At the University of Connecticut, we're passionate about advancing health and wellness through cutting-edge research. Our dedicated faculty and talented students work together to develop innovative strategies that promote physical activity and improve health outcomes. By blending research with real-world applications, we make meaningful contributions to the field and the well-being of our communities.
Dive into our faculty's published work to discover exciting insights that shape best practices in exercise prescription as well as enhance our Exercise Prescription programs’ curriculum.
Application Deadlines
Summer Deadline: May 4
Fall Deadline: July 20
Spring Deadline (MS Only): December 7
2025 Publications
Getting Rid of the Pre-Exercise Doctor’s Note
Easy-to-Use Exercise Plans for Heart Health
How a Positive Mind Helps Trauma Survivors’ Hearts
Isometric Exercises for Older Adults with High Blood Pressure
Can simple, at-home exercises help older adults with high blood pressure? This trial, "Effect of home-based isometric training on blood pressure in older adults with high normal BP or stage I hypertension," tests a convenient isometric training program to determine how effectively it lowers blood pressure in a high-risk group.
2024 Publications
Stopping Muscle Pain from Statin Drugs
Many people stop taking cholesterol-lowering statins because of muscle pain. But would exercise help? The review, "The role of exercise in statin-associated muscle symptoms outcomes," crunches the numbers from many clinical trials to figure out if staying active is the solution for relieving those side effects.
Does ChatGPT Give Good Workout Advice?
Blood Pressure is Lower on Exercise Days
If you have high blood pressure, how long can you rely on the temporary drop in blood pressure (Postexercise Hypotension, or PEH) after a workout? This article, "Reliability and time course of post-exercise hypotension during exercise training among adults with hypertension," examines the reliability and durability of immediate and long-lasting antihypertensive effects of exercise.
Is Planking the Best for Blood Pressure?
The editorial "Is isometric exercise training the best FIT for exercise prescription in the prevention and treatment of arterial hypertension?" debates whether exercises like planks and wall sits are truly the gold standard for fighting high blood pressure. Co-author Linda Pescatello offers a professional opinion on how this training aligns with current guidelines.
The Science of Post-Exercise Blood Pressure
Why does your blood pressure drop after you exercise? This comprehensive mapping review, "Central and peripheral mechanisms underlying postexercise hypotension," brings together current science to explain the physical changes—both in your muscles and your nervous system—that cause the temporary drop in blood pressure.
Rating Health and Diet Apps
Do those popular fitness and diet apps actually make a difference for heart health? The meta-review "The influence of physical activity and diet mobile apps on cardiovascular disease risk factors" summarizes the data on these digital tools and assesses whether they are genuinely effective at reducing cardiovascular risk factors.
ACSM and ESSA Unite on Intensity of Workout Terms
2023 Publications
Vetting Apps for Heart Patients
Which mobile exercise apps are actually safe and helpful for people with heart disease risk factors? This paper, "Evaluation of exercise mobile applications for adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors," puts these apps under the microscope to ensure their content meets established health and exercise standards.
Keeping the Weight Off After Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery helps people lose weight, but keeping it off is another challenge. This major systematic review, "Exercise for counteracting weight recurrence after bariatric surgery," analyzes clinical trials to determine the best exercise strategies for long-term weight management after the procedure.
Exercise and Protein for Older Adults
Exercise and Protein for Older Adults
2022 Publications
Are Studies on Post-Exercise Blood Pressure Good Enough?
Before doctors can rely on exercise to lower blood pressure, the research needs to be solid. This study, "Evaluating the methodological quality of post-exercise hypotension aerobic exercise interventions," carefully evaluates the quality of past research on the blood pressure-lowering effect of aerobic exercise.
2021 Publications
When It’s Too Hot to Work Out
If you carry extra weight, does it make working out in the heat more dangerous? This systematic review, "The impact of obesity on thermoregulation during exercise in the heat," combines evidence to show how obesity affects the body's ability to cool down, offering important safety guidance for exercising in hot weather.
The Math of Exercise + Meds for Blood Pressure
What’s the Official Word on Prenatal Exercise?
What are the best workouts for expecting mothers? The systematic review "Professional exercise recommendations for healthy women who are pregnant" summarizes and evaluates all the official guidelines from major health organizations, providing a clear consensus on safe and effective prenatal fitness.
2020 Publications
A Digital Tool for Exercise Prescriptions
To help doctors better prescribe workouts, this article describes the "Development of a novel clinical decision support system for exercise prescription among patients with multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors." The goal is to make personalized, risk-factor-based exercise plans easier to generate and safer for patients.
Using Yoga and Tai Chi for Blood Pressure
2018 Publications
Can Exercise Help with Alzheimer’s Symptoms?
Body Weight Bias in Health and Fitness
2016 Publications
Does Combining Cardio and Weights Work Best?
This meta-analysis, "Is concurrent exercise training effective antihypertensive therapy?" investigates whether mixing cardio and strength training in the same routine (concurrent training) is the most effective way to lower blood pressure. The results help fine-tune exercise recommendations for hypertension.
Strength Training Alone for Blood Pressure
What Makes Tai Chi Work for Balance?
Customizing Workouts for Seniors
UConn Student Presentations
UConn Exercise Prescription Certificate and Master’s students made an impact on the exercise prescription community at the Regional, National, and International professional meetings.
Presentations
Maximillian Keffer , along with Victoria R. DeScenza, Alexander Wright, and Linda S. Pescatello – “The Effectiveness of Neuromotor Exercise as an Antihypertensive Lifestyle Therapy: A Meta-Review”: Investigating the potential of neuromotor exercise as a lifestyle approach to lower blood pressure. Presented at the New England American College of Sports Medicine (NEACSM) in Springfield, MA (2024) and American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Boston (2025)
Pranav Seshadri & Matthew Fiedler,along with Laurie Devaney, Steven J. Harrison, Jeffrey M. Kinsella-Shaw, Victoria R. DeScenza, and Linda S. Pescatello – “Surgical vs. Nonoperative Treatment of UCL Tears in Overhead Athletes Return to Sport”: Evaluating rehabilitation strategies and return-to-play outcomes for athletes with UCL injuries, a key issue in sports medicine.
Alex Wright & Erica Bushey,along with Yin Wu, Blair T. Johnson, and Linda S. Pescatello – “Influence of Physical Activity and Diet Applications on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Systematic Meta-Review and Meta-Analysis”: The first to quantitatively compare the effectiveness of these digital technologies on cardiovascular health.
Paria Darbandsari along with Linda S. Pescatello, Daniele Piscitelli, John Smith, Cristina Colon-Semenza – “Effects of Telerehabilitation on Balance, Gait, Functional Mobility, Physical Activity, Quality of Life, and Social Support Among Adults with Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review”: Highlights the promise of remote interventions in supporting comprehensive care for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Yin Wu, PhD, along with colleagues Rebecca L. Acabchuk, Shiqi Chen, Holly K. Lewis, Jill Livingston, Crystal L. Park, Blair T. Johnson, and Linda S. Pescatello conducted earlier meta-analyses on Tai Chi and yoga. Yin and Pescatello later expanded this work into a unified body of work on neuromotor exercise as antihypertensive lifestyle therapy. Prior presentations included Tai Chi research at the ACSM (ACSM) Annual Meetings in Boston, MA (2016) and Orlando, FL (2019), and yoga meta-analyses presented at the ACSM Annual Meeting in Denver, CO (2017) and the New England ACSM Meeting in Providence, RI (2017). These findings were expanded in “The Clinical Utility of Neuromotor Exercise as Antihypertensive Lifestyle Therapy” (Current Sports Medicine Reports, 2020), collectively highlighting neuromotor exercise, including Tai Chi and yoga, as clinically relevant modalities for blood pressure reduction.
Read More on Tai Chi; Read More on Yoga; Read More on Neuromotor Exercise
Yin Wu along with Emily A. Hennessy, Christina A. Day, Harrison J. Korzenowski, Jill Livingston, Blair T. Johnson, and Linda S. Pescatello – “The Immediate Blood Pressure Response to Acute Aerobic Exercise: A Meta-Review / The Immediate Blood Pressure Lowering Effects of Aerobic Exercise: A Meta-Analysis”: This body of work, examining acute and post-exercise hypotensive responses to aerobic exercise, was presented at multiple venues, including the ACSM Annual Meeting in Denver, CO (2017) and at the ACSM Annual Meeting in Washington, DC (2021).
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Amanda L. Zaleski, Beth A. Taylor, Crystal L. Park, Lucas P. Santos, Gregory Panza, Melody Kramarz, Kyle McCormick, Paul D. Thompson, Antonio B. Fernandez, Ming-Hui Chen, Bryan Blissmer, Kim M. Gans, and Linda S. Pescatello – “Using the Immediate Blood Pressure Benefits of Exercise to Improve Exercise Adherence Among Adults with Hypertension: A Randomized Clinical Trial”: Examining whether emphasizing the acute blood pressure–lowering effects of exercise can improve adherence to physical activity in adults with hypertension. Presented at the ACSM Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL (2019)
Rachel S. Berkowsky, Beth A. Taylor, Amanda L. Zaleski, Paul M. Parducci, Ming-Hui Chen, Karen M. Gans, Paul D. Thompson, Antonio B. Fernandez, and Linda S. Pescatello – “Caffeine Intake Influences the Blood Pressure Response to Strenuous Physical Exertion Among Firefighters”: Investigating how caffeine consumption affects blood pressure responses during strenuous physical activity in firefighter populations.
Katherine M. Manuel (Certificate Graduate) and Yin Wu (Certificate Graduate), along with William B. Peirce, Jill Livingston, and Linda S. Pescatello – “The Role of Exercise in Preventing Weight Regain in Adults Post-Weight Loss Surgery”: Evaluating the role of structured exercise as an adjunct therapy following bariatric surgery, with a focus on its potential to minimize weight regain and support long-term weight maintenance. Presented at the ACSM Annual Meeting in San Fransico (2020; virtual due to COVID-19) and later published as “Exercise for counteracting weight recurrence after bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials” in Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases Journal.
Margaret C. Morrissey and Yin Wu (Certificate Graduates), along with Emma F. Zuk, Jill Livingston, Douglas J. Casa, and Linda S. Pescatello – “The Impact of Body Fat on Thermoregulation During Exercise in the Heat: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”: Presented at the ACSM Annual Meeting in Washington, DC (2021; virtual due to COVID-19), this study examined physiological responses to heat stress in individuals with obesity.
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Sinéad M. Sinnott (Certificate Graduate), along with Laura E. Laumann, Katherine E. Gnall, Crystal L. Park, Yin Wu, Menaja Raja, Annmarie Khawand, and Linda S. Pescatello – “The Impact of Yoga Exercise on Hyperarousal Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”: Presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD (2022), this research explored yoga’s therapeutic potential for PTSD-related symptoms.
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Christina Day, Rachel S. Berkowsky, Amanda L. Zaleski (Certificate Graduates), along with Ming-Hui Chen, Beth A. Taylor, Paul M. Parducci, Yin Wu, Bo Fernhall, Paul D. Thompson, Antonio B. Fernandez, and Linda S. Pescatello – “The Influence of Sudden Vigorous Physical Exertion on Cardiac Demand Under Ambulatory Conditions Among Firefighters”: Examining how sudden bouts of vigorous physical exertion impact cardiac demand in firefighters during real-world (ambulatory) conditions. Presented at the NEACSM Fall Meeting in Providence, RI (2021)
Read More and Rachel paper
Erica Bushey, Yin Wu, and Alexander Wright (Certificate Graduates), along with Linda S. Pescatello – “Physical Activity and Diet Mobile Applications to Improve Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Meta-Review”: Presented at the NEACSM Fall Meeting in Providence, RI (2022) and the ACSM Annual Meeting in Denver, CO (2023), this work synthesized evidence on digital lifestyle interventions for cardiovascular health.
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Sungwan Kim and Yin Wu (Certificate Graduates), along with Neal R. Glaviano and Linda S. Pescatello – “Physical Activity Levels in Individuals with Patellofemoral Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”: Presented at the 7th International Patellofemoral Research Retreat in Bologna, Italy (2023), this study examined activity patterns in individuals with patellofemoral pain.
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Rei Bufi, Shiqi Chen, Yin Wu, along with Ka-Ki Wong, Jill Livingston, and Linda S. Pescatello – “The Effect of Exercise on Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis”: Presented at the ACSM Annual Meeting in Washington, DC (2021; virtual due to COVID-19) and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), 2020, this work evaluated the impact of exercise interventions on clinical outcomes in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, highlighting exercise as a potential therapeutic strategy for disease management.
Shiqi Chen, Yin Wu, along with C. Zemaitaitis, R. Sudduth, Erica L. Bushey (Certificate Graduate), A. Berardo, and Linda S. Pescatello – “Evaluation of Mobile Exercise Prescription Applications for Adults with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses”: Presented at the Department of Kinesiology Virtual Capstone Event, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (2021), and the ACSM Annual Conference 2021 (virtual), this work assess the quality and effectiveness of mobile exercise prescription applications designed for adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors, with a focus on their potential to support safe and evidence-based exercise programming.
Shiqi Chen, Yin Wu, Justin Kennedy, Gregory Panza, Margaux Guidry, Kathryn Leelman, Ameen Parks, Kangmin Nam, and Linda S. Pescatello – “An Exercise Prescription Algorithm for Clinicians and Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors”: Presented at the ACSM Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado (2023), this work introduced a clinically applicable exercise prescription algorithm designed to guide clinicians and patients in tailoring physical activity recommendations based on cardiovascular disease risk factors to support safe and effective exercise adoption.