Payam Zandiyeh, PhD

Biography

Payam Zandiyeh, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston (external link) and director of the Biomotion Laboratory.

His research program integrates biomechanics, advanced medical imaging, neuromuscular assessment, and computational modeling to investigate the mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal function, injury, and disease. Specifically, his work focuses on understanding how orthopedic pathologies alter in vivo joint mechanics during dynamic activities, translating these insights into improved diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and injury prevention.

Research

As director of the Biomotion Laboratory, Dr. Zandiyeh runs an interdisciplinary research facility studying human musculoskeletal function through quantitative movement analysis. Specifically, his research examines the interactions among skeletal motion, joint mechanics, muscle function, and neuromuscular control, seeking to identify the biomechanical mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal injury and disease and to determine how interventions influence recovery.

Laboratory Technology

The laboratory integrates multiple measurement technologies to study human movement, including high-speed biplanar videoradiography for precise in vivo measurements of bones and joints, optical motion capture for whole-body movement analysis, wireless electromyography for muscle activation, GNRB arthrometry for ligament laxity evaluation, and Biodex dynamometry for muscular strength assessment. Additionally, these tools integrate with medical imaging and computational modeling to study anatomy, tissue mechanics, and functional performance.

Research Objectives

Dr. Zandiyeh’s research is organized around three goals: first, defining how injury and disease alter biomechanical function during daily and athletic tasks; second, translating joint mechanics data into clinically relevant information to improve diagnosis and treatment; and third, developing strategies that promote recovery, preserve joint health, and reduce reinjury risk.

Overall, this work spans sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and human performance, connecting biomechanical research with clinical questions to inform decision-making.

Collaboration and Training

Additionally, Dr. Zandiyeh works with orthopedic surgeons, physicians, engineers, and trainees to address clinically relevant musculoskeletal problems, providing students, residents, and fellows with opportunities to develop expertise in biomechanics, movement analysis, and translational orthopedic research.

Ultimately, through this integration of engineering and clinical orthopedics, Dr. Zandiyeh aims to establish quantitative links between musculoskeletal structure, function, and patient outcomes, advancing precise approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.