Exercise Physiology
A headshot photo of Jean L. McCrory.

Jean L. McCroryPhD

Professor

Contact Information

Phone
304-293-0442
Address
PO Box 9227
64 Medical Center Drive
Morgantown, WV 26506
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Affiliations

  • Department of Human Performance - Division of Exercise Physiology

Graduate Training

  • The Pennsylvania State University, PhD, 1997

Research Interests

My research specialization is gait and balance biomechanics. Lately, my research has centered on issues unique to women’s health. Current research areas include: 

  • The effect of pelvic floor dysfunction on postural stability in women. We are currently examining how postural control is affected in women with stress, urge, or mixed incontinence as well as the effect of treatment (physical therapy, pharmacological, or surgery) on postural stability. 
  • The effect of pregnancy on gait and balance biomechanics. We are currently investigating if women with a history of falling during pregnancy display altered gait and balance biomechanics than women who have not fallen during pregnancy.
  • The effect of taxane-based chemotherapy on motor and sensory function in women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Women undergoing taxane-based chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer commonly complain of a lack of sensation in their hands following treatment. However, it is not known how this form of chemotherapy affects motor function (e.g. gait and balance biomechanics) or sensory function (hot/cold, sharp/dull, and vibration detection). 

Grants and Research

Current Grants and Contracts

  • National Institutes of Health (R03 HD099426-01A1), 4/1/20 - 3/31/22 ($76,000)
    • Yakovenko S (PI) and McCrory JL (Co-Investigator)
    • Robust Biomimetic Models of Human Legs to Solve High-Dimensional Real-Time Control Problems

Completed Grants and Contracts

PI unless otherwise stated

  • West Virginia University - Marshall University Health Grants Partnership, 1/18 - 12/18
    • Yakovenko S (PI), McCrory JL (Co-Investigator), Lindsey B, Mancinelli C, and Zill S
    • Mechanisms of Neural Control on the Musculoskeletal Systems of Humans
  • West Virginia University - Marshall University Health Grants Partnership, 1/16 - 12/16 ($49,996)
    • McCrory JL (Co-PI) and Shuler, F
    • Assessing the Effectiveness of Vitamin K2 and/or Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Neuromuscular Function, Muscular Strength, and Bone Density in Older Patients with Hip Fractures
  • WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Science, 11/16 - 10/17 ($5,000)
    • Sandrey M (PI), Chang YG, and McCrory JL (Co-Investigator)
    • Evaluation of the Effect of Gastrocnemius Muscle Fatigue on Muscle Pre-activation, Activation and Tibial Deceleration during Load Bearing Activities
  • West Virginia University Injury Control and Research Center, 4/13 - 7/15 ($49,391)
    • McCrory JL and Thomas K
    • An Analysis of Postural Instability in Women with Urinary Incontinence
  • West Virginia University School of Medicine, 1/10 - 12/11 ($20,000)
    • Hornsby WG, Alway S (PI), McCrory JL (Co-Investigator), et al.
    • Does Exercise Reduce Rheumatoid Cachexia and System Inflammation?
  • University of Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, 5/07 - 4/09 ($28,603)
    • Cham R (PI), McCrory JL (Co-Investigator), and Storti KL
    • The Anthropometrics of Aging
  • NIOSH (1 K01 OH8548), 9/05 - 12/08 ($324,000)
    • McCrory JL, Redfern MS, Cavanagh PR, Mazumdar S, Schwerha J, Daftary A
    • Biomechanical Stability of Pregnant Women
  • University of Pittsburgh College of Education, 1/06 - 12/08 ($3,000)
    • McCrory JL (Co-PI) and Salacinski AJ
    • The Effect of Serum Vitamin D Concentration on Neuromuscular Function in Patients with Crohn’s Disease
  • Collaborative Medical Research Fund at the University of Pittsburgh, 7/03 - 6/05 ($25,000)
    • McCrory JL, Berga SM, Abt J, Helsel DL, Lephart SM, Loucks T, Myers, JB
    • Variations in Neuromuscular Characteristics and Movement Patterns Throughout the Menstrual Cycle
  • United States Tennis Association, 8/02 - 7/04 ($15,000)
    • Shapiro R, McCrory JL (Co-Investigator), and Uhl TL (PI)
    • A Biomechanical Comparison of an Abbreviated Backswing Serve and the Traditional Complete Backswing Serve in Tennis
  • American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, 1/03 - 12/03 ($13,500)
    • Uhl TL (PI) and McCrory JL (Co-Investigator)
    • Evaluation of Scapular Dyskinesis
  • Joyner SportsMedicine, Inc., 1/98 - 12/01 ($18,000)
    • McCrory JL, McClay I, Ballantyne B, and Ireland ML
    • A Biomechanical and Radiological Analysis of the Effectiveness of the Protonics™ System
  • University of Kentucky, 8/00 - 7/02 ($15,000)
    • McCrory JL, Clasey JL, and Randsdell L
    • Etiological Factors Associated with Osteoporosis and Primary Osteoarthritis
  • University of Kentucky, 7/99 - 8/99 ($5,000)
    • McCrory JL
    • New Faculty Summer Research Fellowship
  • Medical School of the University of Kentucky, 1/99 - 12/01 ($15,000)
    • Hartford JM (PI), McCrory JL (Co-Investigator), and Shapiro R
    • Kinematic and Kinetic Gait Analyses of Meniscal Bearing Total Knee Replacements
  • NIH ($843,422)
    • Abbas J (PI), McCrory JL (Co-Investigator), Gater DR, McDowell S, Triolo RJ, and Kirsch RF
    • Preparatory Adjustments for Improved Standing for FNS

Publications

Recent Publications in Refereed Journals

  1. McCrory JL, Chambers AJ, Daftary A, and Redfern MS. Torso kinematics during gait and trunk anthropometry in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. Gait Posture. 2020 Feb;76:204-209. PMID: 31864172
  2. Sandrey M, Chang YJ, and McCrory JL. The effect of fatigue on leg muscle activation and tibial acceleration during a jumping task. J Sport Rehabil. 2020 Nov 1;29(8):1093-1099. PMID: 31810058
  3. Sloanhoffer HL, Harrison KD, and McCrory JL. Dynamic stability in gymnasts, non-balance athletes, and active controls. Int J Exerc Sci. 2018;11(1):1-12.
  4. Dodd C, Paz K, Piazza M, Potesta J, Weiser K, Mancinelli C, McCrory JL, and Davis DS. The effects of myofascial release technique on the latency of delayed-onset muscle soreness. Journal of Student Physical Therapy Research. 2017;9(1):1-15.
  5. Alway SE, McCrory JL, Kearcher K, Vickers A, Frear B, Gilleland DL, Bonner DE, Thomas JM, Donley DA, Lively MW, and Mohamed JS. Resveratrol enhances exercise-induced cellular and functional adaptations of skeletal muscle in older men and women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2017 Nov 9;72(12):1595-1606. PMID: 28505227
  6. Harrison KD and McCrory JL. Caliper method vs. digital photogrammetry for assessing arch height index in pregnant women. J Am Podiatry Med Assoc. 2016 Nov;106(6):406-410. PMID: 28033044
  7. Harrison KD, Mancinelli C, Thomas K, Meszaros P, and McCrory JL. The relationship between lower extremity alignment and low back, hip, and foot pain during pregnancy: A longitudinal study of primigravid women versus nulliparous controls. Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy. 2016 September/December;40(3):139-146.
  8. Roy S, and McCrory JL. Validation of maximal heart rate prediction equations based on age. Int J Exerc Sci. 2015;8(4):318-330.
  9. McCrory JL, Chambers AJ, Daftary A, and Redfern MS. The pregnant “waddle":  An evaluation of torso kinematics in pregnancy. J Biomech. 2014 Sep 22;47(12):2964-8. PMID: 25108664
  10. McCrory JL, Chambers AJ, Daftary A, and Redfern MS. Ground reaction forces during stair locomotion in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. Clin Biomech. 2014 Feb;29(2):143-8. PMID: 24359627

Published Abstracts

  1. Leary BK, Bradford I, Kirkwood P, Eddy J, Essenmacher P, and McCrory JL. Arch stiffness does not determine running economy in recreational runners. International Journal of Exercise Science, Conference Proceedings. 2022;9(11). https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6654&context=ijesab
  2. Davis L, Cline L, Casto E, and McCrory J. A comparison of self-reported pain levels in minimally-shod vs traditionally shod runners with different arch characteristics. International Journal of Exercise Science, Conference Proceedings. 2019;9(7):Article 18. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol9/iss7/18
  3. McCrory JL, Cline LK, Casto EM, and Galbreath KM. A comparison of self-reported pain levels in minimally-shod vs traditionally-shod runners with different forefoot types. (Abstract 2539). Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2018;50(5S):630.
  4. Cline L, Casto E, Galbreath K, and McCrory J. A comparison of self-reported pain levels in minimally-shod vs traditionally-shod runners with different forefoot types. International Journal of Exercise Science, Conference Proceedings. 2018;9(6):Article 22. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol9/iss6/22
  5. Chahal IK, Meyer MF, Casto EM, and McCrory JL. The influence of proximal versus distal strength on balance control in athletes versus non-athletes. (Abstract 2439) Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2017;49(5S):683-4. DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000518807.19356.df
  6. Chahal IK, Meyer MF, Casto EM, and McCrory JL. The influence of proximal versus distal strength on balance control in athletes versus non-athletes. International Journal of Exercise Science, Conference Proceedings. 2017;9(5):Article 20, 2017. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol9/iss5/20

Professional Presentations

  1. Harper M, Bryington M, and McCrory JL. Effect of edentulism on lower extremity function in a vertical jump. Proceedings of the 2021 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine. Online venue. June 1-5, 2021.
  2. Sandrey M, Hanson B, and McCrory, JL. Use of four predictive screening variables for use in determination of sacroiliac joint dysfunction in adolescent athletes. Proceedings of the 2021 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine. Online venue. June 1-5, 2021.
  3. McCrory JL, Davis LE, Cline LK, and Casto EM. Effect of arch characteristics on pain in minimally shod and traditionally shod runners. Proceedings of the 2019 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine. Orlando, FL, May 28-June 1, 2019.
  4. Phillips K, Mancinelli C, Shaprio R, Duenas Garcia O, and McCrory JL. Assessing static and dynamic postural stability in women with stress urinary incontinence. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American UroGynecologic Society. Chicago, IL October 9-13, 2018.
  5. Leary BK and McCrory JL. Differences in functional mobility & muscular strength in overweight/obese & normal weight adults. The Obesity Society's 2018 Annual Meeting. Nashville, TN, Nov 11-15, 2018.
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