Institute of Gerontology


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M. Elaine Cress

Professor
mecress@uga.edu

115M Ramsey Center
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-6554
706.542.2202 (voice)
706.542.3148 (fax)



Educational Background

  • Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Kinesiology, 1989.
  • B.S., University of Southern Colorado, Biology.
  • M.S., University of Colorado at Boulder, Exercise Physiology.


Area of Specialty

Dr. Cress' teaching, research, and service have one common theme, the study of physical function in older adults. Her work on the assessment of physical function in older adults and persons with disabilities and the evaluation of exercise interventions for the prevention of physical dependence has both national and international recognition.

Research Interests

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Physical Activity and Aging

Professional Affiliations

  • Professor, Department of Kinesiology, College of Education, appointment 51% Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, Institute of Gerontology, College of Public Health, appointment 49%. August 2007 to present. 
  • Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and a member of the Gerontology Center Faculty, appointed 50% and 50% by the Gerontology Center. March 1998 to August 2007. 
  • Research Assistant Professor, Department of Health Services and Community Medicine, Department of Medicine / Division of Geriatrics, University of Washington at Seattle. June 1993 to March 1998. 
  • Senior Research Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics/Gerontology, University of Washington, August, 1989 to May, 1993.
  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Wisconsin at Madison. August 1984 to March 1989.
  • Graduate Assistant, Human Performance Laboratory, University of Colorado at Boulder August 1982 to 1984.
  • Corporate Exercise Physiologist, Coors Wellness Center, Golden Colorado 1983 – 1984.
  • Medical Technologist Department of Pathology, University of Colorado August 1978 to August 1982.
  • University of Washington, Division of Geriatrics Senior Research Fellow Geriatrics 1989-1993.

Honors and Awards

  • Health Sciences Fellow, Gerontological Society of America, November, 2008.
  • Herbert H. deVries Award for Distinguished Research in the field of Aging from the Council of Aging and Adult Development of the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR – AAPHERD), 2008.
  • Northwest Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, Longstanding Service Award, 1999.
  • Fellow Status American College of Sports Medicine, April, 1996.
  • International Association of Gerontology Student Scholarship to the XIIIth Congress, 1985.

Courses Taught


Instructional load is divided between the Gerontology Center and the Kinesiology Department.


Selected Publications


Chapters in Books

* **Cress, M. E. (2005). Assessing cognitive and physical performance in older adults with special attention to fitness. In L. W. Poon, P. D. Tomporowski, & W. J. Chodzko-Zaiko, (Eds.), Aging, Exercise, and Cognition Volume I: Active Living, Cognitive Functioning and Aging. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. (100%)

* **Cress, ME. (2000). Muscle Function in Masters Athletes. In B. L. Drinkwater (Ed.), International Olympic Committee Encyclopedia (Vol. Women in Sport pp. 144-157). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Science. (100%)

* **Miszko, T.A., & Cress, M.E. (2000). A lifetime of fitness: Exercise in the perimenopausal and postmenopausal woman. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 19(2), 215-232. (70%; Student under my direction)

* **Cress, M.E., & Green, F.A. (1996). Exercise and aging: Physical fitness. In M. A. Stenchever (Ed.), Health care for the older woman (pp. 69-84). New York: Chapman & Hall. (95%)

* **Buchner, D.M., Guralnik, J.M., & Cress, M.E. (1995). The clinical assessment of gait, balance, and mobility in older adults. In L. Z. Rubenstein, D. Wieland, & R. Bernabei (Eds.), Geriatric Assessment Technology: The State of the Art (pp. 75-89). Milan, Italy: Kurtis. (25%)

**Cress, M. (1994). Exercise and Older Women. In R. Agostini (Ed.), Medical and Orthopedic Issues in Active and Athletic Women (pp. 68-74). Philadelphia: Hanley and Belfus. (100%)

Journal Articles

O’Connor, P. J., Poudevigne, M. S., Cress, M. E., Motl, R. W., & Clapp 3rd, J. F. (in press). Safety and efficacy of supervised moderate intensity resistance training adopted in pregnancy. M. Elaine Cress, Ph.D. Curriculum Vita Page 4 4

Manns P.J., Tomczak, C.R., Jelani A., Cress, M.E., & Haennel, R.G. (2009). Use of the continuous scale physical functional performance test in stroke survivors. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 90:488-493. (10%)

Cress, M. E., Orini, S. & Mueller, G. (2008). Response to unconventional views of frailty, Journal of Gerontology Medical Sciences, 63, 542. (30%)

*Arnett, S. W., Laity, J. H., Agrawal, S. K., & Cress, M. E. (2008). Aerobic reserve and physical functional performance in older adults. Age and Aging, 37(4), 384-389. (25%)

*Harrison-Moore, T.L., Johnson, M.A., Quinn, M.E., & Cress, M.E. (2009). Evidenced based exercise program implemented in congregate meal sites Journal Physical Activity and Health, 6 247-251.

*Moore, T. L. Spear, E. M. Johnson, F. T., & Cress, M. E. (2008). The effects of aerobic training and nutrition education on functional performance in low socioeconomic older adults. Journal Geriatric Physical Therapy, 31:1(08), 18-23. (25%)

Hearty, T. M., Schenkman, M. L., Cress M. E., & Kohrt W. M. (2007). Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance Test: Appropriateness in middle-aged adults with and without Parkinson's Disease. Journal of Neurological Physical Therapy. 31, 64-70. (25%)

Panton, L. B., Kingsley, D., Toole, T., Cress, M. E., Abboud, G., Sirithienthad, P., Mathis, R., & McMillan, V. A. (2006). Comparison of Physical Functional Performance and Strength in Women with Fibromyalgia, Age and Weight Matched Controls, and Older Healthy Women. Physical Therapy, 86(11), 1479-1488. (10%)

Cress, M. E., Petrella, J. K., Moore, T. L., & Schenkman, M. L. (2005). Continuous-Scale Physical Functional Performance Test: Validity, Reliability, and Sensitivity of Data for the Short Version. Physical Therapy, 85(4), 323-335. (30%).

Wood, R. H., Gardner, R. E., Ferachi, K. A., King, C., Ermolao A., Cherry, K. E., Cress, M. E., & Jazwinski, S. M. (2005). Physical function and quality of life in older adults: sex differences. Southern Medical Association, 98(5), 504-512. (10%)

Cress, M. E., Buchner, D. M., Prohaska, T., Rimmer, J., Brown, M., Macera, C., DePietro, L., & Chodzko-Zajko, W. (2004). Physical activity programs and behavior counseling in older adult populations. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(11), 1997-2003. (30%).

*Petrella, J. K., & Cress, M. E. (2004). Daily Ambulation activity and task performance in community-dwelling older adults with preclinical disability 63-71 years of age. Journal Gerontology Medical Sciences, 59A(3), 264-267. (50%; student under my direction). M. Elaine Cress, Ph.D. Curriculum Vita Page 5 5

*Petrella, J. K., Cress, M. E., & Miller, L. S. (2004). The relationship of cognition and leg extension power to physical function in older adults. Age & Aging, 33, 342-348 (30%; student under my direction).

Ades, P. A., Savage, P., Cress, M. E., Brochu, M., Lee, N. M., & Poehlman, E. T. (2003). Resistance training and physical performance in older disabled female cardiac patients. Medicine Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(8), 1265-1270.

McCamey, M. A., Hawthorne, N. A., Reddy, S., Cress, M. E. & Johnson, M. A. (2003). A statewide educational intervention to improve older Americans' nutrition and physical activity. Family Economics and Nutrition Review, 15(1), 47-57. (5%).

*Slade, J. M., De Los Santos, H. I., & Cress, M. E. (2003). Performance and characteristics of recreational master’s runners: a 21-year retrospective analysis. Journal Aging Physical Activity, 11, 190-205. (30%; student under my direction)

*Cress, M. E. & Meyer, M. (2003). Maximal voluntary and functional performance levels needed for independence in adults 65-97. Physical Therapy, 83, 37-48. (85%)

*Miszko, T. A., Cress, M. E., Slade, J. M., Covey, C. J., Agrawal, S. K., & Doerr, C. E. (2003). Effect of strength and power training on physical function in communitydwelling older adults. Journal Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 58(2), 171-175. (50% student under my direction) Schenkman, M., Cutson, T. M., Kuchibhatla, M., Burton, S. & Cress, M. E. (2002). A new measure of physical functional performance applied to those with PD. Neurology Report, 26, 130-138 (10%)

Schenkman, M., Cutson, T. M., Kuchibhatla, M., Burton, S. & Cress, M. E. (2002). A new measure of physical functional performance applied to those with PD. Neurology Report, 26, 130-138 (10%)

*Slade, J. M., Miszko, T. A., Laity, J. H., Agrawal, S. K., & Cress, M. E. (2002). Anaerobic power and physical function in strength trained and untrained older adults. Journal Gerontology Medical Sciences, 57A (3), M168-M172. (50%; student under my direction)

*Cress M. E., Kinne S., Patrick D., & Maher E. (2002). Physical functional performance in persons using a manual wheelchair. Journal Orthopaedic Sports Physical Therapy, 32(3), 104-113. (80%)

*Brochu, M., Savage, P., Lee, M., Cress, M. E., Poehlman, E. T., Dee, J., Tischler, M., & Ades, P. A.(2002). Resistance training in older women with coronary heart disease: A randomized controlled trial. Journal Applied Physiology, 92, 672-678. (10%)

*Jubrias, S. A., Esselman, P. C., Price, L. B., Cress, M. E., & Conley, K. E. (2001). Large energetic adaptations of elderly muscle to resistance and endurance training. Journal Applied Physiology, 90(5), 1663-1670. (20%)

*Conley, K. E., Esselman, P. C., Jurbrias, S. A., Cress, M. E., Inglin, B., Mogadam, C., & M. Elaine Cress, Ph.D. Curriculum Vita Page 6 6 Schoene, R. B. (2000). Aging, muscle properties and maximal O2 uptake rate in humans. Journal Physiology, 526(1), 211-217. (20%)

*Cress, M. E., Buchner, D. M., Questad, K. A., Esselman, P. C., Schwartz, R. S., & de Lateur, B. J. (1999). Exercise: Effects on physical functional performance in independent older adults. Journal Gerontology: Medical Science, 54A (5), M242-248. (75%)

*Buchner, D. M., Cress, M. E., deLateur, B. J., Esselman, P. C., Margherita, A. J., Price, R., & Wagner, E. H. (1997). The effect of strength and endurance training on gait, balance, fall risk, and health services use in community-living older adults. Journal Gerontology: Medical Science, 52A(4), M218-M224. (20%)

*Buchner, D. M., Cress, M. E., de Lateur, B. J., Esselman, P. C., Margherita, A. J., Price, R., & Wagner, E. H. (1997). A comparison of the effects of three types of endurance training on balance and other fall risk factors in older adults. Aging Clinical Experimental Research, 9(1), 1-8. (20%)

*Cress, M. E. (1997). Quantifying physical functional performance in older adults. Muscle and Nerve, 5 (Supplement), S17-20. (100%)

*Buchner, D. M., Cress, M. E., Esselman, P. C., Margherita, A. J., deLateur, B. J., Campbell, A. J., & Wagner, E. H. (1996). Factors associated with changes in gait speed in older adults. Journal Gerontology: Medical Science, 51A(6), M297-M302. (20%)

*Judge, J., Schechtman, K., Cress, M. E., & the FICSIT Group. (1996). The relationship between physical performance measures and independence in instrumental activities of daily living. Journal American Geriatric Society, 44, 1332-41. (20%)

*Cress, M. E., Buchner, D. M., Questad, K. A., Esselman, P. C., de Lateur, B. J., & Schwartz, R. S. (1996). Continuous-scale physical functional performance in healthy older adults: a validation study. Archives Physical Medicine Rehabilitation, 77, 1243-50. (80%)

*Cress, M. E., Conley, K. E., Balding, S. L., Hansen-Smith, F., & Konczak, J. (1996). Functional training: muscle structure, function, and performance in older women. Journal Orthopedic Sports Physical Therapy, 24(1), 4-10. (75%)

*Coleman, E., Buchner, D., Cress, M. E., deLateur, B. J., & Chan, B. K. S. (1996). The relationship of joint symptoms with exercise performance in older adults. Journal American Geriatric Society, 44, 14-21. (15%) *Conley, K. E., Cress, M. E., Jubrias, S. A., Esselman, P. C., & Odderson, I. R. (1995). From muscle properties to human performance, using magnetic resonance. Journal Gerontology, 50A, 35-40. (50%)

*Cress, M. E., Schechtman, K. B., Mulrow, C. D., Fiatarone, M. A., Gerety, M. B., & M. Elaine Cress, Ph.D. Curriculum Vita Page 7 7 Buchner, D. M. (1995). Relationship between physical performance and self-perceived physical function. Journal American Geriatric Society, 43, 93-101. (65%)

*Morris-Chatta R., Buchner, D., deLateur B. J., & Cress, M. E. (1994). Isokinetic testing of ankle strength in older adults: Assessment of inter-rater reliability and of stability of strength over six months. Archives Physical Therapy Rehabilitation, 75, 12113-1216. (15%)

*Cress, M. E. (1993). Age-related changes: A scientific basis for exercise programming. Topics Geriatric Rehabilitation, 8(3), 22-37. (100%)

*Buchner, D. M., Cress, M. E., Wagner, E. H., de Lateur, B. J., Price, R., & Abrass, I. B. (1993). The Seattle FICSIT/MoveIt study: the effect of exercise on gait and balance in older adults. Journal American Geriatric Society, 41, 321-325. (15%)

*Buchner, D. M., Cress, M. E., de Lateur, B. J., & Wagner, E. H. (1993). Variability in the effect of strength training on skeletal muscle strength in older adults. L'Anne Gerontologique, 7, 143-53. (20%)

*Konczak, J., Meeuwsan, H., Cress, M. E., & Foo, V. (1992). Perceiving affordances in stair climbing: How young and elderly women perceive maximum climbability. J. Experimental Psychology, Human Perception and Performance, 18(3), 691-697. (20%)

*Cress, M. E., Thomas, D., Johnson, J., Kasch, F., Cassens, R., Smith, E., & Agre, J. (1991). Effect of training on VO2 max, thigh strength, and muscle morphology in septuagenarian women. Medicine Science Sports Exercise, 23(6), 752-758. (90%)

Cress, M. E. & Schultz, E. (1985). Aging muscle: functional, morphologic, biochemical, and regenerative capacity. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 1(1), 11-19. (90%) Journal Articles (under review or in resubmission)

Gary, R. A., Cress, M. E., Dunbar, S. B., Smith, A. L., & Higgins, M. K. A Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Program Improves Physical Functional Performance in Patients with Heart Failure. (submitted)

Gary, R. A., Cress, M. E., Smith, A. L., Higgins, M. K., & Dunbar, S. B. Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Program Improves tasks Related to Physical Activities of Daily Living (in preparation) M. Elaine Cress, Ph.D. Curriculum Vita Page 8 8

Cress, M. E., Hayes, D. M., Kruger, J., & Buchner, D. M. Can Functional Training Be a Substitute for Resistance Training in Adults? (submitted American Journal Preventive Medicine)

Cress, M. E., Lewis, R., & Flatt, W. “Better 'n Ever” Changes with Age: A 19-Year Case Study of Successful Aging. (in preparation) Conley, K. E., Jubrias, S. A., Cress, M. E., & Esselman, P. A. Improved exercise performance without raised VO2 max in endurance trained elderly.

Cress, M. E., Gondi, Y., Dave, A., Miller, SAL., Woodard, J., Martin, P., & Poona, L. Assessment of physical performance in the oldest old: A validation study.

Bulletins or Reports

**NIA. (1998). Exercise: A guideline from the National Institute on Aging. Publication NIH 99-4258, My Role: Panel of nations best informed experts on the topic of exercise for older adults.

Cress, M. E. (1998). National initiative: A new way of aging. Club Business Industry, (18- 19).