
Associate Professor Dominic Thewlis
Associate Professor
Adelaide Medical School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
I work in the field of biomechanics (the application of mechanics to understand biological phenomena), specifically orthopaedic (our bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments) biomechanics. I am a NHMRC R.D Wright Fellow (2017-2021). I am recognised as an emerging leader in the field with awards from the International Society of Biomechanics (footwear biomechanics group), International Foot and Ankle Biomechanics community, Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society, and the ORS (USA). I am the immediate Past-President of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society, and editorial board member for the Journal of Biomechanics and Gait and Posture.
I have made significant contributions in to our understanding of how mechanical loading can influence the out come of complex orthopaedic surgeries (e.g. fracture repair, knee replacement and hip replacement) using a novel combination of experimental and computational methods to model the human musculoskeletal system.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
Research experience and track record
My primary research focus is the biomechanics of orthopaedic disease and injury. This includes articular fracture management, which is known to be associated with osteoarthritis onset, and joint arthroplasty – the end point for most people with degenerative joint disease. I use an exciting combination of biomechanical modelling methods, medial imaging, wearable sensors and patient reported outcome measures to explore these conditions. I have a secondary interest in movement disorders and the neurological control of movement.
I have the following projects available for new students in 2022-2023.
Title | Description | Level | Start | Special Reqs. |
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Multi-modal, multi-scale model of end-stage hip osteoarthritis | We have established a internationally unique set of data on end-stage hip osteoarthritis which includes ex vivo and in vivo MRI and CT and MicroCT, locomotor biomechanics (gait lab), bone biopsies for gene expression studies, and clinical measures. Our goal is to better understand the interaction between mechanics, shape and structure and biology to shed new light on the disease process. The long term goal of this work is to translate these techniques in to early-stage osteoarthritis. | HDR and Honours | Semester 1 and 2 | None |
Functional outcomes for orthopaedic surgery using a state of the art instrumented gait analysis system | We have established the only gait analysis facility located in an outpatient department in Australia. The facility includes a state of the art instrumented treadmill and inertial measurement units. Projects will establish new cohorts and follow them longitudinally. This is an exciting opportunity to be at the cutting edge of functional analysis for musculoskeletal conditions. | Honours and HDR | Semester 1 and 2 | None |
Pilot RCT for weight bearing after tibial plateau fracture | We have established strong data to show that immediate weight bearing as tolerated by pain after surgical repair of tibial plateau fracture is safe. We are now looking to establish if there is evidence for better patient reported and clinical outcomes through a pilot RCT. We will use outcomes measures such as gait analysis and radiostereometric analysis. | HDR | Semester 1 and 2 | None |
Optimal control for simulating the outcome of orthopaedic surgery | The goal of this work is to predict the functional (biomechanical) outcome of surgery where the goal is to change geometry, e.g. moving the hip joint centre medially in hip replacement. We will use model predictive control for these simulations and validate against a large dataset of already captured outcomes with known changes in geometry. | HDR | Semester 1 and 2 | None |
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2017 - ongoing Associate Professor University of Adelaide 2013 - 2017 Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics University of South Australia 2012 - 2016 Affiliate Lecturer University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2009 - 2012 Lecturer (Level B) in Biomechanics University of South Australia 2008 - 2011 Honorary Fellow Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh Hospital Trust -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2017 Fellowship R.D Wright Career Development Fellowship - - - 2015 Award Benno Nigg Award for Applied Research International Society of Biomechanics (footwear group) - - 2014 Award Excellence in reviewing for the Journal of Biomechanics - - - 2013 Award Young Tall Poppy Australian Institute of Policy and Science Australia - 2012 Award Best Poster Prize - - - 2011 Award Early Career Researcher International Travel Award University of South Australia - - 2011 Award Supported Teacher Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching University of South Australia - - 2009 Award Supported Researcher Award University of South Australia - - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2009 University of Central Lancashire UK PhD 2003 University of Central Lancashire, Preston United Kingdom BSc (Hons) -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2021 Bennett, K., Rapagna, S., Wearne, L., Martelli, S., Atkins, G., Solomon, B., . . . Thewlis, D. (2021). Preliminary Micro-CT Imaging of the Human Tibial Plateau Under Load. In XXVIII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB). Stockholm, Sweden. 2019 Grace, T. M., O'Rourke, D., Atkins, G., Taylor, M., Solomon, B., & Thewlis, D. (2019). The Development and Reliability of a Semi-Automated Method to Split the Acetabulum into Clinically Relevant Regions of Interest. In ANZORS 25th Annual Scientific Meeting. Canberra. 2019 Grace, T., Atkins, G., Taylor, M., Solomon, B., & Thewlis, D. (2019). The Feasibility of a Workflow for Investigating Peri-Prosthetic Osteolysis. In AOA SA/NT Branch Scientific Meeting. Adelaide. 2012 Al-Dirini, R., Reed, M., Paul, G., & Thewlis, D. (2012). A subject-specific model of human. In Advances in Applied Mechanics Research, Conference Proceedings - 7th Australasian Congress on Applied Mechanics, ACAM 2012 (pp. 191-200). Adelaide, South Australia. 2012 Al-Dirini, R., Thewlis, D., & Paul, G. (2012). A comprehensive literature review of the pelvis and the lower extremity FE human models under quasi-static conditions. In Proceedings for the 18th Triennial International Ergonomics Association’s (IEA) Congress, as published in Work Vol. 41 (pp. 4218-4229). Recife, Brazil: IOS Press.
Scopus7 WoS7 Europe PMC52007 Dey, P., Thewlis, D., McCullough, K., Goodacre, L., & Richards, J. (2007). Quality of movement in obesity. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY Vol. 31 (pp. S211). Budapest, HUNGARY: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. -
Conference Items
Year Citation 2023 Thewlis, D., Collins, S., Huston, M., Millar, S., & Rickman, M. (2023). Functional improvements in knee kinematics over six months following treatment with XT-150: pooled results from two clinical trials. Poster session presented at the meeting of Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress. 2022 Millar, S., O'Rielly, J., McConnochie, G., Blencowe, M., Turner, L., Wiederman, S., . . . Thewlis, D. (2022). Moving from the lab to the field: accuracy and reliability of wearable sensors in the estimation of lower limb joint kinematics. Poster session presented at the meeting of Defence Human Sciences Symposium. 2022 O'Rielly, J., Millar, S., Blencowe, M., Turner, L., Wiederman, S., Palmer, E., . . . Ma-Wyatt, A. (2022). Visual perceptual performance during locomotion: implications for information display technologies. Poster session presented at the meeting of Defence Human Sciences Symposium. 2021 Millar, S., Bennett, K., Rickman, M., & Thewlis, D. (2021). Locomotor changes in knee osteoarthritis patients during a 6-minute walk test. Poster session presented at the meeting of XXVII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics. 2021 Bennett, K., Pizzolato, C., Martelli, S., Bahl, J., Sivakumar, A., Atkins, G., . . . Thewlis, D. (2021). Estimations of Knee Joint Loading Using Generalized Methods and Muscle Recruitment Strategies. Poster session presented at the meeting of XXVIII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB). 2020 Millar, S., Bennett, K., Fraysse, F., Arnold, J., Solomon, L., & Thewlis, D. (2020). Longitudinal changes in lower limb joint loading up to two years following tibial plateau fracture. Poster session presented at the meeting of Orthopaedic Research Society 2020 Annual Meeting. 2019 Millar, S., Arnold, J., Fraysse, F., Solomon, L., & Thewlis, D. (2019). Do common classification systems for tibial plateau fractures describe what we really see?. Poster session presented at the meeting of International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies Meeting. 2019 Bennett, K. J., Millar, S., Fraysse, F., Arnold, J., Solomon, L. B., Martelli, S., & Thewlis, D. (2019). Longitudinal Postoperative Joint Kinematics of Tibial Plateau Fracture Patients. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the XXVII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB 2019). Calgary, Canada: University of Calgary. 2019 Bennett, K. J., Millar, S., Fraysse, F., Arnold, J., Atkins, G., Solomon, L., . . . Thewlis, D. (2019). Longitudinal Postoperative Joint Kinematics of Tibial Plateau Fracture Patients. Poster session presented at the meeting of ANZORS 25th Annual Scientific Meeting. Canberra, ACT, Australia. 2018 Millar, S., Arnold, J., Fraysse, F., Solomon, L., & Thewlis, D. (2018). Do current classification systems for tibial plateau fracture describe what we really see?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society 24th Annual Scientific Meeting. 2018 Millar, S., Arnold, J., Solomon, L., Thewlis, D., & Fraysse, F. (2018). Development and evaluation of a coordinate system for complex tibial plateau fractures using a geometric shape fitting approach. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society 24th Annual Scientific Meeting. 2017 Millar, S., Arnold, J., Solomon, L., Thewlis, D., & Fraysse, F. (2017). Understanding three-dimensional fracture patterns of the tibia and femur in orthopaedic trauma: estimating longitudinal and condylar axes on CT reconstructions of partial lengths and widths of bone. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting. 2017 Beaucage-Gauvreau, E., Thewlis, D., Graham, R., Robertson, W. S. P., Fraser, R. D., Freeman, B. J., & Jones, C. F. (2017). Validation of Full Body OpenSim Model With Detailed Lumbar Spine to Evaluate Biomechanics of Lifting Tasks. Poster session presented at the meeting of XXVI Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics. Brisbane, Australia. 2017 Beaucage-Gauvreau, E., Thewlis, D., Robertson, W. S. P., Fraser, R. D., Freeman, B. J. C., & Jones, C. F. (2017). Biomechanical Investigation of a Braced Arm-To-Thigh Lifting Technique for Occupational Tasks, With Kinematic Analysis and Computer Modeling Approaches. Poster session presented at the meeting of XXVI Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics. Brisbane, Australia. 2017 beaucage-gauvreau., thewlis., robertson, W. S. P., fraser, R. D., freeman., & jones, C. F. (2017). Biomechanical investigation of a braced arm-to-thigh lifting technique for occupational tasks, with kinematic analysis and computer modeling approaches. Poster session presented at the meeting of ANZORS-RSA Joint Conference. Adelaide. 2017 Beaucage-Gauvreau, E., Thewlis, D., Graham, R., Robertson, W. S. P., Fraser, R., Freeman, B. J. C., & Jones, C. F. (2017). Validation of full body OpenSim model with detailed lumbar spine to evaluate biomechanics of lifting tasks. Poster session presented at the meeting of ANZORS-RSA Joint Conference. Adelaide. -
Software
Year Citation 2019 Beaucage-Gauvreau, É., Jones, C., Thewlis, D., Robertson, W., Freeman, B., Fraser, R., . . . Brandon, S. (2019). Lifting Full-Body (LFB) Model [Online]. https://simtk.org/projects/lfbmodel: SimTK.
Competitive research funding
I have held research funding from federal agencies (ARC, NHMRC, Department of Defence), NGOs and private industry in Australia and the UK. In total, my research has received approximately (accounting for exchange rate) $9.2M in external funding.
Current external funding
Project | Investigators | Funding agency | AU$000 | |
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2018-2021 | Extraction and fusion of soft biometrics for person identification | Thewlis, Ng, Robertson, Booth | DST Group & The University of Adelaide | 176 |
2017-2021 | Improving the functional outcomes of lower limb orthopaedic surgery | Thewlis | NHMRC | 425 |
2019-2021 | Phase 2 trial for a novel therapy for knee osteoarthritis | Rickman & Thewlis | Xalud Theraputics | 1200 |
I currently coordinate Fundamentals of Biomechanics and Human Movement (ORT&TRAU 2016). I also contribute to the teaching in Musculoskeletal Biomechanics and Health (ORT&TRAU 3000).
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2023 Principal Supervisor Gait Analysis and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Paediatric Lower Limb Conditions Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Matilda Catherine Krywanio 2023 Principal Supervisor Wearable sensors for analysis of walking function in orthopaedic outpatients. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Heather Rose Badger 2022 Co-Supervisor The role of acetabular cup medialisation in revision hip arthroplasty. Master of Philosophy (Surgery) Master Part Time Dr David Ngo 2022 Co-Supervisor Improving outcomes of diabetic foot disease following surgical management Master of Philosophy (Surgery) Master Part Time Dr Kay Yee Hon 2021 Co-Supervisor How do we use visual information while walking? Implications for the use of virtual
and augmented reality devices for training and deployment.Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Marlon Blencowe 2021 Principal Supervisor Developing a computer vision-based machine learning pipeline for the production of standard biomechanical outcome data Master of Philosophy (Surgery) Master Part Time Mr Christopher Kurrin Whalley 2021 Principal Supervisor Biomechanical Predictors of Fatigue in Runners using Inertial Measurement Units Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Grace Eva McConnochie 2020 Principal Supervisor Development and validation of an integrated gait recognition system with a deep-learning architecture. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Kayne Andrew Duncanson 2019 Principal Supervisor Functional Outcomes of Suprapatellar Versus Infrapatellar Approach for Intramedullary Nailing of Tibial Shaft Fractures Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Simon Thwaites -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2019 - 2022 Principal Supervisor In Silico, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo approaches for Modelling Tibial Plateau Fractures Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Kieran James Bennett 2018 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Gait Biomechanics after Femoral Nailing of Intertrochanteric Fractures Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Arjun Sivakumar 2018 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Postural alignment and recovery of mobility after acquired brain injury Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Simon James Mills 2017 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Investigating the biomechanics and genetics of acetabular peri-prosthetic osteolysis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Thomas Michael Grace 2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Brace for it: assessing lumbar spinal loads for a braced arm-to-thigh lifting and bending technique using a musculoskeletal modelling approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Erica Beaucage-Gauvreau -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2015 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Hip replacement biomechnaics University of South Australia - Doctorate Full Time Jasvir Bahl 2014 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Vibration biomechanics with defence University of South Australia - Doctorate Full Time Thomas Debenedictis 2014 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Biophysical model of cycling University of South Australia - Doctorate Part Time Jason Bartram 2014 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Fracture biomechanics University of South Australia - Doctorate Full Time Stuart Millar 2013 - 2017 External Supervisor Bone biomechanics Flinders University - Doctorate Full Time Bryant Roberts 2012 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Running biomechanics University of South Australia - Doctorate Full Time Joel Fuller 2012 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Plantar Heel pain biomechanics University of South Australia - Doctorate Full Time Chris Bishop 2011 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Flat foot management University of South Australia - Doctorate Part Time Helen Banwell 2011 - 2014 Principal Supervisor Knee replacement biomechanics University of South Australia - Doctorate Full Time John Arnold 2010 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Finite Element model of the pelvis University of South Australia - Doctorate Full Time Rami Mohamad Ameer Al-Dirini
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2015 - 2018 President Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society - - 2014 - 2016 Member Division Research Management Committee University of South Australia - 2013 - 2015 Member School Research Management Committee University of South Australia - 2012 - 2015 Secretary Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society - - 2012 - 2013 Member Research Training Group University of South Australia - 2011 - ongoing Member Program Advisory Committee University of South Australia - 2009 - ongoing Member Program Management Team (Human Movement) University of South Australia - 2009 - 2011 Member School Research Management Committee University of South Australia - -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2005 - ongoing Member International Society of Biomechanics - -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2016 - ongoing Board Member Journal of Biomechanics - - 2016 - ongoing Board Member Journal of Biomechanics - - 2014 - ongoing Board Member Gait and Posture - - 2013 - ongoing Board Member Gait and Posture - - -
Offices Held
Date Office Name Institution Country 2015 - ongoing - Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles