Derek Dewig, PhD, ATC

Assistant Professor, Director of Research

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Medicine

Department:

Human Performance - Athletic Training

Classification:

Faculty

• PhD, University of North Carolina, 2022
• MA, University of North Carolina, 2016
• BS, Indiana University, 2014

Recent Publications in Referred Journals:

1. Cheever K, Nedimyer A, Register-Mihalik J, Kossman M, Dewig D. A Comparison of Determinants of Musculoskeletal and Concussion Injury Disclosure in Adolescent Athletes: An Alternative Explanation for Secondary Musculoskeletal Injury Risk Following Concussion. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. 2025.
2. Dennis, J, Nilius AE, Birchmeier TB, Dewig DR, Pietrosimone BG, Blackburn JT. Biomechanical Contributors to Loading Rates During Gait Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Journal of Biomechanics. 2025.
3. Cheever K, Nedimyer A, Register-Mihalik J, Kossman M, Dewig D. Determinates of Knowledge of Signs, Symptoms and Consequences as Well as Attitudes Towards Musculoskeletal Disclosure. International Journal of Athletic Therapy & Training. 2025.
4. Brown CL, Worts PR, Dewig DR, Rolle GA, Ormsbee MJ. Return to Play after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the Collegiate Athlete: A Systematic Review Evaluating Return to Play Proportions and Associated Factors. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2024.
5. Nilius A, Dewig DR, Johnston CJ, Blackburn JT. Quadriceps Composition and Function Influence Downhill Gait Biomechanics >1 Year Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Clinical Biomechanics. 2024.
6. Dewig DR, Lepley AS, Nilius A, Padua DA, Pietrosimone BG, Wikstrom EA, Blackburn JT. An Acute Bout of Whole Body Vibration Does Not Improve Jumping Performance in Those With ACL Reconstruction. Journal of Athletic Training. 2024.
7. Johnston, CD, Dewig DR, Pietrosimone B, Padua D, Ryan ER, Hart J, Spang J, Blackburn JT. Longitudinal Changes in Quadriceps Morphology Over the First Three Months Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2024.
8. Cheever, K, Dewig D, Kossman, MK, Nedimyer, A, Register-Mihalik, J. Determinants of Intention to Disclose Musculoskeletal Injury in Adolescent Athletes. Journal of Athletic Training. 2024.
9. Dewig DR, Boltz AJ, Moffit R, Robison HJ, Collins CL, Chandran A. Epidemiology of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes: 2014/15 – 2018/19. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2023.
10. Dewig DR, Evans-Pickett A, Pietrosimone BG, Blackburn JT. Comparison of Discrete and Continuous Analysis Approaches for Evaluating Gait Biomechanics in Individuals with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Gait and Posture. 2022.

Recent Refereed Abstracts

1. Vargo-Thomas E, Reese S, Dewig DR. The Effects of Fatigue on Reaction Time and Landing Force During a Jumping Task. 2026 West Virginia Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Stonewall Resort State Park, WV.
2. Dewig DR, Lemasters T, Ulring L, Oldfather T. Reliability, Agreement and Waveform Differences Regarding Separate Mathematical Calculations of Knee Valgus Angles During a Land-Cut Task. 2026 10^th World Congress of Biomechanics, Vancouver, Canada.
3. Dewig DR, Parmar A, Efaw A, Lemasters T, Ulring L. Intrasession Reliability and Divergent Loadings of Common Postural Control Measures During Single-Leg Drop Landings. 2026 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
4. Ulring L, Lemasters T, Dewig DR. Countermovement Jump Force-time Curve is Not Associated with Vertical Jump Height in Women’s Volleyball Athletes. 2026 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
5. Parmar A, Dewig DR, Cohen A, Bullock GS, Gatti AA, Harkey MS. Upper Extremity Kinematic Synergies in Baseball Pitching: Insights from the OpenBiomechanics Project. 2025 American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA.
6. Scott L, Henson K, Dewig D. Associations Between Body Composition Measures and Quadriceps Electromyography Amplitude. 2025 West Virginia Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Shepherdstown, WV.
7. Dewig DR, Efaw AE, Ulring LR, Blackburn JT. Between-limb Differences In Dynamic Postural Stability In Individuals With ACL Reconstruction Utilizing Various Processing Techniques. 2025 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
8. Ulring LR, Dewig DR. Association Between Jump Height And Lower Extremity Flexibility In Collegiate Volleyball Players. 2025 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
9. Nilius A, Dewig D, Johnston C, Blackburn T. Quadriceps Function and Morphology Contribute to Aberrant Downhill Gait Biomechanics in Individuals with ACL Reconstruction. 2023 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
10. Dewig DR, Jochimsen KN, Tenan MS. Inter-day Variance During Squatting Using a Markerless Motion Capture System. 2023 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

Dr. Derek Dewig is currently an Assistant Professor and the Director of Research in the Division of Athletic Training within School of Medicine at West Virginia University. He earned his PhD in Human Movement Science and MA in Athletic Training from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his BS in Athletic Training from Indiana University.

Before joining the faculty at WVU, Dr. Dewig served as an Assistant Professor at Fairmont State University, where he directed the Exercise Science laboratories and coordinated both undergraduate and graduate Exercise Science programs. His professional background also includes a year as a Research Scientist at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.  Clinically, he previously held the role of staff athletic trainer for the track and field and cross-country teams at Indiana University, was a graduate assistant athletic trainer for both the UNC field hockey and track and field teams and spent a summer as an athletic training student intern with the Indianapolis Colts. Drawing on his experience as both a clinician and a researcher, Dr. Dewig’s work focuses on identifying aberrant movement patterns associated with orthopedic injuries. His current research investigates biomechanical risk factors for secondary injury and post-traumatic osteoarthritis, particularly following ACL reconstruction. He is also a peer reviewer for multiple journals and serves on the Exam Development Committee for the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer.

Athletic Training

My research agenda focuses on identifying aberrant movement patterns associated with orthopedic injuries and their role in secondary injury risk and post-traumatic osteoarthritis development, particularly following ACL reconstruction. Additionally, I have a strong interest in the methodological and computational considerations required for the accurate assessment of biomechanical risk factors. While quantifying biomechanical outcomes can facilitate evidence-based clinical decisions, there is often dissonance between the construct validity of these complex measures and their practical application. My recent work examines how data reduction strategies of biomechanical signals may influence clinical interpretation. With the rapid adoption of technology within sports medicine (e.g. motion capture, force plates, dynamometers, etc.), it is critical that clinicians understand how to best interpret biomechanical and physiological signals to support risk reduction strategies and aid in return to sport testing.

FUNDED RESEARCH & GRANT PROPOSALS

*Enhancing Exercise Science Curriculum and Research for Students and Faculty

Dewig DR
STaR Instrumentation Grant
Instrumentation Grants Program: STaR Division – WVHEPC
Funding Period: 2024 – 2025
Amount: $19,742.00

*Effects of Vibration on Quadriceps Function, Landing Biomechanics and Performance in Individuals with
ACL Reconstruction

PIs: Dewig DR & Blackburn JT
National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation Doctoral Student Grant
Overall Mean Impact Score: 2.6
Funding Period: 2021 – 2022

Amount: $2,500.00