Research

The Korey Stringer Institute actively conducts research at the University of Connecticut laboratories within the Department of Kinesiology. KSI’s research focuses include thermal stress, hydration, wearable devices and elite athlete performance. KSI also performs field research and survey at various sites around the United States.

Female participants wanted for research study.

Effects of 10-minute cooling period on thermal comfort and physical/cognitive performance during treadmill exercise in the heat

Who can participate?

  1. Physically active (at least 30 minutes of exercise 3-5 days a week) women between the ages of 18-35 years
  2. Have a VO2max >40ml/kg/min
  3. Been cleared by the medical monitor for this study

In total, you will complete approximately 14 hours of laboratory visits within 6-8 weeks. (1 baseline visit and 5 exercise trials)

What you should expect?

You will exercise up to 120 min on a treadmill in hot environment. The exercise protocol is designed to simulate the intensities of exercise and breaks during a typical tennis match play. You will exercise at various speeds (i.e. sprinting, running, jogging, walking) on the treadmill with breaks throughout the exercise protocol.

A 10-minute cooling intervention will be performed with 1) cold water immersion, 2) ice towel, 3) cooling vest and 4) passive rest. Additional trial will be 5) no 10-minute cooling.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Douglas Casa, douglas.casa@uconn.edu
UConn IRB Protocol H22-0138 Approved November 21, 2022
Compensation for participation will be provided up to $475

Contact for more Informnation

On-Going Research Studies

Female Occupational Heat Vulnerability Qualitative Study

The Korey Stringer Institute is seeking female workers to participate in a research study to identify sex and racial disparities in heat-related health while working in the heat. The time commitment will be 1-1.5 hours and participants will be compensated ($150 upon completion).

Females are eligible to participate if you meet the following criteria:

  • Female over the age of 18
  • Working in an occupation that performs physically demanding work
  • Required to perform physical exertion in the heat for a significant portion of their job
  • Can speak English fluently
  • Has access to a phone or computer for the interview

We are asking women who meet the criteria above to participate in a one-hour interview conducted over the phone or virtual WebEx platform. If qualified and decide to participate, participation in this study is completely voluntary.

Please fill out this screening questionnaire so we can ensure you are eligible (if interested)

Please contact margaret.morrissey@uconn.edu with any inquires.

The effect of AMP HUMAN sodium bicarbonate lotion on performance and recovery from exertional heat stress

VOLUNTEER STUDY PARTICIPANTS WANTED for a paid research study being completed by the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut.

Primary Study Purpose: To investigate the dose-dependent influence of a commercially available sodium bicarbonate lotion (AMP Human PR Lotion); on measurements of hydration (i.e., urine and blood samples), fluid regulation, cardiovascular function, cognition, and stress biomarkers with or without fluid consumption during exposure to heat stress.

Secondary Study Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a disposable biosensor (Nix, Inc. Biosensor; https://nixbiosensors.com/) on measurements of hydration (i.e., urine and blood samples), fluid regulation, cognition, and sweat kinetics with or without fluid consumption during exposure to heat stress.

Tertiary Study Purpose: To measure the differences in improvement regarding hydration (i.e., urine and blood samples), stress, fatigue, balance, and musculoskeletal strength and endurance with the implementation of an amino-acid beverage focused rehydration protocol after the completion of exercise performed in the heat.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Healthy males between the ages of 18 – 45 years old
  • Recreationally active individuals (confirmed with VO2max minimum of 45 ml/kg/min) with no prior history of adverse reactions to the heat
  • Body Mass Index of ≤28
  • Must be comfortable with the completion of multiple blood draws

Participants should expect to complete approximately 31 hours of data collection over 16 separate visits with tasks that will be completed both within the laboratory and at home. This study was approved by UConn IRB, Protocol #21-0054 under the advisement of Principal Investigator Dr. Douglas Casa.

ELITE “Exercise at the Limit – Inherited Traits of Endurance” Study (this study is not affiliated with KSI)

Location: Stanford University

Study Purpose: To investigate the genetics underlying top endurance performance

Population of interest: elite athletes as indicated by VO2max levels of 65+ for males and 55+ for females

Study Website: https://elite.stanford.edu

Study Contact Email: elitestudy@standford.edu

Previous Research Projects

  • Brainscope- Current concussion diagnosis and recovery has been dictated largely by subjective or participant driven evaluation. New tools are constantly being developed to aid clinicians in their decision making process. One such tool currently being developed is the BrainScope Ahead® system. KSI was part of a national multisite, recently completed study funded by BrainScope and the Department of Defense, to aid in the development the algorithm for the concussion device. Currently, athletes are being enrolled for the second phase of the study to validate this device.
  • SHIRT- Shirt and Hat Influence Rise in Temperature – The KSI research team is testing three types of shirts and two types of hats to see how they affect people during exercise in the heat.  We want to know if these garments affect physical performance, cognition, mood, body temperature, or heart rate.  Athletes, laborers, and soldiers could be able to choose garments that help them maintain their performance and reduce the risk of heat illness while exercising or working in a hot environment.
  • HydraCoolEs – The KSI team investigated the influence of hydration, hand cooling, and a combination of both during exercise recovery in the heat. We wanted to see if a person stays hydrated during exercise in the heat if they cool quicker than if they finished exercise dehydrated.
  • Medical Tent Prediction – The KSI staff investigated predisposing factors that lead to road race participants entering a medical tent for exertional heat illness care.
  • Falmouth Road Race 2014 – KSI staff conducted a field study to investigate training characteristics of road race runners and predisposing factors that may contribute in the risk of sustaining exertional heat stroke during the road race. We also examined the use of ingestible thermistor on the field setting to validate its efficacy.
  • COOL-IT – Cooling Off Optimizes Lowering Internal Temperature – The KSI research team studied the effects of a head cooling device on whole body cooling.  This can potentially help athletes and military workers who are active in hot climates to maintain performance and decrease the likelihood of heat injuries.
  • CATCH ON – Collaboration for Athletic Training Coverage at High schools: an Ongoing National survey – Private Schools– As part of an initiative by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, KSI along with the NATA secondary schools committee are researching medical care in high school athletics, specifically the presence of an athletic trainer, in every high school in the United States.  This study requires KSI to place thousands of phone calls and emails in an effort to communicate with every private high school athletic director in the country.
  • CATCH ON – Collaboration for Athletic Training Coverage at High schools: an Ongoing National survey – Public Schools– As part of an initiative by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, KSI along with the NATA secondary schools committee researched medical care in high school athletics, specifically the presence of an athletic trainer, in every high school in the United States.  This study required KSI to place thousands of phone calls and emails in an effort to communicate with every public high school athletic director in the country.  KSI presented the results in the summer of 2013 at the National Athletic Trainers’ Association national conference in Las Vegas, NV.
  • Effects of Hand Cooling on Thermoregulatory Strain in Football Players – The KSI team is studied the use of RTX hand cooling devices on thermoregulatory strain and athletic performance.  The goal was to determine if this device should be used to decrease core body temperature in exercising individuals in a stressful heat environment.
  • Pacing Strategies in Novice Runners – Sponsored by Timex, we studied changes in pacing ability in overweight male novice runners over the course of six weeks of run training.  Additionally, we looked at changes in cardiovascular risk factors, weight loss, and insulin response.
  • Timex Triathlete Training Camp 2013 – At this function held at the Timex Performance Center we helped Timex by collecting data regarding the lactate threshold of their athletes.  This is a measure of aerobic function and can help the athletes by understanding how to improve their training for future triathlons and endurance events.   Watch this video to learn more about lactate threshold testing performed.
  • Kona Ironman Triathlon 2012 – The KSI team traveled to Kona, HI to help Timex by evaluating immune function, post-race cooling, and pacing stragegies of elite triathletes.  Data was collected on over 30 participants and is currently being analyzed.
  • Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon 2012– KSI also recently collected data at the 2012 Lake Placid Ironman Triathalon in Lake Placid, NY.  KSI collected data on hydration status, pacing, and mood from elite triathletes who practice different pacing strategies.  Data collection will continue at the 2013 Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon
  • NY Giants – As part of a multi-year agreement with Timex, KSI performed research with the New York Football Giants during offseason conditioning sessions over 9 weeks in 2012.  During these sessions, hydration status was assessed using urine analysis and body mass.  Performance was assessed using heart rate and other performance data collected with a Timex Run Trainer GPS techometer.  Data on mood and diet was also collected.  This data is currently being analyzed and prepared for publication.
  • Timex Triathlete Training Camp 2012– At the Timex training camp held at the Timex Performance Center, wecollected data on elite athletes from the Timex multi-sport team.  Data included measures of heart rate, hydration status, sweat rate, and sweat electrolyte composition.  This data is currently being analyzed and prepared for publication.
  • Kona Ironman Triathlon 2011– KSI collected data at the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kona, HI as part of an agreement with Timex.  The first year of data collection at Kona was completed in 2011, collecting data on over 30 triathletes.  KSI evaluated hydration status, pacing, and sweat electrolyte content.  The team returned to collect a second set of data at the 2012 Kona Ironman Triathlon World Championships.
  • UConn Men’s Soccer – Research involving elite collegiate men’s soccer is currently very limited.  During preseason training in 2011, KSI performed research on the athletes of the Division I University of Connecticut men’s soccer program, ranked #1 in the country.  KSI examined hydration status, diet, hormonal response, mood, and measures of performance including heart rate, and on-field measures using two GPS devices.  Data from this research is currently in publication.