Alena M. Grabowski

  • Associate Professor
  • INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Address

Office: Clare 103    
Fax: 303-492-4009

Research Interests

  • The interaction of physiology and biomechanics during human locomotion; specifically how the implementation of assistive mechanical devices, such as leg prostheses and exoskeletons, influence walking, running, hopping, jumping, bicycling, and sprinting.
  • Applied Biomechanics Laboratory.

Education

  • 1995-1998, B.A., Kinesiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
  • 2002-2007, Ph.D., Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Professional Experience

  • 2007-2011, Post-doctoral Fellow, Media Lab Biomechatronics Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
  • 2009-2011, Research Scientist, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Providence VA Center for Restorative & Regenerative Medicine, Providence, RI
  • 2011-2012, Research Specialist, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Whirlwind Wheelchair International, San Francisco, CA
  • 2012-2013, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
  • 2013-2020, Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
  • 2013-Present, Research Healthcare Scientist, Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Denver, CO
  • 2020-Present, Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Recent Publications

  • BJ Needles, S Kim, & AM Grabowski. The Running Economy and Biomechanics of Competitive Distance Runners Wearing Advanced Footwear Technology Spikes. European Journal of Applied Physiology https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-026-06257-y 
  • Z Colvin, WM Adams, M Uihlein & AM Grabowski. Effects of stick length on metabolic cost, acceleration, maximum speed, and agility of elite male para ice-hockey athletes. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2026.2670824 
  • CE Hirschmann, J Zhang-Lea, & AM Grabowski. Real-time visual feedback affects peak propulsive horizontal force and metabolic cost in individuals with unilateral transtibial amputation during walking. Journal of Applied Physiology https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00092.2025 
  • KR Ashcraft & AM Grabowski. The effects of leg prosthesis stiffness and takeoff board stiffness on long jump performance. Sci Rep 16, 7418 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38100-x 
  • JR Tacca, *ZA Colvin, & AM Grabowski. Effects of prosthetic ankle power and foot stiffness category on biomechanical asymmetry and knee moment during walking at different speeds. Scientific reports Published: 05 February 2026 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-37225-3
  • SP Allen, GB Diaz, & AM Grabowski.Mechanics and energetics of cycling with unilateral transtibial amputation: Effects of prosthetic effective leg length and prosthesis type. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
  • M Schneider, Z Colvin, AM Grabowski and C Gonzalez Welker. Modeling the Biomechanical Features Affecting the Metabolic Rate of Walking with a Powered Ankle-Foot Prosthesis. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, section Biomedical Robotics: Advances in Smart and Adaptive Prosthetic and Wearable Technologies. Submitted on: 18 Sep 2025
  • HB Archer, S Kim, HE Stewart, JL McNitt-Gray, ME Hahn, R Kram, & AM Grabowski. Can biomechanical values and asymmetry predict bone stress injuries in collegiate distance runners? Sports Biomechanics https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2025.2506563
  • HE Stewart, RS Alcantara, KA Farina, ME Hahn, AM Grabowski, R Kram, RR Wilcox, and JL McNitt-Gray. Can ground reaction force variables pre-identify the probability of a musculoskeletal injury in collegiate distance runners? Journal of Applied Biomechanics https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2023-0226
  • BJ Needles & AM Grabowski. Does Running Speed affect the Performance Improvements Experienced by Elite Distance Runners Wearing Advanced Footwear Technology Spikes? Journal of Applied Physiology Nov. 19, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00610.2024
  • SP Allen, GB Diaz, & AM Grabowski.The Effect of Unequal Crank Arm Lengths and Cycling-Specific Prostheses for Recreational Riders with a Transtibial Amputation Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 56(10):1976-1987, October 2024. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003480
  • JR Tacca, ZA Colvin, & AM Grabowski. Greater than recommended stiffness and power setting of a stance-phase powered leg prosthesis can improve step-to-step transition work and effective foot length ratio during walking in people with transtibial amputation. Frontiers in Bioengineering doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1336520
  • KR Ashcraft & AM Grabowski. Prosthetic Stiffness and Added Mass Affect Metabolic Power and Asymmetry in Female Runners with a Leg Amputation Journal of Applied Physiology https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00522.2023
  • BJ Needles & AM Grabowski. Letter to the Editor: When Does Technology Become Too Advanced for Track and Field? Journal of Applied Physiology
  • CE Hirschmann, JR Montgomery, & AM Grabowski. The contribution of lower-limb joint quasi-stiffness to theoretical leg stiffness during level, uphill and downhill running at different speeds. Royal Society Open Science https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231133
  • SP Allen & AM Grabowski. The spring stiffness profile within a passive, full-leg exoskeleton affects lower-limb joint mechanics while hopping. Royal Society Open Sciencehttps://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.231449
  • JR Tacca, ZA Colvin, & AM Grabowski. Low-profile prosthetic foot stiffness category and size, and shoes affect axial and torsional stiffness and hysteresis. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Scienceshttps://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2024.1290092
  • GB Diaz, RS Alcantara, & AM Grabowski. Maximum velocity and leg-specific ground reaction force production change with radius during flat curve sprinting. Journal of Experimental Biology jeb.246649. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.246649
  • JH Zhang-Lea, JR Tacca, ON Beck, P Taboga, & AM Grabowski. Equivalent running leg lengths require prosthetic legs to be longer than biological legs during standing. Scientific reports 13 (1), 7679.