Research

The Department of Kinesiology has assembled an internationally known group of faculty involved in the study of the physical activity. The Department includes research and undergraduate and graduate education groups in exercise physiology and public health physical activity.

Our faculty is engaged in wide variety of study; from the role of kinetics of muscle oxygen exchange in health and chronic heart failure, to the contribution of physical inactivity to the development and maintenance of childhood obesity. Projects range from the use of animal models to study disease states to the testing of novel intervention programs designed to change the health of whole communities. The common theme that binds us together is the study of physical activity and health. The labs also provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to actively engage in the research process.

 

Exercise physiology is the response of the human body to physical activity. Emphasis is placed on understanding the structure-function relationships of the respiratory, cardiovascular and muscular systems, and how function is integrated to support the dynamics of muscular contraction.

Public health physical activity is the social and behavioral epidemiology of physical activity in public health. Public health physical activity focuses on the use of social and behavioral theories and frameworks to examine physical activity from a public health perspective. Particular interest is placed on development and delivery of physical activity promotion interventions and evaluating physical activity programs in community settings.