Samantha McDonald
Associate Professor
Office
SFCM Student Fitness Center & Mccormick Hall 182e
Office Phone
Email
- About
- Education
- Selected Research
Biography
New to the MidWest! Outside of academia, I enjoy exercise (lifting, running, swimming etc.), cooking, building furniture, traveling back home to Washington State and playing with my son!
Current Courses
KNR 415.001 Exercise & Cardiorespiratory Function
KNR 313.001 Exercise Programming For Neuromuscular Fitness
KNR 313.002 Exercise Programming For Neuromuscular Fitness
KNR 499.017 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis
KNR 287.001 Independent Study
KNR 488.001 Special Studies In Recreation And Tourism
Teaching Interests & Areas
Introduction to Exercise Science
Exercise Programming for Neuromuscular Fitness
Exercise Programming for Cardiometabolic Fitness
Exercise Physiology
Lifespan Exercise Physiology
Physical Activity Epidemiology
Research Interests & Areas
My research focuses on the effects of exercise during pregnancy on the health of the mom and baby. Specifically, I examine its effects on maternal and offspring metabolism, body composition and future health trajectories.
PhD Exercise Science
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
MS Nutrition and Exercise Science
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
BS Health and Physical Education
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, Oregon
Grants and Contracts
OSF-ISU Sport Program
Michael Torry, Marcel Lopes dos Santos, Samantha McDonald.
OSF and ISU. January 1 2025 - December 31 2025
The EMS-FIRST Initiative: Serving Those Who Serve Us
Marcel Lopes dos Santos, Michael Torry, Samantha McDonald.
OSF HealthCare. December 1 2024 - December 31 2025
The Accuracy of Metabolic Equivalents (METs) in Estimating Energy Expenditure of Select Aerobic Activities in Pregnant Women: Is a New Compendium of Physical Activities Needed?
Samantha McDonald.
Illinois State University. June 1 2021 - January 1 2023
Abstract
Concurrent Validity And Reliability Of The Vertical Jump And Standing Broad Jump Tests In Youth
Isaac T Faamoe, Kelly R Laurson, Tyler J Kybartas, Samantha M McDonald.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 56 (10S), 972-973, (2024), 10.1249/01.mss.0001061116.68964.68
Determining the Best Predictor Variables for CMJ Performance in NCAA Division I Athletes
Konkle, Michael Torry, Samantha McDonald, Chris Carter, Marcel Lopes dos Santos.
University Research Symposium. 451., (2024)
Book, Chapter
Using Resistance Training in Women with Gestational Diabetes to Improve Glucose Regulation
Brittany Allman, Samantha McDonald, Linda E May, Amber W Kinsey, Elisabet Borsheim.
(2021), Gestational Diabetes - New Developments, InTech Open
The Maternal Resources Hypothesis and Childhood Obesity.
Samantha McDonald.
(2017), Fetal and Early Postnatal Programming and its Influence on Adult Health, Taylor and Francis - CRC Press
Journal Article
A Novel Metric “Exercise Cardiac Load” Proposed to Track and Predict the Deterioration of the Autonomic Nervous System in Division I Football Athletes.
Samantha McDonald.
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 8 (4), (2023)
Continuous Physiological Monitoring of the Combined Exposure to Hypoxia and High Cognitive Load in Military Personnel. Biology – MDPI, in press
Samantha McDonald.
Biology, 12, (2023)
Exercise Cardiac Load and Autonomic Nervous System Recovery during In-Season Training: The Impact on Speed Deterioration in American Football Athletes.
Samantha McDonald.
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 8 (3), (2023)
Influence of Supervised Maternal Aerobic Exercise During Pregnancy on 1-Month-Old Neonatal Cardiac Function and Outflow: A Pilot Study.
Samantha McDonald.
Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 55 (11), (2023)
Recovery of the Autonomic Nervous System Following Football Training Among Division I Collegiate Football Athletes: The Influence of Intensity and Time
Samantha McDonald.
Heliyon, 9 (7), (2023)
Influence of Exercise Type on Maternal Blood Pressure Adaptation Throughout Pregnancy
Sara E Murphy, Carol A Johnston, Cody Strom, Christy Isler, Kelly Haven, Edward Newton, Samantha McDonald, Linda E May.
AJOG Global Reports, 2 (1), (2022)
Maternal Aerobic Exercise, but Not Blood Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Concentrations, during Pregnancy Influence Infant Body Composition
Samantha McDonald.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (14), (2022), doi: 10.3390/ijerph19148293.
Differential Age-Related Declines in Cardiorespiratory Fitness among People with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Andrew Ortaglia, Samantha McDonald, Michael D Wirth, Xuemei Sui, Matteo Bottai.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes, 5 (24), 743-752, (2021)
Influence of Light Intensity exercise During Pregnancy on Fetal Echocardiographic and Maternal Cardiovascular Measures
Brooke Davis, Carol A Johnston, Lauren Sarno, Dennis Steed, Diana Strickland, Samantha McDonald, Edward Newton, Christy Isler, Kelly Haven, SeonAe Yeo, Devon Kuehn, Linda E May.
Journal of Clinical Cardiology and Cardiovascular Interventions, 4 (18), (2021)
Leisure-time physical activity before and during pregnancy is associated with improved insulin resistance in late pregnancy
C Cai, Z Zhang, Samantha McDonald, Cody Strom, Linda E May, D Steinback, Margie H Davenport.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (9), 4413, (2021)
Maternal Cardiovascular and Birth Outcome Responses to At-Home vs In-Person Prenatal Exercise During COVID-19 Pandemic
Samantha McDonald.
Medical Research Archives, 9 (12), (2021), doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v9i12.2596.
Maternal Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Before and During Pregnancy and Maternal Glucose Tolerance: Does Timing Matter?
Samantha McDonald, Linda E May, Stefanie N Hinkle, Katherine Grantz, Cuilin Zhang.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 53 (12), 2520-2527, (2021)
The Influence of Exercise During Pregnancy on Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities and Birth Outcomes
Madigan J Raper, Samantha McDonald, Carol Johnston, Christy Isler, Edward Newton, Devon Kuehn, David Collier, T Broskey, Adrienne Muldrow, Linda E May.
BMC Pregnancy and Child Birth, 21 (1), 258, (2021)
Influence of Prenatal Aerobic Exercise on Fetal Morphometry
Samantha McDonald, Christy Isler, Kelly Haven, Edward Newton, Devon Kuehn, George Kelley, Chasan-Taber, Linda E May.
Maternal and Child Health, 24, 1367-1375, (2020), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-03000-7
The effects of aerobic exercise on maternal metabolism during pregnancy
Samantha McDonald, Cody Strom, Mary Remchak, Alec B Chaves, Nicholas T Broskey, Christy Isler, Kelly Haven, Edward Newton, James DeVente, Pedro Acosta-Manzano, Virgin Aparacio, Linda E May.
Birth Defects Research, (2020), https://doi.org/10.1002/bdr2.1780
Associations between maternal physical activity and fitness during pregnancy and infant birthweight
Samantha McDonald.
Preventive Medicine Reports, 11, (2018), doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.04.019.
Physical and Social Contexts of Physical Activity Behaviors of Fifth and Seventh Grade Youth
Samantha McDonald.
Journal of School Health, 88 (2), (2018), doi: 10.1111/josh.12587.
Effect of Child Gender and Psychosocial Factors on Physical Activity From Fifth to Sixth Grade
Samantha McDonald.
Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 14 (12), (2017), doi: 10.1123/jpah.2016-0487.
Fitness Adjusted Racial Disparities in Central Adiposity Amongst Females in the US using Quantile Regression
Samantha McDonald.
Obesity, Science & Practice, 3 (2), doi: 10.1002/osp4.110.
Influence of Prenatal Aerobic Exercise on the Relationship Between Maternal Overweight and Obesity and Select Delivery Outcomes
Steven Mouro, Samantha McDonald, Brianna Wisseman, Christy Isler, James DeVente, Edward Newton, Jason Hildebrand, Devon Kuehn, George Kelley, Lisa Chasan-Taber, Nicholas, Linda E May.
Scientific Reports, 12 (1)
The Effects of Relaxation Techniques Following Acute, High Intensity Football Training on Parasympathetic Reactivation.
Samantha McDonald.
Frontiers in Sport and Active Living
The Influence of Maternal Aerobic Exercise, Blood DHA and EPA Concentrations on Maternal Lipid Profiles
Cody Strom, Samantha McDonald, Mary-Margaret Remchak, Kimberly Kew, Blake Rushing, Joseph Houmard, David Tulis, Roman Pawlak, George Kelley, Lisa Chasan-Taber, Edward Newton, Christy Isler, James Devente, Madigan Raper, Linda E May.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (6), doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063550.
The Role of Resistance Training as a Countermeasure in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Allman, Samantha McDonald, Linda, Elisabet Borsheim.
Sports Medicine, 52 (12), 2871-2888, doi: 10.1007/s40279-022-01724-w
Manuscript
The Metabolic Demand of Firefighting: A Systematic Review
Marcel Lopes dos Santos, Robert G Lockie, Robin Orr, Taylor Dinyer-McNeely, Doug Smith, Samantha McDonald, Jay Dawes.
Physiologia, (2025), 10.3390/physiologia5020012
Presentations
Concurrent Validity and Reliability of the Vertical Jump and Standing Broad Jump Tests in Youth
Isaac T Faamoe, Kelly R Laurson, Tyler J Kybartas, Samantha M McDonald.
American College of Sports Medicine, Boston, MA, May, 2024
Concurrent Validity and Reliability of the Vertical Jump and Standing Broad Jump Tests in Youth
Isaac T Faamoe, Kelly R Laurson, Tyler J Kybartas, Samantha M McDonald.
ISU Research Symposium, Normal, April, 2024
Determining the Best Predictor Variables for CMJ Performance in NCAA Division I Athletes
Jadon Konkel, Michael Torry, Samantha McDonald, Chris Carter, Marcel Lopes dos Santos.
University Research Symposium, Normal, April, 2024