Recent graduate Robert Federico ’26 and second-year physician assistant (PA) student Tiffany Caba Abreu ’25 recently published in the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, Volume 11 Issue 4.
“Effects of a Suspension Training Warm-up on Maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Performance in Highly Active Adults: A Randomized Crossover Trial,” stems from Federico’s Honors thesis and hands-on research experience within Monmouth University’s Human Performance Lab (HPL) and examines whether different warm-up strategies influence performance during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Jamie Pigman, Ph.D., chair of and assistant professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, and Tamara Rial-Faigenbaum, Ph.D., specialist professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, are also contributing authors to the research.
“Conducting this research project in the HPL at Monmouth University has been an invaluable and rewarding opportunity. This experience allowed me to contribute to the field of athletic performance research while working alongside an exceptional team. This research project directly aligns with my passion for medicine and career goal of becoming a cardiologist,” Federico said.
Federico, Caba Abreu, Pigman, and Rial-Faigenbaum compared a brief suspension-training warm-up with a traditional treadmill walking warm-up performed before maximal exercise testing. The findings contribute to the growing body of research examining how pre-test procedures in athletic populations may influence exercise testing outcomes and underscore the importance of standardized testing procedures in exercise physiology research.
“This study reflects that interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork are what makes a project so special. It was a great opportunity for us as students to not just learn about research and its importance, but the HPL allowed us to contribute to it. Being part of a published study while in training as a PA student was an incredible opportunity and I got to learn so much through the process,” Caba Abreu said.
The HPL, located in Monmouth’s Graduate Center, provides applied learning experiences in movement science courses, fosters faculty and student research in human performance, and advances health initiatives through community partnerships.
“This project is a great example of the experiential learning and collaborative experience we want the HPL to provide for our students. Witnessing the professional growth of our students Robert and Tiffany fills me with pride and joy. This publication demonstrates to all our students the benefits of getting involved in research at the HPL,” said Pigman.
Rial-Faigenbaum added, “This project represents exactly what we hope to accomplish in the HPL. Robert has the dedication, passion for exercise physiology but also the work ethic needed for successful completion of a clinical trial of this magnitude. At the same time, the project is part of the growing body of student-engaged research initiated through the lab.”
The Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is a peer-reviewed, open access journal dealing with the analysis structure, function, development, and evolution of cells and tissues of the musculoskeletal system and the whole body related to the movement exercise-based approach.