties of the pectoralis major in vivo — revealing how the muscle changes with reconstruction, radiotherapy, age, and sex.
We quantify the radiation dose delivered to individual shoulder muscles during breast radiotherapy and link it to later changes in stiffness, pain, and function — informing muscle-sparing treatment planning.
We develop kirigami-inspired sensor patches and machine-learning models to estimate shoulder rotation and abduction, bringing objective movement assessment beyond the laboratory.
Through a Phase 1 clinical trial, we are testing whether myofascial massage and patient–therapist communication reduce pain and alter tissue stiffness in breast cancer survivors with myofascial pain.
We investigate how chronic neck pain and posture influence the activity and elasticity of the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid, including the effects of cervical traction and ergonomic factors.
Our research has been supported by the American Cancer Society, the National Institutes of Health, Susan G. Komen, and the University of Michigan.
Quantifying Outcomes after Prepectoral Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction
Research Scholar Grant
Improving the assessment and diagnosis of shoulder morbidity following mastectomy with breast reconstruction
R03
Uncovering mechanisms responsible for shoulder morbidity following radiotherapy
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Effects of myofascial massage and patient–therapist communication on pectoralis major properties
Force-Based Manipulations Research Network — Pilot