Michael G. Bemben, Ph.D.

Michael Bemben received his doctoral degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Exercise Physiology and is currently a Professor and Chair in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at the University of Oklahoma.

Besides being a Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science on the Norman Campus, Dr. Bemben is also an adjunct Assistant Professor in Physiology and Biophysics and Geriatric Medicine at the Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and a senior fellow with the Oklahoma Center on Aging.  His general research emphasis encompasses the broad area of aging.  Some of Dr. Bemben’s research projects have included the effects of different supplementation programs on enhancing muscular strength and muscle mass following training in older individuals, different training interventions for improving balance and postural stability in older women, assessing changes in total and regional body composition with normal aging and following exercise interventions, age related changes in hormonal responses to resistance training, the effects of blood flow restriction during exercise, and trying to quantifying strength, power, and muscular endurance by a variety of methodologies to examine and describe normal age expected changes.  Dr. Bemben also works closely with his wife, Dr. Debra Bemben, who share some common interests related to aging (bone health and endocrine function).

He hopes that some of the outcomes from this research will help develop safe, enjoyable resistance training programs that can improve strength and muscle mass so that elderly men and women are able to retain or regain normal daily activities and maintain independence in the community.

• Vita (PDF)

Research Interests

• Aging
  • Neuromuscular Function and Adaptation
    • Isometric, Isotonic, and Isokinetic Movements
    • Hormonal Regulation
    • Strength - Power - Endurance Relationships
    • EMG Activity
  • Body Composition Assessment
    • Two, Three, and Four Component Models
  • Potentiation of Muscle Hypertrophy
    • Dose-Response Relationships
    • Hormonal Status
• Performance
  • Creatine Supplementation
  • Chromium Picolinate Supplementation

Publications

• Abe, T., Bemben, M., Fukita, S., and Mikesky, A.  Low0intensity exercise with vascular restriction: proposed mechanisms and applications for Kaatsu.  Exercise and Sports Science Reviews, in review, 2008.

• *Hartman, M., Cramer, J., Ryan, E., and Bemben, M.  Effects of fatigue of the triceps surae on voluntary activation in resistance-trained men.  European Journal of Applied Physiology, in review, 2008.

• *Acree, L., Hartman, M., Balla, F., and Bemben, M.  Reliability of near-infrared spectroscopy to assess limb tissue oxygenation.  Dynamic Medicine, in review, 2008.

• *Fjeldstad, C., Frederiksen, C., Fjeldstad, A., Bemben, M., and Pardo, G.  Arterial compliance in multiple sclerosis.  Multiple Sclerosis Journal, in review, 2008.

• *Fjeldstad, C., Palmer, I., Bemben, M., and Bemben, D.  Whole-body vibration augments resistance training effects on body composition in postmenopausal women.  International Journal of Obesity, in review, 2008.

• *Fjeldstad, C., Bemben, D., Pardo, G., and Bemben, M..  Decreased postural balance in multiple sclerosis patients with low disability.  Disability and Rehabilitation Journal, in review, 2008.

• Midorikawa T., Sakamoto, S., Ohta, M., Torii, S., Konishi, M., Takagi, S., Bemben, M., and Konda, M.  Do obese athletes have metabolic syndrome? A study on Japanese sumo wrestlers.  International Journal of Obesity, in review, 2008.

• *Sherk, V., Bemben, M., and Bemben, D.  Comparison of bone mineral density and bone quality in adult rock climbers, resistance-trained, and untrained men.  European Journal of Applied Physiology, in review, 2008.

• *Fjeldstad, A., Bemben, M., and Bemben, D. Resistance training effects on arterial compliance in women.  International Journal of Angiology, in review, 2008.

• *Sherk, V., Palmer, I., Bemben, M., and Bemben, D.  Relationships between body composition, muscular strength, and bone mineral density in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women.  Journal of Clinical Densitometry, in press, 2008.

• *Sherk, V., Howard, C., Bemben, M., and Bemben, D.  Influence of body composition, oral contraceptive use, and physical activity on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.  International Journal of Exercise Science, in press, 2008.

• *Smathers, A., Bemben, M., and Bemben, D.  Bone density comparisons in male competitive road cyclists and untrained controls.  Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, in press, 2008.

• *Fjeldstad, C., Pardo, G., Frederiksen, C., Bemben, D., and Bemben, M.  Postural balance in multiple sclerosis,  Is it being assessed properly?  International Journal of MS Care, in press, 2008.

• *Eliot, K., Knehans, A., Bemben, D., Witten, M., Carter, J., and Bemben, M.  The effects of creatine and whey protein supplementation on body composition in men aged 40 to 72 years during resistance training.  Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 12(3):208-212, 2008.

• *Lamont, H., Cramer, J., Bemben, D., Shehab, R., Anderson, M., and Bemben, M.  Effects of 6 weeks of periodized squat training with or without whole body vibration upon the acute responsiveness to vibration exposure.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 22(6):1882-1893, 2008.

• Bemben, D., Palmer, I., Abe, T., Sato, Y., and Bemben, M.  Effects of a single bout of low intensity KAATSU resistance training on markers of bone turnover in young men.  International Journal of Kaatsu Training Research, 3(2)21-26, 2008.

• Sakamaki, M., Fujita, S., Sato, Y., Bemben, M., and Abe, T.  Blood pressure response to slow walking combined with KAATSU in the elderly.  International Journal of Kaatsu Training Research, 4:15-18, 2008.

• *Herda, T., Ryan, E., Smith, A., Walter, A., Bemben, M., Stout, J., and Cramer, J.  Acute effects of passive stretching vs vibration on the neuromuscular function of the plantar flexors.  Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 2008.

• *Moon, J., Tobkin, S., Roberts, M., Dalbo, V., Kerksick, C., Bemben, M., Cramer, J., and Stout, J.  Total body water estimations in healthy men and women using bioimpedance spectroscopy: a deuterium oxide comparison. Nutrition and Metabolism, 5:1-7, 2008.

• *Sherk, V., Bemben, M., and Bemben, D.  BMD and bone geometry in transtibeal and tranfemoral amputees.  Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 23(9):1449-1457, 2008.

• *Fjeldstad, C., Pardo, G., and Bemben, M.  Quality of life according to duration of disease in women with low disability in multiple sclerosis.  International Journal of MS Care, 18:77-80, 2008.

• Bemben, M., Runnels, E., and Bemben, D.  Age related alterations in muscle mass and function, Proceeding from the International Sport Science Congress, August: 175-187, 2007.

• *Hartman, M., Clark, B., Bemben, D., Kilgore, L., and Bemben, M. Comparisons between twice-daily and once-daily training sessions in male weightlifters.  International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2:159-169, 2007.

• *Rixon, K., Lamont, H., and Bemben, M.  Influence of type of muscle contraction, gender, and lifting experience on post activation potentiation performance.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning, 21(2): 500-505, 2007.

• Olshansky, SJ., Carnes, BA., Butler, RA., Hayflick, L., Conn, M., Bemben, M., Bemben, D., and Brody, J.  What if Humans were Designed to last?  The Scientist, March, 28-35, 2007.

• *Karabulut, M., Abe, T., Sato, Y., Bemben, M. Overview of neuromuscular adaptation of skeletal muscle to KAATSU training. International Journal of Kaatsu Training Research, 3:1-9, 2007.

• *Sherk, V., Bemben, M., and Bemben, D.  Bone density and bone geometry in transtibeal and transfemoral amputees.  Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, in review, 2007.

• *Midorikawa, T., Sekiyuchi, O., Beckley, M.D., Bemben, M.G., and Abe, T.  A comparison of organ-tissue level body composition between college-age athletes and non-athletes.  International Journal of Sports Medicine, 27:1-6, 2006.

• *Clary, S., Barnes, C., Bemben, D., Knehans, A., Bemben, M.  Effects of ballates, step aerobics, and    walking on balance in women aged 50 – 75 years.  Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 5:390-399, 2006.                        
  

• Yasuda, T., Fujita, T., Miyagi, Y., Kubota, Y., Sato, Y., Nakajima, T., Bemben, M., and Abe, T. Electromyographic responses of arm and chest muscle during bench press exercise with and without KAATSU.  International Journal of KAATSU Training Research, 2:13-16, 2006.

• *Palmer, IJ., Runnels, E., Bemben, MG., and Bemben, DA.  Muscle-bone interactions across age in men.  Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 5:43-51, 2006.

• *Richardson, M., Cramer, J., Bemben, D., Shehab, R., Glover, J., and Bemben, M.  Effects of age and ACL injury on quadriceps gamma lop function.  Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 29(1):26-33, 2006.

• *Rixon, K., Rehor, P., and Bemben, M.  Analysis of the assessment of caloric expenditure in four modes of aerobic dance.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20(3):593-596, 2006.

• *Baker, J., Bemben, MG., Anderson, M, and Bemben, DA.  Effects of age and testosterone responses to resistance exercise and musculoskeletal variables in men.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20(4); 874-881, 2006.

• Karabulat, M. Cramer, J., Ryan, E ., Anderson, R., Hull, H., Sato, T., Abe, T., and Bemben, M.  Effects of KAATSU on muscular function during isometric exercise.  International Journal of KAATSU Research, 2:19-28, 2006.

• Bemben, MG, Bemben, DA, and Hartman, MJ.  Chromium.  In: Sports Nutrition. Vitamins and Trace Elements.  Wolinski and Driskell (Eds.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pages 267-274, 2005.

• *Runnels, E., Bemben, D., Anderson, M., and Bemben, M.  Influence of age on isometric, isotonic, and isokinetic force production characteristics in men.  J of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 28(3):74-84, 2005.

• *Carter, J., Witten, M., Bemben, D., Knehans, and Bemben, M.  Does nutritional supplementation influence adaptability of muscle to resistance training in men aged 48 to 72 years.  Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 28(2): 40-47, 2005.

• *White, S., Bemben, D., Knehans, A., Bemben, M.  Effect of continuous passive motion (machine assisted) exercise as an alternative form of training on physiological profiles of women aged 40-65 years.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 19(3): 634-639, 2005.

• Bemben, M., and Lamont, H.  Creatine supplementation and exercise performance: Recent findings. Sports Medicine, 35(2): 107-125, 2005.

• Bemben, M.G., Sato, Y., and Abe, T.  The use of anthropometry for assessing muscles Size.  International Journal of Kaatsu Training Research, 1:33-36, 2005.

  
  *Indicates student research
  

Contact Information

C.B. Hudson Presidential Professor• Department of Health and Exercise Science
University of Oklahoma
Huston Huffman Center 120 • Norman, OK 73019-6081
Phone: (405) 325-2717 • Fax: (405) 325-0594
mgbemben@ou.edu