Penn State Kinesiology

People who wore a cooling cap for 30 minutes experienced reduced depressive symptoms and altered brain wave activity, according to a new study by Penn State researchers ⤵️

www.psu.edu

Does sweating more mean you've had a better workout? Not necessarily.

Recently, W. Larry Kenney shared his expertise with The New York Times on the science of sweating and exercise. While sweat helps cool the body, factors like fitness level, hydration, and environmental conditions can all influence how much a person sweats.

We are proud to see our kinesiology faculty contributing their expertise to national conversations on health and human performance.

The 1994 FIFA World Cup is remembered for bringing the tournament back to the United States, but its impact extended far beyond the host nation.

In a new article in The Conversation, Cesar Torres discusses how rule changes and innovations surrounding the 1994 World Cup helped transform soccer into a faster, more exciting game and restore much of what fans love about the sport today.

In a new Q&A, sport historian Mark Dyreson explores how sports have evolved alongside the United States. From horse racing and hunting in the nation's early years to the rise of baseball, football, and basketball, sports have helped shape and reflect American culture and values.

Read how changing sports preferences have reflected shifting values, lifestyles, and social priorities throughout U.S. history. https://www.psu.edu/news/health-and-human-development/story/qa-250-years-sports-united-states

Congratulations to our Master of Athletic Training students on receiving prestigious scholarships!

- James Bastian and Natalie Reid were awarded the Sayers J. Bud Miller, Jr. Memorial Award
- Ashley Helton and Jennifer Worley received the Edward A. Sulkowski Athletic Training Scholarship
- Payton Holmes and Paula Siaca Meza were honored with the Jimmy Warfield Memorial Athletic Training Scholarship

These awards recognize not only academic excellence but also the dedication and passion our students bring to the field of athletic training every day. We Are proud of you all!

🎓 Meet Savannah Brion, a kinesiology graduate with a minor in biology who turned her passion for patient care into hands-on clinical experience through an internship as a medical assistant at .

As an aspiring physician assistant, Savannah wanted an opportunity to work directly with patients and learn what healthcare looks like beyond the classroom.

“My internship gave me meaningful hands-on clinical experience and helped me develop practical skills while working directly with patients.”

From preventive care visits to chronic condition management and acute concerns, Savannah gained exposure to a wide range of patients and healthcare experiences that helped prepare her for the next step in her journey.

The Men's FIFA World Cup is back in the United States for the first time in 32 years. That World Cup—in 1994—helped soccer reclaim its title as "the beautiful game," with exciting, creative play. Learn more https://bit.ly/4ekRAyD

The 1994 World Cup helped rescue ‘the beautiful game’ from mediocrity. On its return to the US, expect more of that beauty Global soccer was in the doldrums in the early 1990s – with poor ethics and boring defensive tactics. Then FIFA set about changing the game.

After three months of training, nearly an entire class of law enforcement trainees improved their fitness scores and advanced in their program.

For kinesiology senior Justin Lee, being part of that progress was a meaningful experience and example of how Penn State students make an impact beyond the classroom.

Congratulations to doctoral student Zach Napora on serving as lead author of a recently published study in Frontiers in Neurology examining concussion prognosis and recovery.

Working through the Sport Concussion Research and Service Laboratory, Zach’s research explored how machine learning, neuroimaging, biomarkers, and clinical assessments may help improve the ability to identify athletes at risk for prolonged concussion recovery and support more personalized treatment approaches.

This work reflects the impactful, interdisciplinary research being conducted by our graduate students and faculty to advance athlete health and improve clinical care.

We are proud to see Zach contributing to research that has the potential to shape the future of concussion management and sports medicine. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1801044/full

Alexander Rigling, Master of Athletic Training Class of 2026, is completing his clinical rotation with the Duke Blue Devils Men’s Lacrosse program as the team advances to the NCAA Final Four.

Experiences like this give our students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge in high-level competitive environments while learning alongside some of the best professionals in collegiate athletics. We are proud to see Alex representing Penn State and gaining invaluable hands-on experience that will help shape his future in sports medicine.

Congratulations, Alex, on this incredible achievement!