Dr. Ryan Wedge
Dr. Ryan D. Wedge, PhD, PT, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at East Carolina University, where he leads the Locomotion Optimization Group. With a background in physical therapy from Quinnipiac University and a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr. Wedge blends clinical expertise with a passion for research focused on improving movement and rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with lower-limb injuries or amputations.
His research explores how walking mechanics are affected by conditions such as limb loss, joint replacement, and stroke. He investigates the biomechanics of gait, metabolic energy expenditure, and joint loading to inform more effective rehabilitation strategies and prosthetic designs. Dr. Wedge has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and was recently honored with the North Carolina APTA Distinguished Abstract Award. In addition to his research, he teaches courses in prosthetics, orthotics, and biomechanics, helping train the next generation of physical therapy professionals.