Structure and Motion Laboratory

People

Dr James WakelingDr James Wakeling

 

James is interested in the comparative biomechanics of both animals and man, and in particular how muscle force and power production contributes to movement and how the body interacts with external forces.

He studied for his PhD. in insect aerodynamics at Cambridge and subsequently did postdoc research at St. Andrews into fish hydrodynamics and muscle physiology, and at Calgary into muscle recruitment during running. James started work at the RVC in 2004, where his research topics in locomotor biomechanics covered a range of mammalian species.

James left the RVC at the end of 2007 and is now in Vancouver, Canada working in the School of Kinesiology at the Simon Fraser University.

Email: wakeling@sfu.ca

Phone: +1 778 782 8444

Web: http://fas.sfu.ca/kin/profiles/wakeling/

Research directions

The role of different motor units to muscle function is poorly understood for locomotor tasks, and current research topics include establishing the link between different types of motor units and different movement tasks. One muscle task is the damping of soft-tissue vibrations which may be achieved by the preferential recruitment of a class of motor units. Being able to modify vibration input into a body through the altered design of shoes and equipment may thus play a role in athletic training and performance as well as in rehabilitation after injury.

The body interacts with external forces during movement, and these influence the muscle activity required for different tasks. For instance, using orthotic interventions can alter muscle activity patterns. It is thus possible that such interventions could be designed to cause specific changes in the muscle activity patterns with potential benefits to the relief of musculo-skeletal conditions such as patellofemoral pain and osteoarthritis.

Lameness in horses can be alleviated by a number of methods. The scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of some treatments is insubstantial. We are currently developing objective and quantitative measures for the assessment of lameness which will be used to assess different treatment regimes.

Published papers

  1. Wakeling, J.M. & Hodgson, J. (1992). Optimisation of the flight speed of the little, common, and sandwich tern. J. exp. Biol. 169, 261-266.
  2. Wakeling, J.M. (1993). Dragonfly aerodynamics and unsteady mechanisms: a review. Odonatologica 22, 319-333.
  3. Wakeling, J.M. (1997). Odonatan wing and body morphologies. Odonatologica 26, 35-52.
  4. Wakeling, J.M. & Ellington, C.P. (1997). Dragonfly flight I. Gliding flight and steady-state aerodynamic forces. J. exp. Biol. 200, 543-556.
  5. Wakeling, J.M. & Ellington, C.P. (1997). Dragonfly flight II. Velocities, accelerations, and kinematics of flapping flight. J. exp. Biol. 200, 557-582.
  6. Wakeling, J.M. & Ellington, C.P. (1997). Dragonfly flight III. Lift and power requirements. J. exp. Biol. 200, 583-600.
  7. Wakeling, J.M. & Johnston, I.A. (1998). Muscle power output limits fast-start performance in fish. J. exp. Biol. 201, 1505-1526.
  8. Wakeling, J.M., Kemp, K.M. & Johnston, I.A. (1999). The biomechanics of fast-starts during ontogeny in the common carp Cyprinus carpio. J. exp. Biol. 202, 3057-3067.
  9. Wakeling, J.M. & Johnston, I.A. (1999). Body bending during fast-starts in fish can be explained in terms of muscle torque and hydrodynamic resistance. J. exp. Biol. 202, 675-682.
  10. Wakeling, J.M. & Johnston, I.A. (1999). White muscle strain in the common carp and red to white muscle gearing ratios in fish. J. exp. Biol. 202, 521-528.
  11. Wakeling, J.M. & Johnston, I.A. (1999). Predicting muscle force generation during fast-starts for the common carp Cyprinus carpio. J. Comp. Physiol. B, 169, 391-401.
  12. Navas, C.A., James, R.S., Wakeling, J.M., Kemp, K.M. & Johnston, I.A. (1999). An integrative study of the temperature dependence of whole animal and muscle performance during jumping and swimming in the frog Rana temperaria. J. comp. Physiol. B, 169, 588-596.
  13. Wakeling, J.M. & Nigg, B.M. (2000). Un supporto per lâ€Tarco. (The use of orthotics during physical activities, in Italian). Sport & Medicina. 5, 33-35.
  14. Wakeling, J.M. (2000). Computational methods for the analysis of swimming biomechanics. Experimental Biology Online. 5: 2, 87-96.
  15. Temple, G.K., Wakeling, J.M. & Johnston, I.A. (2000). Seasonal changes in fast-starts in the short-horn sculpin: integration of swimming behaviour and muscle performance. J. Fish Biol. 56, 1435-1449
  16. Wakeling, J.M., Cole, N.J., Kemp, K.M. & Johnston, I.A. (2000). The biomechanics and evolutionary significance of thermal acclimation in the common carp Cyprinus carpio. Am. J. Physiol. 279, R657-R665.
  17. Wakeling, J.M., Pascual, S.A., Nigg, B.M. & von Tscharner, V. (2001). Surface EMG shows distinct populations of muscle activity when measured during sustained exercise. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 86, 40-47.
  18. Wakeling, J.M., von Tscharner, V., Nigg, B.M. & Stergiou. (2001). Muscle activity in the leg is tuned in response to ground reaction forces. J. Appl. Physiol. 91, 1307-1317.
  19. Nigg, B.M. & Wakeling, J.M. (2001). Impact forces and muscle tuning: a new paradigm. Exercise and Sports Sciences Review 29, 37-41.
  20. Wakeling, J.M. & Nigg, B.M. (2001). Modification of soft tissue vibrations in the leg by muscular activity. J. Appl. Physiol. 90, 412-420].
  21. Wakeling, J.M. & Nigg, B.M. (2001). Soft tissue vibrations in the quadriceps measured with skin mounted transducers. J. Biomech. 34, 539-543.
  22. Wakeling, J.M. (2001). Biomechanics of fast-start swimming in fish. Comp. Biochem Physiol A, 131, 31-40.
  23. Wakeling, J.M., & Syme, D.A. (2002). Wave properties of action potentials from fast and slow motor units. Muscle Nerve 26, 659-668.
  24. Fernandez, D.A., Calvo, J., Wakeling, J.M., Vanella, F.A. & Johnston, I.A. (2002). Escape performance in the sub-Antarctic Notothenioid fish Eleginops maclovinus. Polar Biology 25, 914-920.
  25. Wakeling, J.M., Nigg, B.M. & Rozitis, A.I. (2002). Muscle activity in the lower extremity damps the soft-tissue vibrations which occur in response to pulsed and continuous vibrations. J. Appl. Physiol. 93: 1093-1103.
  26. Wakeling, J.M., Pascual, S.A. & Nigg, B.M. (2002). Altering muscle activity in the lower extremities by running with different shoes. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 34(9), 1529-1532.
  27. Wakeling, J.M., Kaya, M., Temple, G.K., Johnston, I.A. & Herzog, W. (2002). Determining patterns of motor recruitment during locomotion. J. exp. Biol. 205, 359-369.
  28. Wakeling, J.M., Liphardt, A-M. & Nigg, B.M. (2003). Muscle activity reduces soft-tissue resonance at heel-strike during walking. J. Biomech. 36, 1761-1769.
  29. Wakeling, J.M. & Rozitis A.I. (2004). Spectral properties of myoelectric signals from different motor units distinguished during ramped contractions of the leg extensors. J. Exp. Biol. 207, 2519-2528.
  30. Wakeling, J.M. (2004).   Motor units are recruited in a task dependent fashion during locomotion. J. Exp. Biol. 207, 3883-3890.
  31. Wakeling, J.M. & Rozitis A.I. (2005). Motor unit recruitment during vertebrate locomotion. Animal Biology, 55, 41-58.
  32. Mundermann, A., Wakeling, J.M., Nigg, B.M., Humble, R.N. & Stefanyshyn, D.J. (2005). Foot orthotics affect frequency components of muscle activity in the lower extremity. Gait Posture. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2005.03.004
  33. Wakeling, J.M. (2005). Fast-start mechanics. In: Fish Biomechanics: Fish Physiology vol. 23 (eds. G.Lauder & R. Shadwick), Academic Press, London, pp333-368.
  34. Wakeling, J.M. & Liphardt, A-M. (2005). Short communication: Task specific recruitment of motor units for vibration damping. J. Biomech. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2005.03.009 .
  35. Nurse, M.A., Hulliger, M., Wakeling, J.M., Nigg, B.M. & Stefanyshyn, D.J. (2005) Changing the texture of footwear can alter gait patterns. J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol. 15, 496-506.
  36. Cardinale, M. & Wakeling, J.M. (2005). Whole body vibration exercise. Are vibrations good for you? Invited B. J. Sports Med. 39, 585-589.
  37. Wakeling, J.M., Uehli, K., Rozitis, A.I. (2006). Muscle fibre recruitment can respond to the mechanics of the muscle contraction. Roy. Soc. Interface. DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2006. 0113.

     

Conference papers

  1. Wakeling, J.M. Muscle physiology and swimming performance in Antarctic fish. 3rd workshop: Network fishes of the Antarctic Ocean, European Science Foundation, Paris, France, 1996.
  2. Wakeling, J.M. Muscle mechanics vary along the body during fast-starts in the common carp Cyprinus carpio. 17th Congress: International Society of Biomechanics, Calgary, 1999.
  3. Wakeling, J.M. The development of fast-start behaviour in the common carp. Society of Experimental Biology, Edinburgh, UK, 1999.
  4. Wakeling, J.M. Vibration characteristics of the soft tissues of the leg are tuned by muscle activity. Invited lecture at the Society of Experimental Biology 2000 meeting, Cambridge, UK, 2000.
  5. Wakeling, J.M. Muscle torques, body bending and fast-starts in fish. Invited lecture at the 1st International Conference on Movements, Contractility and Biomechanics, European Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry, Liège, Belgium, 2000.
  6. Wakeling, J.M., Nigg, B.M., Pascual, S., von Tscharner, V. Changes in time-frequency patterns of myoelectric signals during prolonged running 18th Congress: International Society of Biomechanics, Zurich, Switzerland, 2001.
  7. Wakeling, J.M. Time and frequency signatures of myoelectric events during fatiguing exercise. Society of Experimental Biology 2000 meeting, Canterbury, UK, 2001.
  8. Wakeling, J.M., Herzog, W., Syme, D. Determining patterns of motor unit recruitment during animal locomotion. IV World Congress Biomechamics, Calgary, Canada, 2002.
  9. Wakeling, J.M., Rozitis, A.I., Nigg, B.M. Muscle activity in the lower extremity damps the soft-tissue vibrations which occur in response to impact forces. IV World Congress Biomechamics, Calgary, Canada, 2002.
  10. Nigg, B.M., Boyer, K.A., Wakeling, J.M. Quantification of soft-tissue vibration frequency in heel-toe running. IV World Congress Biomechamics, Calgary, Canada, 2002.
  11. Wakeling, J.M., Orthotics, shoe materials, muscle activity and joint loading. 2nd Annual Foot and Ankle Seminar, Banff, Canada, 2003.
  12. Wakeling J.M., Measuring motor unit recruitment patterns in mixed mammalian muscle. Society for Experimental Biology, Southampton, UK, 2003.
  13. Rozitis, A.I., Wakeling, J.M., Herzog, W. Motor unit recruitment in cat locomotion. Society for Experimental Biology, Southampton, UK, 2003.
  14. Schneider, P., Wakeling, J.M., Loitz-Ramage B., Zernicke, R.F., Ronsky J.L. Time frequency analysis of myoelectric signals from children with cerebral palsy: a new muscular co-contraction assessment technique. 19th Congress: International Society of Biomechanics, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2003.
  15. Schneider P.S., Wakeling J.M., Loitz-Ramage B., Zernicke R.F., Ronsky J.L. Time-frequency analysis of myoelectric signals from children with cerebral palsy: a new muscular inter-step variability assessment technique. Calgary Region Health Authority, 2003.
  16. Rozitis, A.I., Wakeling, J.M. Distinguishing motor unit activity using wavelet analysis of surface EMG. 8th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Salzburg, Austria, 2003.
  17. Liphardt A-M., Wakeling J.M., Nigg B.M., Mester J. Effect of different shoe hardnesses on EMG intensity and soft tissue vibrations of the lower extremity during walking. 8th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Salzburg, Austria, 2003.
  18. Toyoda, Y., Nigg, B.M., Wakeling, J.M., Wiley, P., Humble, N. Wavelet analysis can be used for evaluating correlation between vastus lateralis and vastus medialis for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. 8th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Salzburg, Austria, 2003.
  19. Wakeling, J.M. Tuning in to soft-tissue resonance. 8th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Salzburg, Austria, 2003.
  20. Wakeling,J.M. Motor unit recruitment during vertebrate locomotion. 10th Benelux Congress of Zoology, Leiden, Netherlands, 2003.
  21. Wakeling, J.M. Differential recruitment of motor units during locomotion. Society for Experimental Biology, Edinburgh, UK (2004).
  22. Ramage, B., Wakeling, J.M., Desrochers, J. & Zernicke, R.F. Static stability and responses to perturbation with and without AFOs in healthy adults. Canadian Orthopedic Association, 59th Annual Meeting, Calgary, Canada 2004.
  23. Liphardt, A-M., Wakeling, J.M. Functional recruitment of muscle during vibration damping. 9th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Claremont-Ferrand, France, 2004.
  24. Liphardt A-M., Wakeling J.M., Nigg B.M., Mester J. Potential of vibration training for the maintenance of muscle performance during spaceflight. 25th Annual International Gravitational Physiology Meeting, Moscow, Russia, 2004.
  25. Schneider P.S., Wakeling J.M., Zernicke R.F. Effect of dynamic ankle joint stiffness on postural stability. 13th Biennial Conference of Canadian Society for Biomechanics, Halifax, Canada, 2004.
  26. Schneider P.S. Wakeling J.M., Zernicke R.F. Effect of dynamic ankle joint stiffness on mechanical joint energetics during gait. 5th Combined Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Societies, Banff, Canada, 2004.
  27. Delaney, R. Dudkiewicz I. Wakeling J.M. Differences in muscle activity in cerebral palsy and normal children. Spasticity: evidence based measurement and treatment. SPASM, Newcastle, UK, 2004.
  28. Wakeling J.M., Hutchinson J.R. & Lichtwark G.A. Patterns of motor unit recruitment affect the forces generated by whole muscles. Society for Experimental Biology, Barcelona, Spain, 2005.
  29. Tole, E., Wakeling J.M. Are the intrinsic properties of muscles related to locomotor function? Society for Experimental Biology, Barcelona, Spain, 2005.
  30. Wakeling J.M., Delaney, R. Dudkiewicz I. Muscle dysfunction during walking in children with cerebral palsy. 20 Congress: International Society of Biomechanics, Cleveland, USA, 2005.
  31. Schneider P.S. Wakeling J.M., Zernicke R.F. Effect of dynamic ankle joint stiffness on joint mechanics and muscle activation patterns during locomotion. 20th Congress: International Society of Biomechanics, Cleveland, USA, 2005.

Structure and Motion Lab          These pages maintained by the SML          Contact: Alan Wilson


This page was last modified on 05 February 2008