Bio
Michael F. Bergeron, Ph.D., FACSM is the Executive Director of the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute and National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance, as well as a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota at the Sanford USD Medical Center. He also has an appointment as a Senior Scientist in Sanford Childrenâs Health Research Center. Internationally recognized for his research in exercise, heat stress, and youth athletic health and leadership in the sports medicine community, Dr. Bergeron is a Fellow and past Trustee of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and is currently a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. Dr. Bergeron serves as an Editorial Board member for the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism and Journal of Athletic Training. He also serves as a clinical and scientific consultant to the WTA (Womenâs Tennis Association) Professional Tour Medical Services.
Dr. Bergeron has participated recently as a leading faculty member and author on Department of Defense consensus panels and published papers on Exertional Heat Stroke: Return to Duty; Extreme Conditioning Programs; and Sickle Cell Trait â Mitigating Risks for Warfighters and Athletes. He has also worked with a number of junior, collegiate, and professional athletes on training and nutrition related to preparation, competition, and recovery strategies in the heat, with a particular emphasis on helping athletes to avoid exertional heat illness and injury.
Dr. Bergeronâs current research is focused on the effects of exercise in the heat and thermal strain on neuromuscular control and injury risk, as well as glycemic control in youth athletes with Type 1 diabetes. The institute is also examining thermoregulatory and other physiological and autonomic characteristics associated with mild traumatic brain injury and recovery.
Specialties:
- Sports Medicine
- View Credentials
Affiliation:
- Sanford Health
Location:
Group Memberships:
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Credentials
- Education
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Ph.D. - Exercise Physiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CTM.A. – Exercise Physiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CTB.S. – Computer Science/Mathematics, Central Connecticut State University,, New Britain, CT
- Fellowship
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Sport Nutrition, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
- Additional Certifications of Specialty Qualifications
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- Professional Membership or Societies
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American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)American College of Sports Medicine, Northland Chapter (NACSM)American Physiological Society (APS)Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA)United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA)
- Publications
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BERGERON, M.F., Bahr, R., Bartsch, P., Bourdon, L., Calbet, J.A., Carlsen, K.H., Castagna, O., Alonso, J.M., Lundby, C., Maughan, R., Millet, G.P., Mountjoy, M., Racinais, S., Rasmussen, P., Singh, D.G., Subudhi, A.W., Young, A.J., Soligard, T., and Engebretsen, L. International Olympic Committee consensus statement on thermoregulatory and altitude challenges for high-level athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012 Jun 9. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 2685119Mountjoy, M., Alonso, J-M., BERGERON, M.F., Dvorak, J., Miller, S., Migliorini, S., and Singh, D.G. Hyperthermic-related challenges in aquatics, athletics, football, tennis and triathlon. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012 (In Press).Alosco, M.L., Knecht, K., Glickman, E., BERGERON, M.F., and Gunstad, J. Concussion history and exertional heat illness-related symptomatology among Division-I collegiate athletes. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training, 2012 (In press).Casa, D.J., Anderson, S.A., Baker, L., Bennett, S., BERGERON, M.F., Connolly, D., Courson, R., Drezner, J.A., Eichner, R., Epley, Fleck, S., Guskiewicz, K.M., Harmon, K.G., Hoffman, J., Holschen, J.C., Jost, J., Kinniburgh, A., Klossner, D., Lopez, R.M., Martin, G., McDermott, B.P., Mihalik, J.P., Myslinski, T., Pagnotta, K., Poddar, S., Rodgers, G., Russell, A., Sales, L., Sandler, D., Stearns, R.L., Stiggins, C., and Thompson, C. The Inter-Association Task Force for Preventing Sudden Death in Collegiate Conditioning Sessions: Best Practices Recommendations. Journal of Athletic Training, 47(4): 2012 (In press).Connes, P., Harmon, K.G., and BERGERON, M.F. Pathophysiology of exertional death associated with sickle cell trait: can we make a parallel with vaso-occlusion mechanisms in sickle cell disease? British Journal of Sports Medicine, published online May 19, 2012, doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091223.
Activity
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How can young athletes prevent heat illness?
Athletes, coaches and parents should be advised of the early signs of heat illness, including headache, nausea, dizziness, clumsiness, weakness, muscle twinges or cramps, irritability, apathy and c...
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Why are concussions in children often overlooked?
There could be myriad potential reasons for sometimes “overlooking” a concussion in a child. First, children are usually less able to accurately express symptoms that would indicate the...
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How can I tell if I'm drinking enough fluids?
A simple way you can determine if you are drinking enough is by looking at the color and volume of your urine. Urine that is darker in color and low in volume can be a sign of significant dehydrati...
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What should I eat after a workout?
After exercise, your body’s primary dietary needs are water, carbohydrate, electrolytes (primarily sodium and chloride -- salt) and protein for complete rehydration and muscle recovery. Suffi...
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How much fluid should I drink during exercise?
Fluid and electrolyte (primarily sodium) losses during exercise can vary tremendously per individual and are also heavily influenced by environmental conditions, intensity of activity, age and heat...
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How does sweating affect electrolyte losses?
Sweat electrolyte losses, particularly sodium and chloride, vary by individual. Muscle cramping due to exertional heat stress can be attributed to an electrolyte deficit caused by sweating, as the ...
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How can dehydration affect sports performance?
Your body only needs to be dehydrated slightly to have a negative impact on performance, especially in the heat. Side effects of significant dehydration during sport include decreased performance, ...
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How can young athletes stay hydrated while exercising in the heat?
Drink plenty of fluids (water, juice, milk, sport drinks) throughout the day. Check your urine -- it should be fairly light colored. If you are constantly in the bathroom to urinate (e.g., every 45...
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How can I prepare to exercise in the heat?
There are several things you can do to prepare for exercising in hot weather: Get fit: High aerobic fitness and an appropriate level of body fat can give you a big advantage when it comes to to...
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How much fluid should I drink during physical activity?
How much fluid you should drink during physical activity is determined by several key factors. An appropriate rate of fluid intake depends on how much you sweat, which is primarily driven by how ha...
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Can I drink too much during exercise?
It is possible to drink too much during exercise. If you gain weight by the end of a training session or competitive event, it is a sign you drank too much water or other fluid during your activity...
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What is the National Institute for Athletic Health and Performance (NIAHP)?
The National Institute for Athletic Health and Performance (NIAHP) is a group of scientists and health professionals who conduct research, assess athletes, provide current educational information, ...
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What is heat tolerance testing?
Heat tolerance testing evaluates an athlete’s current tolerance to exercising in the heat. Athletes should consider having this test performed if they have had a heat-related illness, especia...
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What is the lactate threshold?
Lactate threshold (LT) reflects the exercise intensity at which the concentration of lactate in the blood increases sharply. LT is a very good predictor of sustained endurance capacity and performa...
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How can athletes be evaluated during exercise in the heat?
A sweat fluid and electrolyte losses and physiological strain in the heat assessment evaluates an athlete in a specific environment using a temperature, humidity, and exercise intensity that elicit...
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