Paul Jones

Paul Jones is an Associate Professor in Sports & Exercise Biomechanics at the University of Salford, School of Health & Society. With over 20 years of experience in Biomechanics and Strength & Conditioning support to athletes and teams, he has established himself as a leading expert in change of direction biomechanics, strength diagnostics, and injury risk assessment.

His research interests focus on:

• Assessment of muscle strength qualities for performance and injury risk assessment
• Assessment and development of multidirectional speed
• Biomechanics of sprint and change of direction actions for performance and injury risk

Dr. Jones has authored/co-authored over 120 peer-reviewed journal articles and 14 book chapters. His recent work spans several key areas in sports biomechanics including normative data for hamstring strength testing, the influence of testing surfaces on force plate data, and biomechanical quantification of children's motor movement. His publications demonstrate a strong focus on practical applications for performance enhancement and injury prevention across various sports, particularly soccer and basketball.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow of the British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences (FBASES) - 2021
• BASES Accreditation (20+ years)
• Chartered Scientist (CSci)
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS*D) with NSCA (20+ years, with Distinction)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Dr. Jones serves as Programme Leader for the MSc Strength & Conditioning and supervises PhD students, including Andrew Hammocks who is working on "Quantifying the Real-World Movements of Children to Inform Footwear Design" (2022-2026). He has held leadership roles including Chair of the BASES Accreditation Advisory Group since 2023 and has been a committee member since 2019.

He is actively involved in research projects including "Biomechanical effects of change of direction technique modification" and industry collaborations with Performance Biomechanics Ltd, focusing on translating biomechanical research into practical applications for athletes and sports organizations.