Hardin, Elizabeth, PhD

My research interests lie in improving the walking ability of those with injuries and pathologies, such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease.

My strengths are in lower extremity mechanics and control. Together with my FES Center colleagues, we’re delivering simultaneous exposure to virtual reality (VR) training and noninvasive brain stimulation using my expertise in development and delivery of VR applications for assessing and improving walking and standing. In addition, we’re investigating the interaction of deep brain stimulation and optic flow by developing and deploying tests to diagnose, monitor and improve Parkinsonian gait.

My other work has included collaborating with engineers to optimize prosthetic design and control, working with neurologists to use focal vibration to improve walking in those with multiple sclerosis, and improving walking function in those with incomplete spinal cord injury by deploying implanted electrical stimulation to activate otherwise paralyzed or weakened muscles and coordinate them with remaining volitional movements.

My awards have taught me how to work with able bodied and injured research participants together with a diverse team of students and professionals including clinicians, engineers, scientists, as well as regulatory and administrative staff — critical for collaborative research.

Research Programs

• Lower Extremity FES Program

Co-Investigator Programs

• Subthalamic deep brain stimulation to modulate vestibular heading perception in Parkinson’s disease, Veterans Affairs Clinical Science Research and Development
• Transcranial direct current stimulation for post-stroke gait rehab, Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service

Publications (Select)

1. Song, J., Hardin, E.C., (2023). Monitoring walking asymmetries and endpoint control in persons living with chronic stroke: Implications for remote diagnosis and telerehabilitation. Digital Health. Accepted.
2. Agharazi, A., Hardin, E.C., Flannery, K., Beylergil, S.B., Noecker, A., Kilbane, C., McIntyre, C., Shaikh, A.G. (2023). Physiological measures and anatomical correlates of subthalamic deep brain stimulation effect on gait in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. Jun 15:449:120647.
3. Hardin, E.C., Bailey, S.N., Kobetic, R., Lombardo, L.M., Foglyano, K.M., Schnellenberger, J.R., Selkirk, S.M. (2022). Development and deployment of cyclical focal muscle vibration system to improve walking performance in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, 46:5, 393-401, doi:10.1080/03091902.2022.2080880.
4. Salameh, A., McCabe, J.P., Skelly, M. Duncan, K.R., Chen, Z. Tutsuoka, C., Bikson, M., Hardin, E.C., Daly, J.J., Pundik, S. (2022). Stance phase gait training post stroke using simultaneous transcranial direct current stimulation and motor learning-based virtual Reality-assisted therapy: Protocol development and initial testing. Brain Sci. 12(6):701.
5. Hardin, E.C., Bailey, S.N., Kobetic, R., Lombardo, L.M., Foglyano, K.M., Schnellenberger, J.R., Selkirk, S.M. (2022). Toe clearance facilitation to improve walking in multiple sclerosis: The effect of cyclical focal muscle vibration. PM&R: The Journal of Injury, Function and Rehabilitation. 2022; 1- 3. doi:10.1002/pmrj.12759
6. Warner, H., Khalaf, P., Richter, H., Simon, D., Hardin, E.C., and van den Bogert, A.J. (2022). Early evaluation of a powered transfemoral prosthesis with force-modulated impedance control and energy regeneration. Medical Engineering & Physics. 100, 103744, ISSN 1350-4533, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2021.103744.
7. Fakoorian, S., Roshanineshat, A., Khalaf, P., Azimi, V. Simon, D. and Hardin, E.C. (2020). An extensive set of kinematic and kinetic data for individuals with intact limbs and transfemoral prosthesis users. Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, 2020;2020:1-13.
8. Mohammadi, H., Khademi, G., Hardin, E.C. and Simon, D. (2019). User intent Recognition for transfemoral amputees with prosthetic legs using evolutionary algorithms. Proceedings of the 2019 ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, DSCC2019-9150.
9. Khalaf, P., Warner, H., Hardin, E.C., Richter, H., and Simon, D. (2018). Development and experimental validation of an energy regenerative prosthetic knee controller and prototype, Proceedings of the 2018 ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, DSCC2018-9091. Awarded Best Student Paper.
10. Khademi, G., Mohammadi, H., Hardin, E.C. and Simon, D. (2017). Activity Mode Recognition for Transfemoral Amputees with Powered Prostheses Using Evolutionary Algorithms. The Thirty-Second AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence.
11. Khademi,G., Mohammadi, H., Simon, D. and Hardin, E.C. (2015). Evolutionary optimization of user intent recognition for transfemoral amputees. IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems.
12. Hardin, E.C., Kobetic, R., and Triolo, R.J. (2013). Ambulation and Spinal Cord Injury. In: Ambulation in Adults with Central Neurologic Disorders, Bethoux, Francois, Ed. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 24(2). Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA.
13. van den Bogert, A.J., Geijtenbeek, T., Even-Zohar, O., Steenbrink, F. Hardin, E.C. (2013). A real-time system for biomechanical analysis of human movement and muscle function. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing. 51:1069–1077.
14. Bailey, S. N., Hardin, E.C., Kobetic, R., Boggs, L.M., Pinault, G., and Triolo, R.J. (2010). Neurotherapeutic and neuroprosthetic effects of implanted electrical stimulation for ambulation after incomplete spinal cord injury. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 47(1):7-16.
15. Hardin, E.C., Kobetic, R., Pinault, G., Ho, C. and Triolo, R.J. (2007). Walking after incomplete spinal cord injury using an implanted FES system: a case report. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development 44(3):333-346.
16. Hardin, E.C., Su, A. and van den Bogert, A.J. (2004). Pre-impact lower extremity posture and brake pedal force predict foot and ankle forces during an automobile collision. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 126(6):770-778.
17. Hardin, E.C., Su, A. and van den Bogert, A.J. (2004). Foot and ankle forces during an automobile collision: The influence of muscles. Journal of Biomechanics 37(5):637-644.
18. Hardin, E.C., van den Bogert, A.J. and Hamill, J. (2004). Kinematic adaptations during running: effects of footwear, surface and duration. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 36(5):838-844.
19. Hardin, E.C. and Hamill, J. (2002). The influence of midsole cushioning on mechanical and hematological responses during a prolonged run. Research Quarterly, 73(2):125-133.
20. Li, L., Hardin, E.C., Caldwell, G.E., van Emmerik, R.E. and Hamill, J. (1999). Coordination patterns of walking and running at similar speed and stride frequency. Human Movement Science, 18:67-85.