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Anthony "AJ" Mortara
Dr. Anthony "AJ" Mortara
Chair of the Health and Human Performance Department Associate Professor of Exercise Science NSCA state director; KAHPERD Vice-President|Health and Human Performance
AJ Mortara
Contact
Office Location
Seabury Center, 216
Office Hours
  • Mon/Wed: 10:30 a.m. – 1:10 p.m., 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
  • Tue: 8:00 a.m. – noon, 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Thur: 8:00 a.m. – noon
  • Sat: 8:00 a.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Class Schedules
  • HHP 265 (Mon/Wed/Fri: 9:20 am – 10:30 am)
  • HHP 350 (Thur: 12:00 pm – 2:50 pm) (Mon/Wed/Fri: 1:20 pm – 2:30 pm)
  • WELL 102 M (Mon/Wed: 8:00 am – 8:50 am)
Courses
  • WEL 101
  • HHP 335/345
  • HHP 340/350
  • HHP 386
  • HHP 492
Bio

AJ Mortara is an associate professor at Berea College where he chairs the health and human performance department. He teaches in the exercise science curriculum, including classes such as sports nutrition, exercise physiology, biomechanics, personal training certification, and others. Dr. Mortara also directs the human performance laboratory. His research interests include exercise metabolism and electromyography. Dr. Mortara currently serves on the membership committee and personal trainers professional development group for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He has previously served as the president of the Ky chapter for the NSCA. Prior to work in education, he specialized in work conditioning and work hardening for Toyota Motor Manufacturing.

Degrees
  • B.A. Centre College 2002
  • M.S. Eastern Kentucky University 2005
  • Ed.D. University of Kentucky 2010
Publications & Works

  • Publications

    Harris, D., Darling, I., Mortara, A., & Leyshon, K. (2022). A Comparison of the Electromyographic Properties of the High Handle and Low Handle Hexagonal, and Olympic Bars During a Hip Hinge Style Deadlift. National Strength and Conditioning Association’s 2022 National Conference Poster Galleria. (student poster)

    Darling, I., Harris, D., Leyshon, K. & Mortara A (2022). Comparison of Force, Velocity, and Power Across Olympic Bar, High Handle Hexagonal Bar, and Low Handle Hexagonal Bar Deadlift Variations. National Strength and Conditioning Association’s 2022 National Conference Poster Galleria. (student poster)

    Thornton, M., Mortara, A.J. & Mathias, K. (2020). Physical activity intensity levels in outdoor rock climbing. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 91:sup1, (A-i)-(A-156), DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2020.1773156.

    Mortara, A., (2018) What are the best recovery methods? Let’s look at the evidence. Kentucky Association of Physical Education, Health, Exercise Science, Recreation and Dance (KAHPERD) fall convention. (oral presentation)

    Wilson, J., Thornton, M., & Mortara, A. (2018) Physical Activity Levels in Outdoor Rock Climbing. Kentucky Association of Physical Education, Health, Exercise Science, Recreation and Dance (KAHPERD) fall convention. (student poster)

    Mortara, A., Lane, M., Peach, A., (2018) Does Cryotherapy work? A look at the evidence. Personal Training Quarterly (5)1. 32-34

    Taylor, L., Reyes, S. (2018) “The Impact of meal timing and composition on total energy expenditure, oxygen consumption, and heart rate during low intensity cardiovascular exercise”. Kentucky Academy of Science. (Student led oral presentation)

    Gonzalez, J. (2018) “An electromyographic analysis of the conventional versus hexagonal bar deadlift”. Kentucky Academy of Science. (student led oral presentation)

    Mortara A, Dalessio M.A. &, Rothwell K.E. A Review of Kettlebell Research and its Implications for Exercise Programming. Research and Investigations in Sports Medicine. 1(3). RISM.000511: 2017

    Peach A, Mortara A, Copper Compression Wear: No Better Than the Sum of its Parts. Res Inves Sports Med. 1(1). RISM.000501. 2017.

    Mortara, A.J. (2017) The Effects of Four Weeks of Kettlebell swings on One Repetition Maximum Deadlift, Peak Power, and Velocity. National Strength and Conditioning Association’s National Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada (poster presentation)

    Mortara, A.J. & Dalessio, Michael A. (2017) Comparison of Optical Heart Rate Monitoring and Electrical Heart Rate Monitoring During Low, Medium, and High-Intensity Interval Exercise. KAHPERD JOURNAL 54(2), 7—17.

    Mortara, A.J. (2017) The Effects of Kettlebell Training on Lower Back Health and Strength. SHAPE America Southern District, New Orleans, Louisiana (oral presentation)

    Mortara, A.J. (2016) The Effective Use of Kettlebells in Physical Education, a look at the Science and the Practice. KAHPERD conference, Lexington, Kentucky (oral presentation)

    Mortara, A.J., Dalessio, M., (2016) A comparison of Energy Expenditure Between the Treadmill and Elliptical Trainer. SHAPE America Southern District, Williamsburg, Virginia (oral presentation)

    Mortara, A.J., (2016) A comparison of heart rate variability between electrical and optical heart rate monitoring. SHAPE America Southern District, Williamsburg, Virginia (oral presentation)

    Mortara, A.J., Orr, D., & Weckman, C. (2015) The accuracy of modern activity trackers. Are they worth our money? KAHPERD conference, Lexington, Kentucky (oral presentation) This was a student led presentation.

    Mortara, A.J., Dalessio, M, & Huff, T. (2015) A Comparison of the Metabolic Costs of Elliptical Training Versus Treadmill Running. Presented at: SHAPE America Southern District, Atlanta, Georgia (poster presentation).

    Mortara, A.J. (2012) Effects of Internet-based Correspondence on Exercise Adherence and Health Outcomes Kentucky Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Journal 4: 8 – 14

    Abel, MG, Mortara, AJ, and Pettitt, RW. Evaluation of circuit training intensity for firefighters. J Strength Cond Res 25(10): 2895–2901, 2011

    Mortara, A. “Ask the Trainer” The Hamburg Journal 5 – 07

    Mortara, A. “Ask the Trainer” The Hamburg Journal 6 –07

  • Grants

    Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects Program. $1800.00 An Electromyographic Comparison of the Olympic and Hexagonal bar Deadlift. (2021) FUNDED

    Young Investigator Grant. National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation
    ($5492.40) A Comparison of the Electromyographic properties of the Hex bar Deadlift and the Conventional Deadlift. (2019) UNFUNDED

    Work College Consortium $3,000.00 Using Health and Human Performance Majors to offer Health and Fitness Assessments and Prescriptions to the Berea College faculty, staff, and community. (2017) FUNDED

    Young Investigator Grant. National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation ($16,734.00) The Effects of Varying Kettlebell Loads on Performance Markers. (2017) UNFUNDED.

    Work College Consortium $3,000.00 Using Health and Human Performance Majors to offer Cardiovascular Fitness Assessments to the Berea College faculty and staff. (2016) UNFUNDED

    Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects Program. $1600.00 The Effects of Kettlebell swing exercises on Lower Back Health and Stablity (2016) UNFUNDED

    Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects Program $1200.00 A comparison of heart rate variability between electrical and optical heart rate monitoring. (2015) FUNDED

    Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects Program $1200.00 A Comparison of the Metabolic Costs of Elliptical Training Versus Treadmill Running. (2014) FUNDED