An athlete practices blood flow restriction during exercise. Photo credit: Michigan Tech University Department of Kinesiology & Integrative Physiology During the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, there were reports of elite athletes training while wearing inflatable cuffs around their muscles. American swimmer Michael Andrew, who won a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay, used … Continue reading Blood Flow Restriction Exercise: Fad or Future?
Exercise Physiology
Virtual Reality Gives Students a New Look at Physiology
This summer I had the opportunity to design and teach a two-week course as part of the Summer Discovery program at Penn State. The program brings high school students from all over the globe, including Taiwan, Japan and Puerto Rico, to central Pennsylvania to attend college preparation courses. Taking the lead in developing and teaching … Continue reading Virtual Reality Gives Students a New Look at Physiology
The Young Qualities of Old Muscle
Decline, decrease, deteriorate—all words associated with the aging process. Preventing “D” words is important to keep older people healthy. The loss of muscle is one of the most obvious age-related decreases we experience. Bulky muscles on a person that lifts a lot of weights or the sleek tone of a person that runs a lot … Continue reading The Young Qualities of Old Muscle
What Is Physiology?…and Why You Should Care
Physiology provides an explanation of life, and everyone—not just doctors and scientists—would benefit from understanding some essential physiological concepts. But to learn how physiology applies to everyday life, you must first understand what it is. Physiology is the study of how living organisms function in sickness and in health. Physiologists study functions that may take … Continue reading What Is Physiology?…and Why You Should Care