John Mercer

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Professor, Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences

Co-director, ��ӽ紫ý Sports Innovation

Expertise: Biomechanics (physics of sports), Kinesiology (study of human movement), Running

Biography

John Mercer is a professor of kinesiology, which is the study of how the human body moves. A triathlete of more than 25 years, he is an expert in biomechanics (the physics of sports) and running.

A prolific researcher, Mercer recently directed kinesiology-focused studies on rehabilitation techniques like running in the water and running with body weight support, how shoe design is important to consider for children runners, and if rocker-bottom styled shoes increase muscle development in the lower legs.

His work has been published in dozens of industry publications including the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, the Journal of Applied Biomechanics, the European Journal of Applied Physiology, and Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Mercer is a co-director of ��ӽ紫ý Sports Innovation, a university-wide sports research hub. He is also chair of ��ӽ紫ý’s Biomedical Institutional Review Board, which approves, monitors, and reviews biomedical and social/behavioral research involving human subjects in order to protect their rights and welfare.

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health & medicine, sports and recreation

John Mercer In The News

Health

You don't have to strength train until your muscles feel totally zapped to build muscle—just challenging them for an hour each week may do the trick, according to research published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

AARP

From your first trail to longer adventures, these 32 tips can help older adults at every experience level hike smarter, safer and more comfortably.

Health

You may only need to lift weights for an hour each week to build muscle, a new study suggests.

SELF

Maybe you’re a runner who strength trains to stay injury-free, a lifter who dabbles in sprinting for power, or someone who’s aiming to incorporate both cardio and resistance into your general routine—a.k.a. the original “hybrid athlete.”