Dr. Ben Gordon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Human Development at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Gordon completed his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Exercise Physiology.
Dr. Gordon coordinates the IsoTension Laboratory housed inside the Physical Activity Research Center (PARC) at the University of Pittsburgh. His group’s research work investigates isometric exercise training (IET) and reductions in resting blood pressure (RBP). Current scholarly interests include investigating the possible mechanisms responsible or involved in lowering RBP as well as the optimization of IET for older adult populations with hypertension using scalable isometric handgrip exercise training. Finally, alongside a diverse group of expert collaborators, Dr. Gordon is a faculty collaborator with the Department of Emergency Medicine (Applied Physiology Lab) and with Pitt Space Health where the research team investigates the impact of low burden whole body isometric exercise on muscle strength and quality preservation during prolonged bed rest in critical care and spaceflight preparation models.
Past education and experience include an M.S. in Clinical Exercise Physiology from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (2013) and a B.S. in Exercise Science from Western Michigan University (2012). Prior to his appointment at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Gordon held the role of Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Slippery Rock University. He also holds a professional Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) certification from the American College of Sports Medicine (2013-present) and is a Program Co-coordinator for the Master of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of Pittsburgh.
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.
- Physiological mechanisms responsible for reductions in resting blood pressure following isometric exercise training (IET)
- Optimization and prescription of scalable isometric handgrip training for older adults with hypertension
- Low-burden whole body isometric exercise for the preservation of muscle strength and muscle quality during prolonged bed rest in critical care and spaceflight preparation models
- Translation and implementation of efficacious anti-hypertensive exercise strategies in community and clinical settings
Gordon, B. D. H., Howden, R., McWhorter, M. L., Gaillard, E., Alessi, M. G., Persin, M. J., Kachmarik, J. E., Price, B. C., Snapper, L., Sombatsaphay, V., Marino, J. S., & Bennett, J. M. (2026). Resting blood pressure adaptations to isometric exercise training: Does muscle mass or systemic biomarkers help explain it? Advanced publication online. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity, 137, 106870. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2026.106870
B DH. Gordon, M E. Holmstrup, R. Howden, I. Swaine, J O’Driscoll, J Edwards, B T. Jensen. A comparison of hemodynamic responses to isometric and aerobic exercise : a randomized crossover-controlled study. [TJACSM, Published March, 2025].
Alexandra J. Weissman, Katharyn L. Flickinger, Victor Wu, Ryann DeMaio, Andrea Jonsson, Peter Prescott, Monteleone J, Zurowski E, Guyette FX, Benjamin DH Gordon, Marie Mortreux, Kathleen Melanson, Daniel J. Buysse, Philip E. Empey, Clifton W. Callaway. Quasi Torpor for Long-Duration Space Missions [Frontiers in Space Technology, Published, October, 2024]
Edwards, J.J1., Coleman, D.A1., Ritti-Dias, R.M2., Farah, B.Q3., Stensil. D4., Lucas, S5., Millar. P6., Gordon. B.DH.7., Cornelissen, V8., Smart, N9., Carlson, D10., McGowan, C11., Swaine. I12., Pescatello, L13., Howden, R14., Bruce-Low, S15., Farmer, C16., Leeson, P17., Sharma, R18., O’Driscoll, J.M1,18. Isometric exercise training for the prevention and treatment of arterial hypertension: an updated review [Published – Journal of Sports Medicine, April 2024]
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