Richard Hughes, Ph.D., applies his expertise in biomechanics and ergonomics to helping older adults maintain and improve their sex lives. He created Sexuality and Aging Biomechanics for this. Its mission is to educate people how to use the principles of biomechanics and ergonomics to maintain active and healthy sex lives as they age. Biomechanics is a field of study that applies principles of physics to understand how the human body moves. Ergonomics is the “science of work,” and its philosophy is to “match the task to the person.” When applied to sex, it means adapting sex to match the physical capabilities of the people involved.

Dr. Hughes pursues the mission of Sexuality and Aging Biomechanics by giving public lectures, blogging, and making media to educate older adults.

Dr. Hughes was a faculty member in the School of Medicine and College of Engineering at the University of Michigan for 27 years before retiring to start Sexuality and Aging Biomechanics. His academic career involved research and teaching in biomechanics. He is a member of the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). Dr. Hughes received his B.S.E. degree from Princeton University and M.S.E. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in biomechanics at the Mayo Clinic. He was President of the American Society of Biomechanics (2013-2014).