Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Physical Therapy On An Athletes Decision To Return To Sport, Juliette Zielinski

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Injury is a reality that many athletes face when performing sport. Throughout time an athlete can cause significant damage to their body. Injuries can range from torn tendons to spinal cord injuries. Some injuries simply require rest while other injuries require surgery. In either case, the application of physical therapy is often prescribed to assist an athlete to return to sport, and in most cases return stronger than before. Once an athlete receives physical therapy and is cleared to return to sport many choose not to return. This proposed research seeks to identify if physical therapy has an impact on …

A Biomechanical Examination Of The Lower Extremities In High Heeled Shoes, Ann Sylvia

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Women have been wearing shoes of various heel heights for hundreds of years. However, the effects of wearing high-heeled shoes upon a woman’s gait has not been significantly studied. Recently, high heeled shoes along with their purpose and place in society has come under fire with the current First Lady’s donning of 4.5” (0.11 m) Louboutin stilettoes. The vocal majority of criticisms seemed to center on the symbolization of high heels, denoting femininity and an elite position of wealth and power while a small minority focused on criticizing the potential negative health effects. Heel heights and styles fall in and …

The Examination Of Slo-Pitch Hitting Movement Coordination, Tong-Ching Tom Wu, Pierre Gervais, Pierre Baudin, Marcel Bouffard

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

This study developed an interdisciplinary approach by utilizing the principles of ecological task analysis and movement coordination from areas of motor leaning and biomechanics to examine the skill of slo-pitch softball hitting. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a task constraint, stride technique, and an environmental constraint, pitched ball location, on the participants’ movement patterns. Ten elite male softball players participated in the study and a two-way ANOVA of 2 locations of pitch (inside and outside) x 3 strides (open, parallel and closed) repeated measure study was conducted. The results showed that participants demonstrated different …

The Examination Of Hip Joint Kinematics With Iwalk In Walking Gait, Tyler Champagne

Undergraduate Review

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinematic movements of the lower limbs involved in walking with a new hands-free crutch known as iWalk, manufactured by iWalkFree Inc. Recently, this new crutch has been developed to reduce underarm stress from conventional crutches, and improve walking efficiency. This study examined the movements with the iWalk by simulating a lower limb injury to the right lower limb in ten healthy female individuals in order to evaluate the kinematics of walking gait, specifically the hip joint angle of the nonweight bearing limb. The results of the study showed a significant increase …

The Effects Of Ugg Boots On Lower Extremity Walking, Ariana Lafavre

Undergraduate Review

UGG boots have become an increasingly popular choice in footwear. Women, especially, have bought UGG boots at a high rate, making the shoe one of the top footwear choices in today’s world. UGG boots can be described as a type of flat footwear and flat footwear does not provide medial longitudinal arch support on the bottom of the foot. This lack of support may cause foot injury due to over pronation in the subtalar joint. There was still the question of if UGG boots limits rear foot pronation movement. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the …

Examination Of Lower Limb Ambidextrous Execution Of The Snap Down Technique In Folk Style Wrestling, Nicholas Decastro

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinematic motions of the lower extremity in the snap down technique. Specifically, the study examined the kinematic differences between execution using the dominant and non-dominant side. Angular displacement, velocity and acceleration of the hip, knee and ankle joint was examined. It was hypothesized that a significant statistical difference would be observed in multiple variables between the dominant and non-dominant limb execution. Five male collegiate wrestlers were recruited for participation in the study. Inclusion into the study was on the basis that each participant was right side dominant and displayed proper foot …

The Examination Of Upper Limb Ambidexterity In Wrestling Snap Down Technique, Nicholas Decastro, Tong-Ching Tom Wu

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to bilaterally examine the kinematic motions of the upper extremity in the snap down technique. Six male collegiate wrestlers were recruited and performed a total of ten snaps, five from each side. A standard two-dimensional kinematic analysis was conducted in the upper extremity. The results showed no significant difference between right and left side in the angular displacement, velocity and acceleration. These findings indicated that upper limb ambidexterity was achieved by these college wrestlers in the study. From further video analysis, the study found some wrestlers appeared to use their shoulder and elbow as …

Kinematic Comparisons Between Forward And Backward Skating In Ice Hockey, Tong-Ching Tom Wu, David J. Pearsall, Pamela J. Russell, Yuko Imanaka

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinematics of lower body and trunk between forward and backward skating. Seven male collegiate ice hockey players skated both forward and backward (C-cut) four times each. A standard two-dimensional kinematic analysis was conducted to examine the lower body extremity and trunk at the instants of weight acceptance and propulsion. No significant differences in the joint angles were found at the weight acceptance. At the propulsion, significant differences were found in the joint angles of hip, knee, ankle and trunk between forward and backward skating. Hence, these findings indicate the importance of …

Influence Of Traditional And Nontraditional Entries On Figure Skating Jumps, Bryanna Nevius

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not adding a non-traditional jump entry into a routine is more beneficial to the skater or if there is more value in performing the same jump with a traditional entry. Specifically, the study examined the kinematics of a non-traditional verses a traditional jump entry by looking at the angles of the hip, knee, and ankle joints at take-off and landing. Maximum jump height, airtime, and horizontal displacement were also examined. It was hypothesized that non-traditional entries would change jump kinematics when compared to the same jumps performed from traditional entries. …

Kinematics Comparison Between Dominant And Non-Dominant Lower Limbs In Thai Boxing, William Trial

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Muay Thai, also known as Thai Boxing, is Thailand's national sport, and it involves athletes using different stand-up striking and clinching techniques. There are a limited number of research studies that have examined Thai Boxing skills and specifically none have examined the kinematics of the dominant and non-dominant legs while in a double collar or double underhook clinching position. The purpose of the study was to investigate the kinematics of the dominant (right) and non-dominant leg (left) between the double collar and double underhook Thai Boxing clinching positions. Participants executed six continuous knee strikes with the dominant leg and non-dominant …

Kinematic Analysis Of Hip And Knee Joints Between Barefoot And Shod Treadmill Running, Stephanie E. Lloyd

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Running shoes have recently been designed to mimic barefoot walking or running, and they are marketed with promises that runners will benefit from the effects of barefoot running. Studying gait analysis with particular running shoes is extremely important because the ankle and foot serve as the foundation of structural balance, support, and propulsion. In this study, the knee and hip joint motions will be addressed while wearing Vibram FiveFinger and Nike Free Run shoes, which are designed to imitate barefoot running while providing protection from the elements. The purpose of this current study was to investigate the movement kinematics in …

National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Evaluation Of Dietary Supplements For Performance Nutrition, Jackie L. Buell, Rob Franks, Jack Ransone, Michael E. Powers, Kathleen M. Laquale, Amanda Carlson-Phillips

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

Objectives: To help athletic trainers promote a "food-first'" philosophy to support health and performance, understand federal and sport governing body rules and regulations regarding dietary supplements and banned substances, and become familiar with reliable resources for evaluating the safety, purity, and efficacy of dietary supplements.

Background: The dietary supplement industry is poorly regulated and takes in billions of dollars per year. Uneducated athletes need to gain a better understanding of the safety, eligibility, and efficacy concerns associated with choosing to take dietary supplements. The athletic trainer is a valuable athletic team member who can help in the educational …

The Examination Of Ankle Joint Motion Between Barefoot And Minimalist Running Shoes On Various Inclines, Stephanie Lloyd

Undergraduate Review

Recently various sports footwear companies have produced different types of minimalist running shoes to mimic barefoot walking or running such as Vibram FiveFingers and Nike Free Run shoes. The purpose of this study was to examine the range of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion movements at the foot in barefoot conditions in comparison to Vibram FiveFingers and Nike Free Run minimalist shoes to evaluate if the minimalist footwear would affect ankle joint motion on both flat and inclined surfaces. Five elite female runners were chosen to run on a treadmill for 30s at the speed of 3 m/s on an incline of …

Preliminary Findings: Speed-Accuracy Tradeoff In Windmill Fastball And Change-Up Pitching, Kevin Mcelwee

Undergraduate Review

Little data have been collected that compare the linear velocity of the ball at release versus the accuracy of the pitch in fast-pitch windmill softball pitching. Previous research suggests that accuracy of a task may decrease as the speed of the task increases. Little research exists that previously compares the speed and accuracy of fastball and change-up pitches in windmill softball pitching. These data may assist the batter in decoding the type of pitch being thrown before the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand. It was hypothesized that the slower change-up pitch might be more accurate and the faster …

National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids, Robert D. Kersey, Diane L. Elliot, Linn Goldberg, Gen Kanayama, James E. Leone, Mike Pavlovich, Harrison G. Pope

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

Objective: This manuscript summarizes the best available scholarly evidence related to anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) as a reference for health care professionals, including athletic trainers, educators, and interested others.

Background: Health care professionals associated with sports or exercise should understand and be prepared to educate others about AAS. These synthetic, testosteronebased derivatives are widely abused by athletes and nonathletes to gain athletic performance advantages, develop their physiques, and improve their body image. Although AAS can be ergogenic, their abuse may lead to numerous negative health effects.

Recommendations: Abusers of AAS often rely on questionable information sources. Sports medicine professionals can therefore …

Faith And Masculinity: A Discussion On Raising Awareness And Promoting Cancer Screening Among Latino Men, Michael J. Rovito, James E. Leone

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

Males may experience several barriers to seeking health care, including unfamiliarity with procedures (e.g. colonoscopy), stigma and fear of a given health issue, perceived breach of masculinity (machismo), and fear of feeling vulnerable. Evidence suggests church-based interventions are an effective way to strengthen the connection between promotional message content and participant conceptualization of the risks and benefits of health screenings. However, there is a lack of evidence demonstrating such effectiveness in men’s health, and there is even more of a dearth of research focusing on Latinos. This discussion presents trends from a series of 4 community-based seminars during the 2010-2011 …

A Call To (Physical) Activity, A Call To Action, Karen Richardson, Sam Baumgarten

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Safe Weight Loss And Maintenance Practices In Sport And Exercise, Paula Sammarone Turocy, Bernard F. Depalma, Craig A. Horswill, Kathleen M. Laquale, Thomas J. Martin, Arlette C. Perry, Marla J. Somova, Alan C. Utter

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

Objective: To present athletic trainers with recommendations for safe weight loss and weight maintenance practices for athletes and active clients and to provide athletes, clients, coaches, and parents with safe guidelines that will allow athletes and clients to achieve and maintain weight and body composition goals.

Background: Unsafe weight management practices can compromise athletic performance and negatively affect health. Athletes and clients often attempt to lose weight by not eating, limiting caloric or specific nutrients from the diet, engaging in pathogenic weight control behaviors, and restricting fluids. These people often respond to pressures of the sport or activity, coaches, peers, …

Autoimmune Dysfunction And Subsequent Renal Insufficiency In A Collegiate Female Athlete: A Case Report, James E. Leone, Amie Kern, Joshua D. Williamson, Robert M. Colandreo

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

Objective: To present the case of a female collegiate basketball player who was diagnosed with Wegener granulomatosis of the eyes and immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy.

Background: A 19-year-old female collegiate basketball player presented to a rheumatologist, urologist, and nephrologist with severe eye pain and was diagnosed with Wegener granulomatosis and IgA nephropathy. At age 20, during routine follow-up testing, urine protein levels were found to be 3 times normal values (0-8 mg/dL), prompting the need for a kidney biopsy, which showed IgA nephropathy, another autoimmune disorder.

Differential Diagnosis: Sinus infection, scleritis, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, lupus erythematosus, general granulomatosis.

Treatment: …

Severe Multidirectional Instability Of The Gleno-Humeral Joint, L. J. Ziaks, T. Freeman, K. A. Wise, Suanne Maurer-Starks

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The article presents a case study of a 22 year-old female college athlete with multidirectional instability (MDI) of the glen-humeral (GH) joint. The athlete participated in overhead sports activities such as softball, basketball and swimming, and her presenting symptoms included decreased function, crepitus and spontaneous subluxation. Clinical management and range of motion (ROM) measurement are also discussed.

Landing Development: A First Look At Young Children, Pamela J. Russell, Jean Eckrich, Madison Hawkins

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine sagittal and frontal views of children (n=14) aged 4-9 landing from a maximal effort vertical jump to begin a description of landing development. Video records (collected at 30 frames/sec) of the jump and landing were viewed frame by frame with Windows Movie Maker and analyzed with a simple scoring system validated to detect improper movements during landing. Findings indicated that this stop-landing task challenged balance as most landings included a step, straddled foot position, and a wide stance. Mechanisms for force absorption (knee and hip flexion) tended to occur more often in …

Nutritional Needs Of The Recreational Athlete, Kathleen M. Laquale

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The article looks at the the nutritional requirements for recreational athletes. The author discusses the differences between recreational and competitive athletes. Requirements for energy intake are reviewed. The need for maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte levels is also noted. Differences in protein requirements for weightlifters and endurance athletes are discussed.

Energy In-Energy Out: A Balanced Equation?, Kathleen M. Laquale

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The article reports that many athletes are not ingesting an adequate number of calories from their diets. Fat and lean body mass become the sources for fuel for energy and this leads to lack of tissue growth. Exercise physiologists have calculated energy intake and energy expenditure metrics with recommendations.

Why Look At A Food Label?, Kathleen M. Laquale

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The article presents information on reading food labels to assist athletes in making better food choices. It discusses the six components required to appear on labels by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including product identity, net contents or number of servings per container, and the ingredient list. The key recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are presented. Daily values as an expression of a food's nutrient content are discussed.

Nutritional Concerns For Ethnically Diverse Athletes, Kathleen M. Laquale

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The article discusses the variety of international nutritional guidelines, comparing the food guide pyramid of the United States to similar constructs such as the Chinese food guide pagoda. Athletic therapists are advised to consider culinary differences between cultures when advising ethnically diverse athletes on nutritional issues.

Red Bull: The Other Energy Drink And Its Effect On Performance, Kathleen M. Laquale

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The article reports on Red Bull energy drink and its effectiveness. It is created with synthetic ingredients which are stated to be the best quality available from pharmaceutical companies. Caffeine is one of the key ingredients which is normally not found in sports energy drinks. The limited research concludes that taurine and glucuronolactone in Red Bull have not been proven to improve body functions.

Wheelchair Athletes’ Challenges With The 2007 Boston Maratho, Joseph H. Huber, J. L. Mackool

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The article discusses the performance of wheelchair athletes at the 2007 Boston Marathon. A discussion of concerns about the safety of the participating wheelchair athletes in the marathon which were raised by bad weather at the event is presented. The results of the men's wheelchair division, which was won by Masazumi Soejima of Japan, the women's wheelchair division, which was won by Wakako Tsuchido of Japan, all time men's top ten finish times which were led by Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa, and the all time women's top ten finishers which were led by Jean Driscoll of Illinois are …

Knee Valgus In Self-Initiated Vertical Jump Landings: Developmental And Gender Comparisons, Pamela J. Russell, Erik E. Swartz, Laura C. Decoster, Ron V. Croce

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The study examined gender and developmental differences in knee valgus angle and external knee valgus moment at the time of maximal vertical ground reaction force (MGRFz) in self-initiated vertical jump (VJ) landings. Fifty-six subjects grouped by age (pre-pubescent (8-11 yrs); post-pubescent (19-29 yrs)) and gender jumped for a ball set at 50% of their maximum VJ height then landed on two feet with only their dominant foot on the force plate. Statistical analyses of motion analysis (3-D) and GRF data showed that children had greater valgus angles (p = .003) and moments (p = .026) at MGRFz compared to adults. …

B-Complex Vitamins' Role In Energy Release, Kathleen M. Laquale

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

This article reports on the B-Complex Vitamin's role in energy release. The author describes the importance of carbohydrates as a source of energy in physical activity, as well as the ways in which vitamins, minerals, and water work together to impact an athletes performance. Included are the definitions of essential chemicals, the importance of the six basic nutrients, and the role of B-complex vitamins in energy metabolism.

Practical Suggestions For Vegetarian Athletes, Kathleen M. Laquale

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The article recommends health practices and behavior for vegetarian athletes. Vegetarians can be categorized by the types of foods that they consume. Vegetarian diets are more common among adolescents with eating disorders than in the general adolescent population. Athletic trainers should be concerned if symptoms of eating disorders surface in an athlete who states that he or she is a vegetarian.