Yu Song
- Assistant Professor
- Director Biomechanics Laboratory
- School of Education and Human Sciences, Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences
Contact Info
Biography —
Yu Song, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise Science Program and the Director of the Biomechanics Laboratory in the Department of HSES at the KU Lawrence campus. She originally comes from Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province in China, and completed her master’s degree in Sports Biomechanics at the Beijing Sport University before she moved to the United States in 2020. Dr. Song received her doctoral degree in Biomedical Sciences with an emphasis on Sports and Injury Biomechanics at the University of Wyoming. She married her husband in 2023 after enduring over three years of a cross-country relationship during the pandemic.
Dr. Song enjoys teaching biomechanics/other exercise sciences courses and working with students with the goal of making the numbers/equations vivid and meaningful. She is also a passionate biomechanist keen to use biomechanical approaches to describe body language and understand the underlying reasons for human movement. Dr. Song actively dedicates herself to fostering an inclusive teaching environment and conducting research that specifically benefits the female population.
Education —
Research —
Dr. Yu Song has a vast interest in using biomechanical analysis (2D & 3D motion capture systems, 3D force plates, and EMG systems, etc.) to study injury risk factors and evaluate training and rehabilitation programs. Her primary research is focused on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury mechanism, ACL re-injury risk factors, jump-landing tasks, direction-changing tasks, rehabilitation assessments following ACL reconstructions, trunk perturbation, and landing strategies. She is also interested in examining the effect of wearing an exoskeleton on low-back loading and enhancing sports performance. Dr. Song is always open to interdisciplinary collaborations to expand her research horizons.
Dr. Song is an active member of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS) and the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB). She serves as a committee member of several sub-committees under both ISBS and ASB. She was elected as one of the ISBS Board Members 2024-2026 for ISBS. Dr. Song’s work has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Sport and Health Science, Journal of Biomechanics, Sports Biomechanics, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, etc.
Teaching —
HSES 470 Biomechanics
HSES 808 Biomechanics in Sports
HSES 980 Advanced Topics: Data Acquisition & Signal Processing
Selected Publications —
- Song, Y., Li, L., Layer, J., Fairbanks, R., Jenkins, M., Hughes, G., ... & Dai, B. (2023). Indirect contact matters: Mid-flight external trunk perturbation increased unilateral anterior cruciate ligament loading variables during jump-landings. Journal of sport and health science, 12(4), 534-543.
- Song, Y., Li, L., Hughes, G., & Dai, B. (2023). Trunk motion and anterior cruciate ligament injuries: a narrative review of injury videos and controlled jump-landing and cutting tasks. Sports biomechanics, 22(1), 46-64.
- Goršič, M., Song, Y., Dai, B., & Novak, V. D. (2022). Short-term effects of the Auxivo LiftSuit during lifting and static leaning. Applied Ergonomics, 102, 103765.
- Wang, X. M., Wilson, M. A., Song, Y., Ma, G., Dong, M., & Zhu, Q. (2022). Extended visuomotor experience with inverted movements can overcome the inversion effect in biological motion perception. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1-9.
- Song, Y., Li, L., Albrandt, E. E., Jensen, M. A., & Dai, B. (2021). Medial-lateral hip positions predicted kinetic asymmetries during double-leg squats in collegiate athletes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Journal of Biomechanics, 128, 110787.
- Goršič, M., Song, Y., Dai, B., & Novak, D. (2021). Evaluation of the HeroWear Apex back-assist exosuit during multiple brief tasks. Journal of Biomechanics, 126, 110620.
Exhibitions —
Awards & Honors —
- Honorable Mention – American Kinesiology Association (AKA) National Doctoral Scholar Award
- The Most Amazing Podium Presentation Award – Rocky Mountain ASB
- 1st Prize of Oral Presentation in Sports Rehabilitation – Asian Federation of Sports Medicine