Dr. Sai Vikas Yalla is an Assistant Professor at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine where he lectures in the Department of Podiatric Surgery and Applied Biomechanics. He graduated with a doctoral degree from the University of Louisville with two “Best Industrial Engineering Graduate” awards for Masters in 2006 and for PhD in 2009.

Dr. Yalla has more than 15 years of experience in the field of biomechanics performing cadaveric and prosthetic material testing, finite element modelling, human movement evaluation, and identifying physical activity patterns, and human injury/risk thresholds. Dr. Yalla has focused his expertise in investigating diabetic complications of the lower extremities, fall prevention, and improving patient lifestyles through postural stability training.

Dr. Yalla’s vision is to use innovative technology to develop new avenues for understanding biomechanics of human movement towards improving quality of life in diabetic, traumatic brain injury and dementia patient populations along with reducing their caregiver’s burden.

Research

Applied biomechanics: With use of innovative validated body worn sensors, we are able to quantify and analyze human gait, balance, muscle activity, patient compliance, and monitor activity in terms of sitting, standing, walking and lying. Since joining CLEAR, his research has been focused on improving body worn sensor technology for visual feedback, gait retraining, evaluating compliance and intervention effectiveness, gamification adjunct to physical therapy, and connecting lower extremity issues to low back pain.

Teaching

Courses

• Biostatistics
• Course coordinator for Sports medicine research projects

Gait lab workshops involving:

• Objective gait evaluation
• Postural control evaluation

Course Lectures:

• Biostatistics
• Statistical concepts for designing a clinical research study
• Statistical Concepts for Predictive Modeling, Survival analysis