The Department of Kinesiology is a division of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
Q and A with the experts: The psychology of the return of major league sports
What is the mental toll of asking players and staff in major league sports to risk their lives for our entertainment?
Study looks at COVID-19 health perceptions in different age groups
New study seeks survey respondents to examine vulnerability, mitigations and perceptions related to COVID-19
Ergonomics guide helps prevent workplace injuries
Professor Steven Fischer outlines easy fixes to prevent injury when working from home
Researchers help address healthy aging on The Nature of Things
David Suzuki visits Waterloo Kinesiology labs for insights on body composition, balance
Puberty responsible for larger airways in males
Sex differences in airway size are not innate, but likely develop because of hormonal changes
Storytelling can reduce VR cybersickness
Enhanced narratives and emotionally evocative details help new users feel immersed
Kinesiology researchers work with astronauts to study health
Latest subject in study, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques, concludes six months in space
Low-tech footrest can help prevent lower-back pain
Study assesses potential interventions for those who stand at work
Virtual reality games could recalibrate neurological disorders
Could be a key tool in treating disorders such as autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease
Anxiety-reducing meditation in university classrooms
Study explores whether mindfulness meditation can ease the anxiety around written assignments
How to make the pushup work for you
Study finds ways to adapt the exercise to help individuals with specific needs
Virtual reality motion sickness may be predicted and counteracted
Waterloo researchers advance knowledge of sensorimotor components of cybersickness.
"Smart clothing" aims to predict failing health
Researchers combine wearable technology and AI to predict the onset of health problems.
Standing desks may lead to lower back pain
Waterloo study finds people have different levels of standing tolerance.
Aging slows perception of falls
Seniors need twice as long as young adults to realize they are falling.
Raise, lower, lift, load
Waterloo study finds powered stretchers could reduce injuries, keep paramedics on the job.
Mealtime Audit Tool (MAT)
Survey will reduce rates of malnutrition in hospitals.
Science Centre
Biomechanics: The Machine Inside exhibit gives visitors a hands-on look at the marvels of natural engineering that drive human and animal movement.
What if a simple supplement could prevent childhood asthma?
Findings offer insight into new preventative measures.
Researcher wins prestigious prize for work on osteoporosis
Professor Lora Giangregorio wins Bloomberg Manulife Prize for Promotion of Active Health.
What's the secret behind Jordan Kilganon's epic slam dunks?
Kinesiology researcher examines Kilganon in a Waterloo lab to understand how the world’s best slam dunker gets outstanding air.
Can science keep MLB pitchers off the disabled list?
Biomechanical assessments and strength training more effective than restricting innings.
How long should you stand - rather than sit - at your work station?
Research suggests that you have to stand for at least 30 minutes every hour to get health benefits.
Craving high-calorie snacks? Blame your brain

Low back pain? Waterloo research reveals best sex positions
Pioneering spine study shows spooning is not always the best sex position for men who want to avoid triggering low back pain.
Nutrition and aging: Why aren't older adults eating well?
Researcher leads study to find out why residents of long-term care homes aren’t getting proper nutrition.
GPS technology may help detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier
GPS tracking shows older adults with mild dementia stay much closer to home than healthy adults, Waterloo study finds.
Osteoporosis: How can you prevent falls and fractures?
Older adults should combine aerobics with strength and balance training to prevent bone loss, says Waterloo researcher who helped draft new guidelines.
Women's health: The link between estrogen and fat
Award-winning researcher examines the upside of fat in our diets from pregnancy to post-menopause.
Finding your way after a stroke
Stroke patients use innovative exercise bikes hooked up to Google Earth’s virtual world to rehabilitate body and mind in Waterloo lab.
Biomechanics professor striking the perfect balance
Andrew Laing doesn’t mind being a fall guy. For the biomechanics professor, the reputation simply comes with the territory.
Nutrition and exercise linked to cancer treatment success
What if something as simple as a tailored nutrition and exercise program could influence the outcome of cancer treatment? According to professor Marina Mourtzakis, it’s possible.
Canadian astronaut takes research into orbit
From the International Space Station, astronaut Chris Hadfield will help Waterloo researcher Richard Hughson understand some of the mysteries of aging.
Keeping back pain at bay
Fill a room with 100 people and you can bet your bottom dollar 80 will have a tale to tell about back pain. Jack Callaghan is trying to answer why that is, and to find ways to change it.
Building better bones with exercise
At least one in three women and one in five men will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime. Lora Giangregorio is investigating the benefits of prescribed exercise guidelines for those most at risk.
Keep on moving
The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia is expected to double over the next thirty years. Laura Middleton is investigating the impact of exercise and physical activity on slowing cognitive decline.
A neighbourhood of good intentions
Even the best intentions to get physically fit often go unrealised when challenged by the pressures of daily life. Peter Hall is investigating how a neighbourhood’s built environment may influence physical activity patterns.
He's got our backs
Do you struggle through sit-ups in the quest for great-looking abs? Stuart McGill's expertise on spine biomechanics may convince you to re-examine your exercise routine.
Cardio researcher probes the puzzle of fainting astronauts
Richard Hughson is collaborating with astronauts aboard the International Space Station to research the effects of weightlessness on the cardiovascular system and the implications for healthy aging.
Don't slack on the salmon
Looking for a way to possibly slash your risk of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis? Ken Stark is researching ways to increase Canadians' consumption of Omega-3.
After a stroke: regaining mobility
For stroke victims, fear of falling can be an insurmountable hurdle to recovery. Bill McIlroy saw the effects of that fear after his grandmother broke her hip, and he’s determined to smooth the path for others.