David J. Nuckley, PhD

University of Minnesota
Program in Physical Therapy
366 C Children’s Rehab Center
612-624-2364
dnuckley@umn.edu

Position:
Assistant Professor

Education:
PhD in Bioengineering
The University of Washington, Seattle, WA March 2002

B.S. in Bioengineering
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY June 1995

Teaching Responsibilities:
Biomechanics, Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Research Problems

Research Interests:
The central theme of my research involves the discovery of human musculoskeletal biomechanical responses for the enhancement of the human condition.  Improving injury prevention, diagnosis, and management as well as human performance and quality of life are possible though advanced understanding of human biomechanics.  Specifically, my work examines spinal mechanics from pediatric neck injury care to therapeutic strategies for low back pain resolution.  These discoveries are possible through human subject, isolated tissue, and cellular and molecular level probing experiments coupled with new instrumentation development.

Selected Publications:

Nuckley DJ and Ching RP. Developmental biomechanics of the cervical spine: Tension and compression. (2006) Journal of Biomechanics 39:3045-54.

Nuckley DJ, Kramer PA, Del Rosario A, Fabro N, and Ching RP. Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in a Naturally Occurring Primate Model: Radiographic and Biomechanical Evidence. (2007) Journal of Orthopaedic Research Accepted (8/20/2007).

Nuckley DJ, Eck M, Carter J, and Ching R. Spinal Maturation Affects Vertebral Compressive Mechanics and vBMD with Sex Dependence. (2004) Bone 35:720-8.

Nuckley DJ, Van Nausdle J, and Ching R. Neural Space and Biomechanical Integrity of the Developing Cervical Spine in Compression. (2007) Spine 32(6): E181-7.

Linders DR and Nuckley DJ. Deduction of Spinal Loading from Vertebral Body Surface Strain Measurements. (2006) Experimental Mechanics 47(3): 303-10.

Elias P, Nuckley DJ, and Ching RP. Effect of Loading Rate on the Compressive Mechanics of the Immature Baboon Cervical Spine. (2006) Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 128 (1):18-23.

Dahl M, Rouleau J, Papadopoulos S, Nuckley DJ, and Ching R. Dynamic Characteristics of the Intact, Fused, and Prosthetic-Replaced Cervical Disc. (2006) Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 128(6): 809-814.

Nuckley DJ, Hertsted S, Eck M, and Ching R. Effect of Displacement Rate on the Tensile Mechanics of Pediatric Cervical Functional Spinal Units. (2005) Journal of Biomechanics 38 (11):2266-75.

Nuckley DJ, Konodi MA, Raynak GC, Ching RP, Chapman JR, and Mirza SK. Neural Space Integrity of the Lower Cervical Spine: Effect of Anterior Lesions. (2004) Spine 29 (6):642-9.

Nuckley DJ, Van Nausdle J, Raynak G, Eck M, Harrington R, and Ching R. Examining the Relationship Between Whiplash Kinematics and a Direct Neurologic Injury Mechanism. (2003) International Journal of Vehicle Design 32 (1 / 2):68-83.

Nuckley DJ, Hertsted S, Ku G, Eck M, and Ching R. Compressive Tolerance of the Maturing Cervical Spine. (2002) Stapp Car Crash Journal 46:431-40.

Nuckley DJ, Konodi M, Raynak G, Ching R, and Mirza S. Neural Space Integrity of the Lower Cervical Spine: Effect of Normal Range of Motion. (2002) Spine 27 (6):587-95.

Carter JW, Ku GS, Nuckley DJ, and Ching R. Tolerance of the Cervical Spine to Eccentric Axial Compression. (2002) Stapp Car Crash Journal 46:441-59.

Ching R, Nuckley DJ, Hertsted S, Eck M, Mann F, and Sun E. Tensile Mechanics of the Developing Cervical Spine. (2001) Stapp Car Crash Journal 45:329-36.

Raynak GC, Nuckley DJ, Tencer AF, and Ching RP. Transducers for Dynamic Measurement of Spine Neural-Space Occlusions. (1998) Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 120:787-91.

Nuckley DJ, Jinks RN, Battelle B-A, Herzog ED, Kass L, Renninger GH, and Chamberlain SC. Retinal Anatomy of a New Species of Bresiliid Shrimp From a Hydrothermal Vent Field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. (1996) Biological Bulletin 190:98-110.

Current Funded Research:

NIH R01 National Center of Child Health and Human Development
“The Role of Neck Muscle Mechanics in Pediatric Head and Neck Injury”
Collaborators:  Ludewig, P

Medical Devices Center of the Institute for Engineering in Medicine
“Measuring Intra-Operative Force Application in Spinal Surgery for Development of Haptic Feedback Instruments”
Collaborators:  Polly, D, Erdman, A, and Durfee, W

Memberships & Scientific Activities:
American Society of Biomechanics
American Society for Mechanical Engineers
Society for Experimental Mechanics
Sigma Xi
Biomedical Engineering Society