Projects

Laboratory Work

Exercise And STress (EAST) Study
The current wave of the Exercise And Stress (EAST) study is to test the effect of different intensities, demarcated using the ventilatory thresholds from a cardiorespiratory exercise test, and examine how they may relate to the neurobiological reactivity to and recovery from a subsequent acute laboratory ­induced psychosocial stressor (i.e., public speaking task). 

Recruiting: Yes
Project Lead(s): Hana Hicks, Luke Peddie, Eli Puterman

Adverse-Childhood Events and Exercise Trial (ACE-Ex)
The environment we are exposed to early on in life impacts our future physical and mental well-being. Exercise may help to improve physical and mental well-being in people that were exposed to challenging childhood environments.
Exercise effects our brain, hormones, heart, and mood. By studying how these effects impact the biology and psychology of adults that have had difficult childhoods, we can be better equipped to offer strategies to improve the health and well-being of this group. The ACE-Ex trial aims to test the effects of 6-weeks of virtual home-based exercise on the biological and emotional responses to a social situation among adults who have experienced a challenging childhood.

Recruiting: Yes
Project Lead(s): Gabriel Zieff

Completed

COvid-19 Pandemic and Exercise for Healthcare Workers (COPE HCW) Trial: A randomized study examining physical activities and wellbeing

The goal of the COvid-19 Pandemic and Exercise for Health Care Workers (COPE HCW) Trial was to discover whether healthcare workers who become physically active at home improve in their well-being and health. Our team investigated if the use of Down Dog, a suite of mobile apps for high intensity interval training, yoga, running, and more, significantly improved the well-being and health of health care workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Acute Psychological Stress & Exercise Performance (APEX) Study

The APEX study will examine how performance during exercise is affected by an in-lab stressor. Previous research shows that exercise abilities are affected by behaviours, cognitive demands, and chronic stress. APEX will be the first study to investigate how acute stress impacts females’ capacity for aerobic exercise. 

Covid-19 Pandemic and Exercise (COPE) Trial (2020)
Physical distancing in response to COVID-19 is having significant negative effects on the mental health of adults across the globe. We are currently examining the individual and combined effects of high-intensity interval training and yoga (two activities requiring little space at home) on the mental health of Canadians aged 18-64 years currently physically distancing.


Optimizing Movement in Children Study (2019)
Optimizing Movement in Children Study (OMiCS) represents a broad research initiative exploring the relationship between physical literacy in children and markers of biological health. The research seeks to expand on the literature surrounding the components of physical literacy: physical competence, confidence, and motivation for being active, and determine whether any of these components can shift objective biomarkers of health (the “omics”)

Exercise And STress (EAST) Study (2018-2019)
The EAST study aims to uncover whether a single bout of aerobic exercise can mitigate responses to an in-lab stressor. Research shows that leading an active lifestyle can reduce levels of psychological and biological stress in daily life. Less is known, however, regarding the effects of a single bout of exercise on the biological and psychological stress response. 

Fitness Aging & Stress (FAST) Study (2016)
The goal of this study was to examine whether an aerobic activity training intervention will increase cellular health, improve exercise capacity and blood pressure, and decrease psychological distress over six months in 40 caregivers compared to 40 age-matched waitlist control caregivers.

Back to top