In this Armenian news story, Dr. David Nieman, a professor of public health and director of Appalachian State University’s Human Performance Lab, says plain water has a tendency to slip right through the human digestive system when not accompanied by food or nutrients. “There’s no virtue to that kind of consumption,” he says.

David Nieman, Dr.P.H., director of Appalachian State University’s Human Performance Lab, discusses his seminal studies that have shown immunity decreases as exercise duration increases — important information to keep in mind as people seek to remain healthy during the pandemic.

David Nieman, Dr.PH., health professor at Appalachian State University and director of the Human Performance Lab, answers questions about how cyclists can train safely during COVID-19.

When it comes to competition or exercise involving fewer than 10 people, Dr. David Nieman, who studies exercise immunology at the Appalachian State University Human Performance Lab, sees a “risk-benefit continuum” that can inform choices about which sports we play.

This blog features Dr. David Nieman’s career researching exercise and the immune system, including data that shows physically active people have a 40-50% reduction in the number of days they are sick with acute respiratory infections. The blog further notes that “a good rule of thumb is to limit sustained exercise (greater than 60% effort, which means 60% of your max heart rate) to no more than 60 minutes at a time.”