Rate My Professor Ines Becker

Ines Becker earned her PhD from the University of Otago, completing her doctoral studies full-time from 2009 to 2013 in Rehabilitation Studies. Her research focused on the anatomy of the symphysis pubis joint and symphysis pubis pain in first pregnancy. The thesis, titled "The Pubic Symphysis: Anatomical And Clinical Observations," was supervised by Mark Stringer and Stephanie Woodley from the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, with Jean Hay-Smith as advisor. This work advanced understanding of pelvic joint anatomy during pregnancy.

Affiliated with the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Centre for Physiotherapy Research, School of Physiotherapy at the University of Otago, Becker has contributed to anatomical and rehabilitation research. Her key publication, "The adult human pubic symphysis: a systematic review" (Journal of Anatomy, 2010), co-authored with Stephanie J. Woodley and Mark D. Stringer, described the joint's fibrocartilaginous disc, resistance to tensile, shearing, and compressive forces, physiological movements up to 2 mm shift and 1° rotation, pregnancy-induced changes via hormones like relaxin, and knowledge gaps including ligament and muscle attachments, interpubic disc fibres and cleft, sexual dimorphism biomechanics, ethnic morphology variations, innervation, and blood supply. These insights relate to pregnancy-related symphyseal pain. Additional publications include "Gross morphology of the vastus lateralis muscle: an anatomical review" (Clinical Anatomy, 2009), "The vastus lateralis muscle: an anatomical investigation" (Clinical Anatomy, 2010), "Osteitis pubis in athletes: a literature review of current knowledge" (Journal of Anatomy, 2011), and "Community reintegration post-stroke in New Zealand: understanding the experiences of stroke survivors in the lower South Island" (Disability and Rehabilitation, 2022). She also contributed to studies on free-living physical activity measurement using triaxial accelerometers. In 2012, Becker was runner-up for best oral presentation at a University of Otago anatomy conference. Her research spans musculoskeletal anatomy, athletic injuries, and stroke rehabilitation.