Gregory W. King, PhD, PE

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Division of Energy, Matter, and Systems

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2006
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2002
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas, 1999

Research Focus/Expertise

  • Kinetics and Kinematics of Human Motion
  • Age-Related Changes in Balance, Mobility, and Fall Risk
  • Biomechanical Manifestations of Psychological Function
  • Biomechanical Performance Assessment and Ergonomic Interventions in Health Care Providers

Contact Information

5110 Rockhill Road

Room 350C Flarsheim Hall

Kansas City, MO 64110

P: (816) 235-2350

F: (816) 235-1260

Email

Bio

Dr. Gregory King is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, with primary appointment in the School of Science and Engineering, Division of Energy, Matter, and Systems. He also holds a courtesy appointment at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. Dr. King grew up in the Kansas City area, and earned his Ph.D. degree at the University of Kansas in 2006. After completing his doctoral studies, he worked for a short time as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Kansas Medical Center prior to starting at UMKC in 2007.

Dr. King’s research is focused on human musculoskeletal biomechanics, with particular emphasis on kinetic and kinematic characterization of human motion. Applications of this work include fall prevention in older adults, age- and disease-related balance and mobility deficiencies, and ergonomics and performance assessment among healthcare providers. Dr. King teaches a variety of Mechanical Engineering courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including those related to biomechanics of human motion. Dr. King is a licensed professional engineer in Missouri.

Dr. King lives in Liberty, MO and enjoys running, music, cooking, and staying involved in his kids’ activities.

Courses

  • MEC-ENGR 219 Computer Programming for Engineers (Fall 2010 – Fall 2018)
  • MEC-ENGR 220 Electric Circuits (Spring 2007 – Spring 2018)
  • MEC-ENGR 285 Engineering Dynamics (Spring 2022 – Present)
  • CIV-ENGR 319 Engineering Computation and Statistics (Fall 2020)
  • MEC-ENGR 385 System Dynamics (Spring 2019 – Present)
  • MEC-ENGR 411 Introduction to Biomechanics (Fall 2007 – Present)
  • MEC-ENGR 413 Experimental Biomechanics of Human Motion (Spring 2010 – Present)
  • MEC-ENGR 484 Vibration Analysis (Spring 2016 – Present)

Research

Dr. King’s research program generally involves characterization of kinetic and kinematic aspects of human motion, and is affiliated with UMKC’s Human Motion Laboratory. Specific applications of this work fall into three main categories:

Balance and Aging.

Relationship between Physiological and Psychological Aspects of Motion.

Motion in Health Care Providers.

Publications

Selected Publications (a full list may be found on Dr. King’s Google Scholar page):

  1. Arif MA, Stylianou AP, Bachar A, King GW, Sutkin G, Retropubic Trocar Modified with a Load Cell to Verify Contact with Pubic Bone (2022), Surgery, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2022.06.011.
  2. King GW, Abreu EL, Kelly PJ, Brotto M, Neural Control of Postural Sway: Relationship to Strength Measures in Young and Elderly Adults (2019), Experimental Gerontology, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2019.01.005.
  3. Branson BG, Abnos RM, Simmer-Beck ML, King GW, Siddicky SF, Using Motion Capture Technology to Measure the Effects of Magnification Loupes on Dental Operator Posture: A Pilot Study (2018), WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation 59(1).
  4. King GW, Abreu EL, Cheng AL, Chertoff KK, Brotto L, Kelly PJ, Brotto M, A Multimodal Assessment of Balance in Elderly and Young Adults (2016), Oncogarget 7(12):13297-306.
  5. Mullin DS, King GW, Saripalle SK, Derakhshani RR, Lovelace CT, Burgoon JK, Deception Effects on Standing Center of Pressure (2014) Human Movement Science 38:106-115.

Conference Proceedings

  1. Sutkin G, Stylianou AP, Kirchoff A, King GW, Retropubic Trocar Modified with a Load Cell to Verify Contact with Pubic Bone, AUGS PFD Week, Virtual, 2020.
  2. Sutkin G, Stylianou AP, King GW, Retropubic Trocar Modified with a Load Cell to Measure Force, American College of Surgeons’ Surgeons and Engineers: A Dialogue on Surgical Simulation meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2020.
  3. Stylianou AP, King GW, Sutkin G, Arif MA, Virtual Pelvic Model for Study of Surgeon Kinematics during Retropubic Trocar Passage, American Urogynecologic Society/International Urogynecological Association Joint Scientific Meeting, Nashville, TN, September 2019.
  4. Arif MA, King GW, Mahmud F, Stylianou AP, Sutkin G, Virtual Pelvic Model for Study of Surgical Errors in the Midurethral Sling Procedure, University of Missouri – Kansas City Health Sciences Student Research Summit, Kansas City, MO, April 2019.
  5. Siddicky SF, Mozafari H, King GW, Suh DW, Redesigning Surgical Magnification Loupes: Effect of Angle of Declination, Weight, and Strap Design on the Postural Ergonomics of Ophthalmic Surgeons, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus 45th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 2019.
  6. Siddicky SF, Olitsky SE, King GW, Evaluating the Postural Ergonomics of Ophthalmologists using Kinematic Motion Analysis and Electromyography, 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Rochester, MN, August 2018.
  7. Arif MA, Mahmud F, King GW, Sutkin G, Stylianou AP, Development of a Pelvic Model for Study of Surgical Errors in the Midurethral Sling Procedure, 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Rochester, MN, August 2018.
  8. Siddicky SF, Abnos RM, Muller MA, King GW, Olitsky SE, Evaluating Ergonomics in Ophthalmology Using Kinematic Motion Analysis: A Pilot Study, 18th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, New Orleans, LA, November 2017.
  9. King GW, Abreu EL, Kelly PJ, Brotto M, Strength and Skeletal Muscle Troponin in Postural Control, 41st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Boulder, CO, August 2017.
  10. Abnos R, Siddicky SF, Muller MA, Branson B, Simmer-Beck M, King GW, Postural Evaluation of Dental Care Professionals using Motion Analysis and Electromyography, 41st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Boulder, CO, August 2017.
  11. Abnos RM, Branson BS, Simmer-Beck ML, Siddicky SF, King GW, Motion Capture Technology as a Method for Measuring the Effect of Magnification Lenses on Dental Clinician Posture: A Pilot Study, 7th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics, Orlando, FL, July 2016.
  12. Hoffman M, Siddicky SF, Balakrishnan B, King GW, 3D Motion Analysis of Clinical Performance: A New Big Data Opportunity, American Medical Informatics Association Joint Summits on Translational Science, San Fransisco, CA, March 2016.
  13. King GW, Abreu EL, Cheng AL, Kelly P, Brotto M, Multimodal Assessment of Balance Impairment in Older Adults, The Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, FL, November 2015.
  14. Saripalle SK, Vemulapalli S, King GW, Burgoon JK, Derakhshani RR, Machine Learning Methods for Credibility Assessment of Interviewees Based on Posturographic Data, 37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medcine and Biology Society, Milano, Italy, August 2015.
  15. Gottemukkula V, Zhang J, Derakhshani RR, King GW, Mobile Gaming Effects on Frontal Lobe Activation, 34th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, San Diego, CA, August 2012.
  16. Gottemukkula V, Derakhshani R, King GW, Training Reasoning Capabilities of Brain with Mobile Games, UMKC Interdisciplinary Doctoral Student Council Poster Contest, Kansas City, MO, April 2012.
  17. Mullin DS, King GW, Derakhshani RR, Lovelace CT, Effects of Deceptive Behavior on Biomechanical Measures of Standing Posture, 35th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Long Beach, CA, August 2011.
  18. Bruetsch AP, King GW, Kevern JT, Biomechanical Characterization of Slipping on Pervious and Traditional Concrete Walking Surfaces, 35th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Long Beach, CA, August 2011.
  19. Shirey M, Hurlbutt M, Johansen N, King GW, Wilkinson SG, Hoover D, The Influence of Core Musculature Engagement on Hip and Knee Kinematics in Females during a Single Leg Squat, Missouri Physical Therapy Association Spring Conference, Kansas City, MO, April 2011.
  20. Shirey M, Hurlbutt M, Johansen N, Wilkinson SG, King GW, Hoover D, Influence of Core Musculature Engagement on Knee Kinematics of Females During a Single Leg Squat, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 43:501, 2011.
  21. King GW, Akula CK, Age Effects on Lateral Stability during Stepping, 34th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Providence, Rhode Island, August 2010.
  22. Malineni SM, King GW, Evaluation of Stepping Task Biomechanics using OpenSim, 34th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Providence, Rhode Island, August 2010.
  23. Guess TM, Derakhshani R, King GW, Leon-Salas WD, Multi-Disciplinary Collaborations in Measurement of Human Motion, Missouri Regional Life Sciences Summit, Kansas City, Missouri, March 2010.
  24. Saripalle SK, Gajjala LS, Cliett TC, Paiva GC, Derakhshani R, Lovelace CT, King GW, Classification of Body Motions Based on Posturographic Data, Missouri Regional Life Sciences Summit, Kansas City, Missouri, March 2010.
  25. Dinn GG, King GW, Effects of a Single Step Requirement on Balance Recovery Maneuvers in Young and Older Adults, 33rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, University Park, Pennsylvania, August 2009.
  26. Akula CK, King GW, Age Differences in Landing Phase Ankle Dynamics During a Balance-Restoring Step Response, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Summer Bioengineering Conference, Lake Tahoe, California, June 2009.
  27. King GW, Luchies CW, The Role of Knee Extensor Strength in Landing Phase Characteristics of a Balance-Restoring Step Response, North American Congress on Biomechanics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 2008.
  28. King GW, Luchies CW, The Role of Knee Extensor Strength in Balance-Restoring Step Initiation and Execution, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Summer Bioengineering Conference, Marco Island, Florida, June 2008.
  29. King GW, Luchies CW, Stylianou AP, McVey MA, Age and Fatigue Effects on Lower Extremity Joint Torque Development, 31st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Stanford, California, August 2007.
  30. King GW, Luchies CW, Maletsky RA, Zahner L, Stylianou AP, McVey MA, Age Effects on Lower Extremity Force Control, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Summer Bioengineering Conference, Amelia Island, Florida, June 2006.
  31. King GW, Luchies CW, Stylianou AP, Schiffman JM, Thelen DG, Effects of Step Length on Balance Recovery From a Forward Fall, Kansas City Area Life Sciences Research Day, Overland Park, Kansas, March 2004.
  32. King GW, Luchies CW, Stylianou AP, Richards L, Effects of Lower Extremity Exercise on Balance Recovery From a Forward Fall, 15th Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology, Boston, Massachusetts, June 2004.
  33. Stylianou AP, Luchies CW, Lerner D, King GW, SEMG Analysis of Elbow Flexors During Sustained Maximal Voluntary Contractions, 15th Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology, Boston, Massachusetts, June 2004.
  34. King GW, Luchies CW, Stylianou AP, Schiffman JM, Thelen DG, Effects of Step Length on Balance Recovery From a Forward Fall, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Summer Bioengineering Conference, Key Biscayne, Florida, June 2003.
  35. Luchies CW, Stylianou AP, King GW, Won YS, Lerner D, Richards L, Effects of Fatigue and Load Carriage on the Soldier’s Performance of Time Critical Tasks, Kansas Statewide EPSCoR Conference, Lawrence, Kansas, April 2003.

Vitae

Curriculum Vitae