headshot of April Chambers

April Chambers

Associate Professor
ajchambers@pitt.edu
(412) 624-9898
(412) 383-8788
HMBL Website

overview

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Human Development with a secondary appointment in Bioengineering. Her research expertise is in the fields of human movement, biomechanics, and injury prevention. Dr. Chambers is a Principal Investigator at the Human Movement and Balance Laboratory. She is Affiliate Faculty of the Healthy Lifestyle Institute and the Human Engineering Research Laboratories in VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

The overall goal of her research is musculoskeletal injury prevention in healthy and diverse populations while improving health and human performance. Dr. Chambers collaborates with clinicians, physical or occupational therapists, radiologists, engineers, exercise scientists and physiologists, and behavioral scientists. She frequently partners with companies in her translational work and development of medical devices.

She has received support from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, National Institute of Health, Center for Medical Innovation, foundations, and industry partners. Dr. Chambers serves both nationally and locally with a focus on supporting diversity- and inclusion-related initiatives and programs that support underrepresented students in STEM.

about

PhD, Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2007 - 2011

MS, Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2003 - 2005

BS, Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 1999 - 2003

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2020). Torso kinematics during gait and trunk anthropometry in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. Gait Posture, 76, 204-209.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.11.012.

Merrill, Z., Chambers, A., & Cham, R. (2020). Development and validation of body fat prediction models in American adults. Obes Sci Pract, 6(2), 189-195.Wiley. doi: 10.1002/osp4.392.

Chambers, A.J., Haney, J.M., Huppert, T., & Redfern, M.S. (2019). The Effect of Prolonged Walking With Intermittent Standing on Erector Spinae and Soleus Muscle Oxygenation and Discomfort. J Sports Sci Med, 18(2), 337-343.

Chambers, A.J., Robertson, M.M., & Baker, N.A. (2019). The effect of sit-stand desks on office worker behavioral and health outcomes: A scoping review. Appl Ergon, 78, 37-53.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2019.01.015.

Merrill, Z., Perera, S., Chambers, A., & Cham, R. (2019). Age and body mass index associations with body segment parameters. J Biomech, 88, 38-47.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.03.016.

Redfern, M.S., Chambers, A.J., Sparto, P.J., Furman, J.M., & Jennings, J.R. (2019). Inhibition and decision-processing speed are associated with performance on dynamic posturography in older adults. Exp Brain Res, 237(1), 37-45.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/s00221-018-5394-0.

Rekant, J.S., Wiltman, S.A., & Chambers, A.J. (2019). A Novel Method of Analysis for Prolonged-Standing Data: Accounting for Joint and Muscle Discomfort. IISE Trans Occup Ergon Hum Factors, 7(2), 142-152.Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1080/24725838.2019.1640810.

Merrill, Z., Bova, G., Chambers, A., & Cham, R. (2018). Effect of Trunk Segment Boundary Definitions on Frontal Plane Segment Inertial Calculations. J Appl Biomech, 34(3), 232-235.Human Kinetics. doi: 10.1123/jab.2016-0319.

Redfern, M.S., Chambers, A.J., Sparto, P.J., Furman, J.M., & Jennings, J.R. (2018). Perceptual Inhibition Associated with Sensory Integration for Balance in Older Adults. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 46(5-6), 266-274.Karger Publishers. doi: 10.1159/000493748.

Merrill, Z., Chambers, A.J., & Cham, R. (2017). Arm reactions in response to an unexpected slip-Impact of aging. J Biomech, 58, 21-26.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.04.011.

Redfern, M.S., Chambers, A.J., Jennings, J.R., & Furman, J.M. (2017). Sensory and motoric influences on attention dynamics during standing balance recovery in young and older adults. Exp Brain Res, 235(8), 2523-2531.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/s00221-017-4985-5.

O'Connell, C., Chambers, A., Mahboobin, A., & Cham, R. (2016). Effects of slip severity on muscle activation of the trailing leg during an unexpected slip. J Electromyogr Kinesiol, 28, 61-66.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2016.02.007.

Smith, L.J., Trout, J.M., Sridharan, S.S., Guyer, J.R., Owens, G.E., Chambers, A.J., & Rosen, C.A. (2015). Comparison of microsuspension laryngoscopy positions: a randomized, prospective study. Laryngoscope, 125(3), 649-654.Wiley. doi: 10.1002/lary.24932.

Beschorner, K.E., Albert, D.L., Chambers, A.J., & Redfern, M.S. (2014). Fluid pressures at the shoe-floor-contaminant interface during slips: effects of tread and implications on slip severity. J Biomech, 47(2), 458-463.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.10.046.

Chambers, A.J., Parise, E., McCrory, J.L., & Cham, R. (2014). A comparison of prediction equations for the estimation of body fat percentage in non-obese and obese older Caucasian adults in the United States. J Nutr Health Aging, 18(6), 586-590.Elsevier. doi: 10.1007/s12603-014-0017-3.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2014). The pregnant "waddle": an evaluation of torso kinematics in pregnancy. J Biomech, 47(12), 2964-2968.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2014.07.009.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2014). Ground reaction forces during stair locomotion in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. Clin Biomech (Bristol), 29(2), 143-148. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2013.11.020.

Sukits, A.L., Nebes, R.D., Chambers, A.J., Ledgerwood, A., Halligan, E.M., Perera, S., & Cham, R. (2014). Intra-individual variability in gait and in cognitive performance are not related in the elderly. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn, 21(3), 283-295.Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2013.802760.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2013). Ground reaction forces during stair locomotion in pregnancy. Gait Posture, 38(4), 684-690.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.03.002.

Alseraye, F.M., Zuo, Z., Bueso-Ramos, C., Wang, S., Medeiros, L.J., & Lu, G. (2011). Trisomy 11 as an isolated abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia is associated with unfavorable prognosis but not with an NPM1 or KIT mutation. Int J Clin Exp Pathol, 4(4), 371-377.

Chambers, A.J., Sukits, A.L., McCrory, J.L., & Cham, R. (2011). Differences in geriatric anthropometric data between DXA-based subject-specific estimates and non-age-specific traditional regression models. J Appl Biomech, 27(3), 197-206.Human Kinetics. doi: 10.1123/jab.27.3.197.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2011). The effect of pregnancy on ground reaction forces during stair locomotion. The effect of pregnancy on ground reaction forces during stair locomotion, 43(5), S110.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2011). Ground reaction forces during gait in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. Gait Posture, 34(4), 524-528.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.07.007.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2011). Ground reaction forces during gait in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. GAIT & POSTURE, 34(4), 524-528. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.07.007.

Chambers, A.J., Sukits, A.L., McCrory, J.L., & Cham, R. (2010). The effect of obesity and gender on body segment parameters in older adults. Clin Biomech (Bristol), 25(2), 131-136.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2009.10.015.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2010). Dynamic postural stability during advancing pregnancy. J Biomech, 43(12), 2434-2439.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.09.058.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2010). Dynamic postural stability in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. BJOG, 117(8), 954-962.Wiley. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02589.x.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2010). The effect of pregnancy on ground reaction forces during gait. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 42(S193).

Wyszomierski, S.A., Chambers, A.J., & Cham, R. (2009). Knee strength capabilities and slip severity. J Appl Biomech, 25(2), 140-148.Human Kinetics. doi: 10.1123/jab.25.2.140.

Chambers, A.J., & Cham, R. (2007). Slip-related muscle activation patterns in the stance leg during walking. Gait Posture, 25(4), 565-572.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2006.06.007.

Moyer, B.E., Chambers, A.J., Redfern, M.S., & Cham, R. (2006). Gait parameters as predictors of slip severity in younger and older adults. Ergonomics, 49(4), 329-343.Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1080/00140130500478553.

Chambers, A.J., Margerum, S., Redfern, M.S., & Cham, R. (2002). Kinematics of the foot during slips. Occupational Ergonomics, 3(4), 225-234.

Merrill, Z., Chambers, A., & Cham, R. (2017). Impact of Age and Body Mass Index on Anthropometry in Working Adults. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 61(1), (pp. 1341-1345).SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/1541931213601818.

Wiltman, S., & Chambers, A. (2017). Weight Shifting Strategies and Discomfort during Prolonged Standing. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 61(1), (pp. 1360-1364).SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/1541931213601823.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2014). Ground reaction forces during stair locomotion in pregnant fallers and non-fallers. In CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS, 29(2), (pp. 143-148).Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2013.11.020.

Runhaar, J., Trout, J.M., Chambers, A.J., Bierma-Zeinstra, S.M., & Tashman, S. (2014). OARSI SCHOLARSHIP: KNEE KINEMATICS DURING GAIT IN OBESE AND NORMAL-WEIGHT WOMEN USING HIGH-SPEED BIPLANE RADIOGRAPHY. In OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE, 22, (p. S118).Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2014.02.216.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2013). Within-subject Variability Of Step Width And Trunk Kinematics During Gait In Pregnant Fallers And Non-fallers. In MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE, 45(5), (p. 309).

Maikala, R.V., Mehta, R.K., Ferguson, S.A., Parasuraman, R., Redfern, M.S., & Chambers, A.J. (2012). Application of Near-infrared Spectroscopy in Ergonomics and Human Factors: A Discussion Panel. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 56(1), (pp. 1155-1157).SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/1071181312561251.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2012). The Effect of Pregnancy on Torso Kinematics during Gait. In MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE, 44, (p. 776).

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2011). The Effect of Pregnancy on Ground Reaction Forces during Stair Locomotion. In MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE, 43(5), (p. 158).Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000400414.79359.72.

Sukits, A.L., Chambers, A.J., Perera, S., & Cham, R. (2011). Developing Population-Specific Predictive Regression Equations for Body Segment Parameters. In ASME 2011 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B, (PARTS A AND B), (pp. 973-974).ASME International. doi: 10.1115/sbc2011-53597.

McCrory, J.L., Chambers, A.J., Daftary, A., & Redfern, M.S. (2010). The Effect of Pregnancy on Ground Reaction Forces during Gait. In MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE, 42(5), (p. 273).Wolters Kluwer. doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000384361.60048.41.

Pham, T. (2000). Research review. University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering Visiting Committee.Canada.