Dr Luke Kelly
Dr

Luke Kelly

Email: 

Background

I am an Honorary Associate Professor within the School of Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences. My primary area of research is focused on enhancing our understanding of the complex function of the human foot. Despite the importance of our feet in our daily lives, we know little about this complex anatomical structure. I am driven to understand how the foot has evolved, to perform such a diverse array of locomotor tasks with relative effectiveness and efficiency. Specifically, I study how the brain and spinal cord control foot function, and the role of elastic connective tissues in providing structural support and energy conservation. I am fascinated by the intricate interaction of the many small bones within the foot, and how variations in structure may influence the physcial performance of the foot. Beyond fundamental science, my research has broad application across a range of areas. My research program has both direct industry connections (e.g. Australian Sports Commission and Asics Oceania) and potential applications in different areas of health (e.g. chronic musculoskeletal conditions - osteoarthritis), rehabilitation, and robotic/prosthetic design.

Availability

Dr Luke Kelly is:
Not available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Podiatry, Queensland University of Technology
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Biomechanics of the Foot and Lower Limb

    Exploring the complex function of the human foot in the context of human performance and musculoskeletal health

  • Cricket Biomechanics

    - Biomechanics consultant to Cricket Australia - Member of The International Cricket Council Panel of Human Movement Experts

Search Professor Luke Kelly’s works on UQ eSpace

78 works between 2010 and 2025
All (78) Journal Article (56) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (7) Other Outputs (14)

1 - 20 of 78 works

Featured

2021

Journal Article

The extensibility of the plantar fascia influences the windlass mechanism during human running

Welte, Lauren, Kelly, Luke A., Kessler, Sarah E., Lieberman, Daniel E., D'Andrea, Susan E., Lichtwark, Glen A. and Rainbow, Michael J. (2021). The extensibility of the plantar fascia influences the windlass mechanism during human running. Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences, 288 (1943) 2095, 1-10. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2095

The extensibility of the plantar fascia influences the windlass mechanism during human running

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Reliability and quality of statistical shape and deformation models constructed from optical foot scans

Schuster, Robert Wolfgang, Cresswell, Andrew and Kelly, Luke (2021). Reliability and quality of statistical shape and deformation models constructed from optical foot scans. Journal of Biomechanics, 115 110137, 110137. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.110137

Reliability and quality of statistical shape and deformation models constructed from optical foot scans

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Ahead of the curve in the evolution of human feet

Lichtwark, Glen A. and Kelly, Luke A (2020). Ahead of the curve in the evolution of human feet. Nature, 579 (7797), 31-32. doi: 10.1038/d41586-020-00472-z

Ahead of the curve in the evolution of human feet

Featured

2019

Journal Article

A direct comparison of biplanar videoradiography and optical motion capture for foot and ankle kinematics

Kessler, Sarah E., Rainbow, Michael J., Lichtwark, Glen A., Cresswell, Andrew G., D'Andrea, Susan E., Konow, Nicolal and Kelly, Luke A. (2019). A direct comparison of biplanar videoradiography and optical motion capture for foot and ankle kinematics. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 7 (AUG) 199, 199. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00199

A direct comparison of biplanar videoradiography and optical motion capture for foot and ankle kinematics

Featured

2019

Journal Article

The functional importance of human foot muscles for bipedal locomotion

Farris, Dominic James, Kelly, Luke A., Cresswell, Andrew G. and Lichtwark, Glen A. (2019). The functional importance of human foot muscles for bipedal locomotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116 (5), 201812820-1650. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1812820116

The functional importance of human foot muscles for bipedal locomotion

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Intrinsic foot muscles have the capacity to control deformation of the longitudinal arch

Kelly, Luke A., Cresswell, Andrew G., Racinais, Sebastien, Whiteley, Rodney and Lichtwark, Glen (2014). Intrinsic foot muscles have the capacity to control deformation of the longitudinal arch. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 11 (93) 20131188, 20131188.1-20131188.9. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2013.1188

Intrinsic foot muscles have the capacity to control deformation of the longitudinal arch

2025

Journal Article

Human in vivo talocrural contributions to ankle joint complex kinematics during walking, running, and hopping

Behling, Anja-Verena, Welte, Lauren, Rainbow, Michael J. and Kelly, Luke (2025). Human in vivo talocrural contributions to ankle joint complex kinematics during walking, running, and hopping. Heliyon, 11 (1) e41301, e41301. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41301

Human in vivo talocrural contributions to ankle joint complex kinematics during walking, running, and hopping

2024

Journal Article

The influence of talus size and shape on <i>in vivo</i> talocrural hopping kinematics

Behling, Anja-Verena, Kelly, Luke, Welte, Lauren and Rainbow, Michael J. (2024). The influence of talus size and shape on in vivo talocrural hopping kinematics. Royal Society Open Science, 11 (10) 231997, 231997. doi: 10.1098/rsos.231997

The influence of talus size and shape on <i>in vivo</i> talocrural hopping kinematics

2024

Journal Article

Human in vivo midtarsal and subtalar joint kinematics during walking, running and hopping

Behling, Anja-Verena, Welte, Lauren, Kelly, Luke and Rainbow, Michael J. (2024). Human in vivo midtarsal and subtalar joint kinematics during walking, running and hopping. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 21 (214) 20240074. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2024.0074

Human in vivo midtarsal and subtalar joint kinematics during walking, running and hopping

2024

Journal Article

Markerless motion capture provides accurate predictions of ground reaction forces across a range of movement tasks

Lichtwark, Glen A., Schuster, Robert W., Kelly, Luke A., Trost, Stewart G. and Bialkowski, Alina (2024). Markerless motion capture provides accurate predictions of ground reaction forces across a range of movement tasks. Journal of Biomechanics, 166 112051, 112051. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112051

Markerless motion capture provides accurate predictions of ground reaction forces across a range of movement tasks

2024

Journal Article

Human foot form and function: variable and versatile, yet sufficiently related to predict function from form

Schuster, Robert W., Cresswell, Andrew G. and Kelly, Luke A. (2024). Human foot form and function: variable and versatile, yet sufficiently related to predict function from form. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 291 (2014) 20232543, 20232543. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2543

Human foot form and function: variable and versatile, yet sufficiently related to predict function from form

2024

Other Outputs

Underlying data for publication : Mitigating Stress: Exploring how our feet change shape with size - Updated

Treherne, Paige and Kelly, Luke (2024). Underlying data for publication : Mitigating Stress: Exploring how our feet change shape with size - Updated. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/c38ac89

Underlying data for publication : Mitigating Stress: Exploring how our feet change shape with size - Updated

2023

Journal Article

It is not just the work you do, but how you do it: the metabolic cost of walking uphill and downhill with varying grades

Jessup, Luke N., Kelly, Luke A., Cresswell, Andrew G. and Lichtwark, Glen A. (2023). It is not just the work you do, but how you do it: the metabolic cost of walking uphill and downhill with varying grades. Journal of Applied Physiology, 135 (6), 1263-1267. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00349.2023

It is not just the work you do, but how you do it: the metabolic cost of walking uphill and downhill with varying grades

2023

Journal Article

Chasing footprints in time – reframing our understanding of human foot function in the context of current evidence and emerging insights

Behling, Anja‐Verena, Rainbow, Michael J., Welte, Lauren and Kelly, Luke (2023). Chasing footprints in time – reframing our understanding of human foot function in the context of current evidence and emerging insights. Biological Reviews, 98 (6), 2136-2151. doi: 10.1111/brv.12999

Chasing footprints in time – reframing our understanding of human foot function in the context of current evidence and emerging insights

2023

Journal Article

Validation of a musculoskeletal model for simulating muscle mechanics and energetics during diverse human hopping tasks

Jessup, Luke N., Kelly, Luke A., Cresswell, Andrew G. and Lichtwark, Glen A. (2023). Validation of a musculoskeletal model for simulating muscle mechanics and energetics during diverse human hopping tasks. Royal Society Open Science, 10 (10) 230393, 1-10. doi: 10.1098/rsos.230393

Validation of a musculoskeletal model for simulating muscle mechanics and energetics during diverse human hopping tasks

2023

Other Outputs

Human in vivo midtarsal and subtalar joint kinematics during walking, running, and hopping.

Behling, Anja-Verena and Kelly, Luke (2023). Human in vivo midtarsal and subtalar joint kinematics during walking, running, and hopping.. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/ca5f58e

Human in vivo midtarsal and subtalar joint kinematics during walking, running, and hopping.

2023

Journal Article

Examining the intrinsic foot muscles’ capacity to modulate plantar flexor gearing and ankle joint contributions to propulsion in vertical jumping

Smith, Ross, Lichtwark, Glen, Farris, Dominic and Kelly, Luke (2023). Examining the intrinsic foot muscles’ capacity to modulate plantar flexor gearing and ankle joint contributions to propulsion in vertical jumping. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 12 (5), 639-647. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2022.07.002

Examining the intrinsic foot muscles’ capacity to modulate plantar flexor gearing and ankle joint contributions to propulsion in vertical jumping

2023

Journal Article

Foot shape modelling of older adults with and without diabetes mellitus

Hemler, Sarah, Schuster, Robert, Pataky, Zoltan and Kelly, Luke A. (2023). Foot shape modelling of older adults with and without diabetes mellitus. Footwear Science, 15 2199292, S74-S75. doi: 10.1080/19424280.2023.2199292

Foot shape modelling of older adults with and without diabetes mellitus

2023

Conference Publication

Talus shape predicts subtalar running kinematics in minimalist shoes

Behling, Anja-Verena, Rainbow, Michael, Welte, Lauren and Kelly, Luke (2023). Talus shape predicts subtalar running kinematics in minimalist shoes. Sixteenth Footwear Biomechanics Symposium, Osaka, Japan, 26-28 July 2023. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1080/19424280.2023.2199301

Talus shape predicts subtalar running kinematics in minimalist shoes

2023

Journal Article

Mobility of the human foot’s medial arch helps enable upright bipedal locomotion

Welte, Lauren, Holowka, Nicholas B., Kelly, Luke A., Arndt, Anton and Rainbow, Michael J. (2023). Mobility of the human foot’s medial arch helps enable upright bipedal locomotion. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11 1155439, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1155439

Mobility of the human foot’s medial arch helps enable upright bipedal locomotion

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2021
    A multi-system approach to understand painful midfoot osteoarthritis
    Arthritis Foundation of Australia
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Does foot shape even matter? Rethinking the function of the human foot
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Understanding the patho-physiology of chronic heel pain in children
    Australian Podiatry Education and Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Understanding the patho-physiology of chronic heel pain in children
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2022
    Optimising the spring in your step to enhance footwear design
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Can muscles tune foot stiffness to enhance efficiency of human locomotion?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Sensorimotor control of foot function: Adapting the mechanical function of the foot to optimise balance and gait performance
    NHMRC Early Career Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    2015-2016 Biomechanics Services and Research Agreement - UQ - Cricket Australia
    Cricket Australia
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Undertake a pilot research study into the biomechanical efficiencies of the ASICS 'Natural' shoe
    Asics Oceania Pty Ltd
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Luke Kelly is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Morphology and function of the human ankle joint

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Biomechanical investigations of Tibial Pilon Fractures and the impact on the Talar dome.

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Does Foot shape matter? Rethinking the mechanical function of the human foot

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    It's all about the talus: Understanding the relationship between human foot morphology and function

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Does Foot shape matter? Rethinking the mechanical function of the human foot

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    It's all about the talus: Understanding the relationship between human foot morphology and function

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    It's all about the talus: Understanding the relationship between human foot morphology and function

    Principal Advisor

  • Master Philosophy

    Player load of professional netball players

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Andrew Cresswell

  • Master Philosophy

    Investigating Peak Periods of Physical Demand in Elite Female Netball Players

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Andrew Cresswell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The impact of fatigue on how running performance and economy

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Andrew Cresswell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The principal advisor has reviewed the student's thesis submission and approved it for review. The submission can now be approved for examination or changes can be requested.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Andrew Cresswell

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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