Faculty

W. Larry Kenney

Professor of Physiology and Kinesiology

Noll Lab
University Park

Email w7k@psu.edu
Phone 814-863-1672

Overview

Environmental and exercise physiology, particularly human thermoregulation, skin blood flow, and the biophysics of heat exchange.

Areas of Expertise

Vasodilatation Medicine and Dentistry
Skin Blood Flow Keyphrases
Reflex Keyphrases
Heat Stress Keyphrases
Cutaneous Vasodilation Keyphrases
Older Adults Keyphrases
Aging Men Keyphrases
During Exercise Keyphrases

Reflex vasodilation and sweating in response to passive whole body heating are blunted in women with major depressive disorder
Kat G. Fisher, Olivia K. Leach, Jody L. Greaney, Lacy M. Alexander, W. Larry Kenney, Jun 2026, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
Date: Jun 2026

Practical Role of an Acclimatization Plan in Occupational Heat Stress Management
Thomas E. Bernard, W. Larry Kenney, Candi D. Ashley, 2026, In: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Date: 2026

Age and livability in a hotter climate
W. Larry Kenney, Rachel M. Cottle, Daniel J. Vecellio, Kat G. Fisher, Olivia K. Leach, Qinqin Kong, S. Tony Wolf, Dec 2025, In: EBioMedicine
Date: Dec 2025

Maximal skin wettedness as a function of environment and metabolic rate in unacclimated young and older adults (PSU HEAT Project)
Kat G. Fisher, Olivia K. Leach, Rachel M. Cottle, W. Larry Kenney, 2025, In: International Journal of Biometeorology
Date: 2025

Systemic cardiovascular and carotid baroreflex support of arterial pressure during recovery from passive heat stress in young and older adults
Emily A. Larson, Brendan W. Kaiser, Emma L. Reed, Brandon M. Gibson, Kieran S.S. Abbotts, W. Larry Kenney, Christopher T. Minson, John R. Halliwill, Sep 2025, In: Physiological reports
Date: Sep 2025

Heat extremes and cardiovascular diseases
Georgia K. Chaseling, Izabella Uchmanowicz, Maria Bäck, Òscar Miró, Maryia Tokmakova, Petter Ljungman, Jari Laukkanen, Rosa Maria Bruno, George Ntaios, Bianca Rocca, Ollie Jay, Lacy M. Alexander, W. Larry Kenney, Philip Moons, Aug 7 2025, In: European Heart Journal
Date: Aug 7 2025

No effect of stage 1 hypertension or hypertensive medication on critical environmental limits (PSU HEAT Project)
Olivia K. Leach, Kat G. Fisher, Rachel M. Cottle, W. Larry Kenney, Aug 2025, In: American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Date: Aug 2025

Drinking Water NaCl Is Associated With Hypertension and Albuminuria
Asher Y. Rosinger, Amanda McGrosky, Hannah Jacobson, Elena Hinz, Srishti Sadhir, Faith Wambua, Tom Otube, Lilian J. Baker, Alison C. Sherwood, Tiffany Chrissy-Mbeng, Lauren M.T. Broyles, Carey Musumeci, Natalie C. Meriwether, Nicole Bobbie, Zoë Farrar, Madeleine Todd, Zee Nguyen, Gabriella Berger, ..., Aug 1 2025, In: Hypertension
Date: Aug 1 2025

Low-dose ASA therapy does not alter core or skin temperature during hot-dry or warm-humid heat stress (PSU HEAT project)
Kat G. Fisher, Olivia K. Leach, Rachel M. Cottle, Lacy M. Alexander, W. Larry Kenney, May 2025, In: Physiological reports
Date: May 2025

Manuscript writing for dummies
W. Larry Kenney, Mar 1 2025, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
Date: Mar 1 2025

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Aging and human temperature regulation
W. Larry Kenney, Thayne A. Munce, Dec 2003, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
Citations: 461

The human cutaneous circulation as a model of generalized microvascular function
Lacy A. Holowatz, Caitlin S. Thompson-Torgerson, W. Larry Kenney, Jul 2008, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
Citations: 404

National athletic trainers' association position statement
Brendon P. McDermott, Scott A. Anderson, Lawrence E. Armstrong, Douglas J. Casa, Samuel N. Cheuvront, Larry Cooper, W. Larry Kenney, Francis G. O'Connor, William O. Roberts, Sep 2017, In: Journal of Athletic Training
Citations: 353

Influence of age on thirst and fluid intake
W. L. Kenney, P. Chiu, 2001, In: Medicine and science in sports and exercise
Citations: 302

Heat waves aging and human cardiovascular health
W. Larry Kenney, Daniel H. Craighead, Lacy M. Alexander, 2014, In: Medicine and science in sports and exercise
Citations: 292

Age alters the cardiovascular response to direct passive heating
Christopher T. Minson, Stacey L. Wladkowski, Anthony F. Cardell, James A. Pawelczyk, W. Larry Kenney, Apr 1998, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
Citations: 254

Decreased nitric oxide- and axon reflex-mediated cutaneous vasodilation with age during local heating
Christopher T. Minson, Lacy A. Holowatz, Brett J. Wong, W. Larry Kenney, Brad W. Wilkins, Nov 1 2002, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
Citations: 244

Mechanisms of acetylcholine-mediated vasodilation in young and aged human skin
Lacy A. Holowatz, Caitlin S. Thompson, Christopher T. Minson, W. Larry Kenney, Mar 15 2005, In: Journal of Physiology
Citations: 208

Evaluating the 35C wet-bulb temperature adaptability threshold for young, healthy subjects (PSU HEAT Project)
Daniel J. Vecellio, S. Tony Wolf, Rachel M. Cottle, W. Larry Kenney, Feb 2022, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
Citations: 191

Impaired defense of core temperature in aged humans during mild cold stress
David W. DeGroot, W. Larry Kenney, Jan 2007, In: American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Citations: 171

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Integrative and Biomedical Physiology IGDP

Elsevier Pure Profile

During extreme heat, older adults can submerge their hands and forearms in tap water to cool their core temperatures and reduce their heart rates, according to a new study by researchers in the Penn State Department of Kinesiology. Credit: Dennis Maney / Penn State. Creative Commons

September 15, 2025

Submerging forearms in water may help protect older adults during extreme heat

October 22, 2024

The Surprising Health Benefits of Pain

Study authors Olivia Leach, at the computer terminal, and Rachel Cottle, holding the breathing tube, pose in the environmental chamber used to study vulnerability to temperature and humidity. Credit: Provided by W. Larry Kenney . All Rights Reserved.

September 03, 2024

Older women more vulnerable to heat than their male peers, researchers find

June 24, 2024

Why ignoring high temperatures could be your worst health mistake

June 19, 2024

How to Know When High Temperatures Are Getting Dangerous—And What to Do to Stay Safe in a Heat Wave

June 13, 2024

Heat stress can turn deadly even sooner than experts thought. Are new warnings needed?

October 09, 2023

Too hot for humans: Rising temperatures could soon make parts of Earth uninhabitable

This composite map shows land areas that could face extreme heat if the planet continues to warm, indicated in yellow and orange. The darker the color, the longer the projected exposure to extreme heat. Credit: Maps courtesy of Daniel Vecellio, Qinqin Kong, W. Larry Kenney and Matthew Huber; composite image by Dennis Maney . All Rights Reserved.

October 09, 2023

Climate-driven extreme heat may make parts of Earth too hot for humans

September 21, 2023

Extreme heat, coupled with chronic health issues, is killing elderly New Yorkers

July 29, 2023

Your body can build up tolerance to heat. Here’s how.

July 21, 2023

Heat can kill on the job, and these workers are dying

July 19, 2023