Christian Thompson

Dr. Christian Thompson is a Professor of Kinesiology and a clinical researcher affiliated with UCSF Medical Center. His research focuses on exercise program design for older adults — specifically the role of multicomponent training, strength and power development, and functional assessment in preserving independence, preventing falls, and extending quality of life. That work began with externally funded community research projects in San Francisco and has culminated in his current NIH-funded collaborative research with UCSF and UC Berkeley — work that sits at the intersection of exercise science, neuroscience, and aging.

Dr. Thompson has been published in journals including Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, npj Aging and the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and authored the older adult chapter in the 2025 release of ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription — the field's definitive clinical reference.

• Exercise program design
• Functional fitness assessment
• Fitness industry and senior living

• Exercise for Stroke Rehabilitation
• Exercise for Active Aging
• Exercise for Fall Prevention
• Exercise for Cognitive Function

• Co-Chair, Department of Kinesiology (2024-2025)
• Director, Gerontology Minor (2023-2024)

• University of Kansas, PhD in Exercise Science, 2001
• University of Oklahoma, MS in Health and Sport Science, 1997
• Cornell University, BS in Atmospheric Science, 1993

• Research Affiliate, Neuroscape Laboratory at UCSF Medical Center
• Instructor in the Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Science, University of Kansas

• Fellow of American College of Sports Medicine, 2023
• Outstanding Young Researcher, Council on Aging and Adult Development, 2009

• Thompson, C., Ghafury, F., Sasadeusz, K., Pitsch, E., Halabi, C., Gravier, M. & Ivanova, M.  (2026).  Feasibility of high-intensity functional training in individuals with post-stroke aphasia.  BMC Neurology (In Review).
• Ivanova, M., Thompson, C., Pitsch, E., Gravier, M., Halabi, C. & Ghafury, F.  (2026).  The Aphasia Physical Exercise (APEX) study: feasibility of a new high-intensity functional interval training for stroke survivors with aphasia. Aphasiology.
• Thompson, C., Porter Starr, K., Chmelo Kemp, E., Chan, J., Jackson, E. & Phun, J.  (2023). Feasibility of virtually delivering functional fitness assessments and a fitness training program in community-dwelling older adults. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 20(11).
• Anguera J., Volponi, J., Simon, A., Gallen, C., Rolle, C., Anguera-Singla, R., Thompson, C., & Gazzaley, A.  (2022). Integrated cognitive and physical fitness training enhances attention abilities in older adults, npj Aging, 8(12).  
• Thompson, C., Simunovich, S, Harrington T., Wallenrod, S., & Corn, R. (2019). Effectiveness of a 12-week falls prevention program in reducing falls risk in community dwelling older adults. Translational Journal of ACSM, 4(3), 17-22.