Dr. Nadia Azar

Dr. Nadia Azar

E-mail: azar5@uwindsor.ca
Phone: (519) 253-3000 ext: 2473
Office: HK Building, Room 125

Ergonomics/Biomechanics lab 

PhD, Wayne State University, Biomedical Engineering,2009 
MS, Wayne State University, Biomedical Engineering, 2006
MHK, University of Windsor, Occupational Biomechanics, 2004
BHK, University of Windsor, Movement Science, 2001

Bio

Dr. Azar holds both Bachelor’s (2001) and Master’s (2004) Degrees in Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor. She also holds an MS (2006) and a PhD (2009) in Biomedical Engineering from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI). She worked for the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Windsor as a Research Technician and taught several courses on a sessional basis before joining the faculty full-time in 2008. She currently teaches at both the undergraduate (Introduction to Occupational Biomechanics and Ergonomics, Advanced Biomechanics, and Pathophysiology of Pain) and graduate levels (Applied Biomechanics of Human Movement).

Dr. Azar’s current research is focused on occupational neck pain and neck pain due to whiplash injury. Specifically, this work aims to characterize and compare cervical paraspinal muscle recruitment and time-varying vertebral kinematics between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, to obtain a more complete understanding of the clinical presentation of these injuries and ultimately enhance diagnostic capabilities. Other recent research projects include the evaluation of the muscular recruitment patterns and relaxation response of the lumbar and cervical spines during movements about single axes (i.e. flexion, lateral bend, and axial twist) and in coupled postures (e.g. combined flexion-axial twist); the quantitative evaluation of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine angles during prolonged office sitting; and investigating the effects of motor imagery on the amplitude and timing of knee extensor muscle recruitment. Dr. Azar has received funding from the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD). She has co-authored five peer reviewed journal articles, and is currently supervising two graduate students.

 
Areas of Research Interest

• Ligamento-muscular reflexes
• Occupational and whiplash-associated neck pain
  • Increase understanding of potential pain mechanisms
  • Enhance diagnostic capabilities
  • Augment the effectiveness of currently-available therapeutic interventions
     

Recent Research Funding

• Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) (2009-2010)
  • Muscular activity during cervical flexion: Modulating effects of task-related postural constraints.
     

Key Scholarly Activities

Azar NR,Kallakuri S, Chen C, Cavanaugh JM. Muscular response to physiologic tensile stretch of the caprine C5/6 facet joint capsule: Comparison of quasi-static and dynamic recruitment thresholds. Stapp Car Crash Journal – submitted. (Invited).

Azar NR, Godin CA, Andrews DM, Callaghan JP (2010). Three-dimensional peak and cumulative L4/L5 spine loads and moments and trunk postures during non-occupational tasks. Occupational Ergonomics 9(3): 127-139.

Azar NR, Kallakuri S, Chen C, Lu Y, Cavanaugh JM (2009). Strain and load thresholds for cervical muscle recruitment in response to quasi-static tensile loading of the caprine C5-C6 facet joint capsule. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 19: e387-e394. (Invited).

Weir P, Holmes A, Andrews DM, Albert W, Azar NR, Callaghan JP (2007). Determination of the just noticeable difference (JND) in trunk posture perception. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science 8(3): 185-199.

Azar, N.R., Andrews, D.M., & Callaghan, J.P. (2006). Predicting 3D cumulative L4/L5 spine loads using heart rate determined physical activity level. Occupational Ergonomics, 6: 173-186.

Azar, N.R., Andrews, D.M., & Callaghan, J.P. (2005). Accuracy of Spine Cumulative Loading Using Self-reported Duration and Frequency Information During Non-occupational Tasks. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 35: 687-696.