Department of Public Health and Exercise Science

Education

• Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh (2017)
  • Exercise Physiology

• M.S., University of Pittsburgh (2014)
  • Health, Physical Activity and Chronic Disease

• B.S., Slippery Rock University (2013)
  • Exercise Science

Current Teaching

• ES 3005 Advanced Physiological Assessment

Professional Affiliations / Organizations

• American College of Sports Medicine-Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP)

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

  • Texas Chapter

  • Southeast Chapter

• American Heart Association (AHA)

  • Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health

• Sedentary Behavior Research Network (SBRN)

• Clinical Exercise Physiology Association (CEPA)

Laboratory Affiliation

• Cardiometabolic Research Laboratory (CMRL)
  • https://sites.google.com/appstate.edu/cmrl/home

Research Interests

• Behavioral lifestyle interventions to prevent and treat cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal diseases

• The impact of prolonged sedentary behavior on cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal outcomes and strategies such as standing and physical activity to improve outcomes

• Sedentary behavior research methods

• Sedentary behavior & lifestyle interventions targeting underserved populations including those with disabilities.

Recent Publications

Kowalsky, R.J., Farney, T.M., Hearon, C.M. Effect of Daily Resistance Exercise Breaks in College Students for Ratings of Discomfort, Fatigue, and Sleepiness Across One Week. Res Q Exerc Sport.2022. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2021.1959508 PMID:35089851

Barone Gibbs, B., Diaz, K., Kowalsky, R.J., Smith, P., Stoner, L. Association of Standing with Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Adults. Curr Epidemiol Rep. 2021; 8(4): 200-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-021-00276-3

Kowalsky, R.J., Stoner, L., Faghy, M.A., Barone Gibbs, B. A Call to Clarify the Intensity and Classification of Standing Behavior. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(16): 8460. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168460 PMID:34444209

Stoner, L., Barone Gibbs, B., Meyer, M.L., Fryer, S., Credeur, D., Paterson, C., Stone, K., Hanson, E., Kowalsky, R.J., Horiuchi, M., Mack, C. Dave, G. A Primer on Repeated Sitting Exposure and the Cardiovascular System: Considerations for Study Design, Analysis, Interpretation and Translation. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.716938 PMID:34485414

Fick, A.N., Kowalsky, R.J., Stone, M.S., Hearon, C.M., Farney, T.M. Acute and chronic supplementation of citrulline malate on muscle contractile properties and fatigue rate of the quadriceps. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2021; 31(6) 490-496. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0117 PMID:34470906

Kowalsky, R.J., Farney, T.M., Kline, C.E., Hinojosa, J.N., Creasy, S.A. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health-Related Behaviors in College Students. J Am College Health. 2021; 1-6. Epub ahead of print. doi:10.1080/07448481.2021.1923505 PMID:34161199

Hinojosa, J.N., Hearon, C.M., Kowalsky, R.J. Blood Lactate Response to Active Recovery in Athletes vs. Non-Athletes. Sport Sci Health. 2021; 17, 699-705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00735-w

Kowalsky, R.J., Hergenroeder, A.L., Barone Gibbs, B. Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting with Resistance Exercise Breaks. Workplace Health Saf. 2021; 69(8), 359-365. PMID:33509068

Alansare, A.B., Kowalsky, R.J., Jones, M.A., Perdomo, S.J., Stoner, L, Barone Gibbs, B.  The effects of a simulated workday of prolonged sitting on seated vs. Supine blood pressure and pulse wave velocity. J Vasc Res, 2020; 57(6): 355-266. doi:10.1159/000510294. PMID:32937620

Farney, T.M., Kowalsky, R.J., Salazar, D.A., Fick, A.N., Nelson, A.G., Hearon, C.M. The effect of vinegar supplementation on cycle sprint performance within recreationally trained individuals. Medicina, 2020; 56(9) 429. doi: 10.3390/medicina56090429 PMID:32867047

Kowalsky, R.J., Stoner, L., Perdomo, S.J., Taormina, J.M., Jones, M.A., Credeur, D.P., Barone Gibbs, B. Validity and reliability of peripheral pulse wave velocity measures in a seated posture. J Hypertens Res, 2020; 43, 845-847. PMID:32152481

Armas, C., Kowalsky, R.J., Hearon, C.M. Comparison of 7-minute circuit training vs HIIT training on acute cardiometabolic outcomes. Int J Exerc Sci, 2020; 13(2): 306-409. PMID:32148625

Hergenroeder, A.L., Barone Gibbs, B., Kotlarczyk, M.P., Perera, S., Quinn, T., Shuman, V., Kowalsky, R.J., Brach, J.S. Sit Less for Successful Pilot Aging: Feasibility of an Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Time in Older Adults in Independent Living Communities. Cardiopulm Phys Ther, 2020; 31(4) 142-151. PMID:33897306

Kowalsky, R.J., Jakicic, J.M., Hergenroeder, A.L., Rogers, R.J., & Gibbs, B.B. Acute cardiometabolic effects of interrupting sitting with resistance exercise breaks. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 2019; 44(10), 1025-1032. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2018-0633 PMID:30779597

Perdomo S.J., Gibbs, B.B., Kowalsky, R.J., Taormina, J.M., Jakicic, J.M., Balzer, J. Effects of alternating standing and sitting compared to prolonged sitting on cerebrovascular hemodynamics. Sport Sci Health, 2019; 15(2):375-383. doi:10.1007/s11332-019-00526-4. PMID:31814853

Hergenroeder, A.L., Gibbs, B.B., Kotlarczyk, M.P., Perera, S., Kowalsky, R.J., Brach, J.S. Accuracy and acceptability of commercial grade physical activity monitors in older adults. J Aging Phys Act, 2019; 27(2), 222-229. doi:10.1123/sapa.2018-0036. PMID:30117355

Kowalsky, R.J., Perdomo, S.J., Taormina, J.M., Kline, C.E., Hergenroeder, A.L., Balzer, J.R., Jakicic, J.M., Gibbs, B.B. Effect of using a sit-stand desk on ratings of discomfort, fatigue, and sleepiness across a simulated work day in overweight and obese adults. J Phys Act Health, 2018; 15(3), 788-794. PMID:30139293