Monica R Maly

Monica R Maly is a Professor at the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Department of Kinesiology. She leads the Mobilize Clinical Biomechanics Lab, focusing on musculoskeletal health, particularly knee osteoarthritis and rehabilitation strategies. Her research integrates biomechanical analyses, imaging techniques, and clinical outcomes to improve patient care.

Key research areas include the biomechanical and physiological factors influencing osteoarthritis progression, the role of exercise interventions, and the development of soft robotic devices for joint unloading. Recent work emphasizes pain management in marginalized groups, systemic inflammation interactions, and imaging validation for soft tissue composition.

Publications highlight trends in resistance exercise efficacy, sex-based differences in muscle strength, and the predictive power of biomarkers for cartilage change. Her systematic reviews address optimal exercise parameters for osteoarthritis and the non-linearity of intervention effects. Ongoing projects include clinical trials of yoga-based strengthening programs and biomechanical modeling for joint loading analysis.

• Lab Affiliation: Mobilize Clinical Biomechanics Lab
• Funding: Focuses on NIH-funded projects related to osteoarthritis biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering