James Tracy, PhD

Dr. Tracy is an assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Arizona teaching biomechanics, kinesiology, and research methods. His research focuses on improving our understanding of postural control in individuals with and without movement impairments, including during pregnancy and postpartum recovery. With a background in sports biomechanics and clinical research, Dr. Tracy has collaborated with elite athletes, stroke survivors, children with cerebral palsy, and people with lower-limb loss to enhance performance, mobility, independence, and quality of life.

While pursuing an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Brigham Young University, Dr. Tracy started as an undergraduate research assistant measuring elite athletes’ running mechanics and track and field technique. He stayed at BYU to complete a graduate degree in Exercise Physiology and continue in sports biomechanics research. This experience led to an opportunity to be a part of USA Track and Field’s Sports Science research team for three years analyzing distance running and steeplechase performance. As a graduate student, he also added a research assistantship in mechanical engineering working on an interdisciplinary team developing and testing a foam to measure three-dimensional ground reaction forces outside of the traditional scientific laboratory using a novel "smart shoe". Dr. Tracy then went to the University of Delaware to complete a PhD in Biomechanics and Movement Science. As part of the Falls and Mobility Laboratory, he studied the relationships between clinical measures of impairment, balance in static and dynamic conditions, and modifiability and laterality of walking stability. He worked with unimpaired young adults, children with and without cerebral palsy, and stroke survivors. Dr. Tracy’s last stop was at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus where he completed a three-year postdoctoral research fellowship. As part of the Interdisciplinary Movement Science Laboratory and Bone-Anchored Limb Research Group, his research focused on clinical biomechanics in people with lower-limb amputation emphasizing postural control and symmetry during walking and other functional movement tasks as well as investigating the biomechanical changes that occur after bone-anchored limb implantation. He received an NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32) with which he investigated the novel potential of bone-anchored limb use to influence osseoperception, proprioception, and postural control domains (i.e., standing, anticipatory, gait, and reactive).

Outside of the classroom and research lab, Dr. Tracy enjoys movies, family time, sports, and competition.
In particular, he runs road races ranging from the mile to the marathon.