Dr. Phillip Gardiner
Canada Research Chair, Physical Activity & Health Studies,
Director, Health, Leisure & Human Performance Research Institute,
Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
Member, Spinal Cord Research Center, Dept. of Physiology

University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 977-5622
Fax: (204) 261-4802
E-mail: phillip.gardiner@umanitoba.ca

Education:

  • Ph.D. (Physical Education: exercise physiology) University of Alberta
  • M.P.E. (Physical Education) University of Windsor
  • B.P.H.E. (Physical Education) University of Windsor

Dr. Gardiner spent 2 years after his Ph.D. (1976 to 1978) as a USPHS Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. V. Edgerton, UCLA.

Research Interests:

Dr. Gardiner’s primary research interest is in defining the role of regular physical activity in determining the properties of the nervous system. In particular, Dr. Gardiner’s research program is designed to attempt to uncover basic adaptive mechanisms in nerve cells, and to demonstrate indirect evidence for activity-related adaptations in the central nervous system. The knowledge that will be generated by the research program is necessary for the development of a mechanistic approach to the use of exercise as a rehabilitative tool in conditions of neural and neuromuscular deficiencies. These conditions include those caused by normal and abnormal aging, those resulting from trauma and disease, or chronic inactivity-related neural and neuromuscular deficiencies.

Recent Publications:

Gardiner, P., and Edgerton, V. (in press). The sensorimotor system. In C. Tipton (Ed.), History of exercise physiology, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Woodrow, L.E., Sheppard, P., Gardiner, K., and Gardiner, P.F. (in press). Endurance exercise training alters spinal motoneuron mRNA levels: Potential mechanisms for enhanced excitability. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

Hui, A., Back, L., Ludwig, S., Gardiner, P., Sevenhuysen, G., Dean, H., Sellers, E., McGavock, J., Morris, J., Bruce, S., Murray, R., and Shen, G., “Lifestyle intervention on diet and exercise reduced excessive gestational weight gain in pregnant women under a randomised controlled trial”, Br. J. Obster. Gynecol. 119 (1): 70-77, 2012.

MacDonell, C., Button, D., Beaumont, E., Cormery, B., and Gardiner, P., “Plasticity of rat motoneuron rhythmic firing properties with varying levels of afferent and descending inputs”, J. Neurophysiol. 107 (1): 265-272, 2012.

Wittmeier KD, Wicklow BA, Macintosh AC, Sellers EA, Ryner LN, Serrai H, Gardiner PF, Dean HJ, and McGavock JM., “Hepatic Steatosis and Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Youth With Type 2 Diabetes”, Obesity 20 (5): 1034-1040, 2012. 

Gardiner, P. (2011). Advanced neuromuscular exercise physiology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Cahill, F., Pretorius, T., Kalmar, J., Gardiner, P., and Giesbrecht, G., Whole body hypothermia has central and peripheral influences on elbow flexor performance. Experimental Physiology, 96, 528-538, 2011.

Chopek, J., and Gardiner, P., Life-long carolic restriction: Effect on age-related changes in motoneuron numbers, sizes and apoptotic markers. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 131, 650-659, 2010.

MacDonell, C.W., Power, K.E., Gardiner, K.R., & Gardiner, P.F., Active and passive properties of hind-limb motoneurons during fictive locomotion in the decerebrate rate. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 34, S58, 2009. 

Chopek, J.W., MacDonell, C.W., Power, K.E., Gardiner, K., and Gardiner, P.F., Differences in the excitation of rat hindlimb extensor and flexor motoneurons to quipazine- a serotonergic agonist. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 2010.

Ogborn, D., and Gardiner, P. Effects of exercise and muscle-type on BDNF, NT-4/5 and TrkB expression in skeletal muscle. Muscle & Nerve, 41, 385-391, 2010.

Power, K.E., MacDonell, C.W., Chopek, J.W., Gardiner, K., and Gardiner, P.F., Enhanced motoneuron excitability during locomotion: Insights from animal experimentation. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2010.

Verret, C., Gardiner, P., and Beliveau, L., Fitness level and gross motor performance of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 27, 337-351, 2010.

Verret, C., Guay, M., Berthiaume, C., Gardiner, P., and Beliveau, L., A physical activity program improves behaviour and cognitive functions in children with ADHD: An exploratory study. Journal of Attention Disorders, 2010 [Epub ahead of print].

Webber, S., Porter, M., and Gardiner, P., “Modeling age-related neuromuscular changes in humans”, Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism 34: 732-744, 2009.

Kalmar, J., Button, D., Gardiner, K., Cahill, F., and Gardiner, P., “Caloric restriction does not offset age-associated changes in the biophysical properties of motoneurons”, J Neurophysiol 101 (2): 548-557, 2009.

Larivière, C., Gravel, D., Gardiner, P., Arsenault, A.B., Gagnon, D., Loisel, P. A submaximal test to assess back muscles capacity : Evaluation of construct validity. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology (JEK-D-08-00106R2, in press, accepted for publication, Nov. 26, 2008)

Ready, E., Dear, J., Fieldhouse, P., Harlos, S., Katz, A., Moffatt, M., Butcher, J., Rodrigue, M., Schmalenberg, J., Gardiner, P., “Canada’s physical activity recommendations are a low benchmark for Manitoba adults”, Appl Physiol Nutr Metabolism 34: 172-181, 2009.

Button, D., Kalmar, J., Gardiner, K., Marqueste, T., Zhong, H., Roy, R., Edgerton, V., and Gardiner, P., “Does elimination of afferent input modify the changes in rat motoneurone properties that occur following chronic spinal cord transection?”, J Physiol (London) 586: 529-544, 2008.

Button, D., Kalmar, J., Gardiner, K., Cahill, F., and Gardiner, P., “Spike frequency adaptation of rat hind limb motoneurons”, J. Appl. Physiol. 102 (3): 1041-1050, 2007.

Gardiner, P., Dai, Y., and Heckman, C., “Effects of exercise training on alphamotoneurones”,(invited review) J Appl Physiol 101: 1228-1236, 2006.

Csukly, K., Ascah, A., Matas, J., Gardiner, P., Fontaine, E., and Burelle, Y., "Muscle denervation promotes opening of the permeability transition pore and increases the expression of cyclophilin D", J Physiol 574: 319-327, 2006.

Button, D., Gardiner, K., Marqueste, T., and Gardiner, P., “Frequency-current relationships in rat hindlimb α-motoneurones”, J Physiol 573: 663-677, 2006.

Larivière, C., Gravel, D., Gagnon, D., Gardiner, P., Arsenault, A.B., Gaudreault, N., “ Gender influence on fatigability of back muscles during intermittent isometric contractions: A study of the neuromuscular activation patterns, Clinical Biomechanics 21: 893-904, 2006.

Gardiner, P., “Adaptations of motoneurones to alterations in physical activity”, Exercise & Sport Science Reviews 34 : 54-58, 2006.

Cormery, B., Beaumont, E., Csukly, K., and Gardiner, P., " Hindlimb unweighting for two weeks alters physiological properties of rat hindlimb motoneurones", J. Physiol. 568.3 : 841-850, 2005

Desaulniers, P., Lavoie, P-A., and Gardiner, P., “Effect of rat soleus muscle overload on neuromuscular transmission efficacy during continuous and intermittent activation”, Exp. Physiol.90 : 333-340, 2005.

Csukly, K., Marqueste, T., and Gardiner, P., "Sensitivity of rat soleus muscle to a mechanical stimulus is decreased following hindlimb unweighting", Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 9: 243-249, 2005.

Marcil, M., Karelis, A., Peronnet, F., and Gardiner, P., “Glucose infusion attenuates fatigue without sparing glycogen in rat soleus muscle during prolonged electrical stimulation in situ”, Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 93 : 569-574, 2005.

Gardiner, P., Beaumont, E., and Cormery, B., “Motoneurones learn and unlearn to exercise”, Can J Appl Physiol 30 (3): 352-370, 2005.

Karelis, A., Peronnet, F., and Gardiner, P., “Effects of glucose infusion on muscle fiber resting potential”, Can J Appl Physiol. 30 : 105-112, 2005.

Beaumont, E., Houle, J., Peterson, C., and Gardiner, P., “Passive exercise and fetal spinal cord transplant both help to restore motoneuronal properties after spinal cord transection in rats”, Muscle & Nerve 29 : 234-242, 2004.

Argaw, A., Desaulniers, P., and Gardiner, P., “Enhanced neuromuscular efficacy in overloaded rat plantaris muscle in situ”, Muscle & Nerve 29 : 97-103, 2004.

Karelis, A., Marcil, M., Peronnet, F., and Gardiner, P., “Effect of lactate infusion on M-wave characteristics and force in the rat plantaris muscle during repeated stimulation in situ”, J. Appl. Physiol. 96 : 2133-2138, 2004.

 

 

Books:

Gardiner, P., Neuromuscular Aspects of Physical Activity. Champaign, IL : Human Kinetics, Publishers, 2001.

Macintosh, B., Gardiner, P., & McComas, A., Skeletal Muscle Form & Function, 2nd Edition. Champaign, IL : Human Kinetics, Publishers, 2006.

Gardiner, P., Advanced Neuromuscular Exercise Physiology : Human Kinetics, Publishers, 2011.

Research Group Affiliation:

Member, Health & Wellness group

Research Awards: