John Mercer

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Professor, Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences
Co-director, UNLV Sports Research and Innovation Initiative
Expertise: Biomechanics (physics of sports), Kinesiology (study of human movement), Running

Biography

John Mercer is a professor for the department of kinesiology & nutrition sciences, which is the study of how the human body moves. He is an expert in kinesiology, biomechanics (the physics of sports), and running. Mercer has trained as a triathlete for more than 25 years.

A prolific researcher, Mercer recently directed kinesiology-focused studies on rehabilitation techniques like running in the water and running with body weight support, how shoe design is important to consider for children runners, and if rocker-bottom styled shoes increase muscle development in the lower legs.

His work has been published in dozens of industry publications including the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, the Journal of Applied Biomechanics, the European Journal of Applied Physiology, and Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Mercer is also chair of UNLV’s Biomedical Institutional Review Board, which approves, monitors, and reviews biomedical and social/behavioral research involving human subjects in order to protect their rights and welfare. 

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health & medicine, sports and recreation

John Mercer In The News

‘Circus Meets Medicine’: Treating tumblers, contortionists and hair-hangers
Las Vegas Review Journal
Emergency physician Nathan Hollister noticed that when a UFC fighter came into the ER, or a member of the Las Vegas Raiders or Vegas Golden Knights, there were special protocols for treating their injuries.
What is cadence in running and why is it important?
Live Science
From sprinting to long distance, the body uses a lot of energy during running and eventually becomes fatigued. How often the feet hit the ground and at what angle can not only improve running efficiency, but potentially help prevent injury too. This is known as cadence — something that many of the best running watches now have the ability to track. But what cadence is best? And is it possible for someone to change their running cadence? We looked at the science.
Could running underwater be the secret to healing runners' injuries? UNLV researcher thinks so
K.N.P.R. News
Running can lead to a lot of injuries. So how can a runner remain fit while they heal?
Hack Your Diet for Better Run Performance
M.S.N.
When I realized how under fueled I was, I knew I had to rethink my eating habits.
All John Mercer In The News

Articles Featuring John Mercer

UNLV Newsmakers 2022: June
Lake Mead
Campus News | July 11, 2022

A collection of news stories highlighting UNLV experts who made headlines locally, nationally, and around the world.

The Science Below the Surface
woman running in pool
Research | May 4, 2022

Kinesiology professor John Mercer turned a love of triathlons into a vector for research into wetsuit technology and underwater running.

The Nexus of Sports, Research, and Community
Three people stand framed by Allegiant Stadium in the background.
Research | November 3, 2020

UNLV's Sports Research and Innovation Initiative gives a home to the university's sports-related research — and is positioned as a crucial touchstone of a burgeoning sports mecca.

UNLV Newsmakers 2020: July
A portrait of U.N.L.V.'s new president Keith Whitfield on campus.
Campus News | August 10, 2020

As summer heats up, so do the accomplishments on UNLV’s campus.

All Articles Featuring John Mercer