Thomas P. Andriacchi

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emeritus

Bio

Professor Andriacchi's research focuses on the biomechanics of human locomotion and its biomedical applications to artificial joints, sports injury, osteoarthritis, and neuromuscular disorders. He is the author of more than 200 original papers, more than 500 abstracts and numerous book chapters and is an active member of several national and international societies. He is a past member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Biomechanics and serves on the Board of Associate Editors for the Journal of Orthopedic Research. Among his honors, Dr. Andriacchi has received the Kappa Delta Award, the highest award of the Orthopedic Research Society and the Borelli Award, the highest award of the American Society of Biomechanics. He is Past President of the American Society of Biomechanics and past Secretary-Treasurer for the Orthopedic Research Society and a former member of its Board of Directors.

Academic Appointments

Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council, Mechanical Engineering
Member, Bio-X

Honors & Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award, Osteoarthritis Research Society International (2020)
Kappa Delta Elizabeth Winston Lanier Award, Orthopedic Research Society (2019)
The O’Donohue Sports Injury Research Award, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (2016)
Traveling Scholar Award, ACL Study Group (2014-2015)
Life-time Achievement Award, International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty (2013)
Contributions to Osteoarthritis Research, Arthritis Foundation (2012)
H.R. Lissner Medal, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2009)
Lifetime Achievement Award, San Francisco Bay Area Knee Society (2008)
Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2007)
Borelli Award, American Society of Biomechanics (2004)
Kappa Delta Award, Orthopedic Research Society (2004)
Mark Coventry Award, Knee Society (2002)
Excellence in Research Award, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (1984)
Kappa Delta Award, Orhopedic Research Society (1983)

Professional Education

Ph.D., Unversity of Illinois Chicago, Mechanical Engineering (1974)

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

The main focus of the research conducted in Professor Andriacchis Biomotion Laboratory is to apply the study of normal and pathological human movement to the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal disease and injury. The Laboratory provides unique information on the relationship between the in vivo pathomechanics of human movement and the mechanisms that influence the initiation and progression of musculoskeletal disease and injury. As such, the Laboratory intergrates information from collaborative studies that conduct animal and/or in vitro testing by providing the in vivo perspective on the problem. Specifically, the Laboratory has identified unique ambulatory conditions that are associated with the development of premature osteoarthritis following joint trauma. The Laboratory is using this information as an objective tool to evaluate the efficacy of specific treatments for modifying ambulatory patterns that lead to post-trauma osteoarthritis. Similarly, the association between obesity and premature osteoarthritis is being studied to evaluate the interactions between ambulatory changes , biological changes (from serum biomarkers) and structural changes to cartilage (from MRI) that converge to make obesity the main risk factor for developing osteoarthritis.

This work has had direct translational results producing an inexpensive load modifying intervention in the form of a shoe that has been shown to reduce knee pain in patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis. There is also a major program to develop prevention strategies for reducing the risk for anterior cruciate ligament injury, a common sports injury to the knee. Improved methods for assessing morphological cartilage changes from MR images have been developed and applied to establishing a relationship between mechanical loading during walking and cartilage thickness. Finally, the Laboratory has been a leader in the development of improved methods for the measurement and analysis of human movement. One such improvement is the creation and development of a markerless motion capture system giving the researchers the capacity to analyze human movement without placing markers on the subject.

Clinical Trials

The Design and Evaluation of an Active Intervention for the Prevention of Non-contact ACL Injury Not Recruiting
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The overall goal of this project is to reduce the risk for anterior cruciate ligament injuries by designing a targeted intervention that will alter the known kinematic and kinetic risk factors associated with ACL injuries.

Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial. For more information, please contact Ariel Dowling, PhD, 908-229-8208.

Lead Sponsor
- Stanford University
Stanford Investigators
- Thomas P. Andriacchi
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Obesity and the Initiation of Knee Osteoarthritis Not Recruiting
More
Healthy adults aged 20-60 of varying weights will participate in this minimally invasive study. There is one 4-hour appointment for which subjects are paid $120. The tests involve: 1 tube blood draw, 1 gait test (motion capture) and 1 MR of both knees.

Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial. For more information, please contact SPECTRUM, .
Lead Sponsor
Stanford Investigators
- Thomas P. Andriacchi
View full details
Gait Modifications and Cutaneous Stimulation Not Recruiting
More
The purpose of this study is to quantify differences in joint mechanics between different types of walking in healthy individuals and individuals with knee pathology. The investigators will determine how modifying gait through feedback and/or cutaneous stimulation changes joint loading.

Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial. For more information, please contact Jennifer Hledik, PhD, 650-723-5793.

Lead Sponsor
- Stanford University
Stanford Investigators
- Thomas P. Andriacchi
View full details

2022-23 Courses

Independent Studies
- Bioengineering Problems and Experimental Investigation
  BIOE 191 (Aut)
- Directed Investigation
  BIOE 392 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)

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Thomas P. Andriacchi

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emeritus

Lead Sponsor

Stanford Investigators

Stanford Investigators

Lead Sponsor

Stanford Investigators

2022-23 Courses