Exercise Science Student Research

SMSU Exercise Science Students Conduct Research On Long-Distance Runners

A group of SMSU Exercise Science students studied the arm and leg blood pressure in ultramarathon and distance runners as part of recent research projects.

Their study began in 2019 when they tested ultramarathon runners at the Superior Fall Trail Race in September of that year and the Savage 100 one month later. They were collecting data about how blood pressures in the extremities and the nervous system responds to an ultramarathon. High achieving undergraduate students performed the study including Alli Miskowiec, Alyssa Cerullo, Erin Fischer and Jon Dicke with assistance from Exercise Science students at the trio of Twin Cities community colleges that offer the SMSU Exercise Science degree. Assistant Professor Dr. Morgan Betker, Coordinator of the Twin Cities Program for Exercise Science, has some expertise in nervous system function through a measurement called heart-rate variability and helped with testing of these runners at the ultramarathon races.

An ultramarathon is any foot race longer than the standard marathon of 26.2 miles. The races in this research study were 50-100 miles long.

The research was the brainchild of Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Jeffrey Bell. “I had been looking into student research projects with an idea of how does blood pressure index change after exercise,” he said.

Bell, who was recently named the interim Dean of the College of Arts, Letters and Sciences, said he was talking with students two years ago about an experience he had after completing a 50-mile trail run. “I thought something was going on with my body’s ability to maintain blood pressure in my legs,” he said. “For two days after the race I was dizzy, and was wondering if that was due to the body’s ability to maintain leg pressure. That’s when we came up with the ultramarathon study.”

A second follow-up study analyzing the same data as it relates to a 5K run was also undertaken, said Bell.

A different group of undergraduate students did the research, under Bell’s guidance. “We had outstanding students,” he said. Heading the 5K study were Emma Thomssen, who will pursue her master’s in Exercise Physiology at Northern Colorado in the fall; Nick Cayler, who is going to Physical Therapy school at St. Ambrose; and Trey Sachs, who will be attending a medical school this fall.

Bell had hoped that data collection would have been completed earlier, but COVID-19 and a couple of unexpected blizzards delayed their research.

A special piece of equipment — a Doppler Ultrasound Machine — was used in the study.

“The research has the potential of filling a huge gap in understanding how arm and leg blood pressure might not get regulated by the central nervous system,” said Bell. “This student research could lead to new scientific information being put out.”

It is his hope to get further data collected this summer and have a manuscript addressing their research published.

Participants were tested before and after their runs using monitors to measure the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The purpose was to investigate if arterial pressure in the legs and arms are affected by an ultramarathon and a 5K. The hypothesis — which so far is partially supported — was that a decrease in ABI would occur with the completion of the runs.

Bell said the research is a real plus for Exercise Science students. “Every student participant knows what to expect if they (write) a master’s thesis; they know the hard work, what field research looks like in a grad program and what’s required for a master’s thesis,” he said.

Exercise Science is one of the fastestgrowing majors at SMSU and all seniors who applied to master’s programs after the 2020-21 academic year were accepted, a program first, according to Dr. Kris Cleveland, Associate Professor of Exercise Science.

Top: Trey Sachs, Nick Cayler, Emma Thomssen headed up the 5K study. Center: Data collection helped inform their research. Bottom: Volunteers participated in the study