Barbara Bushman

Professor, Kinesiology | Missouri State University

Springfield, MO, UNITED STATES

Dr. Bushman is the editor of ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness & Health, 2nd edition (2017, Human Kinetics).

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World Heart Day: Do You Have an Exercise Regime to Protect Your Heart?

2017-09-28

How to keep your heart healthy throughout life

2017-01-31

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Biography

Dr. Barbara Bushman's research interests include exercise testing procedures, menopause and exercise, effects of menstruation on exercise responses and performance, deep water run training, promoting physical activity with dog walking, and the female athlete triad.

Dr. Bushman authored ACSM’s Action Plan for Menopause (2005, Human Kinetics) and edited both the first and second editions of ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness & Health (2011 and 2017, Human Kinetics).

For more information on these peer-reviewed books, please see http://www.humankinetics.com. She also maintains a Facebook page highlighting fitness and health information. See www.Facebook.com/FitnessID.

Industry Expertise (6)

Education/Learning

Fitness

Health and Wellness

Research

Writing and Editing

Women

Areas of Expertise (4)

Health

Exercise

Kinesiology

Menopause

Education (2)

University of Toledo: PhD, Exercise Physiology

Grand Valley State University: BS, Health Sciences

Affiliations (2)

Central States Chapter ACSM : Member
ACSM Fellow

Links (3)

Media Appearances (10)

Ask the Experts

WalletHub online

2018-01-03

Dr. Barbara Bushman offers insight about how local communities can encourage active lifestyles among residents, how people can maintain a healthy lifestyle on a budget and how parents can help their children become more active to combat obesity.

10 Crucial Health Tweaks to Make by Your 50s

Reader's Digest online

2017-05-17

Dr. Barbara Bushman emphasizes the importance of physical activity for people in their 50s.

Creating a Complete Fitness Program

RadioMD radio

2017-04-18

Dr. Barbara Bushman offers a well-rounded approach to fitness.

Tom Brady: Ageless wonder

The Boston Globe online

2017-01-23

How New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady is continuing to play at such a high level despite his age.

The Best Anti-Aging Exercises, As Recommended By Experts

The Huffington Post online

2016-04-12

Turning back the clock isn’t just about wrinkles and fine lines. It’s about staying fit — not just looking it — and keeping your body moving. “A sedentary person hits peak muscle mass at age 20 and it starts declining from there,” National Academy of Sports Medicine master trainer Rich Fahmy told The Huffington Post. “If you are active, however, populations as old as 60 have been able to maintain their muscle mass. Activity makes a difference.” We spoke with Fahmy, who has 16 years of experience as a personal trainer, and Barbara Bushman, a professor of kinesiology at Missouri State University, about the best ways to keep your body “young” as you age.

A few tweaks can pump up your exercise routine

USA Today print

2015-04-12

Change your location. Sometimes, all it takes to breathe new life into a familiar routine is to do it someplace else. "If you usually walk on the treadmill, take it outside," says Bushman. "If you have a regular jogging route, try a new side street." Raise the challenge one notch higher by getting off the concrete and hitting the trails. "Trails require an additional level of focus and coordination to find your balance and negotiate unfamiliar terrain," says Minardi. No woodsy paths in your area? Make use of the steps at a local sports stadium, or walk up and down the stairs in your apartment building.

Don’t Be Fooled, Keeping Fit Is An Investment As We Age

Now It Counts online

2015-01-06

So many of us over 50 are focused on our retirement. We’re at the peak of our careers, our earnings are better than ever and we’re setting aside extra money in our 401(k) and other investments. We think we’re right on track and are going to be financially prepared when we retire to do the things we want like travel or spend time with the grandkids. The only problem is we haven’t done enough to ensure good fitness as we age to do the things we want and to remain healthy.

How to diet like a man and lose more weight

Health Media online

2014-03-04

Even if your guy would never join the Strongman competition he watches on ESPN, he probably still equates muscles with manliness—and lifting with shaping up. Though we girls are no strangers to the weight room, we're far more likely to choose cardio over lifting—a real mistake. There's a mountain of scientific literature showing that nothing is more effective at keeping body fat down than strength training. "Muscle tissue is more metabolically active than fat," points out Barbara Bushman, PhD, professor of kinesiology at Missouri State University. Translation: More muscle will help you burn more calories (even when you're lounging around post-gym). "And you don't have to fear bulking up—it's testosterone that builds girth," she adds. Since women don't have a ton of the hormone coursing through our system, we're naturally not at risk of turning into she-hulks.

Why Making A Resolution To Exercise Holds Power

The Huffington Post online

2014-03-08

For people fighting to get fit in 2014, fitness experts say a New Year’s resolution to get in shape can be an important first step and can increase overall success. Losing weight and getting fit are among the top five resolutions every year although many good intentions run aground by the spring. But the resolution itself carries some power. “Research suggests that success is higher (among those who make resolutions), than those who make no resolutions at all,” said Dr. Barbara Bushman, a clinical exercise specialist with the American College of Sports Medicine.

Should you take a break from exercising like Gwen Stefani?

Fox News Health online

2013-04-01

While recording and promoting No Doubt’s sixth studio album, Push And Shove, the singer, clothing designer, wife, and mother of two decided that working out, something she once felt she “had to do,” had to go. Last year, Stefani claimed she was addicted to exercising, according to the magazine. However, that all-or-nothing approach to exercise is what Stefani and other exercisers really need to rid themselves of, says Barbara Bushman, a professor of kinesiology at Missouri State University. “Rest can be just as important to fitness as working out,” she says.

Articles (13)

Understanding and Using the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

ACSM'S Health & Fitness Journal

2017 Dr. Barbara Bushman provides answers to questions about dietary guidelines for Americans.

Blood Pressure Basics and Beyond

ACSM'S Health & Fitness Journal

2016 Blood pressure is such a routine measure that the nuances often are taken for granted. What aspects of blood pressure measurement are important for the health and fitness professional?

Promoting Healthy Lifestyles During the Menopausal Transition: Benefits of Physical Activity and Nutrition

ACSM'S Health & Fitness Journal

2016 The menopausal transition encompasses a series of stages beginning with menstrual irregularity and ending with menopause, followed by the postmenopausal stages. During natural menopause, a number of biological changes occur, including a gradual loss of reproductive egg cells and changes in reproductive hormones, like estrogen and progesterone. Consequences include vasomotor events (hot flashes), insomnia, and weight gain. Other symptoms include mood changes, irregular menses, breast pain, depression, and discomfort associated with genitourinary atrophy. Medications to alleviate symptoms of the various conditions associated with menopause are available but are not without risk.