Exercise Physiology Laboratory

Weber Building room112
Phone:404-894-3449, Fax:404-894-9982

Research Interests

The overarching research goals within the Exercise Physiology Laboratory are to seek nutritional and exercise interventions that can improve human health, well-being and performance. Our group has been particularly focused on the importance of hydration to delay fatigue and maintain safety during exercise, especially in conditions of heat stress. The physiological responses and efficacy of specific interventions related to nutrient composition and dosage (e.g. during and following physical activity) have been studied. Health and work performance issues that relate to body fluid balance and provision of optimal macronutrients have implications for a variety of populations during exercise that may be specific to fitness level, age, and gender.

Facility and Equipment

Personnel

• Director: Mindy Millard-Stafford, Ph.D.
• Graduate Students: Mary Beth Brown, Scott Conger
• Collaborators:
  • Gordon L. Warren III, Ph.D., Georgia State University
  • Kirk J. Cureton, Ph.D., University of Georgia
  • Nael A. McCarty, Ph.D., Emory University

Research Opportunities

Undergraduate students (following completion of APPH 4100 or other APPH certificate classes) and graduate students that are interested in exercise physiology may assist with various ongoing research projects. In addition, we frequently recruit students as subject volunteers for exercise physiology studies.

Current Research Projects

• Mechanisms Underlying Variability in Human Sweat Sodium and Implications on Fluid and Electrolyte Balance during Exercise in the Heat
• Ergogenicity of Caffeine: Effect of Metabolism vs. Muscular Strength on Performance

Funding

• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• The Coca-Cola Company

Recent Publications

• Millard-Stafford, M.L. W.L. Childers, S.A.Conger, A.J. Kampfer, and J.A. Rahnert. Recovery Nutrition: Timing and Composition After Endurance Exercise. 7:193-201, 2008.
• Millard-Stafford, M.L., K. J. Cureton, J.E. Wingo, J.Trilk, and M. Buyckx Hydration during Exercise in the Heat: Effect of Caffeinated Sports Drink. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 17:165-179, 2007.
• Cureton, K.J., G. L. Warren, M.L. Millard-Stafford,J.E. Wingo, J.Trilk, and M. Buyckx.Caffeinated Sports Drink: Ergogenic Effects and Possible Mechanisms. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 17: 35-55, 2007.
• Hitchcock, K., M. Millard-Stafford, J. Phillips, and T. Snow. Metabolic and thermoregulatory responses to a simulated American football practice in the heat. J. Strength and Conditioning Res. 21:710-717, 2007.
• Armstrong, L.E., D. Casa, M. Millard-Stafford, D. Moran, S. Pyne, and W.O. Roberts. Exertional heat illnessess during training and competition. Position Stand for the American College of Sports Medicine, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 39(3): 556-572, 2007.
• Hawley, J.A., M. Millard-Stafford, and K.D. Tipton. Promoting training adaptations through nutritional interventions. Journal of Sport Sciences, 24:1-13, 2006.
• Tomporowski, P. D., Cureton, K., Armstrong, L.E., Kane, G.M., Sparling, P. B., and Millard-Stafford, M., Short-term Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Executive Processes and Emotional Reactivity. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 1:7-25, 2005.
• Millard-Stafford, M., P.B. Sparling, L.B. Rosskopf, T. K. Snow. Should carbohydrate concentration of a sports drink be less than 8% during exercise in the heat? International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 15:117-130, 2005.
• Millard-Stafford, M., L. Thomas, G.W. Warren, J.A. Doyle, T. K. Snow, K. Hitchcock. Recovery from run training: Efficacy of a carbohydrateprotein beverage? International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 15:610-624, 2005.
• M. A. Collins, M. Millard-Stafford, E.M. Evans, T.K. Snow, K. J. Cureton, and L. B. Rosskopf. Effect of race and musculoskeletal development on the accuracy of air plethysmography. Medicine and Science and Sports and Exercise, 36:1070-1077, 2004.
• M. L. Millard-Stafford, M.A. Collins, C.M. Modlesky, T.K. Snow, and L.B. Rosskopf. Effect of race and resistance trianing status on the density of fat-free mass and percent fat estimates. Journal of Applied Physiology 91:1259-1268, 2001.
• M.L. Millard-Stafford, M.A.Collins, E.M. Evans, T.K. Snow, K.J. Cureton, and L.B. Rosskopf. Use of air displacement plethysmography for estimating body fat in a four-component model. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 33: 13-11-1317, 2001.
• G.L. Warren, J.M. Fennessy, M.L. Millard-Stafford. Strength loss after eccentric contractions is unaffected by creatine supplementation. Journal of Applied Physiology 89:557-562, 2000.
• C. M. Modlesky, E. M. Evans, M. L. Millard-Stafford, M. A. Collins, R. D. Lewis, and K. J. Cureton. Impact of bone mineral content estimates on percent fat estimates from a four-component model. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 31:1861-1868,1999.
• M.A. Collins, M. Millard-Stafford, P. B. Sparling, T.K. Snow, L.B. Rosskopf, S.A. Webb, and J. Omer. Evaluation of the BodPod For Assessing Body Fat In Collegiate Football Players. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 31:1350-1356, 1999.
• Sparling, P, and M. Millard-Stafford. Keeping sports participants safe in hot weather. (Invited review) The Physician and Sportsmedicine 27:27-34, July 1999.
• Snow, T.K., M. Millard-Stafford and L.B. Rosskopf. Body Composition of Professional Football Athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 12(3):146-149, 1998.
• Millard-Stafford, M., L. Rosskopf, T. Snow and B. Hinson. Water Versus Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Ingestion Before and During a 15 Km Run in the Heat. International Journal of Sport Nutrition 7:26-38, 1997.