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
Falls and physical activity in older adults
Biomechanics of sports performance
Injury prevention
Selected Publications
(*denotes corresponding author)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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/
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
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
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)
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
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)
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
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
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)
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
Strategies to Engage Older Men in Physical Activity in Assisted Care Facilities. Direct Grant, Faculty of Education, CUHK (Ref. #: 4058075), 2020-2022
Determining the Mechanisms and Severity of Head Impact in Collegiate Soccer Players. Direct Grant, Faculty of Education, CUHK (Ref. #: 4058080), 2020-2022
Courses Taught
Functional Anatomy
Structural Biomechanics and Sports Injury
Exercise Biomechanics
Research Methods
Selected Honours and Awards
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Travel Award, Canada, 2019
Gold Award, Innovative Research on Aging, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, USA, 2018
ACCESS Award for highly qualified personnel (HQP), AGE-WELL Canada's Technology and Aging Network, Canada, 2017
Selected Professional Services
Board of Director, Asian Society for Adapted Physical Education and Exercise (ASAPE)
