Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career
Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Biomechanics
  • Footwear biomechanics
  • Gait biomechanics
  • Musculoskeletal ultrasound
  • Dynamic pressure measurement

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Karen Mickle

Karen is a postdoctoral research fellow within the Institute for Health and Sport, at Victoria University. She also holds a fractional appointment with the Victorian Institute of Sport as the biomechanist for athletics. She is the president-elect for the Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics and the Secretary-general for the Footwear Biomechanics Group.

Karen gained her PhD in biomechanics in 2011 from the University of Wollongong. During her NHMRC fellowship, Karen spent 2 years at the University of Salford, UK, and developed a reliable method to measure foot muscle morphology using ultrasound.

Karen’s research over the past 10+ years has focused on applied lower limb biomechanics with a specific interest in structure and function of the foot and the influence of musculoskeletal and metabolic pathologies. She has published 25 original research articles and three book chapters. She has over 50 conference papers at national and international scientific meetings, including the Clinical Biomechanics Award address at the 2009 International Society of Biomechanics Congress, and Invited Speaker presentations at the World Congress of Biomechanics in 2010 and 2014.

Karen's current research aims to determine the pathomechanics of muscle weakness in individuals who have foot problems, and to develop evidence-based intervention strategies to restore foot function in people with foot disorders.

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Wollongong, Australia, 2011
  • BSc (Hons) Exercise Science, University of Wollongong, Australia, 2004

Key publications

Year Citation
2018 Mickle, K. J., & Nester, C. J. (180601). Morphology of the Toe Flexor Muscles in Older Adults With Toe Deformities. Arthritis Care and Research, 70(6), (902-907).

doi: 10.1002/acr.23348
2016 Mickle, K. J., Angin, S., Crofts, G., & Nester, C. J. (161201). Effects of age on strength and morphology of toe flexor muscles. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 46(12), (1065-1070).

doi: 10.2519/jospt.2016.6597
2016 Mickle, K. J., Caputi, P., Potter, J. M., & Steele, J. R. (161201). Efficacy of a progressive resistance exercise program to increase toe flexor strength in older people. Clinical Biomechanics, 40 (14-19).

doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2016.10.005
2015 Mickle, K. J., & Steele, J. R. (151001). Obese older adults suffer foot pain and foot-related functional limitation. Gait and Posture, 42(4), (442-447).

doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2015.07.013
2013 Mickle, K. J., Angin, S., Crofts, G., Steele, J. R., & Nester, C. (130726). Effects of age on strength of the toe flexor muscles. Footwear Science, 5(SUPPL. 1),

doi: 10.1080/19424280.2013.799554
2013 Mickle, K. J., Nester, C. J., Crofts, G., & Steele, J. R. (130404). Reliability of ultrasound to measure morphology of the toe flexor muscles. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 6(1),

doi: 10.1186/1757-1146-6-12
2011 Mickle, K. J., Munro, B. J., Lord, S. R., Menz, H. B., & Steele, J. R. (111101). Cross-sectional analysis of foot function, functional ability, and health-related quality of life in older people with disabling foot pain. Arthritis Care and Research, 63(11), (1592-1598).

doi: 10.1002/acr.20578
2011 Munro, B., Mickle, K. J., & Steele, J. (110728). Can flexible shoes improve function in the older foot?. Footwear Science, 3(SUPPL.1),

doi: 10.1080/19424280.2011.575883
2011 Mickle, K. J., Munro, B. J., Lord, S. R., Menz, H. B., & Steele, J. R. (110701). Gait, balance and plantar pressures in older people with toe deformities. Gait and Posture, 34(3), (347-351).

doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.05.023
2009 Mickle, K. J., Munro, B. J., Lord, S. R., Menz, H. B., & Steele, J. R. (091201). ISB Clinical Biomechanics Award 2009. Toe weakness and deformity increase the risk of falls in older people. Clinical Biomechanics, 24(10), (787-791).

doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2009.08.011

Research funding for the past 5 years

Please note:

  • Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
  • Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
  • The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.

Lower-Limb Stiffness Control in Healthy Young Males: Biomechanical Implications and its Possible Casual Factors
From: The University of Melbourne
Investigators: Aspr Patrick Mclaughlin, Dr Simon Taylor
For period: 2018-2018
 Not disclosed

Glerups footwear biomechanical and thermal testing
From: The New Zealand Merino Company Limited
Investigators: Dr Aaron Petersen
For period: 2017-2017
 Not disclosed
Biomechanical Analysis of Athletics Performance
From: Victorian Institute of Sport
Investigators: Prof Rezaul Begg
For period: 2017-2019
 Not disclosed

Supervision of research students at VU

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

Currently supervised research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
1 PhD Associate supervisor

Currently supervised research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (1) Associate supervisor

Teaching activities & experience

Unit Co-ordinator/Lecturer: AHE3101 Advanced Biomechanics, College of Sport & Exercise Science

Key industry, community & government roles

Dates Role Department/Organisation
Mar 2017 - Jun 2019
Biomechanist, athletics
Victorian Institute of Sport
Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Mar 2017 - Jun 2019
Biomechanist, athletics
Victorian Institute of Sport