Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
Shawn Beaudette is an Assistant Professor with research specialties in spine biomechanics, sensory feedback and neuromuscular control. Shawn’s research program integrates aspects of biomechanics, neurophysiology and data science to understand how spine movement is controlled with a focus on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of low back disorders.
Lower back pain has been identified as one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders worldwide. Furthermore, as an anatomically complex system, the spine requires refined, adaptable neuromuscular control to optimize function. Shawn’s research program is aimed at objectively quantifying spine neuromuscular function to inform clinical and industrial decision-making processes.
- Human Anatomy
- Biomechanics & Motor Control
- Neurophysiology
- Data Science
- Musculoskeletal Training & Rehabilitation
- Member, Canadian Society for Biomechanics (CSB)
- Member, International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK)
- Member, International Society of Biomechanics (ISB)
- Member, Canadian Musculoskeletal Rehab Research Network
Smith, G.S., Yokich, M.K., Beaudette, S.M., Brown, S.H.M., Bent, L.R. (2021). Cutaneous sensitivity across regions of the foot sole and dorsum are influenced by foot posture. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (in press).
Chan, V.C.H., Beaudette, S.M., Smale, K.B., Beange, K.H.E., Graham, R.B. (2020). A Subject-Specific Approach to Detect Fatigue-Related Changes in Spine Motion Using Wearable Sensors. Sensors 20(9): E2646.
Beaudette, S.M., Briar, K.J., Mavor, M.P., Graham, R.B. (2020). The effect of head and gaze orientation on spine kinematics during forward flexion. Human Movement Science 70: 102590.
Beange, K.H.E., Chan, A.D.C., Beaudette, S.M., Graham, R.B. (2019). Concurrent validity of a wearable IMU for objective assessments of functional movement quality and control of the lumbar spine. Journal of Biomechanics 97: 109365.
Smith, G.V.S., Yokich, M.K., Beaudette, S.M., Brown, S.H.M., Bent, L.R. (2019). Effects of foot position on skin structural deformation. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 95: 240-248.
Pinto, B.L., Beaudette, S.M., Graham, R.B., Brown, S.H.M. (2019). Experimentally induced neck pain causes a decrease in thoracic but not lumbar spine stability. Journal of Biomechanics 90, 78-83.
Beaudette, S.M., Zwambag, D.P., Graham, R.B., Brown, S.H.M. (2019). Discriminating spatiotemporal movement strategies during spine flexion-extension in healthy individuals. The Spine Journal 19(7), 1264-1275.
Zwambag, D.P., Beaudette, S.M., Gregory, D.E., Brown, S.H.M. (2019). Distinguishing between typical and atypical motion patterns amongst healthy individuals during a constrained spine flexion task. Journal of Biomechanics 86: 89-95.
Bourdon, E., Ramos Jr., W., Mavor, M.P., Beaudette, S.M., Graham, R.B. (2018) The effect of attentional focus on local dynamic stability during a repetitive spine flexion task. Journal of Biomechanics 80: 196-199.
Gsell, K.Y., Beaudette, S.M., Capcap, I.M., Brown, S.H.M. (2018) Variations of handheld loads increase the range of motion of the lumbar spine without compromising local dynamic stability during walking. Gait and Posture 66: 101-106.
Pinto, B.L., Beaudette, S.M., Brown, S.H.M. (2018) Tactile cues can change movement: An example using tape to redistribute flexion from the lumbar spine to the hips and knees during lifting. Human Movement Science 60: 32-39.
Beaudette, S.M., Pinto, B.L., Brown, S.H.M. (2018) Tactile feedback can be used to redistribute flexion motion across spine motion segments. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 46(6): 789-800.
Zwambag, D.P., Beaudette, S.M., Gregory, D.E., Brown, S.H.M. (2018) Development of a novel technique to record 3D intersegmental angular kinematics during dynamic spine movements. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 46(2): 298-309.
Cimino, S.R., Beaudette, S.M., Brown, S.H.M. (2018) Kinesio taping influences the mechanical behavior of the skin of the low back: a possible pathway for functionally relevant effects. Journal of Biomechanics 67: 150-156.
Beaudette, S.M., Smith, S.G.V.S., Bent, L.R., Brown, S.H.M. (2017) Spine posture influences tactile perceptual sensitivity of the trunk dorsum. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 45(12): 2804-2812.
Beaudette, S.M., Zwambag, D.P. Bent, L.R., Brown, S.H.M. (2017) Spine postural change elicits localized skin structural deformation of the trunk dorsum in vivo. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 67: 31-39.
Beaudette, S.M., Howarth, S.J., Graham, R.B., Brown, S.H.M. (2016) On the use of a Euclidean norm function for the estimation of local dynamic stability from 3D kinematics using time-delayed Lyapunov analyses. Medical Engineering and Physics, 38(10): 1135-45.
Worden, T.A., Beaudette, S.M., Brown, S.H.M., Vallis, L.A. (2016) Estimating gait stability: Asymmetrical loading effects measured using margin of stability and local dynamic stability. Journal of Motor Behavior, 48(5): 455-467.
Beaudette, S.M., Larson K.J., Larson D.J., Brown, S.H.M. (2016) Low back skin sensitivity has minimal impact on active lumbar spine proprioception and stability in healthy adults. Experimental Brain Research, 234(8): 2215-2226.
Beaudette, S.M., Worden, T.A., Kamphuis, M., Vallis, L.A., Brown, S.H.M. (2015) Local Dynamic Joint Stability During Human Treadmill Walking in Response to Lower Limb Segmental Loading Perturbations. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 137(9): 091006-1-7.
Gsell, K.Y., Beaudette, S.M., Graham, R.B., Brown, S.H.M. (2015) The effect of different ranges of motion on local dynamic stability of the elbow during unloaded repetitive flexion-extension movements. Human Movement Science, 42: 193-202.
Beaudette, S.M., Unni, R., Brown, S.H.M. (2014) Electromyographic assessment of isometric and dynamic activation characteristics of the latissimus dorsi muscle. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 24(3): 430-436.
Beaudette, S.M., Graham, R.B., Brown, S.H.M. (2014) The effect of unstable loading versus unstable support conditions on spine rotational stiffness and spine stability during repetitive lifting. Journal of Biomechanics, 47(2): 491-496.
- Research Methods in Biomechanics
- Musculoskeletal Anatomy
- Functional Anatomy
Research Grants
Brock University Chancellor’s Chair for Teaching Excellence, “Exploring the New Normal: Optimizing Hybrid Learning for the Teaching of Human Anatomy in a Post-COVID World” (2021-2024)
NSERC Discovery Grant, “Empirical quantification of intersegmental spine neuromuscular function during dynamic movements” (2020-2024)
Technical Reports/Industrial Contracts
Mavor, M.P., Ross, G.B., Beaudette, S.M., Graham, R.B. (2019). Laboratory-based motion capture study of soldier movement under various body-borne loading scenarios. Department of National Defence