Dr Daniel Kadlec

Research Fellow
PhD, CSCS, ASCA II

Email: daniel.kadlec@nd.edu.au

  • Biography

    Dr. Daniel Kadlec is a Research Fellow at The University of Notre Dame Australia. He works on athlete health and performance, data visualisation, and meta-research with a focus in sports biomechanics and human movement science. He completed his PhD in Sports Science at Edith Cowan University following an MSc in Strength & Conditioning at St Mary’s University, Twickenham (UK), a BSc from the German Sports University, and holds a degree in sports physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Alongside his academic career, Dr. Kadlec has more than 15 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach with national and international, junior and senior and para athletes.

  • Research expertise and supervision

    Current Supervision:

    • Alex Suleski: Longitudinal Changes in Muscular Strength, Biomechanics, and Self-Reported Outcomes in Athletes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR). Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University (2025-present).
    • Michael Lewis: Model based estimates of Anterior Cruciate Ligament forces during plyometric and change of direction exercises. Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University (2025-present).
    • Shane Scott: Understanding Quadriceps Function Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Doctor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame Australia (2024-present).
    • Piper Cornelius: Determining Thresholds of Diminishing Returns in Performance Assessments of Trained Sprinters. Master of Medical and Health Science by Research, Edith Cowan University (2025-present).

    Completed Supervision:

    • Matt Thome: Validity, reliability, and sensitivity of methods for monitoring training load and training effects in elite sprinters. Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University (2023).

  • Books

    1. Kadlec D, Groeger D, Matzka M. Athletiktraining in der Sportphysiotherapie. Stuttgart New York: Georg Thieme Verlag; 2021.
    2. Kadlec D, Groeger D. Athletiktraining in der Sportphysiotherapie. Stuttgart New York: Georg Thieme Verlag; 2026.

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    1. Vial S, Wilkie JC, Blazevich AJ, Kadlec D. Peak lower limb joint angles are weak predictors of hamstring length change during sprinting. Journal of Biomechanics. 2026 Feb 1;196:113127. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2025.113127
    2. Scott SC, Kadlec D, Hince D, Hill KG, Rio E, Vallence AM, et al. Deficits in quadriceps voluntary activation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction do not improve over time despite increases in quadriceps strength: A systematic review with meta-regression analyses of temporal trends. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2026 Jul;101160. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2026.101160
    3. Nimphius SF, Kadlec D. Warm-up is not a workout: a principles-based critique of continued efforts to use warm-up programmes for ACL injury prevention. Br J Sports Med. 2026 Apr 2. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2025-110614 PubMed PMID: 41927352.
    4. Murphy MC, Korakakis V, Scattone Silva R, Perez Armendariz L, Cowen G, Haydock C, et al. TENDINopathy Severity Assessment – Patellar (TENDINS-P): Development and Content Validity Assessment of a New Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Patellar Tendinopathy. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2026 Apr 9;1–32. doi:10.2519/jospt.2026.13984
    5. Kadlec D, Jordan MJ, Alderson J, Nimphius S. Adding a weight to constrain the trunk increases knee joint kinetics during sidestep cutting in female athletes. Sci Rep. 2026 Apr 14;16(1):12248. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-38368-z
    6. Vial S, Scanlan M, Beranek P, Kadlec D, Barley OR, Cochrane Wilkie J. How Strong Is Strong Enough? Assessing When Physical Performance Tests Cease to Be Predictive of Sprint Performance in Trained Football Players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2025 Oct;39(10):1195–201. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000005185
    7. Cassidy J, Kadlec D, Fransen J. Exploring Convergence and Divergence in Seemingly Contrasting Perspectives on Training Perceptual-Cognitive Abilities for Sports Performance Through Moderated Dialogue. Sports Med - Open. 2025 Aug 29;11(1):101. doi:10.1186/s40798-025-00904-y
    8. Raynor AJ, Nimphius S, Kadlec D, Casson S, Fox-Harding C, Fortington LV. Evaluation of the HEALTMing Mental Health program: A prospective cohort study of short-term changes from a physical activity and lifestyle education program for people with mental health disorders living in rural Australia. PLOS ONE. 2024 Mar 13;19(3):e0299859. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0299859
    9. Kadlec D, Jordan MJ, Alderson J, Nimphius S. Examining the Effects of Dynamic and Isometric Resistance Training on Knee Joint Kinetics During Unplanned Sidesteps in Elite Female Athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2024 May 9;38(12):2079–87. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000004923
    10. Kadlec D, Colyer S, Nagahara R, Nimphius S. An Exploratory Vector Field Analysis of Ground Reaction Force During Maximum Sprinting Efforts in Male Soccer Players and Sprinters. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 2024;34(11):e14763. doi:10.1111/sms.14763
    11. Kadlec D, Miller-Dicks M, Nimphius S. Training for “worst-case” scenarios in sidestepping: unifying strength and conditioning and perception–action approaches. Sports Medicine - Open. 2023 Apr 5;9(1):9–22. doi:10.1186/s40798-023-00566-8
    12. Kadlec D, Sainani KL, Nimphius S. With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: Common Errors in Meta-Analyses and Meta-Regressions in Strength & Conditioning Research. Sports Med. 2022 Oct 8;53:313–25. doi:10.1007/s40279-022-01766-0
    13. Kadlec D, Jordan MJ, Snyder L, Alderson J, Nimphius S. Test re-test reliability of single and multijoint strength properties in female Australian footballers. Sports Med - Open. 2021 Dec;7(1):1. doi:10.1186/s40798-020-00292-5
    14. Kadlec D, Young JD, Griffiths KM, Downes P. The complexity and non-uniformity of fatigue - assessments of single-joint strength during 6 weeks of pre-season in male rugby union athletes. Science Performance and Science Reports. 2020;1–3.
    15. Kadlec D, Griffiths KM, Young JD, Downes P. The relationship of upper body multi-joint and single-joint strength and function in male Rugby athletes. 2020;1–4.
    16. Kadlec D, Griffiths KM, Young JD, Downes P. Adductor strength relationship in different hip positions in male Rugby Union athletes. Science Performance and Science Reports. 2019;1–4.
    17. Kadlec D, Snyder L. Does an isometric neck strengthening intervention reduce skull sway after impact in female athletes? A pilot study. Science Performance and Science Reports. 2018;1–3.

  • Conference papers

    1. Kadlec D, Secomb J, Weakley APJ, Matzka M, Munteanu MG, Stuart A, et al. No evidence supporting post-activation performance enhancement: a preregistered, conceptual replication, multi-centre randomised control trial. Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology. 2026 Apr 1;15(s2):180–180. Doi:10.31189/2165-7629-15-s2.180
    2. Scicluna B, Osborne T, Vial S, Kadlec D, Fox-Harding C. Practical recommendations to strengthen aboriginal and torres strait islander content in exercise and sport science. Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology. 2026 Apr;15(s2):121. Doi:10.31189/2165-7629-15-s2.121
    3. Kadlec DD, Murphy DM, Emmonds DS, Nimphius PS. Blinded by gender? Practitioners show no gender bias in acl injury risk ratings, but exhibit poor reliability and high confidence. Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology. 2026 Apr 1;15(s2):179–179. Doi:10.31189/2165-7629-15-s2.179
    4. Vial S, Wasserberger K, Kadlec D. Energy flow analysis during maximal speed sprint running. 2025.
    5. Kadlec D, Jordan MJ, Alderson J. Effects of task constraints on sidestepping joint kinetics. 2022;4.

  • In the media

    https://www.afl.com.au/news/1316105/how-virtual-reality-surgery-methods-and-genetics-could-change-acl-injuries-forever

  • Professional affiliations

    • Adjunct Lecturer at Edith Cowan University
    • Member with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association
    • Member with the Exercise & Sports Science Australia
    • Member with Sports Medicine Australia
    • Member with the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports