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Development Of A Semi-Interpenetrating Network Hydrogel To Study The Effects Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury On Astrocyte Remodeling, Amanda Ederle

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a widespread public health concern affecting over 2.5 million people in the United States alone (1). TBIs are the leading cause of death and disability in children (ages 0-14), and their devastating effects can also be seen in vast population subsets such as professional athletes and combat soldiers (1).

Damaged astrocytes, the specialized glial cells associated with the maintenance of the brain’s environment, respond to injury by altering regulation of certain proteins and ion channels in an attempt to maintain homeostasis (3). Studies have also shown that following a TBI, astrocytes seek to regenerate, a …

Levels Of Confidence In Schmieding Center In-Home Caregiving Training, Morena L. Valdizon

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

The Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education offers a unique approach and program designed to teach their students how to care for an older adult in the home. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the in-home assistant course on the participant’s confidence levels. It was hypothesized that the confidence levels of the students that enrolled in the in-home assistant training course would increase with the completion of the 40-hour course and that demographic factors such as gender, age, and economic background would impact the levels of confidence. This study was conducted by the …

The Ergogenic Effects Of Acute Citrulline Malate Supplementation On Weightlifting Performance In Trained Females, Lauren Nicole Wethington

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

All previous investigations evaluating the effectiveness of citrulline malate (CM) as an ergogenic aid involved male subjects. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the ergogenic effects of CM supplementation on upper- and lower-body, submaximal, resistance exercise performance in trained females. Based on previous results, we hypothesized supplementation with CM would increase performance in females. This study utilized a randomized, double blind, crossover design. Testing trials took place within the Human Performance Laboratory and/or the University of Arkansas: Donna Axum Fitness Center. An a priori sample of 14 subjects were required, therefore this study included 15 female. Subjects reported …

The Effect Of Thirst And Pharyngeal Stimulation On Exercise Performance, Jordan E. Smith

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine if activating the oral- pharyngeal receptors through the act of swallowing plays a role in enhancing exercise performance. It was hypothesized that stimulation of the pharyngeal receptors through the act of swallowing (D trial) increases exercise performance when compared to infusing the same amount of liquid via a nasogastric tube (I trial). Methods: Five trained male cyclists (31 ± 5 years; 74.7 ± 4 kg; 57 ± 3 mL/kg/min) performed two trials in a counterbalanced fashion, each consisting of 120 minutes cycling in an environment at 35°C and 30% RH at …

The Relationship Between Qualitative And Quantitative Pain Descriptors Of Prolonged Standing Induced Low Back Pain, Laura Abbott

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if assessing pain symptoms could help to better define prolonged standing induced low back pain (LBP) development. Thirty-five participants (18 male & 17 female), with no prior history of LBP, preformed two-hours of standing while doing occupational tasks in random 15-minute bouts. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire were used to assess the participant’s current level of LBP in 7.5-minute increments for 120 minutes of standing. Participants were instrumented for motion capture and stood on two force plates to track lumbar spine movement and body weight shifts, …

Examining College Student Athlete Attitudes Towards Concussion Testing And Reporting Concussions, Kaitlyn Fry

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Examining College Student Athlete Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Baseline Neurocognitive Concussion Testing

FryK, Anderson, M, Anderson, M, Schatz, P, Elbin, RJ: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Context: Examining athletes’ attitudes toward concussion diagnosis, management, and treatment can lead to improved multi-faceted management of a concussion injury. Although attitudes towards concussion injuries have been studied, the examination of athletes’ attitudes towards baseline computerized neurocognitive testing is understudied and is warranted. Objective: To examine the relationship between sex, concussion history, and previous exposure to baseline testing on athletes’ perceptions of effort provided during baseline testing and the utility of neurocognitive testing. Methods: …

Short-Term Progression Of Functional Capabilities And Pain Levels Following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation, Dalton Main

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient-centered outcomes of functional capability and pain levels following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) surgery, as well as compare results from previous studies. Research was also conducted to find possible predictors of short-term success following ACI surgery. Methods: 10 patients (43 ± 6 years) were asked to complete a survey packet pre-operatively, and at three, six, and 12 months post-surgery as part of their standard medical files. These surveys included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Depression Self-assessment (DSA), and a Global Rating of Change (GROC) …

Improving Access To Care For Arkansas Youth Athletes With Sport-Related Concussion: Establishing “Teleconcussion” In Arkansas, Kristin Maxey

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Proper management of sport-related concussion (SRC) is critical for improved recovery outcomes in youth athletes. Several barriers exist to improving the standard of care for youth athletes with SRC. Many rural areas lack medical professionals with specialized training in SRC. Innovative methods for providing specialized healthcare to youth athletes with SRC are needed. Telehealth may be an effective means of providing specialized care for youth athletes with SRC located in underserved areas that have a shortage of healthcare providers specializing in SRC.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare patient, caregiver, and provider ratings of the therapeutic …

Determining The Appropriate Timing Of Administration For Baseline Computerized Neurocognitive Testing (Cnt) Following Maximal Exertion, Samantha Mohler

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Computerized neurocognitive testing is part of the recommended multi-faceted approach to SRC assessment. Prior research has suggested that maximal exertion negatively effects CNT test scores. Purpose: To identify the appropriate timing of the administration of CNT following maximal exertion in healthy college-aged student athletes. Study Design: Prospective, random cross-over, repeated measures design. Methods: Week one participants fill out intake forms and then complete a baseline ImPACT test. The following three weeks, individuals were administered a VO2 max cycle ergometer test. Following the test participants will rest for <5 (immediate), 15, or 30 minutes before re-taking ImPACT. Results: Immediately following maximal exertion, negative composite scores, relative to baseline, were …

The Influence Of Anti-Fatigue Matting On Gluteus Medius Muscle Activity During Functional Reaches, Marcus Payne

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to look for changes in gluteus medius muscle activity during functional reaches and investigate whether or not anti-fatigue matting affects these changes. Fourteen participants (seven male & seven female) who did not meet any of the exclusion criteria completed forward and lateral reaches at hip and shoulder height on all four floor conditions for a total of sixteen reaches. Four floor types were tested: a control bare force platform, and a low, medium, and high stiffness anti-fatigue mat. Electromyography was applied bilaterally to the gluteus medius muscles, and maximum voluntary contractions were performed so …

The Impact Of Education On Fear Of Falling In Elderly Women, Whitney R. Muller

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Context: More than one third of individuals 65 and older fall each year. Approximately 85% of these falls occur in the homes of independent older adults. Falls can lead to an increased fear of falling, defined as a pervasive concern that a fall may occur. Fear of falling can decrease quality of life due to a lower sense of well-being, limiting mobility, and reduction of social interaction. Reduction in activity can result in a sedentary lifestyle and poor balance which increases the risk of falling. Fifty percent of women 75 years and older participate in no physical activity beyond …

Examining Different Exercise Types On Falls Efficacy In Older Adults, Hadley Lewis

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Context: Around 30% of older adults over the age of 65 fall once a year. These falls can result in hospitalization and permanent injury. Falls efficacy, or the confidence level that one will not fall, has been shown to have a direct correlation to the fear of falling and falls. It has been found that 29-92% of older adults who have fallen have a fear of falling and 12-65% of older adults who have not fallen experience a fear of falling. This fear of falling acts as a hindrance on older adult’s ability to complete daily activities and leads …

The Comparison Of Dual-Tasking And Functional Fitness In Older Females, Anna Engler

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Context: America’s aging population is growing faster than ever, resulting in increasing challenges for healthcare providers and caregivers. Over 33% of adults aged 65 and older fall annually, and falls are the number one cause of injury-related death in this age group. Assessing fall risk is difficult due to its multifactorial nature, but functional fitness serves as a proxy measure. Women are at a particularly high risk for fall-related injury due to lower bone mineral density and higher fall frequency when compared to males. Fear of falling is also a serious contributor to fall risk, and it affects up …

Risk Factors Involved In Cheerleading Injuries, Kelsey Defreece

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Injury prevention is an important aspect of health in which professionals in the field must focus. With a continual increase of risk in activities performed nationwide, health professionals must seek to educate the population on risk factors involved in these activities. For my research, I examined the prevalence of injuries related to cheerleading. I specifically studied cheerleading injuries among female cheerleaders ages fourteen to seventeen. I conducted analyses to study what risk factors contribute to an increased exposure to injury among cheerleaders. METHODS: I used the NEISS database to obtain nationally representative data of patients who reported a cheerleading injury. …

Independent Effect Of Heat Stress During Exercise On Arterial Stiffness, Cash Arcement

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Context: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in the United States, accounting for about 1 in every 3 deaths annually. While studies have shown that arterial stiffness, a leading precursor to CVD, improves with passive heat stress not much is known about the independent effect of heat stress during exercise on arterial stiffness. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the independent effect of heat stress during exercise on arterial stiffness. Design: Participants visited the lab three times; one familiarization and two experimental trials. Experimental trials were randomized and counter-balanced. Setting: All trials …

Effects Of Diet-Induced Obesity On Extracellular Matrix Remodeling During Skeletal Muscle Regeneration, Michelle A. Tedrowe

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

THE EFFECT OF DIET-INDUCED OBESITY ON EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX REMODELING DURING SKELETAL MUSCLE REGENERATION

Michelle A. Tedrowe, Lemuel A. Brown, Richard A. Perry Jr., Megan E. Rosa, Jacob L. Brown, David E. Lee, Nicholas P. Greene, Tyrone A. Washington. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Skeletal muscle has the ability to regenerate from damage; however, recent studies have reported a negative effect of obesity on skeletal muscle regenerative capacity. The extracellular matrix (ECM) contributes to skeletal muscle structure acting as a scaffold for skeletal muscle. Additionally, skeletal muscle serves as a reservoir for proteins and growth factors that promote regeneration. Optimal skeletal …