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O'connor, Paul

Professor

FACULTY

Biography

Dr O’Connor’s research focuses on methods to improve health and performance using exercise and ergogenic aids. His current research is examining the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on health and performance, using plyometrics as a method of post-activation potentiation to improve speed and agility, blood flow restriction training, exercise in the heat, and load management to improve sporting performance. His lab welcomes interested undergraduate and graduate students who get an opportunity for hands-on learning.

More about Paul O'connor

Publications

  • Launstein, E. D., Miller, K. C., O’Connor, P., Adams, W. M., & Abrego, M. L. (2021). American football uniforms elicit thermoregulatory failure during a heat tolerance test. Temperature, 1-9.
  • Kelly, D. T., Cregg, C. J., O’Connor, P. L., Cullen, B. D., & Moyna, N. M. (2021). Physiological and performance responses of sprint interval training and endurance training in Gaelic football players.  European Journal of Applied Physiology, 1-11.
  • Szymanski, M., Miller, K. C., O'Connor, P., Hildebrandt, L., & Umberger, L. (2021). Sweat Characteristics in Individuals With Varying Susceptibilities of Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research.
  • Connolly, G., Hammer, R. L., Powell, J. A., & O’Connor, P. L. (2020). A single bout of foam rolling increases flexibility of the hip adductor muscles without compromising strength. International Journal of Exercise Science, 13(7), 938.
  • Fjerstad, B. M., Hammer, R. L., Hammer, A. M., Connolly, G., Lomond, K. V., & O’Connor, P. L. (2018). Comparison of two static stretching procedures on hip adductor flexibility and strength. International journal of exercise science, 11(6), 1074.
  • Kelly, D. T., Tobin, C., Egan, B., McCarren, A., O'Connor, P. L., McCaffrey, N., & Moyna, N. M. (2018).  Comparison of Sprint Interval and Endurance Training in Team Sport Athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 32(11), 3051-3058.
  • Roth, Joe, Taylor Szczygiel, Mary Moore, Paul O'Connor, Jeffrey Edwards, Naveen Sharma, Ryan Pettit-Mee, and Micah Zuhl. "Profiling Inflammatory Markers During the Competitive Season and Post Season in Collegiate Wrestlers." Journal of strength and conditioning research (2017).
  • Hammer, A.M., Hammer, R.L., Lomond, K.V. and O'Connor, P., 2017. Acute changes of hip joint range of motion using selected clinical stretching procedures: A randomized crossover study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 2017.
  • Cullen, B.D., Roantree, M.T., McCarren, A.L., Kelly, D.T., O'Connor, P.L., Hughes, S.M., Daly, P.G. and Moyna, N.M., 2017. Physiological Profile and Activity Pattern of Minor Gaelic Football Players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 31(7), pp.1811-1820.
  • B Egan B, Ashley DY, Kennedy E, O'Connor PL, O'Gorman DJ. Higher rate of fat oxidation during rowing compared with cycling ergometer exercise across a range of exercise intensities: Fat oxidation during rowing vs cycling. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 06/2015; DOI:10.1111/sms.12498.
  • Egan B, O'Connor PL, Zierath JR, O'Gorman DJ. Time course analysis reveals gene-specific transcript and protein kinetics of adaptation to short-term aerobic exercise training in human skeletal muscle. PLoS ONE. 01/2013; 8(9):e74098. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074098.
  • Egan B, Dowling P, O'Connor PL, Henry M, Meleady P, Zierath JR, O'Gorman DJ. 2-D DIGE analysis of the mitochondrial proteome from human skeletal muscle reveals time course-dependent remodelling in response to 14 consecutive days of endurance exercise training. Proteomics. 2011, 11(8):1413-28.
  • MacEneaney OJ, Harrison M, O'Gorman DJ, Pankratieva EV, O'Connor PL, Moyna NM. Effect of prior exercise on postprandial lipemia and markers of inflammation and endothelial activation in normal weight and overweight adolescent boys. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Jul;106(5):721-9.
  • Harrison M, Murphy RP, O'Connor PL, O'Gorman DJ, McCaffrey N, Cummins PM, Moyna NM. The endothelial microparticle response to a high fat meal is not attenuated by prior exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009, 106(4):555-62.

Published Abstracts and Conference Proceedings

  • Gabler, M., Hoomaian, K., Connolly, G., O'Riordan, S. F., Barrett, T., & O'Connor, P. L. (2020). Multi-Year Physiological And Performance Profile Of An NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Team: 1450 Board# 44 May 28 9: 30 AM-11: 00 AM. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 52(7S), 378.
  • Robertson, T. C., Galindo, G., & O'Connor, P. L. (2020). Use Of Plyometric Training To Offset Fatigue In Division I Collegiate Female Volleyball Players: 3247 Board# 68 May 29 1: 30 PM-3: 00 PM. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 52(7S), 886.
  • Shane O'Riordan, Gavin Connolly, Tomas Barrett, Emmi Lawless, Mikaela Gabler, Paul O'Connor. Heart Rate and Energy Expenditure in NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Players Across Two Competitive Seasons. Presented at the World Congress of Science and Football, Melbourne, Australia 2019.
  • Gabler, M. C., Connolly, G., O’Riordan, S. F., Barrett, T., Sharma, N., & O’Connor, P. L. (2018). Performance Differences Between Home And Away Fixtures And Halves In NCAA DI Women’S Soccer: 3172 Board# 41 June 2 8: 00 AM-9: 30 AM. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 50(5S), 780.
  • Barrett, T., Connolly, G., O’Riordan, S., & O’Connor, P. L. (2017). Stress and Mood Affect Sleep Quality and Quantity in College Female Soccer Players: 2092 Board# 105 June 1 3. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(5S), 575-576.
  • O’Riordan, S. F., Connolly, G., Barrett, T., Lawless, E., Hartmann, M., Gabler, M., & O’Connor, P. L. (2017). Heart Rate and Energy Expenditure in Division I College Soccer Players during a Competitive Season: 2095 Board# 108 June 1 3. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(5S), 576-577.
  • Connolly, G., O’Riordan, S. F., Barrett, T., Lawless, E., & O’Connor, P. L. (2017). The Impact of Two Games in One Weekend on Soccer Performance in Di Female College Athletes: 2098 Board# 111 June 1 3. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(5S), 577.
  • Brothwell, M. J., Schied, D., Connolly, G., O’Riordan, S., Chiesa, C., Kim, Y., & O’Connor, P. L. (2017). The Effect of an Acute Dose of Beet Juice on Female College Soccer Performance: 3291 Board# 196 June 2 2. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(5S), 938.
  • Sinead E. Sheridan, Kieran P. Dowd, Paul L. O’Connor, Cleona Gray, Nicola R. Hurley, Michael Harrison, Alan E. Donnelly, Ronan P. Murphy, Niall M. Moyna. Sedentary Behaviour and Vascular Endothelial Function in Male Adolescents with Low, Moderate and High Cardiorespiratory Fitness. Med Sci Sport Exerc 48:5S Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Boston, MA, June 2016.
  • Tomas Barrett, Gavin Connolly, Paul L. O’Connor. Anthropometric and Physiological Characteristics of Division I College Female Soccer Players. Med Sci Sport Exerc 48:5S Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Boston, MA, June 2016. Med Sci Sport Exerc 48:5S Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Boston, MA, June 2016.
  • David T. Kelly, Cathal J. Cregg, Paul L. O’Connor, Bryan D. Cullen, Niall M. Moyna. Effect of Interval and Endurance Training on Selected Performance Indices in Club Level Gaelic Football.
  • Paul L. O’Connor, Sarah M. Kelly, Robert Wallace, Laura Twomey, Ronan P. Murphy, Michael Harrison, Niall M. Moyna. Effect of Exercise Training on Circulating Microparticles and Endothelial Function in Individuals with Cardiovascular Disease. Med Sci Sport Exerc 47:5S Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, San Diego, CA, May 2015.
  • Sinead E. Sheridan, Dermot Sheridan, Paul L. O’ Connor, Ronan P. Murphy, Niall M. Moyna. Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope And Endothelial Function In Male Adolescents Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope And Endothelial Function In Male Adolescents. Med Sci Sport Exerc 47:5S Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, San Diego, CA, May 2015.
  • Sheridan SE, O’Connor PL, Moyna NM. Cardiorespiratory fitness, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis in adolescent boys. Med Sci Sport Exerc 46:5 S590. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Orlando, Florida, May, 2014.
  • Furlong BA, O’Connor PL, Sheridan SE, Hughes SM, Moyna NM. Sedentary behavior, disease severity, functional capacity, and endothelial function in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Med Sci Sport Exerc 46:5 S151. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Orlando, Florida, May, 2014.
  • Kelly DT, Cregg CJ, Tobin C, O’Connor PL, Moyna NM. Effect of interval and endurance training on selected physiological and performance indices in Gaelic football. Med Sci Sport Exerc 46:5 S253. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Orlando, Florida, May, 2014.
  • Kelly SM, Furlong B, McGuinness K, O’Connor PL, Gray C, McCaffrey N, O’Hara K, Murphy RP, Sheridan SE, Harrison M, Moyna NM. Self-regulated and High-intensity interval exercise on physiological, vascular, and perceptual responses in individuals with CAD. Med Sci Sport Exerc 46:5 S658. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Orlando, Florida, May, 2014.
  • O’Connor PL, Egan B, McCaffrey N, Murphy RP, Harrison M, Moyna NM. Effect of 14 consecutive days of aerobic exercise on endothelial and platelet derived microparticles. Med Sci Sport Exerc 45:5 S90. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, May, 2013.
  • Cregg CJ, Kelly D, O’Connor PL, Daly P, Moyna NM. Effects of high-intensity interval training and high-volume endurance training on maximal aerobic capacity, speed and power in club level Gaelic football players. Med Sci Sport Exerc 45:5 S510. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, May, 2013.
  • Furlong B, O’Connor PL, Sheridan SE, O’Hara K, Moyna NM. Effect of a 12-week exercise program on endothelial function in individuals with peripheral arterial disease. Med Sci Sport Exerc 45:5 S651. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, May, 2013.
  • Sheridan SE, O’Connor PL, Fitzgibbon E, Moyna NM. Effect of lower body negative pressure on physiological, perceptual and affective responses during self-regulated exercise. Med Sci Sport Ex 45:5 S503. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, May, 2013.
  • Kelly SM, McGuinness K, O’Connor NE, Furlong B, Gray C, O’Hara K, McCaffrey N, O’Connor PL, Murphy RP, Sheridan SE, Harrison M, Moyna NM. Med Sci Sport Ex 45:5 S96-99. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, May, 2013.
  • PL O’Connor, SM Hughes, K McGuinness, NE O’Connor, B Furlong, C Gray, K O’Hara, N McCaffrey, RP Murphy, M Ross, A Wekesa, M Harrison, NM Moyna. Relation between endothelial microparticles and endothelial function following acute exercise in men with cad. Med Sci Sport Exerc 43:5 S509. Presented to American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, USA June, 2011.
  • SM Hughes, K McGuinness, NE O’Connor, B Furlong, C Gray, K O’Hara, N McCaffrey, PL O’Connor, RP Murphy, M Ross, A Wekesa, M Harrison, NM Moyna. Effect of self-regulated exercise intensity on endothelial function in men with coronary artery disease. Med Sci Sport Exerc 43:5 S512. Presented to American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, USA June, 2011.
  • K O’Hara, SM. Hughes, K McGuinness, NE O’Connor, B Furlong, C Gray, N McCaffrey, PL O’Connor, RP Murphy, M Ross, A Wekesa, Ml Harrison, NM Moyna. Physiological and perceptual responses during self-regulated exercise in men with coronary artery disease. Med Sci Sport Exerc 43:5 S316. Presented to American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, USA June, 2011.
  • O'Connor PL, Harrison M, O'Gorman D, O'Brien K, O'Toole C, Murphy RP, Moyna NM. Effect Of Acute Exercise On Circulating Endothelial Derived Microparticles. Med Sci Sport Exerc 41:5 S73. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Seattle, Washington, May, 2009.
  • Dolan E, McGoldrick A, McCaffrey N, O’Connor PL, May G, Fitzpatrick P, Warrington GD. Comparison between Skinfolds and DEXA for Determination of Body Composition in Weight Category Athletes. Med Sci Sport Exerc 41:5. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Seattle, Washington, May, 2009.
  • Fletcher E, Betts JJ, Harrison M, Moyna NM, O’Connor PL, Visich PS. Effect of Exercise Intensity on Pro-and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines in Trained and Untrained Men. Med Sci Sport Exerc 41:5. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Seattle, Washington, May, 2009.
  • Harrison M, Murphy RP, McCaffrey N, O'Gorman D, O'Brien K, O'Connor PL, Moyna NM. Effect of acute exercise on postprandial triglycerides and cellular microparticles. Med Sci Sport Exerc 39:5 S464. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, May, 2007.
  • PL O’Connor, E Pankratieva, TG Walsh, SM Hughes, M Whelan, N Nelson, OJ MacEneaney, KD O’Brien, C Woods, DJ O’Gorman, NM Moyna. Relation between aerobic fitness and risk factors for the metabolic syndrome in Irish adolescents. Med Sci Sport Exerc 38:5 S302. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Denver, Colorado June, 2006.
  • SM Hughes, BP Carson, KD O’Brien, S Doyle, PL O’Connor, J Monedero, L Reilly, DJ O’Gorman, NM Moyna. Effect of fasting duration and carbohydrate supplementation on intermittent exercise performance. Med Sci Sport Exec 38:5 S188. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Denver, Colorado June, 2006.
  • KD O’Brien, DJ O’Gorman, SM Hughes, J Monedero, PL O’Connor, E Pankratieva, M Whelan, C Woods, NM Moyna. Inflammatory markers and adhesion molecules correlate with bmi and aerobic fitness levels in irish adolescents. Med Sci Sport Exerc 38:5 S418. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Denver, Colorado June, 2006.
  • PhD, Dublin City University
  • BSc, Dublin City University
  • Post-activation potentiation and performance
  • Blood flow restriction for strength and conditioning
  • Nutritional ergogenic aids and performance
  • High-intensity interval training for health and performance
  • Exercise performance in heat
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association
  • Michigan Physiological Society
  • Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM)
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) 
  • Functional Movement Screen, Level 1

Courses Taught

  • HSC 220:  Health-related Components of Fitness
  • HSC 308:  Physiology of Sport and Exercise
  • HSC 420:  Fitness and Performance Assessment