Research | Master of Science in Exercise Physiology

The overarching research aims to investigate the therapeutic and beneficial effects of exercise on chronic diseases. A specific subset of research seeks to evaluate how exercise improves both physiological and psychological parameters in the cancer population.

In the second year of the program our students will engage in research and active data collection including: developing research methodology, client recruitment, data collection, and data analysis. Our students will also present research during the spring semester at Celebrate Carroll, our annual academic conference that highlights scholarly achievements of students and faculty. Select students will also be invited to present research at the regional and national American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Conference each year. Future national conference locations include Washington D.C., San Diego, and Denver.


Featured Publication

  • Brown, J.M., Shackelford, D.Y.K., Hipp, M.L., Hayward, R (2019). Evaluation of an exercise-based phase program as part of a standard care model in cancer survivors. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 4(7): 45-54
Dr. Brown and Dr. Shackelford’s manuscript was recognized and awarded as the PAPER OF THE YEAR by the Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Selection for this award was made by the editor-in-chief from the Translational Journal of ACSM, who received nominations from the associate editors of the journal. Each associate editor was instructed to consider the following criteria when making nominations: research significance, conceptual design, and technical innovation. This journal is one of the most prestigious journals in the exercise science/physiology field, and this honor is reflective of the outstanding and quality work the program performs. 


Recent Publications

  • Shackelford, D.Y.K., Brown, J.M., & Born, K.A. (2022).  Bruce treadmill VO2peak prediction equations are inaccurate for cancer survivors.  Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology, 11(4): 132-139.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.31189/2165-6193-11.4.132
  • Peterson, B.M., Shackelford, D.Y.K., Brown, J.M., Brennecke, A.P., & Hayward, R. (2020). Aerobic and Flexibility Training Positively Impacts Physiological, Psychosocial, and Cognitive Function in an Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma Patient: A Case Report. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine- Clinical Communications.
  • Hayward, R., Brown, J.M., Shackelford, D.Y.K., Harman, N., & Lazio, M. (2019). Response to letter to the editor: enhancing the utility and reporting of real-world exercise programs in cancer care. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 4(18): 194-196.
  • Brown, J.M., Shackelford, D.Y.K., Hipp, M.L., Hayward, R (2019). Evaluation of an exercise-based phase program as part of a standard care model in cancer survivors. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 4(7): 45-54
  • Christensen, M., Smoak, P., Lisano, J.K., Hayward, R., Coronado, C., Kage, K., Shackelford, D.Y.K., & Stewart, L.K. (2019). Cardiorespiratory fitness, visceral fat, and body fat, but not dietary inflammatory index, are related to C-reactive protein in cancer survivors. Nutrition and Health, 25(3): 195-202.
  • Schumacher, A.N., Shackelford, D.Y.K., Brown, J.M., Hayward, R. (2019). Validation of the six-minute walk test for predicting peak VO2 in cancer survivors. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 51(2): 271-277.
  • Peterson, B.M., Johnson, C., Case, K., Shackelford, D.Y.K., Brown, J.M., Lalonde, T.L., & Hayward, R. (2018).  Feasibility of a combined aerobic and cognitive training intervention on cognitive function in cancer survivors: a pilot investigation. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 4:50.
  • Peterson, B.M., Brown, J.M., Shackelford, D.Y.K., Olson, T., Lalonde, T.L., & Hayward, R. (2018). Cancer rehabilitation: impact of physical activity on initial clinical assessments. Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology, 7(1): 1-7.
  • Shackelford, D.Y.K., Brown, J.M., Peterson, B.M., Schaffer, J., & Hayward, R. (2017). The University of Northern Colorado Cancer Rehabilitation Institute treadmill protocol accurately measures VO2peak in cancer survivors. International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 5(6).


Recent Professional Conference Presentations

  • Patel, R.N., Wargowsky, M., Miller, A., Meranda, M., O’Toole, K., Cieslewicz, K., Brown, J.M., & Shackelford, D.Y.K. (2023).  Validation of The Shackelford Treadmill Protocol in cancer, obese, and healthy populations: a pilot study.  American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, Denver, CO., May 30 – June 2.
  • Phillips, L.E., Sepic, J.T., Miller, S.M., Janz, S.A., Shackelford, D.Y.K., & Brown, J.M. (2023).  Improvement of Physiological Function, Quality of Life, and Modifiable Risk Factors in Long-term Cancer Survivors.  American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, Denver, CO., May 30 – June 2.
  • Matusik, T., Stumpf, M., Reiber, C., Modrow, C., Hull, J., Christy, M., Brown, J.M., & Shackelford, D.Y.K. (2022).  Ventilation Rate Should Not Be Used as Secondary VO2max Criteria in the Cancer Population.  American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, San Diego, CA., May 31 – June 4. THEMATIC Poster Presentation
  • Christy, K.M., Gonzales, A.P., Bathke, N.R., Shackelford, D.Y.K., & Brown, J.M. (2022).  Evaluation of Valid VO2max Criteria for Graded Exercise Testing in Cancer Survivors.  American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, San Diego, CA., May 31 – June 4. THEMATIC Poster Presentation
  • Krippendorf, B., Amato, N., Niestrom, E., Haefele, M., Williston, A., Brown, J.M., & Shackelford, D.Y.K.  (2021).  Balke-Ware VO2peak Prediction Equations are Inaccurate for Cancer Survivors.  American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, Washington D.C., June 1 - 5.
  • Schwall, J., Kosinski, M., Gnewikow, D., Shackelford, D.Y.K., & Brown, J.M.  (2021).  The Administration of Exercise via Telehealth Promotes Physiological Benefits Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.  American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, Washington D.C., June 1 - 5.
  • Born, K.A., Gravenkamp, J.P., Allen, M.L., Mena, K.N., Kane, B.T., VanSickle, K.J., & Shackelford, D.Y.K. Comparison of the cancer and modified Bruce treadmill protocols to measure VO2peak in cancer survivors. American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, San Francisco, CA., May 26 – May 30, 2020.
  • Engelken, S., Romenesko N., Breitenbach, S., Koch, B., Pintang, R., Brown, J.M. Waist To Height Ratio: The Up To Date Method Of Predicting Chronic Disease Risk. American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, San Francisco, CA., May 26 – May 30, 2020
  • Born, K.A., Gravenkamp, J.P., Allen, M.L., Mena, K.N., Kane, B.T., VanSickle, K.J., & Shackelford, D.Y.K. Comparison of the cancer and modified Bruce treadmill protocols to measure VO2peak in cancer survivors. Celebrate Carroll, Waukesha, WI., April 15, 2020.
  • Engelken, S., Romenesko N., Breitenbach, S., Koch, B., Pintang, R., Brown, J.M. Waist To Height Ratio: The Up To Date Method Of Predicting Chronic Disease Risk. Celebrate Carroll, Waukesha, WI., April 15, 2020.
  • Born, K.A., Gravenkamp, J.P., Allen, M.L., Mena, K.N., Kane, B.T., VanSickle, K.J., & Shackelford, D.Y.K. Comparing VO2peak results between a cancer and modified Bruce treadmill protocol in cancer survivors. Midwest American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, Oakbrook, Ill., Nov 7 – Nov 9, 2019.
  • Engelken, S., Romenesko N., Breitenbach, S., Koch, B., Pintang, R., Brown, J.M. Waist To Height Ratio: The Up To Date Method Of Predicting Chronic Disease Risk. Midwest American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, Oakbrook, Ill., Nov 7 – Nov 9, 2019.
  • Shackelford, D.Y.K., Brown, J.M., Rodriguez, E.R., Thomas, R.K., Ruffert, J.J., Smith, A.E., & DeGroot, K.J. Comparing modified treadmill protocols for cancer survivors: a pilot study. American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, Orlando, FL., May 28 – June 1, 2019.
  • Fiene, M., Francis, A., Galipeau, M., Kokta, M., Shackelford, D.Y.K., & Brown, J.M. Comparison of various measures of body composition and variability among technician. Celebrate Carroll, Waukesha, WI., April 18, 2018.
  • Shackelford, D.Y.K., Brown, J.M., Peterson, B.M., & Hayward, R. Cancer stage does not affect fatigue or VO2peak improvements following an exercise-based rehabilitation program. American College of Sports Medicine National Meeting, Minneapolis, MN., May 29 – June 2, 2018.


Invited Professional Lectures

Professional Symposium for InBodyUSA

  • Shackelford, D.Y.K. & Brown, J.M.  Brown’s phases of exercise-based cancer rehabilitation.  1st Inbody Symposium – Oncology (Virtual), November 11th, 2021.

Professional Webinar Series for InBodyUSA

  • Shackelford, D.Y.K. & Brown, J.M.  “InBody Presents: Cancer Rehab and Brown’s Phase Program.  InBodyUSA Webinar Lectue Series, Cerritos, CA., August 19, 2020

Dr. Brown and Dr. Shackelford were among the few selected to speak at ACSM’s Annual 2020 conference. Their chosen subject covered the different models of cancer rehabilitation for cancer survivors, including the one that Dr. Brown designed herself.

  • Brown, J.M. & Shackelford, D.Y.K.  Models of Cancer Rehabilitation for Cancer Survivors. Tutorial Lecture at the Annual Meeting, World Congress on Exercise is Medicine® and World Congress on the Basic Science of Exercise in Regenerative Medicine 2020 in San Francisco, California, May 26-30.

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