Assistant Professor

Department of Physical Therapy
Harry and Dianne Rinker Health Science Campus
Chapman University
9401 Jeronimo Rd Irvine, CA 92618

Jo Armour Smith is an adjunct assistant professor who is interested in postural control of the trunk during dynamic activities. Her research focuses on how trunk postural control is modified by musculoskeletal pain, aging and skill acquisition, with current investigations into the relationship between the functional organization of the motor cortex and anticipatory postural adjustments in young and older adults, with an aim to improve evaluation and treatment of patients with movement disorders.

Post-Doctoral Fellow, Neuroplasticity and Imaging Lab, University of Southern California, 2014
Doctor of Philosophy, Biokinesiology, University of Southern California, 2014
Master of Manual Therapy, University of Western Australia, Perth, 2007
Bachelor of Science with Honors, Physiotherapy, University of London, 2001

Neuromechanics of Human Movement Laboratory

Selected Publications

• Armour Smith, J., Kulig K (2014). “Do synergistic trunk muscles have distinct postural roles during functional locomotion? An investigation of walking turns in young individuals with and without a history of low back pain” (submitted, Journal of the Royal Society Interface).
• Armour Smith, J., Kulig K (2014). “Does insertion of intramuscular electromyographic electrodes alter motor behavior during locomotion?” (in press, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology).
• Jarvis, D.N., Armour Smith, J., Kulig, K (2014). “Trunk coordination in trained and untrained athletes.” Journal of Applied Biomechanics (accepted).
• Armour Smith, J., Popovich, J.M.Jr., Kulig,K. (2014). “The influence of hip strength on lower limb, pelvis and trunk kinematics during walking and hopping in healthy women.” Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy (accepted).
• Armour Smith, J., Tuchman, A., Huoh, M., Kaiser, A. M., Schooler, W., Hsieh, P. C. (2014). “Locomotor biomechanics following total sacrectomy.” Spine (in revision).
• Kulig, K., Traina, K., Armour Smith, J.,Jarvis, D.N (2014). “Is femoral version related to lower extremity transverse plane rotation?” (submitted).
• Armour Smith, J., Siemienski, A., Popovich, J.M.Jr., Kulig, K. (2012). “Intra-task variability of trunk coordination during a rate-controlled bipedal dance jump.” Journal of Sports Sciences, 30 (2):139-147.
• Smith, J. (2009). “Moving beyond the neutral spine: stabilizing the dancer in lumbar extension.” Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, 13 (3): 73-83.
• Hartog, M., Smith, J., Zujko, A. (2006). “Acetabular labral tears in the dancer: A literature review.” Journal of Dance Medicine and Science 10(1-2): 51-56.
• Smith, J. , Lewis, J., Prichard, D. (2005). “Physiotherapy exercise programmes: Are verbal instructions sufficient?” Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 21 (2): 93-102.

Abstracts

• Armour Smith, J., Kulig, K (2013). “Paraspinal activity during locomotor perturbations with varying mechanical demands: A window into recurrent low back pain.” APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Las Vegas,USA (podium).
• Armour Smith, J., Kulig, K (2013). “Does insertion of intramuscular EMG electrodes affect kinematics during locomotion?” APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Las Vegas, USA (poster).
• Armour Smith, J., Kulig, K (2013). “Modulation of trunk kinematics in response to changing task constraints in young adults with a history of low back pain and healthy controls.” American Society of Biomechanics Annual Conference,Nebraska, USA (podium).
• Armour Smith, J., Kulig, K (2013). “The effect of divided attention on axial plane trunk kinematics during locomotion in healthy young adults and persons with a history of recurrent low back pain.” 2nd Joint World Congress of ISPGR and Gait and Mental Function, Akita, Japan, 2013 (poster).
• Jarvis, DN, Armour Smith, J., Kulig K,(2013). “Coordination variability is higher in non-dancers than in dancers during a jumping task.” National Athletic Trainers’ Association Annual Meeting,Las Vegas, NV (podium).
• Armour Smith, J., Gordon, J., Kulig, K. (2012). “Inter-segmental coordination variability during locomotion – do different analytical approaches tell the same story?” American Society of Biomechanics Annual Conference, Florida, USA (poster).
• Armour Smith, J., Beneck, G.J., Kulig, K (2012). “Maladaptive neuroplasticity in recurrent low back pain: A neuromechanical study.” University of Florida Annual NeuromuscularPlasticity Symposium, Gainesville, USA (poster).
• Armour Smith, J., Beneck, G.J., Kulig, K. (2012). “Neuromuscular control and kinematics in people with recurrent low back pain during anticipated walking turns.” APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Chicago, USA (poster).
• Armour Smith, J., Beneck, G.J., Kulig, K. (2011). “Anticipated walking turns in people with recurrent low back pain: A kinematic study.” American Society of Biomechanics Annual Conference, Long Beach, USA (poster).
• Sutton, K., Armour Smith, J.,Jarvis, D., Oki, K., Lee, S.P., Kulig,K. (2010). “The relationship between long bone morphology, dance history and turnout: An exploratory study.” International Society for Dance Medicine And Science Annual Meeting, Washington, USA (podium).
• Armour Smith, J., Siemienski, A., Popovich, J.M. Jr., Kulig, K. (2010). “Trunk segment coordination during a jumping task in elite dancers: An exploration using vector coding.” American Society of Biomechanics Annual Conference, Rhode Island, USA (poster).
• Armour Smith, J., Popovich, J.M. Jr., Kulig K. (2010). “Sagittal plane spinal kinematics during sautes.” International Association for Dance Medicine and Science Annual Meeting, Birmingham UK (podium).
• Smith, J. (2009). “Spinal motor control and the performing artist.” PerformingArtists Medicine Association Annual Symposium, Colorado, USA (podium).
• Smith, J. (2009). “Spinal extensor dysfunction in the dancer: A review.” International Association for Dance Medicine and Science Annual Meeting,Cleveland, USA (podium).
• Smith, J., Willard,S., Giffin, T., Jordan, N., Kinsella, N., Roche, D. (2003). “The reliability of manual muscle testing and hand-held dynamometry in testing the hip extensor strength of healthy subjects.” World Congress for Physical Therapy, Barcelona, Spain (poster).