Contact Information

Biography

Dr. Kelton Mehls, PhD, CSCS began working at Duquesne University in January of 2022. Currently he is an assistant professor in the Health Sciences program. Dr. Mehls has been teaching in exercise science and health science curriculums since 2016. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. 

In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Mehls has several years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach and track and field coach where he has worked with athletes at a wide variety of levels. While at Walsh University, he coached 17 NCAA Division II provisional qualifiers, 5 National Qualifiers, and 2 All-Americans. He strives to bring this experience into the classroom so that it may benefit his students. 

Dr. Mehls is also actively engaged in research and has authored several peer-reviewed manuscripts and supervised multiple thesis and dissertations from students at various levels in their academic career. His research seeks to explore and optimize human movement through the use of electromyography technology and work to optimize resistance training programming using a variety of different measurement tools. He also serves as a reviewer for several exercise and sports science related journals. 

Education

  • Ph.D. Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University 2019
  • M.S. Exercise Science, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania 2015
  • B.S Biology, Robert Morris University 2014

Areas of Expertise

  • Strength and Conditioning
  • Resistance Training 
  • Sports Science 
  • Electromyography 

School

Martinez-Sepanski, S., Mehls, K., Bowman, A., Coons, J. (2022) The Effect of Hip Flexor Tightness on Muscle Activity during the Front Squat. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. (Under Review)

Giesige, T., Martinez-Sepanski, S., & Mehls, K. (2022) The Effects of a J-Band Warm-up on Muscle Activity of Colligate Baseball Players during Pitching. International Journal of Motor Control and Learning. (Accepted)

Martinez, S., Coons, J., & Mehls, K. (2022) Training Loads for Optimizing Muscle Activity and Co-Activation During the Barbell Back Squat. European Journal of Sport Science. (Accepted)

Mehls, K. D., Martinez, S. C., & Edwards, C. (2022). An Examination of Loading Profiles for Youth Athletes Performing the Hang Power Clean. Montenegrin Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 11(1), 65-70.

Mehls, K., Grubbs, B., Jin, Y., & Coons, J. (2022). Electromyography comparison of sex differences during the back squat. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36(2), 310-313.   

Mehls, K., Grubbs, B., Stevens, S., Martinez, S., Jin, Y., & Coons, J. (2021). Correcting movement syndromes: the role of training load and its effects on muscle activity. Sport Sciences for Health, 17(4), 979-987.

Mehls, K., Grubbs, B., Stevens, S., Jin, Y., & Coons, J. (2020) Power Production and Development in Youth Athletes: The Effects of Training Load. Journal of Athletic Enhancement.

Mehls, K., (2019). Investigations of Optimal Loading during Resistance Training. (Doctoral Dissertation). Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN

Wright-Fitzgerald, A., Martinez, S., & Mehls, K. (presented 2022).  Hamstrings:Quadriceps Co-Activation Ratio Between Males and Females in the Barbell Back Squat. Poster Presentation at National Strength and Conditioning Association National Conference.

Martinez, S., Coons, J., & Mehls, K. (presented 2021).  Hamstrings:Quadriceps Co-Activation Ratio Across Training Loads in the Barbell Back Squat. Poster Presentation at National Strength and Conditioning Association National Conference.

Addie, C., Martinez, S., & Mehls, K. (presented 2021) The Effect of Training Loads on Peak Bar Velocity During a Hang Power Clean in Adolescent Males. Poster Presentation at National Strength and Conditioning Association National Conference.

Mehls, K., Grubbs, B., Jin, Y., & Coons, J. An Electromyography Comparison of Sex Differences during the Back Squat. Accepted for American College of Sports Medicine Southeast Regional February 2019 (not presented because of a death in the family)

Mehls, K., & Coons, J. (presented 2018) An Electromyography Comparison of Bench Press Volume Following Varied Warm-Ups.  Thematic Poster Presentation at Southeast Regional American College of Sports Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, Chattanooga, TN. (Regional)

HLTS 311: Tests and Measures with Lab

HLTS 312: Strength and Conditioning Across Populations with Lab