Exercise and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory
  Exercise and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory - Click for larger photo

Welcome to the homepage of the Exercise and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory (ECRL).  The primary goal of the ECRL is to conduct clinical research studies that focus on exercise interventions and how they alter the cardiovasculature in healthy, athletic and clinically diseased populations.

For example, while it is known that resistance exercise increases muscle mass, its effects on the cardiovasculature are less known.  To be more specific, the effects of whole body resistance exercise on blood flow and arterial function compared to upper- or lower-body exercise are currently unknown.  Furthermore, the effects of non-traditional exercise, such as tai chi, have unknown effects on the cardiovasculature but have been shown to decrease symptoms and improve function in individuals with fibromyalgia.

 

Our experiments are designed to:
1.       Describe the effects of different exercise modalities on cardiovascular function;
2.       Determine the mechanisms that are responsible for exercise-induced changes in the cardiovasculature;
3.       Define the physiological significance of the alterations in the cardiovasculature in response to acute/chronic exercise, and
4.       Explore the use of exercise as a treatment modality for those populations with alterations in the cardiovasculature.

I have found that resistance exercise can increase vagal modulation in those that have autonomic dysfunction, such as fibromyalgia.  This may assist in ameliorating the symptoms associated with their disease.  We have demonstrated that resistance exercise training can increase blood flow to the musculature both acutely and chronically in overweight/obese women and women with fibromyalgia.  We believe that exercise, particularly resistance exercise and resistance exercise training, can significantly improve cardiovascular function in healthy and clinically diseased populations.

We hope that you find this website helpful and encourage you to email me if you have questions or any interest in our research.

Dr. J. Derek Kingsley
ECRL Director

ECRL in the News

Students win MWACSM Jeopardy