Prof. Dr. Heiner Baur is a Professor and Head of Physiotherapy Education and Research at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Professions. He leads the Neuromuscular Control research group and utilizes the infrastructure of the Bern Movement Lab, the Bern Mobility Centre, and the Bern Pain & Stress Lab for his research activities. His work focuses on understanding how internal factors such as age or gender, and external factors like orthoses, training parameters, or pathologies influence human movement patterns. Professor Baur's primary research interests center on neuromuscular control and sensorimotor performance in rehabilitation contexts. His work particularly emphasizes knee injuries, especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. He investigates how appropriate rehabilitation strategies and preventive measures can optimize injury treatment, recognizing that robust neuromuscular control ensures active stabilization and protection of joints beyond mere mechanical stability. His research combines biomechanical perspectives with the organization and adjustment of the neuromuscular system to develop more effective rehabilitation approaches. Analysis of Professor Baur's recent publications reveals a strong focus on ACL injury rehabilitation, neuromuscular control deficits, and sensorimotor performance. His research consistently examines how neuromuscular control is affected by injuries and how targeted training interventions can restore optimal function. There's a particular emphasis on understanding sex differences in neuromuscular responses, developing valid diagnostic frameworks for assessing readiness to return to sports, and creating assessment tools to evaluate movement quality during rehabilitation. His work bridges the gap between pure biomechanics and the practical application of neuromuscular diagnostics in clinical settings. Principal Investigator for SNSF-funded "Sustainable Knee Health" project (2024-2027) Principal Investigator for "Innovative training therapy in an SCI-patient" (2024-2025) Previous SNSF project "ACL valid diagnostics" (2018-2021) Collaborations with Swiss Paraplegic Centre, University Hospital Bern, and international institutions Professor Baur actively supervises doctoral candidates and master's students, with current opportunities available for master's theses as noted on his profile. He serves as principal investigator for several significant research projects funded by organizations including the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Professor Baur's research team operates within the Neuromuscular Control unit at the School of Health Professions. The team includes co-leaders, postdocs, scientific staff, and doctoral candidates who collaborate on various aspects of neuromuscular research. They maintain strong national and international partnerships with institutions including universities in Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland, as well as clinical partners like Inselspital (University Hospital Bern) and Ortho-Team AG.
