Louis R. Osternig, Ph.D, was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Human Physiology at the University of Oregon. His teaching expertise was in the area of sports medicine, the study of the health implications of physical activity. His research focused on the exercise-induced adaptations of the musculoskeletal system to injury and exercise, and how these adaptations benefit or adversely affect health. Studies included neuromuscular adaptations to orthopedic injury and surgery, proprioceptive function, muscle viscoelasticity and motor performance, orthopedic bracing and running efficiency, muscle control in rehabilitation, and isokinetic exercise. His research included multi-joint accommodations to knee arthritis and total knee replacement, and recovery of motor function following concussion. He was a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Many of his publications may be found in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, American Journal of Physical Medicine, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, the Proceedings of the International Society for Biomechanics, Gait and Posture, Clinical Biomechanics, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, Brain, and Brain Injury.