Biography
Rob Burns is a clinical instructor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, where his primary teaching focus is sport injury evaluation, assessment and management. A Certified Athletic Therapist CAT(C) since 1998, he has extensive experience working with diverse populations across a wide range of sports in both clinical and field settings. He served as Head Athletic Therapist with Waterloo Warriors Athletics for 19 seasons and as a part-time adjunct lecturer in Kinesiology before transitioning to a full-time teaching role in 2018. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he has contributed to numerous research initiatives within and beyond the Department, collaborating with faculty, graduate students and community partners on projects related to physical activity, health, and teaching and learning.
Teaching
- KIN 140L - Sports Injury Management Lab
- KIN 340 - Musculoskeletal Injuries in Sport and Activity
- KIN 351 - Therapeutic Rehabilitation of Orthopedic Injuries
- KIN 360 - Concussion
- KIN 400 - Athletic Injury Practicum
- KIN 472 - Directed Studies in Special Topics
- KIN 491 - Clinical Kinesiology -- Sports Injuries Assessment
- KIN 682 - Selected Topics in Biomechanics
Previously taught
- KIN 341 - Selected Topics in Sport and Work Injuries
- KIN 440 - Sports Injury Management Seminar
- KIN 470 - Seminar in Kinesiology
- KIN 655 - Theory and Practice of Movement Assessment
- KIN 656 - Interpretation of Movement Assessment and Exercise Prescription
- KIN 692- Assessment of Muscle Function
Education
- MS Exercise Science and Health Promotion, California University of Pennsylvania
- BA (Honours), Physical Education, University of Western Ontario
- Diploma - Sports Injury Management, Sheridan College
Research
Though research is not his primary focus in this role, Rob Burns has been fortunate to have been a part of several different research teams and topics related to teaching and learning, including the development of an in-class high fidelity knee model on which students can learn and practice performing manual special tests. He is also an advisor for graduate students and engineering capstone teams on their projects.
Selected publications
Moran-Ledesma, M., Burns, R., Schneider, O., & Hancock, M. (2026). Flex-Knee: A Low-Cost Passive Haptic Model for Injury Assessment Training. 2026 IEEE Haptics Symposium (HAPTICS), 2026-March, 1–14. IEEE.
M. Moran-Ledesma, R. Burns, M. Hancock, and O. Schneider, “TRAINKNEE: Developing a Haptic Manikin for Knee Injury Assessment Training,” in IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics, pp. 1–12, Aug. 2025.
Burns RW. Low Back Pain in a Female Varsity Hockey Player. Athletic Therapy Today, 2006: 11, 13; 27-29.
Burns, RW, Littlejohn, C. Bump, Set, Jump. Athlete’s Edge, 2004: 6, 4; 1-2.
Burns RW. Neural Tension in a Female Varsity Volleyball Player. Athletic Therapy Today. 2004: 9, 5; 54-56.
Awards
- LITE Seed Grant, Games Institute, University of Waterloo - Interactive Training Tool for Injury Assessment of a Human Joint. Dr. Oliver Schneider (Management Science and Engineering), Dr. Mark Hancock (Management Science and Engineering), Rob Burns (Kinesiology and Health Sciences), Marco Moran-Ledesma (Systems Design Engineering), and Emily Shiu (Psychology).
- LITE Seed Grant, Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo - Integrating 3D Digital Multimedia into Anatomical Education. Anton Trinh, Robert Burns, Caryl Russell, Chris Vigna, Tamara Maciel, Bill McIlroy (Kinesiology).
- Propel Grant - COMPuterized Sideline Screening (COMPaSS) of neuromotor performance to prevent chronic effects of traumatic brain injury. Co-investigator with Drs. David Gonzalez, James Tung, Eric Roy, Dana Kulic, Daniel Vogel, Mike Holmes, and Ms. Robyn Ibey.
- Propel Grant - From genes to behaviour: Development of sensitive measures for mild traumatic brain injury sequelae and recovery to identify those at elevated risk for Alzheimer's Disease. Co-investigator with Drs. Niechwiej-Szwedo, Dalton, Roy, Duncan, Middleton, Cinelli.
- Propel Grant - From genes to behaviour (part 2): Development of sensitive measures for mild traumatic brain injury sequelae and recovery to identify those at elevated risk for Alzheimer's Disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Co-investigator with Drs. Niechwiej-Szwedo, Dalton, Roy, Duncan, Middleton, Cinelli, Ms. Amy Wilms, Kaley Powers, Mr. Anthony Tapper, Emily Mardian.
- Learning Initiatives Fund - Sports Injuries Practical Lab Enhancement - Athletic Taping Learning Object. University of Waterloo, October 2004.
Service/affiliations
- Certified Athletic Therapist - Canadian Athletic Therapist Association
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist - National Strength and Conditioning Association