Jody Jensen is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, she holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Psychology and is a member of the Institute of Neuroscience. Jensen's research interests are in developmental motor control. With training in both motor development and biomechanics, her research has focused on the contributions of mechanics to skill acquisition and changes in motor competence across the lifespan. In her early work, the tasks of posture and locomotion served as the laboratory for understanding age-related changes in the exploitation of non-muscular forces. This work has evolved into the evaluation of strategies for rehabilitation of lower extremity function. In a second line of research, Jensen is exploring the connection between movement experience and cognition. This work is targeted at understanding learning through physical activity in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically autism spectrum disorders. Jensen is the co-founder The Autism Project (TAP) at the University of Texas.
Ph.D. in Biomechanics, University of Maryland, College Park
Studies biomechanics and changes in motor competencies across a lifetime with an emphasis on posture and locomotor control including populations of autism and cerebral palsy.
Past President, North American Society for Sport and Physical Activity(2011 - 2012)
President, North American Society for Sport and Physical Activity(2010 - 2011)
President-Elect, North American Society for Sport and Physical Activity(2009 - 2010)
Member, Texas Autism Research and Resource Consortium
Zeininger, A., Schmitt, D., Jensen, JL. & Shapiro, LJ. (2018). Ontogenetic changes in foot strike pattern and calcaneal loading during walking in young children. Gait and Posture, 59, 18–22. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.09.027.
Stanfill, C. & Jensen, JL. (2017). Effect of wheelchair design on mobility in less resourced areas. African Journal of Disability, 6. doi:10.4102/ajod.v6i0.342.
Jensen, JL. (2017). Biomechanics. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Child Development (2ed., pp. 73–77). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Van Zandwijk, R. & Jensen, JL. (2015). Joint stress in children with cerebral palsy during a locomotor skill before and after Botulinum Toxin Injections. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 96(10, e42).
Korff, T., Newstead, A., van Zandwijk, R. & Jensen, J. (2014). Age- and Activity Related Differences in the Mechanisms Underlying Maximal Power Production in Young and Older Adults. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 30, 12–20.
Hector, R. & Jensen, JL. (2014). Sirsasana (headstand) technique alters head/neck loading: Considerations for safety. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 19(3), 434–441. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2014.10.002.
Korff, T., Newstead, AH., van Zandwijk, R. & Jensen, JL. (2014). Age- and Activity Related Differences in the Mechanisms Underlying Maximal Power Production in Young and Older Adults. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 30(1), 12–20. doi:doi.org/10.1123/jab.2013-0037.
Liu, T. & Jensen, J. (2012). Age-related differences: Bilateral asymmetry in cycling performance. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 83, 114.
Jensen, J. & van Zandwijk, R. (2011). Biomechanical aspects of the development of postural control. Paediatric Biomechanics and Motor Control: Theory and Application. New York: Routledge.
Liu, T. & Jensen, J. (2011). Effects of strategy use on childrens motor performance in a continuous timing task. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 82(2), 198–209.
Korff, T. & Jensen, J. (2008). Effect of relative changes in anthropometry during childhood on muscular power production in pedaling: a biomechanical simulation. Pediatric Exercise Science, 20(3), 292–304.
Korff, T. & Jensen, J. (2007). Age-related differences in adaptation during childhood: the influences of muscular power production and segmental energy flow caused by muscles. Experimental Brain Research, 177, 291–303.
Brown, N. & Jensen, J. (2006). The role of segmental mass and moment inertia in dynamic-contact task construction. Journal of Motor Behavior, 38, 313–326.
Jensen, J. (2005). The puzzles of motor development: How the study of developmental biomechanics contributes to the puzzle solutions. Infant and Child Development, 14, 501–511.
Civitatis Award, The University of Texas at Austin (2019)
Fellow, National Academy of Kinesiology (2011)
Ruth B. Glassow Biomechanics Honor Award, National Association for Sport and Physical Education (2008)
Outstanding Faculty Volunteer, The University of Texas at Austin (2005)
Medical Research Visiting Scholar, Alberta Heritage Foundation, University of Lethbridge (2000)
Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award, North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (1995)
