Life Sciences Commons^™

Exercise, Cognition, And The Aging Process Among Active, Competitive, And Sedentary Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Katherine Adams

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose This study aimed to compare the cognitive measures of reaction time and dual-task performance among recreationally active, master athletes, and sedentary older adults aged 50 years or older. Methods 59 late middle-aged and older adults between the ages of 50 to 88 years old participated in reaction time and dual-task tests of which consisted of multiple trials on the same day. Subjects were placed either into the recreationally active, masters athlete, or sedentary activity level group based on the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) form. For the gait speed with associated dual-task component, subjects walked 10-meters at two …

Fall Risk In Sedentary, Recreationally Active, And Masters Athlete Older Adults, Felicia Elizabeth Squires

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether different habitual activity levels may affect balance ability in older adults. Balance must be studied as poor balance increases likelihood of falls. This study examined activity levels in older adults and effect on balance ability. Fifty-nine older adults aged 66.5 ± 9.5 participated. Three groups were separated by physical activity level. First group had 13 masters athletes, older adults performing least 150 minutes of aerobic activity a week and competing in nationally sanctioned event within the last six months. Twenty-seven older adults comprised recreationally active group performing at least 150 minutes …

The Effect Of Weight Carried And Time Ridden On Back Pain In Horses Ridden During Horse Shows As Determined By Pressure Algometry, Meghan Louise Mothershead

MSU Graduate Theses

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of weight carried (rider + tack) on back pain in horses used in riding classes and a series of intercollegiate horse shows. Sixteen school horses (431-649 kg) were ridden consistently over a semester. Cross sectional images were used to measure width and put in a mapping program to figure total area. Back pain scores were determined using a pressure algometer on predetermined points over the horses back. Pain scores were recorded over five periods, including 28 d into the semester (P1) and during the show period on three consecutive Fridays …

Acute Effects Of The Training Mask On Short-Term Recovery During Rowing Intervals, Hayden W. Hess

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of the Training Mask 2.0 (TM) on performance (m), blood lactate, heart rate recovery (HRR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (Q̇), heart rate variability (HRV), and breath rate recovery (BRR) when used during short-term recovery. Methods: Seven trained males completed two interval training conditions (TM and Sham TM). Each condition consisted of five, 1-min, max effort rows with 3-min recoveries. The TM (or Sham TM) was worn during each 3-min recovery. A repeated measures 2x5 (condition x interval) ANOVA was used to determine significant main effects for condition or …

An Examination Of The Influence Of Social Physique Anxiety On Effort And Exercise Participation In College Students, Trellony M. Irwin

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an individual’s perception of others influenced exercise participation and effort in women and men participants involved in exercise classes in a campus recreation facility. The study consists of a survey that utilizes the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, the Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale, and demographic information. Results revealed that participants’ social physique anxiety accounted for roughly 30% of the variance in self-reported physical activity. However, when it came to participant effort during the group exercise classes, there was only roughly 2% variance between social physique anxiety and RPE. Further, the …

Testing Vert™ Accelerometer To Identify Validity And Reliability When Compared To Switch Mat, Tara Mcdonald

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This present study was intended to identify the reliability and validity of the Vert™ device when compared to a Switch mat. Vert is a wireless device intended to measure jump count and jump height through an application on a smartphone or tablet and the Switch mat provides jump height using wireless sensors. Jump height is an important factor in many sports such as volleyball and basketball and it is important to have devices that coaches and trainers can use for testing that they can rely on. If this device is found to be valid and reliable, coaches and trainers …

Response Inhibition To High Calorie Food Cues Among Adolescents Following Active And Sedentary Video Game Play Using A Go/No-Go Task: A Randomized Crossover Study, Joshua L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Sedentary behaviors, such as leisure time computer use and sedentary video games, are significant barriers to regular physical activity and contribute to high rates of overweight and obesity among adolescents. Sedentary screen time can adversely affect food intake and food selection. Active video games may be a promising way of increasing daily physical activity levels among adolescents. Active video games may help modulate response inhibition and food intake. PURPOSE: Compare the effects of an acute bout of active and sedentary video gaming on N2 amplitudes (while viewing high calorie and low calorie images), Stroop Color Word Test (Stroop test) performance …

Response Inhibition To High Calorie Food Cues Among Adolescents Following Active And Sedentary Video Game Play Using A Go/No-Go Task: A Randomized Crossover Study, Joshua L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Sedentary behaviors, such as leisure time computer use and sedentary video games, are significant barriers to regular physical activity and contribute to high rates of overweight and obesity among adolescents. Sedentary screen time can adversely affect food intake and food selection. Active video games may be a promising way of increasing daily physical activity levels among adolescents. Active video games may help modulate response inhibition and food intake. PURPOSE: Compare the effects of an acute bout of active and sedentary video gaming on N2 amplitudes (while viewing high calorie and low calorie images), Stroop Color Word Test (Stroop test) performance …

Clinical Predictors Of Movement Patterns In Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability, Seong Jun Son

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) patients have varying levels of mechanical and sensorimotor impairments that may lead to disparate functional movement patterns. Current literature on landing biomechanics in a CAI population, however, considers all patients as a homogeneous group. In our prior work, we identified 6 subgroups of movement patterns using lower extremity kinematics during a landing/cutting task and that showed promise in furthering understanding of movement patterns in a laboratory-based environment. To increase the utility of this methodology in clinical settings, there is a need to find easily administered clinical tests that can help identify multiple subgroups of movement …

Ground Reaction Forces For Irish Dance Landings In Hard And Soft Shoes, Sarah Elizabeth Klopp

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Irish dance has evolved to become more athletically demanding, thus making the art form very hard on dancers' bodies. Irish dancers must land from difficult moves without letting their knees bend or heels touch the ground, causing large amounts of force to be absorbed by the body. Past studies have found dancers landing with a range of 4.5–6 times body weight, potentially causing high amounts of overuse injury. The majority of injuries incurred by Irish dancers are due to overuse (79.6%). The landings that occur in Irish dance have been minimally evaluated in current literature. Obtaining values of vertical …

The Acute Effects Of Resistance Exercise With Blood Flow Restriction Versus Traditional Resistance Exercise On Arterial Compliance And Energy Expenditure In Recreationally Active Males And Females, Danny D. Dominguez

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of various intensities of volume matched resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) and traditional resistance exercise on hemodynamic variables, arterial compliance, oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and energy expenditure (EE) during exercise and after exercise.

RESULTS: Significant condition main effects (p < 0.05) were found for RPE, HR, crPWV, fdPWV, LAE, SAE, TVI, RER during and postexercise. BFR25 cause greater increases in RPE and HR. BFR50 caused marked increases in SAE, crPWV, and fdPWV.

CONCLUSION: All BFR and traditional exercise conditions found no significant differences in EE, VCO2, and VO2. The lack of differences is likely due to time of protocol. Further protocols should implement greater time of exercise, as BFR had increased hemodynamic …

Power Reserve Following Ramp-Incremental Cycling To Exhaustion: Implications For Muscle Fatigue And Function, Michael D. Hodgson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In ramp-incremental cycling exercise, some individuals are capable of producing power output (PO) in excess of that produced at their limit of tolerance (LoT) while others cannot. This study sought to describe the: 1) prevalence of a “power reserve” within a group of young men (n=21; mean ± SD: age 25±4 years; V̇O_2max45±8 ml•kg^-1•min^-1); and 2) muscle fatigue characteristics of those with and without a power reserve. Power reserve was determined as the difference between peak PO achieved during a ramp-incremental test to exhaustion and maximal, single-leg isokinetic dynamometer power. Pre- versus post-exercise changes …

A Comprehensive Validation Of Activity Trackers For Estimating Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior In Free-Living Settings, Albert R. Mendoza

Doctoral Dissertations

The aim of study one of this dissertation was to compare consumer activity trackers (ATs) with the research-grade ActiGraph™ GT3X-BT accelerometer (AG) in estimating energy expenditure (EE) and steps during orbital shaking at different frequencies. To address this aim, we utilized an electronic orbital shaking protocol (twenty-four, 3-minute trials; 2-hour trials). For all comparisons, the AG served as the reference measure. In the 3-min protocol, we showed that on average, the NL-1000 pedometer (NL) produced the lowest error (-9 steps/3-min) at 0.9 Hz (corresponding to moderate intensity). The magnitude of the error for the NL was 14 steps/3-min at a …

A Simulated Walk In Nature: Testing Predictions From The Attention Restoration Theory, Corey Crossan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Attention Restoration Theory (ART) predicts that top-down processing during everyday activities can cause attentional fatigue and that bottom-up processing that occurs when people experience nature will be restorative (Kaplan, 1995). The present study examined this prediction by exposing participants to three different conditions using a repeated measures design: a control condition during which participants walked on a typical treadmill, a nature/restorative condition during which participants walked on the same treadmill, experiencing a simulated nature walk, and a perturbation condition that included the same simulated nature scene but also required top-down processing during the walk. The findings supported ART predictions. As …

Behaviour Change Intervention Strategies To Prevent Excessive Gestational Weight Gain In Pregnant Women Using A Nutrition And Exercise Lifestyle Intervention Program (Nelip), Karishma Hosein

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) are associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. To evaluate the effectiveness of different behaviour change intervention strategies, it was hypothesized that the introduction of a single behaviour change, followed by a second, would be more effective at preventing early and total EGWG in pregnant women compared to the early simultaneous introduction of both behaviour changes. Eighteen pregnant women were block randomized into one of 3 Nutrition and Exercise Lifestyle Intervention Program (NELIP) strategies (full NELIP, Nutrition followed by Exercise N+E, Exercise followed by Nutrition E+N) and were followed at weekly face-to-face …

The Effects Of Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, And Atherosclerosison Fluid Flow In The Lumbar Intervertebral Disc, Jennifer Ann Bowden

Theses and Dissertations

Physical activity impacts health and disease in multiple body tissues including the intervertebral discs. Fluid flow within the disc is an indicator of disc health that can be observed using diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging. We monitored activity levels of 26 participants, age 35 to 55 yrs, using Actigraph accelerometers for four days to evaluate vigorous-intensity activity, moderate to vigorous-intensity activity, and sedentary time. Participants underwent structural and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate intervertebral disc health and fluid flow. They also underwent bone density scans, carotid artery ultrasounds, a treadmill test, and a physical exam for pain, range …

Insulin Resistance And T1d: The Effect Of Exercise On Skeletal Muscle Lipid Metabolism, Michelle Dotzert

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Insulin resistance is a characteristic of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome, and until recently has not been considered in the context of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). A new classification, Double Diabetes, encompasses the presence of insulin resistance in T1D. Unfortunately, these individuals are at significantly higher risk of cardiovascular complications than those with T1D alone. In T2D, abnormal skeletal muscle lipid metabolism and the accumulation of insulin desensitizing lipid metabolites contribute the development of insulin resistance. There is some evidence to suggest this occurs in the context of T1D as well. Exercise training is an effective means to …

Effect Modification Of The Association Between Aerobic Physical Activity And Diabetes-Related Mortality By Race-Ethnicity: A Population-Based Prospective Study Using Nhanes Iii And 1999-2006 Nhanes, William Robert Boyer Ii

Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: To examine potential effect modification by race-ethnicity of the relationship between physical activity (PA) and diabetes-related mortality risk using a sample of U.S. adults from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Methods: The sample (n=10,717) included adults (≥20 years) who attended the Mobile Examination Center (MEC). An age-standardized PA score (PAS) was calculated from the self-reported frequency and intensity of 12 leisure-time aerobic activities. The PA scores were then grouped into three categories: inactive (PAS = 0), insufficiently active (PAS >0 - Results: There was no interaction between PA and race-ethnicity (p=0.83). Compared to inactive …

Application Of The Actigraph Gt9x Imu For The Assessment Of Turning During Walking And Running, Robert Thomas Marcotte

Masters Theses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the use of the ActiGraph GT9X gyroscope and magnetometer for turn detection and quantifying turn degree during walking and running. METHODS: Participants (N=17) completed pivot trials, treadmill walking and running (3 to 6 mph) and different degrees of turns (i.e. 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°) during over-ground walking and running. Pivot and walking and running activities were completed for 1-minute and 6-minutes per trial, respectively. Turn frequency was constant (10 turns/minute) across all overground walking and running trials. ActiGraph GT9X devices were placed on the left and right hips, wrists, and …

Comparing Reaction Time And Postural Stabilization Based On Activity Groups In Older Adults, Lauren Marie Merk

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare reaction time and postural stabilization between activity groups in older adults. These variables are important because older adults are at a high fall risk and two major contributors to fall risk are postural stabilization and reaction time. This study examined if the activity group of an older adult had any influence on reaction time and postural stabilization. Fifty-nine older adults aged 66.46 ± 9.47 years old were used in the study. Thirteen subjects were in the master’s athletes which are individuals over the age of 40 who competed in a nationally sanctioned …

The Effect Of Normal Helmet Degradation In Division I Football Players Over The Period Of One Half Of A Competitive Season, Matthew Mcmullan

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of normal helmet use by athletes from a Division I football team over the period of the first half of a competitive season upon the impact performance characteristics as measured by peak g values obtained through the application of the NOCSAE drop impact testing protocol. The goal of this research is to determine if one half of a season is enough time exposure to result in a significant decrease in a helmet’s performance quality. This study tracks changes in performance in overall function, as well as the function of each …

The Effect Of Blinded Hydration State On Thermoregulation And Performance In Male Cyclists, Jon David Adams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of these studies was to observe the effect of dehydration on exercise performance while subjects were blinded to their hydration status. Methods: Study 1: Seven male cyclists (weight: 71±8 kg, body fat: 14±6%, VO2peak: 59.4±6 ml∙kg-1·min-1) exercised for 2 hours on a cycle ergometer at 55% VO2peak, in a hot-dry environment (35°C, 30% rh), with a nasogastric (NG) tube under euhydrated (EUH-NT) and hypohydrated (DEH-NT) conditions. In both trials, thirst was matched by drinking 25 mL every 5 min. In the EUH-NT trial sweat losses were fully replaced via the NG tube. Following the 2 hours of …

Ground Reaction Forces Through A Range Of Speeds In Steeplechase Hurdling, James Brian Tracy

Theses and Dissertations

The men's steeplechase event requires participants to jump over thirty-five 0.914-meter-tall obstacles, 4 rigid barriers and 1 fixed barrier followed by a 3.66-meter-long water pit per lap, over a 3000-meter distance. This study investigated the effect of increasing running velocity, through a range of 5.33 m/s to 6.66 m/s, on takeoff and landing ground reaction forces, for males during steeplechase hurdling using a force plate embedded under a track surface. Subjects completed 1 trial within each of 6 different pace ranges in a random order, once with a hurdle following the force plate to measure the takeoff ground reaction forces …

Relationship Between Pectoralis Minor Length, Subacromial Space, And Pain In Swimmers And Overhead Athletes, Erika Jaci Richards

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction (Context): The purpose of this study was to measure and correlate pectoralis minor length (PML) and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) in male and female collegiate swimmers, overhead athletes, and a control group. Methods: Participants underwent assessment of pain related to impingement syndrome with special tests (painful arc, external rotation resistance, empty can, and Neer's impingement test), as well as range of motion, measurement of PML, and measurement of subacromial space via ultrasound. Design: Cross-sectional, correlational study. Setting: University modalities laboratory. Participants: 60 healthy subjects (20 swimmers, 20 overhead athletes, 20 controls, age = 21.5 ± 2.4 years; height = 178.7 …

The Effects Of Moderate Intensity Strength Training Coupled With Blood Flow Restriction: A 12 Week Intervention, Kelly Barrett

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) has been suggested to increase muscle size and strength in trained and untrained individuals when using light load intensities (30 percent 1-RM). However, there is little data to support its use when working with moderate load intensities, specifically, above 50 percent of an individual’s 1-RM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of moderate load intensity BFRT on muscle size and strength of the biceps brachii after a 12 week strength training intervention. Nine, previously strength trained, participants performed an elbow flexion exercise at 70 percent of their individualized 1-RM, twice per …

The Relationship Between Generalized Joint Laxity And Hip Cartilage Thickness In Ballet And Modern Dancers, Noelle Jeanette Tuttle

Theses and Dissertations

Generalized joint laxity (GJL), a condition in which most joints of the body move beyond the accepted normal range of motion, is present in many ballet and modern dancers. It has been associated with an increased risk of injury, decreased muscle strength, and greater landing forces. Increased joint laxity results in joint instability and may precede the development of osteoarthritis, which is associated with a reduction in cartilage thickness. We hypothesized that dancers with GJL would have decreased hip cartilage thickness, as well as greater hip adduction angles and greater ground reaction force on landings. Twenty female ballet and modern …

Sagittal Abdominal Diameter, Waist Circumference, And Bmi As Predictors Of Multiple Measures Of Glucose Metabolism: An Nhanes Investigation Of U.S. Adults, Shelby Anne Firouzi

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The key objective of the present investigation was to compare associations between sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), waist circumference, and BMI to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), along with fasting glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR, in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. The study also analyzed the effect of multiple covariates on the anthropometric and glucose metabolism associations. METHODS: A cross-sectional design, including 3,582 subjects, was used. SAD was assessed using an abdominal caliper. All other data were collected following strict NHANES protocol. The OGTT was the primary variable used to index glucose metabolism. Fasting glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR …

The Effects Of A Short-Term Endurance Training Program With Blood Flow Restriction Cuffs Versus Acsm Recommended Endurance Training On Arterial Compliance And Muscular Adaptations In Recreationally Active Males, Brittany N. Esparza

Theses and Dissertations

RESULTS: Significant time and group interaction found in cardiac ejection time (p<.05). Significant condition difference between blood flow restriction (BFR) and control for heart rate (HR) max (p=.05) and maximum oxygen consumption (VO2) (p<.05). Significant time difference found in pulse wave velocity femoral to distal (p<.05). Significant repetition main effect (p<.01) for root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (MDF) of Thorstensson. Significant time and group interaction in vastus lateralis of MDF (p<.01). Significant repetition main effect for RMS and MDF ratio (p<.01) Significant time and repetition interaction in vastus lateralis of RMS ratio (p<.03)

CONCLUSION: The BFR session showed improvement in both post HR max and post VO2 in comparison to the control group. This may have been caused by increased tolerance to pain/metabolic by-products for HR and increased efficiency at extracting oxygen for VO2

Examination Of The Monoamine Oxidase A Gene Promoter On Motivation To Exercise And Levels Of Voluntary Physical Activity, Erin M. Kinney

Senior Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the genetic basis underlying voluntary exercise. Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is an enzyme that acts on monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, to cause inactivation. There are several polymorphisms in the promoter region of the MAO-A gene, and these variations change transcriptional activity and the amount of MAO-A produced, leading to alterations in available dopamine levels. Interestingly, polymorphisms in MAO-A have been associated recently with physical activity level. This study sought to determine whether there is an association between motivation to exercise, levels of voluntary physical activity, and MAO-A gene polymorphisms.

Methods: …

The Quadriciser’S Effect On Range Of Motion And Upper Body Motor Control In Children With Mixed Quadriplegia Due To Chromosomal Disorders, Jillian P. Serigano

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effects that the quadriciser has on range of motion and upper body motor control in children with mixed quadriplegia due to chromosomal deletion disorders. METHODS: Two subjects with different chromosomal deletion disorders participated in this study. They completed a 10-week passive exercise intervention using the quadriciser. Range of motion of the elbow and shoulder were taken pre and post quadriciser use for both subjects. For one subject, hip and knee measurements were also taken. Both subjects also completed a timed reach task pre and post quadriciser use to test motor …