Maxine Olson, PhD

Dr. Olson serves as Research Engineer and Lab Manager for the Physical Therapy Movement Analysis Lab as well as an Instructor for the Department of Physical Therapy. She teaches in the Kinesiology and Motor Control, and Critical Inquiry courses. Additionally, her responsibilities include leading and assisting DPT student research groups in the Physical Therapy Movement Analysis Lab. Her current research interests include biomechanics and sensorimotor control in adults and pediatric populations with foot pathologies. More specifically her work is in the areas of biomechanical modeling of multi-segment foot kinetics, ankle proprioception, total ankle replacement, and the relationship of diabetes mellitus to balance and function.

Research Interests

• Computational biomechanical modeling of multi-segment foot kinetics and joint contact forces in typically developing and pathologic pediatric populations
• Modeling of biomechanics of functional tasks and muscle performance in people after total ankle replacement
• Mechanisms and measurement of foot pathology and balance in people with diabetes mellitus

Selected Publications and Presentations

• DiLiberto FE, Kamath HER, Olson ML, Miller SA, Helminski JO, Cherchi M, Schubert MC. Vestibular dysfunction in people with diabetes is predicted by clinical measures of peripheral neuropathy and associated with imbalance and low physical activity. Diabetes Res Clin Prac. 2026;223:113162. doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2026.113162
• Stevens KM, Olson ML, DiLiberto FE. Differences in Ground Reaction Force During Foot Strength Testing in Sitting and Standing Positions. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 2025; 10.1123/jab.2025-0100.
• Olson ML, Miller SA, DiLiberto FE. Targeting ankle proprioception: A novel, valid, and reliable approach to measuring ankle proprioception for clinical implementation. Measurement. 2025;239:115426. doi: 10.1016/j.measurement.2024.115426
• Olson ML, Voglewede P, Krzak JJ, Miller SA, Garman CMR, Harris GFl. A valid novel ground reaction force distribution algorithm to determine midfoot kinetics of gait with a single force plate. Gait & Posture. 2025;117:185-190. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2024.12.019
• DiLiberto FE, Kamath HER, Olson ML, Cherchi M, Helminski JO, Schubert MC. When, where, and why should we look for vestibular dysfunction in people with diabetes mellitus? Review. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences. 2024;4 doi: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1306010

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering, emphasis in Foot and Ankle Biomechanics
  Marquette University
  Milwaukee WI
• Master of Science in Physics, emphases in Dynamics and Teaching
  Northern Illinois University
  DeKalb IL
• Bachelor of Arts in Physics
  Carthage College
  Kenosha WI
• Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics
  Carthage College
  Kenosha WI

Certification

• Wisconsin Professional Educator License; Physics, 2015
• Illinois Professional Educator License; Physics, Mathematics, General Science, 2002

Honors and Awards

• Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society Travel Award, 2023

Professional Society Membership

• Gait & Clinical Movement Analysis Society
• American Society of Biomechanics
• International Society of Biomechanics