Debra Bemben, Ph.D., FACSM

Debra Bemben, Ph.D., FACSM, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at the University of Oklahoma, Norman Campus. She teaches a variety of Exercise Physiology courses in the department and conducts research in the areas of bone health and endocrine responses to exercise.

Dr. Bemben earned her PhD in Exercise Physiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was a faculty member in the Division of Health and Exercise Science at Truman State University for 5 years before joining the OU faculty in 1992. She was born in Canada (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada) where she pursued her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education/exercise physiology. She is married to Dr. Michael Bemben and enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Quincy (golden retriever) and Ellis (Lab mix).

• Vita

Courses

Undergraduate Courses Currently Taught at The University of Oklahoma

• HES 3823 Exercise Physiology
• HES 4833 Exercise Physiology Laboratory
• HES 4953 Senior Capstone

Graduate Courses Currently Taught at The University of Oklahoma

• HES 5823 Advanced Exercise Physiology
• HES 5883 Exercise Endocrinology
• HES 6884 Endocrinology and Metabolism of Exercise

Research Interests

• Endocrine responses to exercise
• Bone metabolism and exercise
• Effects of different models of resistance training on bone density and bone remodeling in postmenopausal women

Selected Publications (peer reviewed):

• D.A. Bemben, T.D. Buchanan, M.G. Bemben and A.W. Knehans. Influence of type of mechanical loading, menstrual status, and training season on bone density in young women athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (in review).
• D.A. Bemben, T.S. McCloskey, and M.G. Bemben. Bone health in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. ACSM’s Health Fitness Journal (in review).
• D.A. Bemben, and D.B. Langdon. (2002). Relationship between estrogen use and musculoskeletal function in postmenopausal women. Maturitas 42:119-127.
• M.G. Bemben, D.A. Bemben, D.D. Loftiss, and A.W. Knehans. (2001). Effects of creatine supplementation during resistance training in college football athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 33:1667-1673.
• M.G. Bemben, T.D. Tuttle, D.A. Bemben, and A.W. Knehans. (2001). Effects of creatine supplementation on isometric force-time curve characteristics. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 33:1876-1881.
• D.A. Bemben, N.L. Fetters, M.G. Bemben, N. Nabavi, and E.T. Koh. (2000). Musculoskeletal responses to high and low intensity resistance training in postmenopausal women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 32:1949-1957.
• J.K. Dierking, M.G. Bemben, D.A. Bemben, and M.A. Anderson. (2000). Validity of diagnostic ultrasound as a measure of delayed onset muscle soreness. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 30:116-125.
• D.A. Bemben, and N.L. Fetters. (2000). The independent and additive effects of exercise training and estrogen on bone metabolism. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research,14:114-120.
• D.A. Bemben, and M.G. Bemben. (2000). Effects of resistance exercise and body mass index on lipoprotein-lipid patterns of postmenopausal women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 14:80-85.
• D.A. Bemben. (1999). Exercise interventions for osteoporosis prevention in postmenopausal women. The Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, 92:66-72.
• L.S. Walker, M.G. Bemben, D.A. Bemben, and A.W. Knehans. (1998). Chromium picolinate effects on body composition and muscular performance in wrestlers. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30:1730-1737.
• M.G. Bemben, B.H. Massey, D.A. Bemben, R.A. Boileau, and J.E. Misner. (1998). Variability in the assessment of fat and lean tissue content of men aged 20-79 years utilizing different body composition methods. Age and Ageing, 27:147-153.
• M.G. Bemben, D.A. Bemben, D.A. Fields, and L.S. Walker. (1996). Unconventional training program improves strength, flexibility. Perspectives on Aging, 25:22-24.
• M.G. Bemben, D.A. Bemben, D.A. Fields, and L.S. Walker. (1996). The effects of 16 weeks of resistance training on strength and flexibility in elderly women. Issues on Aging, 19:10-14.
• R.M. Hamm, R. Hicks, and D.A. Bemben. (1996). Antibiotics and respiratory infections: Are patients more satisfied when expectations are met? Journal of Family Practice, 43:56-62.
• R.M. Hamm, R. Hicks, and D.A. Bemben. (1996). Antibiotics and respiratory infections: do antibiotic prescriptions improve outcomes? Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, 89:267-274.
• M.G. Bemben, B.H. Massey, D.A. Bemben, J.E. Misner, and R.A. Boileau. (1996). Isometric intermittent endurance of four muscle groups in men aged 20-74 yr. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 28:145-154.
• D.A. Bemben, P.C. Salm, and A.J. Salm. (1995). Ventilatory and blood lactate responses to maximal treadmill exercise during the menstrual cycle. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 35:257-262.
• R. Hicks, R.M. Hamm, and D.A. Bemben. (1995). Prostate cancer screening: What family physicians feel is best. Archives of Family Medicine, 4:317-322.
• M.G. Bemben, B.H. Massey, D.A. Bemben, R.A. Boileau, and J.E. Misner. (1995). Age related patterns in body composition in men 20-74 years. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 27(2):264-269.
• J.L. Mayhew, D.A. Bemben, M.G. Bemben, F.C. Piper, D.M. Rohrs, and P.C. Salm. (1994). Gender differences in strength and anaerobic power tests. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 26:227-243.
• D.A. Bemben, P. Winn, R.M. Hamm, L. Morgan, A. Davis, and E. Barton. (1994). Thyroid disease in community-dwelling elders: Part 1. Prevalence of subclinical and overt hypothyroidism. Journal of Family Practice, 38(6):577-582.
• D.A. Bemben, R.M. Hamm, L. Morgan, P. Winn, A. Davis, and E. Barton. (1994). Thyroid disease in community-dwelling elders: Part 2. Predictability of subclinical hypothyroidism. Journal of Family Practice, 38(6):583-588.
• J.L. Mayhew, M.G. Bemben, D.M. Rohrs, and D.A. Bemben. (1994). Specificity among anaerobic power tests in college female athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 8(1):43-47.
• D.A. Bemben. (1993). Metabolic effects of oral contraceptives: implications for exercise responses in premenopausal women. Sports Medicine, 16(5):295-304.
• J.L Mayhew, M.G. Bemben, F.C. Piper, J.S. Ware, D.M. Rohrs, and D.A. Bemben. (1993). Assessing bench press power in college football players: the seated shot put. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 7(2), 95-100.
• D.A. Bemben, R.A. Boileau, J.M. Bahr, R.A. Nelson, and J.E. Misner. (1992). Effects of oral contraceptives on hormonal and metabolic responses during exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 24(4), 434_441.
• M.G. Bemben, B.H. Massey, J.E. Misner, R.A. Boileau, and D.A. Bemben. (1991). Isometric force production as a function of age in healthy 20_74 year old men. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 23(11), 1302_1310.
• J.L. Mayhew, M.G. Bemben, D.M. Rohrs, J. Ware, and D.A. Bemben. (1991). Seated shot put as a measure of upper body power in college males. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 21, 137-148.
• M.G. Bemben, M.L. Kuchera, and D.A. Bemben. (1989). Physiological changes related to aging: implications for health and fitness. Journal of Osteopathic Sports Medicine, 3(3), 15-19.
• M.H. Slaughter, T.G. Lohman, R.A. Boileau, C.A. Horswill, R.J. Stillman, M.D.
• Van Loan and D.A. Bemben. (1988). Skinfold equations for estimation of body fatness in children and youth. Human Biology, 60(5), 709-723.J.C. Bunt, J.M. Bahr, and D.A. Bemben. (1987). Comparisons of estradiol and testosterone levels during and immediately following prolonged exercise in moderately active and trained males and females. Endocrine Research, 13(2), 157_172.

Contact Information

Associate Professor • Department of Health and Exercise Science • University of Oklahoma
Huston Huffman Center 118 • Norman, OK 73019-6081
Phone: (405) 325-2709 • Fax: (405) 325-0594
dbemben@ou.edu