Steven J. Elmer

Contact

sjelmer@mtu.edu

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Henrietta Schmoll School of Health Sciences St. Catherine University
Affiliated Professor, Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology
Affiliated Associate Professor, Biological Sciences and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

PhD, Exercise Science, University of Utah
MS, Exercise Science, University of Utah
BS, Exercise and Sport Science, University of Utah

Biography

Dr. Elmer is an Affiliated Professor for the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology at Michigan Technological University. His research goals are to find better ways to restore musculoskeletal function, maintain health, and improve performance in healthy and clinical populations. Specifically, his research is focused on three key areas: 1) mechanics of skeletal muscle contraction, 2) coordination of locomotor tasks, and 3) exercise interventions to improve physical conditioning and mobility. Applications for his research range from basic aspects of muscle contraction to applied human performance in a variety of settings including injury, rehabilitation, ergonomics, and sport.

Research Interests

Adaptations to exercise training
Functional losses following injury
Skeletal muscle function
Cycling biomechanics
Physiology education

Recent Publications

Heidorn, C.E, Elmer, S.J., Wehmanen, K.W., Martin, J.C., McDaniel J. (2023). Single-leg cycling to maintain and improve function in healthy and clinical populations. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, 1105772.
Franklin, B.A., Wedig, I.J., Sallis, R.E., Lavie, C.J., Elmer, S.J. (2023). Physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness as modulators of health outcomes: a narrative review presented to the medical community. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 98, 316-331.
Kilgas, M.A., Yoon, T., McDaniel, J., Phillips, K.C., Elmer, S.J. (2022). Physiological responses to acute cycling exercise with blood flow restriction. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 800155.
Elmer, S.J., Kamm, K.B. (2022). Leading at the edge during COVID-19: challenges, opportunities, and future pandemic preparedness. Kinesiology Review, 11, 275-284.
Elmer, S.J., Martin, J.C. (2021). Metabolic cost and efficiency for an amputee cyclist: implications for cycling technique. Journal of Applied Physiology, 130, 479-484.
Singer, T., Kilgas, M.A., Stavres, J., Pollock, B., Elmer, S.J., McDaniel, J. (2020) Knee exercise with blood flow restriction: Impact of cuff pressure on hemodynamics. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120, 79-90.
Kilgas, M.A., Denherder, A.E., Lytle, L.M., Williams, C.T., Elmer, S.J. (2019). Home-based exercise with blood flow restriction to improve quadriceps function and physical function after total knee arthroplasty: a case report. Physical Therapy (Epub ahead of print).
Kilgas, M.A., Lytle, L.M., Drum, S.N., Elmer, S.J. (2019). Exercise with blood flow restriction to improve quadriceps function long after ACL reconstruction. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 40, 650-656.
Kilgas, M.A., McDaniel, J., & Elmer, S.J. (2019). Limb blood flow and tissue perfusion during exercise with blood flow restriction. Submitted to European Journal of Applied Physiology, 119, 377-387.
Lytle, L.M., Dannenbring, J.L., Kilgas, M.A., Elmer, S.J. (2019). Eccentric arm cycling: a potential upper-body exercise for wheelchair users. Archives in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 100, 914-922.
Bye, T.K., Carter, K.R., Elmer, S.J. (2019). An outside the box activity to demonstrate how humans and animals turn. Advances in Physiology Education, 43, 282-287.
VanSumeren, A.L., Kilgas, M.A., Bye, T.K., Anderson, D.J., Elmer, S.J. (2018). Influence of the lower-body on seated arm cranking performance. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 39, 757-763.
Elmer, S.J., Anderson, D.J., Wakeham, T., Kilgas, M.A., Durocher, J.J., Lindstedt, S.L., LaStayo, P.C. (2017). Upper-body eccentric exercise: improvements in muscle strength and power at moderate training intensities. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 117, 1473-1483.
Elmer, S.J., Joyner, M.J., Carter, J.R. (2017). Two hour marathon: what do students think? Advances in Physiology Education, 41, 522-525.
Leong, C.H., Elmer, S.J., Martin, J.C. (2017). Effects of noncircular chainrings on joint specific kinematics and power production. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 33, 410-418.
Kilgas, M.A., Elmer, S.J. (2017). Back to the future! Revisiting the physiological cost of negative work as a team-based activity for exercise physiology students. Advances in Physiology Education, 41, 120-129. [Article featured on journal yearly cover issue]
Elmer, S.J., McDaniel, J., Martin, J.C. (2016). Biomechanics of counterweighted one-legged cycling. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 32, 78-85.
Elmer, S.J., Carter, K.R., Armga, A.J., Carter, J.R. (2016). Evaluation of blended learning within an exercise physiology laboratory. Advances in Physiology Education, 40, 64-69.
Barratt, P., Korff, T., Elmer, S.J., Martin, J.C. (2016). Mechanical determinants of submaximal cycling: roles of pedal speed and crank length. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48, 705-713.
Elmer, S.J., Martin, J.C. (2014). A cycling workstation to facilitate physical activity in office settings. Applied Ergonomics, 45, 1240-1246.
McDaniel, J., Behjani, S., Elmer, S.J., Brown, N.A., Martin, J.C. (2014). Joint-specific power-velocity relationships during maximal cycling. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 30, 423-430.

Recent Funding

Michigan Health Endowment Fund
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation
National Science Foundation
Michigan Space Grant Consortium
The Physiological Society
American College of Sports Medicine

Teaching Experience

Advanced exercise physiology
Exercise physiology laboratory
Foundations of kinesiology
Human biomechanics
Graduate seminar