Life Sciences Commons^™

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 …

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: …

Weather And Children’S Physical Activity; How And Why Do Relationships Vary Between Countries?, Flo Harrison, Anna Goodman, Ester M.F. Van Sluijs, Lars Bo Carson, Greet Cardon, Rachel Davey, Kathleen F. Janz, Susi Kriemler, Lynn Molly, Angie S. Page, Russell R. Pate, Jardena J. Puder, Luis B. Sardinha, Anna Timperio, Niels Wedderkopp, Andy P. Jones

Faculty Publications

Background

Globally most children do not engage in enough physical activity. Day length and weather conditions have been identified as determinants of physical activity, although how they may be overcome as barriers is not clear. We aim to examine if and how relationships between children’s physical activity and weather and day length vary between countries and identify settings in which children were better able to maintain activity levels given the weather conditions they experienced.

Methods

In this repeated measures study, we used data from 23,451 participants in the International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD). Daily accelerometer-measured physical activity (counts per minute; …

Turning The Tables: A Student’S Study Into The Frequency Of Physical Activity Among University Faculty And Staff, Julianna M. Detrane

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity and gender, position, social support, and motivation. The researcher conducted an observational, cross-sectional study of James Madison University faculty and staff (n=423) through the use of SurveyPlanet. The survey was adapted from the 2002 International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and participants responded to items regarding their current moderate and vigorous physical activity level based on the previous seven days, as well as items assessing level of motivation and sources of social support. Results of a multiple regression analysis, F(4, 412) = 6.811, p < .001, adj. R² = …

Effect Of Activity Trackers And Text Messaging On Exercise, Fitness, And Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Of Middle School Students, Alison F. Pittman

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

A decrease in physical activity as children age is a contributing factor to the U.S. obesity epidemic. Middle school children are particularly vulnerable to sedentary activities. Activity trackers show promise as a means to motivate children and adults to increase physical activity (PA). This study examined the effect of a text messaging intervention and use of activity trackers with a companion social website on the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, physical fitness, and PA self-efficacy of middle school children. Children aged 11-14 (n=102) were randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 10-week intervention: activity tracker group; …

Triathlon Training For Women Breast Cancer Survivors: Feasibility And Initial Efficacy, Alex V. Ng, Alyson Cybulski, Ashley A. Engel, Paula E. Papanek, Megn A. Sheffer, Leslie J. Waltke, Judy A. Tjoe

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Exercise can improve quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer survivors. In contrast to many group or home-based exercise programs, little is known about the effectiveness of goal-oriented recreational activities.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a clinically overseen team triathlon training program on improving physiological and psychosocial health-related measures in female breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Twenty-three participants (age = 48 (8), BMI = 25 (1), mean (SE)) were recruited from a 14-week sprint triathlon (800-m swim, 20-km bike, 5-km run) team training program for women breast cancer survivors (4 (3) years post-surgery, chemo-, or radiation-therapy). Training …

Interfacing Continuous Measurement Of Glucose And Physical Activity To Predict Glycemic Control In Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes, Jennifer Blankenship

Doctoral Dissertations

Physical activity is a cornerstone in the management of hyperglycemia and risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the dose response relationship between physical activity and glucose regulation is not well defined. The overall goal of this dissertation was to assess the magnitude and timing of changes of daily glucose concentrations in response to continuous and intermittent light physical activity in T2D. Through utilizing continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and physical activity monitoring concurrently, we were able to assess the glycemic impact of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the free-living environment. Study 1 aimed to examine the …

Naturally-Occurring Changes In Social-Cognitive Factors Modify Change In Physical Activity During Early Adolescence, Rod K. Dishman, Marsha Dowda, Kerry L. Mciver, Ruth P. Saunders, Russell R. Pate

Faculty Publications

Purpose

To determine whether naturally-occurring changes in children’s motives and beliefs are associated with the steep decline in physical activity observed from childhood to early adolescence.

Methods

Latent growth modeling was applied in longitudinal tests of social-cognitive influences, and their interactions, on physical activity in a large cohort of boys and girls evaluated annually between 5th and 7th grades.

Results

Measurement equivalence of motives and beliefs was confirmed between boys and girls. After adjustment for gender and maturity differences, physical activity declined less in children who reported the least decreases in self-efficacy for overcoming barriers to activity and perceived parental …

Implementing Exercise In Cancer Care: Study Protocol To Evaluate A Community-Based Exercise Program For People With Cancer, Prue Cormie, Stephanie Lamb, Robert Newton, Lani Valentine, Sandy Mckiernan, Nigel Spry, David Joseph, Dennis Taaffe, Christopher M. Doran, Daniel A. Galvão

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Clinical research has established the efficacy of exercise in reducing treatment-related side-effects and increasing wellbeing in people with cancer. Major oncology organisations have identified the importance of incorporating exercise in comprehensive cancer care but information regarding effective approaches to translating evidence into practice is lacking. This paper describes the implementation of a community-based exercise program for people with cancer and the protocol for program evaluation.

Methods/Design

The Life Now Exercise program is a community-based exercise intervention designed to mitigate and rehabilitate the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment and improve physical and psychosocial wellbeing in people with cancer. …

Using Wireless Pedometers To Measure Children’S Physical Activity: How Reliable Is The Fitbit Zip?, Tingting Xu, Erik Jon Byker, Monica Rae Gonzales

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study is to examine the reliability of wireless pedometers in measuring elementary school children’s physical activity. Activity measurement using a wireless pedometer Fitbit Zip^TM was compared to activity measurement using Yamax Digi-Walker^TM SW701 for a group of randomly selected 25 children in Grades 3, 4, and 5. Fitbit Zip^TM wireless pedometers were found to have an appropriate degree (Nunnally & Bernstein, 1994) of accuracy and reliability compared to the Yamax Digi-Walker^TM SW701 pedometer. The Fitbit Zip^TM wireless pedometer collected more step counts than the Yamax Digi-Walker^TM SW701 pedometer; however, the …

Vitamin D Status And Bone Mineral Density In Female Collegiate Dancers And Cheerleaders, Tara Sue Kenny, Damon Mccune, Laura J. Kruskall, James Navalta, John C. Young

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Bone mineral density reflects an athlete’s cumulative history of energy availability, physical activity, and menstrual status, as well as nutritional and environmental factors. Although sports with high-impact loading are associated with higher bone mineral density than low-impact or non-impact sports, confounding variables are differences in the athletes’ body size and sport-specific training. The purpose of this study was to determine if bone mineral density (BMD) and vitamin D status are different between two groups of female collegiate athletes who have comparable body size/weight requirements, but who engage in qualitatively different training regimens. Full body, spine and dual femur BMD was …

The Physical Activity Tracker Testing In Youth (P.A.T.T.Y.) Study: Content Analysis And Children's Perceptions, Brittany Masteller, John Sirard, Patty Freedson

Kinesiology Department Faculty Publication Series

Background: Activity trackers are widely used by adults and several models are now marketed for children.

Objective: The aims of this study were to (1) perform a content analysis of behavioral change techniques (BCTs) used by three commercially available youth-oriented activity trackers and (2) obtain feedback describing children’s perception of these devices and the associated websites.

Methods: A content analysis recorded the presence of 36 possible BCTs for the MovBand (MB), Sqord (SQ), and Zamzee (ZZ) activity trackers. In addition, 16 participants (mean age 8.6 years [SD 1.6]; 50% female [8/16]) received all three trackers and were oriented to the …