BIOSKETCHAssociate Professor Jeanne Grace is a distinguished academic and researcher in the Department of Biokinetics, Exercise, and Leisure Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). She is an NRF-rated researcher with extensive experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership.
Academic Contributions:
Prof. Grace lectures both undergraduate and postgraduate modules, specializing in Functional Anatomy and Sports Injuries, Rehabilitation Sciences, Principles of Coaching and Conditioning, Laboratory Sciences and Research, Clinical Exercise Physiology, and Biokinetics. She has successfully supervised 35 honours, 11 master’s, and 7 doctoral students in Human Movement Science.
Her research excellence is reflected in 49 publications in DHET-accredited peer-reviewed journals and two book chapters. As a highly respected scholar, she serves as a reviewer for multiple national and international scientific journals and is an Associate Editor for the South African Journal for Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Recreation. Additionally, she has examined 15 master’s and 5 doctoral theses across various institutions in South Africa and globally.
Prof. Grace is actively involved in academic governance, serving on the Academic Advisory Board of the University of the Free State and fostering international collaborations with Jimma University (Ethiopia) and Kenyatta University (Kenya). She is also the Chair of the African Health Promoting Campuses Network (AHPCN).
Professional Engagements:
Beyond academia, Prof. Grace is a recognized leader in professional regulatory bodies. She is a Board Member of the Physiotherapy, Podiatry, and Biokinetics (PPB) division of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and serves as its Vice Chairperson. She plays a key role in multiple committees, including the Education and Training Committee (ETRC), Biokinetics Internship Committee (BKIN), and Preliminary Inquiry Committee (Prelim).
Her international reach extends to her memberships in the International Network of Sports and Health Scientists (INSHS) and the International Health Promoting Campuses Network (IHPCN). As a dedicated advocate for professional standards, she also serves as an assessor for the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
With a wealth of experience in research, teaching, and professional leadership, Associate Professor Jeanne Grace continues to make a significant impact in Biokinetics, Exercise Science, and health promotion in Africa and beyond.
LIST OF PUBLICATION
- https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=JOkXAZcAAAAJ&hl=en
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeanne_Grace3/research
- Peer-reviewed journal articles
1. Thabana MW,
Grace JM. (2024). Selected non-communicable disease risk factors and mental health of South African Durban-based refugees: a cross-sectional study. The Open Public Health Journal: In press
2. Thabana MW,
Grace JM. (2023). Behavioural risk factors for non-communicable diseases among South African Durban-based refugees: a cross-sectional study. Global Health Promotion Journal: In press
3. Yekini A,
Grace JM. (2023). Effects of eccentric exercise on work-related performance and physical activity levels in Rheumatoid arthritis patients. Physical Activity and Health, DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5334/paah.293 Impact factor (IF) – 3.83
4. Zimu PM, Van Heerden, HJ,
Grace JM. (2023). Cardiorespiratory fitness levels and body composition of adolescent learners from low and middle socio-economic status communities in KwaZulu-Natal province, AJPHES. 29(4):12-24.
5. Yekini A,
Grace JM. (2023). Effects of exercise on body composition and physical function in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Scoping review. Open Access Rheumatology: Research and Reviews. Impact factor (IF) – 2.32.
https://10.2147/OARRR.S412942
6. Tafireyi CG
, Grace JM. (2022). Physical activity and health promotion guidelines for Eswatini University students, International Journal of Health Promotion. Impact factor (IF) – 0.94.
https://10.1080/14635240.2022.21373807. Dlamini, K,
Grace JM. (2022). Associations between body mass index, physical activity and socio-economic status in Zimbabwean adolescents, South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education & Recreation.
https://doi.org/10.36386/sajrsper.v44i1.1628. Tafireyi CG
, Grace JM. (2022.) Physical activity and health promotion activities of global university students: a review of reviews. Global Health Promotion.
https://doi.org/10.1177/17579759221099308 Impact factor (IF) – 2.06
9. Kassa MD,
Grace JM. (2022). Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention Policies and Their Implementation in Africa: A Systematic Review. Public Health Reviews. 42:1604310.
https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2021.1604310 Impact factor (IF) – 5.74
10. Grace, JM, Naiker, J. (2022). The association between objectively measured physical activity and health-related quality of life, life-space mobility and successful aging in older adults. Health SA Gesondheid.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1638 Impact factor (IF) – 0.7311.Tafireyi C,
Grace JM. (2021). The association between sedentariness, eating habits and body composition among Eswatini university students. The South African Journal for Research in Sport,7Physical education and Recreation, 43(3), 77-86. Impact factor (IF) – 0.1912.
Grace J, Biggs C, Naicker A, Moss S. (2021). Effect of Physical Activity and Nutrition Education on Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure and Biochemical Variables in Overweight and Obese Adolescents. Annals of Global Health, 87(1):9.
http://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.3147 Impact factor (IF) – 2.04
13. Kassa MD,
Grace JM. (2020). Race against death or starvation? COVID-19 and its impact on African populations. Public health reviews. 41, 30.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-020-00139-0 Impact factor (IF) – 2.0814. Kassa MD,
Grace JM. (2020). FITT principle of physical activity as a Medical Disability prevention program in Ethiopia: a mixed-method study. Indian Journal of Public Health. 64(2), 141. Impact factor (IF) – 0.4515. Zimu PM, Van Heerden HJ,
Grace JM. (2020). Physical activity patterns and status of adolescent learners from low and middle socio-economic status communities in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation. 42(1), 105-114. Impact factor (IF) – 0.19
16. Grace JM, Hopkins N, Cameron, M. (2019). Comment on: “Do biokineticists transgress on physiotherapists’ scope of profession? Evidence-based analysis of two physical rehabilitation disciplines in South Africa.” African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences (AJPHES) 25(3), 443-448.17. Begizew DM, Van Heerden HJ,
Grace JM. (2019). Lower-extremity running-related injuries among 10,000-meter long distance runners in Ethiopia. Journal of Human Sport & Exercise.
https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2019.142.09, Impact factor (IF) – 0.2118. Kassa MD,
Grace JM. (2018). Barriers to Integrate Physical Exercise Into the Ethiopian Healthcare System to Treat Non-Communicable Diseases, Global Journal of Health Science, 10(10):123-133.
https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v10n10p123 Impact factor (IF) – 0.8419. Kassa MD,
Grace JM. (2018). A mixed-method study of quality, availability and timeliness of non-communicable disease (NCD) related data and its link to NCD prevention: perceptions of health care workers in Ethiopia, Health Information Management Journal
https://doi.org/10.1177/1833358318786313, Impact factor (IF) – 1.3920.
Grace JM. (2017). Modifiable Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors Trends in Urban Black South African Females and the Implications for Health Promotion Interventions. Global Journal of Health Sciences. 10(1):120-128, Impact factor (IF) – 0.84.21. Kassa MD,
Grace JM. (2017). Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions of Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factors and Its Regional Distribution in Ethiopia Global Journal of Health Science, 10(1):88-97, Impact factor (IF) – 0.84.22. Currie SC, Smit M, Linda M,
Grace JM. (2017). Effect of Obesity on the Work Health-Related Behaviors and Quality of Life of South African Mining Employees: A Pilot Study. Global Journal of Health Science, 9(12):122-131, Impact factor (IF) – 0.84.23.
Grace JM, Bosch M, Du Toit N. (2015). The effect of accumulated walking on the psychological well-being and on selected physical- and physiological parameters of overweight/obese adolescents. African Journal of Physical Health Education and Recreation, 21(4):1264-1275, Impact factor (IF) – 0.15.24.
Grace JM. Jordaan JP, Duvenage E. (2015). Electrocardiographic patterns in African university strength and endurance athletes of Zulu descent. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 55(11):1264-1275, Impact factor (IF) – 1.11.25. Loock HV,
Grace JM, Semple SJ. (2015). The Effects of COREPOWER Machine Training versus Home-Based Core Training on Recreational Golf Players’ Physical Fitness. HealthMED, 9(1):16-23, Impact factor (IF) – 0.0626. Nel, CR,
Grace JM, Nel KA, Govender, S. (2015). Cumulative mild head injury (CMHI) in schoolboy rugby players injury. African Journal for Physical Health Education, Recreation and Sport, 21(1):92-102, Impact factor (IF) – 0.1427.
Grace JM, Combrink S, Semple SJ. (2015). Exercise therapy for HIV/AIDS patients: Guidelines for clinical exercise therapists. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 13(1):49-56, Impact factor (IF) – 0.86.28. Currie S,
Grace JM, Semple SJ. (2013). POWER BALANCE® BANDS, DO THEY WORK? Short-term effects on postural stability, flexibility, and grip strength. HealthMED. 7(1), 254-258, Impact factor (IF) – 0.06.29. Frames K,
Grace JM, Semple SJ. (2013). Does low dose ingestion of glycyrrhetinic acid (liquorice) affect blood pressure in normotensive individuals? HealthMED. 7(6), 1956-1959, Impact factor (IF) – 0.06.30. Loock, HV,
Grace JM, Semple SJ. (2013). Core muscle activation/activity during the different phases of the golf swing: A literature review. The Strength and Conditioning Journal, 35(5):1-15, Impact factor (IF) – 0.77.31. Loock HV,
Grace JM, Semple SJ. (2013). Association of selected physical fitness parameters with club head speed and carry distance in recreational golf players, International Journal of Sport Science and Coaching, 8(4):769-777, Impact factor (IF) – 0.80.32. Breukelman G, Semple SJ,
Grace JM. (2013). Impact of a 12 week home based physical activity programme on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Gazetta Medica Italiana, 172(4):275-82, Impact factor (IF) – 0.11.
33. Grace JM, Wilders CJ & Strydom, GL. (2012). A comparison of two intervention regimes on coronary prone executives in the South African colliery industry. Occupational Health Southern Africa Journal, 18(1):2-8, Impact factor (IF) – None.34. Loock, HV,
Grace JM, Semple SJ. (2012). The influence of corepower training on golfers’ physical and functional fitness as well as golf performance: A Pilot Study. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 18(2): 401-409, Impact factor (IF) – 0.16.35.
Grace JM & Semple SJ. (2012). The prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in normotensive, pre-hypertensive and hypertensive South African colliery executives. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 25(4):375-382, Impact factor (IF) – 1.91.36. Esterhuysen C, Semple SJ,
Grace JM. (2012). Effects of kinesiology ankle taping on postural stability in semi-professional rugby players. Journal of Physical Therapy and Science. 24(7):1239-1242, Impact factor (IF) – 0.37.37. Djarova T, Watson G, Basson AK, Grace JM, Cloete J & Ramakoaba A. (2011). ACTN3 and TNF gene polymorphism association with C-reactive protein, uric acid, lactate and physical characteristics in young African cricket players. African Journal of Biochemistry Research, 51(1):22-27, Impact factor (IF) – None.38. Djarova T, Ramakoaba A, Mugandani S, Basson AK, Grace JM, Cloete J & Watson G. (2011). ACE I/D polymorphism, blood pressure, C-reactive protein and physical tests in Zulu South African cricketers. African Journal of Biochemistry Research, 5(7):197-205, Impact factor (IF) – None.39. Van Staden C,
Grace JM & Semple SJ. (2011). Pedometer based physical activity levels and cardiometabolic risk profile in community-based pharmacists: A pilot study. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance. 17(6):266-273, Impact factor (IF) – 0.08.
40. Grace JM, Wilders CJ & Strydom, GL. (2009). The effect of a physical and a combined health promotion intervention programme on some health indicators of South African colliery executives. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance. 31(1):9-18.41.
Grace JM, Wilders CJ & Strydom, GL. (2007). Quantitative analysis of some selected health risk profiles of executives in the South African Colliery industry. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation. 3(2):19-31, Impact factor (IF) – 0.22.42.
Grace JM, & Janse van Vuuren, B. (2004). Impact of a worksite physical wellness programme on sick leave, absenteeism and health related fitness in a South African company. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance. 10(1):42-55, Impact factor (IF) – 0.08.
Peer-reviewed Book Chapters
Books Edited
- Boer, Pieter-Henk, (2021). Functional fitness for adults living with Down syndrome, AOSIS publishing, ISBN Number: 9781666754032.
- Mji, Gubela Alperstein, Melanie Bongokazi Mlenzana, NondweGalloway, Karen Ohajunwa, Chioma Ned, Lieketseng Tshabalala,Ntombekhaya (2019). The walk without limbs Searching for indigenous health knowledge in a rural context in South Africa, AOSIS publishing, ISBN number: 9781928523109 https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2019.BK98
1. Kassa MD &
Grace JM. (2020). The Global Burden and Perspectives on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Prevention, Data Availability and Systems Approach of NCDs in Low-resource Countries, Non-communicable Diseases and Urbanization – A Global Perspective.
https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89516
2. Grace, JM. (2016). Exercise Therapy for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Patients, Fitness Medicine, 129-145 (ISBN 978-953-51-4869-2).
