Nirav Maniar
Associate Professor
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Areas of expertise: biomechanics; musculoskeletal modelling; knee injury; hamstring injury, data analytics and visualisation
HDR Supervisor accreditation status: Full
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6180-6003
Phone: +61 03 9953 3030
Email: [email protected]
Location: ACU Melbourne Campus
A/Prof Nirav Maniar completed a Bachelor of Exercise and Movement Science at Queensland University of Technology in 2014. He subsequently completed his doctoral thesis (PhD) in knee injury biomechanics at ACU in 2018. Dr Maniar joined ACU’s School of Behavioural and Health Sciences as a full-time lecturer in 2019.
His research work primarily focuses on the biomechanics of lower-limb performance and injury, especially that occurring to the anterior cruciate ligament and the hamstrings. He utilises a range of technologies and methods, including three-dimensional motion capture, musculoskeletal modelling, and data analytics/visualisation.
Select publications
- Breed, R., Hulm, S., Hickey, J. T., Timmins, R. G., Opar, D., Banyard, H. G., & Maniar, N. (2026). Hamstring force and stretch during progressively increasing running speeds and the eccentric phase of resistance training exercises commonly used for injury prevention and rehabilitation. British journal of sports medicine, 60(6), 420–428. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-110847
- Maniar, N., Verhagen, E., Bryant, A. L., & Opar, D. A. (2022). Trends in Australian knee injury rates: An epidemiological analysis of 228,344 knee injuries over 20 years. The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific, 21, 100409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100409
- Steventon-Lorenzen, N., Fitzwilliam, E., Schache, A. G., Opar, D., & Maniar, N. (2026). Hamstring Mechanics During Acceleration, Deceleration and Sidestep Cutting. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 36(4), e70257. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.70257
- Maniar N, Schache AG, Sritharan P, Opar DA. Non-knee-spanning muscles contribute to tibiofemoral shear as well as valgus and rotational joint reaction moments during unanticipated sidestep cutting. Scientific Reports 2018 Feb 6; 8(1):2501. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-19098-9
- Maniar N, Schache AG, Pizzolato C, Opar DA. Muscle contributions to tibiofemoral shear forces and valgus and rotational joint moments during single leg drop landing. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. 2020 Sep; 30(9):1664-1674. doi: 10.1111/sms.13711
Projects
Current PhD projects
- Musculoskeletal simulation tools for informing athletic performance and injury
- Biomechanics of deceleration in multidirectional team-based sports
- Returning Postpartum Female Athletes to the High-Impact Demands of Sport
- An Investigation of Myo-Aponeurotic Morphology, Tissue Response and Adaptation Using Computational Modelling in Biceps Femoris Long Head.
- Hip and groin pain in female athletes: Investigating links to women’s pelvic health disorders, menstrual cycle and athletic load
Completed PhD projects
- An investigation of hamstring strain injury risk factors and exercise prescription in sport. 2026.
- Lower limb strength and biomechanics after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. 2023.
- Interrupting prolonged sitting with intermittent physical activity in adults with abnormal glucose metabolism: Effects on vascular function. 2022.
Select funded projects
- Bridging Research and Clinical Excellence with an Embedded PhD Cohort at the Centaur Institute (formerly OrthoSport Victoria Institute). 2025 – 2030. $210,000.
- Hamstring Injury (HAMIR) Index: A framework for injury mitigation strategies through innovative imaging, biomechanics, and data analytics. 2021 – 2025. US$4 Million.
- Hamstring activation and musculotendinous strain during hamstring exercises and high intensity running. Faculty of Health Sciences Project Grant. 2019. $10,000.
Accolades and awards
- AJPHeart and Circulatory Physiology 2023 Impact Award (co-author)
- Australian Catholic University Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2018)
- Sports Medicine Australia ASICS Medal Winner (co-author) – Best Paper at Sports Medicine Australia Conference (2017)
- Australian Postgraduate Award. (2015-2017)
Appointments and affiliations
Academic appointments
- Associate Professor, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, 2026-current
- Senior lecturer, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, 2023-2025
- Lecturer, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, 2019-2022
