معرفی
Hiroto Shiotani is a non-tenure-track Assistant Professor at Waseda University’s Faculty of Sport Sciences and an Adjunct Researcher at Aichi Medical University. Trained entirely at Waseda (BSc 2016 – PhD 2021), he applies advanced imaging and motion-capture techniques to unravel in-vivo mechanics of muscle-tendon units, the foot arch and the Achilles–plantar-fascia linkage.
Education:
- PhD Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2021
- MSc Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2018
- BSc Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2016
Research interests: His core interests span biomechanics, biodynamics, exercise physiology, sports science, ultrasonography, MRI, motion analysis, foot-and-ankle mechanics, skeletal muscle-tendon units and fascia. He combines diffusion-tensor MRI, shear-wave elastography and 3-D motion analysis to quantify how fascicles rotate and gear during passive lengthening, how Achilles tendon and plantar fascia mechanically interact, and how running induces site-specific adaptation or injury.
Publication trends: Across 45 peer-reviewed works (h-index 7, 119 Scopus citations) his papers consistently integrate medical imaging with mechanical testing to clarify how human lower-limb tissues adapt to growth, sex, fatigue, footwear and repetitive loading. Recent articles highlight (i) 3-D fascicle gearing in gastrocnemius, (ii) bilateral asymmetry of plantar fascia in runners, (iii) acute mechanical decline of plantar fascia after long-distance running, and (iv) age-dependent neuromuscular strategies in children’s gait.
Scientific awards:
- ISEK 2024 Family Grant
- Top Cited & Top Downloaded Article 2024 – Journal of Anatomy
- JSB Best Podium Presentation 2023
- MSSE Featured Article 2023
- Japanese Society of Biomechanics New Investigator Award 2022 (individual) and 2020 (shared)
- ISBS New Investigator Poster Award 3rd Place 2022
- Hamano Yoshio Commemorative Award 2020 – Waseda University
- Several early-career awards from JSBiomechanics and JSTSS (2017-2019)
Grants & advising: He currently leads a JSPS Early-Career grant (2023-26) on Achilles–plantar-fascia imbalance and running injuries, a Waseda special-project grant (2024-25) for cohort methodology development, and has completed five other university/JSPS grants since 2019. While specific student names are not listed, he supervises graduate seminars and master’s research at Waseda and has taught exercise physiology at Shibaura Institute of Technology.
Professional service: Dr. Shiotani serves as proceedings reviewer for the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (2023-25) and abstract reviewer for ISB congresses (2021-25). He is a member of seven international societies including ISB, ISBS, ISEK and ECSS.
