Thomas K. Pellinger, Ph.D., ACSM CEP & EP-C, NSCA CSCS
Associate Professor

Education:
Ph.D., Human Physiology, University of Oregon 2008
M.A., Health and Exercise Science, Furman University 2000
B.S., Middle Grades Education, North Carolina State University 1994
Bio:
Dr. Pellinger joined the Department of Physical Therapy faculty in the summer of 2020. Prior to his UMES appointment, he worked for 9 years as a Professor, then Program Chair, of the Master of Science in Applied Health Physiology program at Salisbury University. Dr. Pellinger earned his Ph.D. in Human Physiology from the University of Oregon, where his research focused on the relationship between post-exercise blood flow and metabolic regulation. In addition to his responsibilities as a Research and Teaching Fellow, he also served as the Testing Coordinator at Oregon's Bowerman Sports Science Clinic, where he evaluated and assisted a variety of high-level athletes. Prior to starting his doctoral program, he worked as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, then Clinical Coordinator at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where he oversaw the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Employee Wellness, and Weight Management programs. Currently, Dr. Pellinger is exploring the impact of non-invasive interventions on leg blood flow and functional capacity in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). In addition, he and his colleagues are investigating the impact of various factors, including exercise, on arterial stiffness in humans. Dr. Pellinger is a member of the American Physiological Society, American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and Clinical Exercise Physiology Association.
Primary Courses:
PHYT 603 Exercise Physiology
PHYT 633 Patient Management – Cardiac
PHYT 637 Patient Management – Pulmonary
PHYT 789 Research Project
Contributing Professor:
PHYT 600 Advanced Human Physiology (Cardiac and Pulmonary Physiology)
PHYT 605 Life Span Development and Embryology (Histology)
PHYT 611 Pharmacology and Laboratory Values for the Physical Therapist
PHYT 612 Clinical Medicine I - Pathophysiology (Cardiac and Pulmonary Pathophysiology)
PHYT 621 Physical Therapy in the Acute Care Setting (Vital Signs)
Peer-Reviewed Publications (Selected):
Gimblet CJ, Pellinger TK, LaManca JJ, Ortlip AT, Vance MM, Shepherd M, Moore AT, Staudmyer TB, Townsend ZM, and Werner TJ (2021) Effects of Acute Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation Arterial Stiffness and Muscle Oxygen Saturation in Young Men. Adv Ortho and Sprts Med: AOASM-146.
Werner, TJ, Pellinger, TK, Rosette, VD, and Ortlip, AT. Effects of a 12-week resistance training program on arterial stiffness: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2019 Aug DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003331.
Pellinger TK, Neighbors, CB, and Simmons, GH. (2019). Acute lower leg heating increases exercise capacity in patients with peripheral artery disease. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 34(2): 130-133.
Pellinger TK, Pearce, CB, Simmons, GH, and Snitzer, JL. (2017). Postexercise hemodynamics in patients with type 2 diabetes: effect of exercise intensity and duration. Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology, 6(1), 1-8.
Pellinger, TK, Dumke, B.R., & Halliwill, J.R. (2013). Effect of H1-and H2-histamine receptor blockade on postexercise insulin sensitivity. Physiological Reports 1(2): 1-11.
Pellinger TK, Simmons GH, MacLean DA, and Halliwill JR. (2010). Local histamine H1- and H2-receptor blockade reduces postexercise skeletal muscle interstitial glucose concentrations in humans. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 35(5): 617-626.
McCord JL, Pellinger TK, Lynn BM, and Halliwill JR. (2008). Potential benefit from an H1-receptor antagonist on postexercise syncope in the heat. Med Sci. Sports Exerc. 40(11): 1953-1961.
Pellinger TK and Halliwill JR. (2007). Effect of propranolol on sympathetically mediated leg vasoconstriction in humans. The Journal of Physiology. 583 (Pt): 797-809.
Caterisano A, Moss RF, Pellinger TK, Woodruff K, Lewis VC, Booth W, and Khadra T. (2002). The effect of back squat depth on the EMG activity of 4 superficial hip and thigh muscles. J. Strength Cond. Res. 16(3): 428-432.
Credentials & Certifications:
Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP)
American College of Sports Medicine
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
National Strength and Conditioning Association
Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C)
American College of Sports Medicine
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Healthcare Provider
American Heart Association
Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider
American Heart Association
Areas of Interest:
o Blood flow regulation
o Integrative physiology
o Arterial stiffness
o Postexercise hemodynamics