Dr. Ben Gordon is an Assistant Professor in the department of Health and Human Development. His research focuses on simple and convenient exercise interventions to manage and lower blood pressure. Specifically his research alongside his collaborators explores the effect of isometric handgrip exercise in adults with and without hypertension as a supplemental antihypertensive lifestyle strategy. Dr. Gordon has also taken interest in the unique physiological phenomenon of the interarm difference in blood pressure that occurs during both rest and exercise as increased cardiovascular risk may be associated with a widened pressure between arms. Finally, Dr. Gordon also has an athletic performance focused research interest in studying the effects of carbon fiber-plated running shoes on race performance in recreational and competitive runners.
Raised in Michigan for most of his life, Dr. Gordon earned his BS in Exercise Science from Western Michigan University, MS in Clinical Exercise Physiology from East Stroudsburg University, and his PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Before joining the faculty at Pitt, Dr. Gordon spent four years as an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Slippery Rock University.
Dr. Gordon teaches courses in the Clinical Exercise Physiology Graduate Program within the Department of Health and Human Development. Presently he teaches Clinical Exercise Physiology I & II and Advanced Clinical Health and Physical Activity Assessment.
Acute and training effects of isometric exercise as a supplemental strategy to lower blood pressure in adults with and without hypertension
The physiological phenomenon of an interarm difference (IAD) in blood pressure on cardiovascular risk during rest and exercise (eIAD)
Community focused approach for implementing efficacious anti-hypertensive exercise strategies
Impact of carbon fiber-plated running shoes to improve running performance in recreational and competitive distance athletes
Baross, A. W., Brook, R. D., Kay, A. D., Howden, R., Gaillard, E. C., Gordon, B. D., … & Swaine, I. L. (2022). Effects of isometric leg training on ambulatory blood pressure and morning blood pressure surge in young normotensive men and women. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1-9.
Baddeley-White, D. S., Wood, C. N., McGowan, C. L., Howden, R., Gaillard, E. C., Gordon, B. D., … & Swaine, I. L. (2021). Blood pressure-lowering efficacy of a 6-week multi-modal isometric exercise intervention. Blood Pressure Monitoring, 26(1), 30-38.
Gordon, B. D., Whitmire, S., Zacherle, E. W., Doyle, S., Gulati, S., Leamy, L. J., … & Howden, R. (2019). “Get a grip on hypertension”: exploring the use of isometric handgrip training in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation patients. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, 39(6), E31-E34.
Smart, N. A., Way, D., Carlson, D., Millar, P., McGowan, C., Swaine, I., Gordon, B. D., & Bleile, B. (2019). Effects of isometric resistance training on resting blood pressure: individual participant data meta-analysis. Journal of hypertension, 37(10), 1927.
Gordon, B. D., Thomas, E. V., Warren-Findlow, J., Marino, J. S., Bennett, J. M., Reitzel, A. M., … & Howden, R. (2018). A comparison of blood pressure reductions following 12-weeks of isometric exercise training either in the laboratory or at home. Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, 12(11), 798-808.
Awards and Honors:
- American College of Sports Medicine – Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist