Biography
Professor Yijian Yang is a member of the International Society for Posture and Gait Research (ISPGR) and the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). He directs the Sports Biomechanics and Injury Prevention Laboratory, which studies musculoskeletal biomechanics related to human health and mobility. A key focus of the laboratory is the prevention of fall-related injury (e.g., traumatic brain injury, hip fracture) in older adults. Particularly, the team seeks to understand biomechanical and physiological risk factors for injury and mobility impairment in older adults, and to develop and evaluate novel interventions for injury prevention. Their goal is to conduct high quality and evidence-based research that will lead to significant impact on older people’s health and quality of life.
Research Interests
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Falls and physical activity in older adults
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Biomechanics of sports performance
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Injury prevention
Selected Publications
(*denotes corresponding author)
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Yang, Y., van Schooten, K.S., Komisar, V., McKay, H.A., Sims-Gould, J., Cheong, D., Robinovitch, S.N.: Effects of the Mobility-Fit Physical Activity Program on Strength and Mobility in Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Feasibility Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2022; 19(9):5453. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095453
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Yang, Y., Komisar, V., Shishov, N., Lo, B., Korall. A., Feldman, F., Robinovitch, S.N.: The Effect of Fall Biomechanics on Risk for Hip Fracture in Older Adults: A Cohort Study of Video-captured Falls in Long Term Care. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.4048
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Yang, Y., van Schooten, K., McKay, H.A., Sims-Gould, J., Hoang, R.A., Robinovitch, S.N.: Recreational Therapy to Promote Mobility in Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2019-0345
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Korall. A., Feldman, F., Yang, Y., Cameron, I., Leung, P.M., Sims-Gould, J., Robinovitch, S.N.: Effectiveness of Hip Protectors to Reduce Risk for Hip Fracture from Falls in Long-Term Care. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. Nov 2019. 20(11):1397-1403.e1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2019.07.010
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van Schooten, K., Yang, Y., Feldman, F., Leung, P.M., McKay, H.A., Sims-Gould, J., and Robinovitch, S.N.: The Association between Fall Incidence, Injury Risk and Dynamics of the Fall: Do Recurrent Fallers Fall More Safely? Journal of Gerontology: Medical Science. 2018; 9;73(6):786-791. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx196
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Yang, Y., van Schooten, K., Sims-Gould, J., McKay, H.A., Feldman, F., Robinovitch, S.N.: Sex Differences in the Circumstances Leading to Falls: Evidence from Real-life Falls Captured on Video in Long-term Care. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2018;19(2):130-135. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2017.08.011
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Yang, Y., Mackey, D., Liu-Ambrose, T., Leung, P.M., Feldman, F., Robinovitch, S.N.: Clinical Risk Factors Associated with Head Impact during Falls in Older Adults in Long-term Care: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2017. 32 (3): 168–177. DOI: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27603766/
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Yang, Y., Feldman, F., Leung, M., Scott, V., Robinovitch, S.N.: Agreement between Video Footage and Fall Incident Reports on the Circumstances of Falls in Long-term Care. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2015, 16 (5): 388–394. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2014.12.003
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Robinovitch, S.N., Feldman F., Yang, Y., Schonnop, R., Leung, P.M., Sarraf, T., Sims-Gould, J., Loughin, M.: Video Capture of the Circumstances of Falls in Elderly People Residing in Long-term Care: An Observational Study. The Lancet. 2013, 381(9860): p. 47-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61263-X
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Yang, Y., Schonnop, R., Feldman, F., Robinovitch, S.N.: Development and Validation of a Questionnaire for Analyzing Real-life Falls in Long-term Care Captured on Video. BMC Geriatrics. 2013. 13:40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-13-40
Funded Research Grants as Principal Investigator (in the past five years)
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Promoting Safe Mobility of Older Adults in Care Facilities through a Multicomponent Physical Activity Program: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. General Research Fund (GRF) – Early Career Scheme. Research Grants Council (RGC) Hong Kong (Ref. #: 24618722), 2023-2026
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Breathable Lightweight Hip Protectors for Elderly in Nursing Homes. Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF). Innovation and Technology Commission Hong Kong (Ref. #: ITP/028/22TP), 2023-2025 (Co-PI)
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Strategies to Prevent Falls and Hip Fracture in Older Adults in Care Homes through Technology and Education. Project Impact Enhancement Fund (PIEF). The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Hong Kong. 2021-2022
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One Size Does Not Fit All: Choice-Based Programs for Physical Activity Promotion for Older Adults. Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (KPF), CUHK (Ref. #: KPF21GWP34), 2021-2023
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Implicit Design and Additive Manufacturing of Novel Personalized Hip Protectors to Prevent Hip Fracture in Elderly Care Homes. Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (KPF), CUHK (Ref. #: KPF21OTH08), 2021-2023 (Co-PI)
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Hip Protectors to Prevent Hip Fracture of Older Adults in Hospitals and Nursing Homes. Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Development Fund, CUHK (Ref. #: KPF20GWP16), 2020-2023
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Strategies to Engage Older Men in Physical Activity in Assisted Care Facilities. Direct Grant, Faculty of Education, CUHK (Ref. #: 4058075), 2020-2022
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Determining the Mechanisms and Severity of Head Impact in Collegiate Soccer Players. Direct Grant, Faculty of Education, CUHK (Ref. #: 4058080), 2020-2022
Courses Taught
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Functional Anatomy
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Structural Biomechanics and Sports Injury
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Exercise Biomechanics
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Research Methods
Selected Honours and Awards
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Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Travel Award, Canada, 2019
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Gold Award, Innovative Research on Aging, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, USA, 2018
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ACCESS Award for highly qualified personnel (HQP), AGE-WELL Canada's Technology and Aging Network, Canada, 2017
Selected Professional Services
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Board of Director, Asian Society for Adapted Physical Education and Exercise (ASAPE)
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Guest Editor: International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph/special_issues/Aging_Physical_Activity
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Editorial Board, Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness (official journal of The Society of Chinese Scholars on Exercise Physiology and Fitness)
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Editorial Board member, Injury Medicine (傷害醫學) (official journal of The Chinese Association of Preventive Medicine)
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Member, Faculty Academic Links Committee, CUHK
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Member, Faculty Student Discipline Committee, CUHK
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Member, Sports and Physical Education Committee, Lee Woo Sing College, CUHK
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Member, Staff Club Executive Committee, Lee Woo Sing College, CUHK
