Life Sciences Commons^™

Pharmacokinetics Of Dexamethasone Delivered Via Iontophoresis, Justin Holbrook Rigby

Theses and Dissertations

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Objectives: To determine the time course of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (Dex-P) iontophoresis delivery to underlying tissues using microdialysis. Background: The efficacy of iontophoresis at delivering Dex-P through the skin is unknown in humans because of the lack of minimally invasive measurement techniques. Methods: Sixty-four healthy male participants (age = 24.4 ± 3.3 yrs, height = 71.8 ± 2.5 in, weight = 181.8 ± 26.1 lbs) were randomly assigned into one of six groups: 1) 1 mA current, 1 mm probes depth ; 2) 1 mA current, 4 mm probes depth; 3) 2 mA current, 1 …

The Acute Effects Of Whole-Body Vibration Training On Passive And Dynamic Flexibility In Gymnasts, Caisa Nicole Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

Gymnasts must attain extreme ranges of flexibility to execute performance requirements, thus effective stretching proves vital to advancement in the sport. This study examined the acute effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) on passive and dynamic flexibility in young, female gymnasts. Participants (n = 27, Junior Olympic levels 5-10) served as their own control. Measurements of passive and dynamic flexibility were obtained using the TOPS forward split testing method to examine passive flexibility and dynamic flexibility was measured via split jumps that were analyzed with video and Dartfish software. According to randomized order, all participants completed a stretching protocol either with …

Seasonal Changes In Body Composition, Block Jump, Attack Jump And Lower Body Power Index In Male Collegiate Volleyball Players, Geoffrey W. Loomis

Theses and Dissertations

Jumping ability in volleyball players is crucial to a team's success. There are both muscular and neural components in jumping. Coaches often test jumping ability and body composition prior to the start of the competitive season, but many fail to monitor these important variables during the course of the season. Jumping ability can decrease over the course of the season as the focus moves from strength training in the weight room to skill development on the court. It is imperative that players maintain their jumping ability and body composition over the course of the season. Seasonal changes in elite-male volleyball …

Regulation Of The Myostatin Protein In Overload-Induced Hypertrophied Rat Skeletal Muscle, Paige Abriel Affleck

Theses and Dissertations

Myostatin (GDF-8) is the chief chalone in skeletal muscle and negatively controls adult skeletal muscle growth. The role of myostatin during overload-induced hypertrophy of adult muscle is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that overloaded adult rodent skeletal muscle would result in reduced myostatin protein levels. Overload-induced hypertrophy was accomplished by unilateral tenotomy of the gastrocnemius tendon in male adult Sprague-Dawley rats followed by a two-week period of compensatory overload of the plantaris and soleus muscles. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate changes in active, latent and precursor myostatin protein levels. Significant hypertrophy was noted in the plantaris (494 ± …

The Relationship Between Television Viewing Time And Cardiorespiratory Fitness In Adult Women, Peter Jacob Arens

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The present investigation was conducted to assess the relationship between television viewing time and cardiorespiratory fitness. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Intermountain West. Participants: 302 middle-aged women. Method: TV viewing was assessed using a questionnaire. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using a maximal graded treadmill test. Physical activity (PA) was evaluated using Actigraph accelerometers worn over seven consecutive days, while body fat percentage (BF%) was measured using air displacement plethysmography (Bod Pod). Results: (Mean ± SD) age: 40.2 ± 3.0 years. VO2max of the frequent (≥ 3hrs/day) TV group (32.6 ± 6.4) was significantly lower than both the moderate (1-2 hrs/day) (36.2 …

The Association Between Dairy Consumption And Insulin Resistance, Andrea Rose Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

Background: A cross-sectional design was employed to ascertain the relationship between dairy consumption and insulin resistance (IR) in 272 middle-aged, nondiabetic women. Methods: Participants kept a seven-day weighed food record to report their diets, including consumption of dairy foods. IR was assessed using the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), using the following formula: fasting plasma insulin (µU/ml) x fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)/405. The Bod Pod was used to examine body fat percentage, and accelerometry over a seven-day period was used to assess physical activity. HOMA values were log-transformed and regression analysis and the General Linear Model procedure were used to determine …

Correlation Of Shoulder And Elbow Kinetics With Ball Velocity In College Baseball Pitchers, Eric Post

Theses and Dissertations

Specific injuries at the elbow and glenohumeral joints have been linked to several kinetic variables that occur throughout the throwing motion. Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprains have been linked to excessive elbow valgus and shoulder external rotation torques occurring during the late-cocking phase of throwing. Shoulder external rotation torque during the late arm-cocking phase and shoulder distraction forces during the deceleration phase contribute to tears of the labrum. Additionally, it is believed that the peak distraction force generated during the arm deceleration phase also contributes to SLAP tears and rotator cuff pathologies. Very little research has been done to directly …

A Comparison Of Two Sock Types On Navicular Drop And Center Of Pressure Measurements In Standing, Walking, And Running, Ashlee Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The New Balance Core Low Cut Sock (New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. · Boston, MA United States) is one of many arch support socks out in the market. These socks have an elastic portion, called a Stability Fit Arch Support & Hold technology, which has been incorporated into the arch area of the sock. The company makes the following claim that the socks provide, "Gentle compression to support the arch, relieving arch-related pain and discomfort."1 If these socks do provide adequate arch support, then they would allow individuals the ability to have an inexpensive method of arch support that …

The Effects Of Long-Term Physical Activity On Food Attention Allocation In College Freshmen Women, Sharla Elizabeth Compton

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long-term (24 weeks) physical activity on attention allocated toward food in college freshmen women. Methods: Seventy-nine freshmen college women wore a multi-function pedometer for 24 weeks after being randomly assigned to a daily step level: 10,000; 12,500; or 15,000. After at least 16 weeks of intervention, participants were given a cognitive viewing task (pictures of food and flowers) with the neural response measured using electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs). P300s and LPPs are components of the ERP indicating increased attention to stimuli. Results: There was a significant …

Validity Of Four Activity Monitors During Controlled And Free-Living Conditions, Joey Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the step count validity of the pendulum-based Yamax Digiwalker SW-701 pedometer (YX), piezoelectric Omron HJ-720-T pedometer (OP), uni-axial Polar Active accelerometer (PAC), and micro electro-mechanical system Actigraph gt3x accelerometer (AG) during controlled and free-living conditions. A convenience sample of college-aged students participated in Study 1 (treadmill walking, n = 43; 21 females) and Study 2 (free-living, n = 37; 18 females). During study 1, subjects walked on a treadmill at five speeds for 3-minutes per stage wearing all four devices while a researcher manually counted steps which provided a criterion measure. During …

The Effects Of Static Stretching Versus Dynamic Stretching On Lower Extremity Joint Range Of Motion, Static Balance, And Dynamic Balance, Wenqing Wang

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of static stretching (SS) versus dynamic stretching (SS) on lower extremity joint range of motion (ROM), static balance, and dynamic balance. Fifteen active subjects with tight hamstring and calf muscles participated. Hip flexion and knee extension ROM angle was measured using a fluid inclinometer. A closed-chain method of measuring ankle dorsiflexion ROM was used. Static balance was assessed in single-leg stance on a force plate using the time-to-boundary (TTB) measurement. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) was used to assess dynamic balance in three directions. These measurements were assessed before …

Examining Mediators To Physical Activity As A Link To Interventional Efforts Aimed At Increasing Activity Levels And Improving Physical Functioning In Older Adults, Christopher Dondzila

Theses and Dissertations

The number of older adults living in the United States is growing at an increasingly rapid rate, and is host to a high prevalence of chronic diseases and physical impairments. Physical activity and exercise have been shown to be beneficial in impacting such conditions, yet the majority of older adults remain inactive. The purpose of this dissertation was to employ a sequence of studies to investigate mediators to physical activity, leading to an intervention to increase activity and promote health.

The purpose of Project VOICE was to examine whether awareness and utilization of community resources to promote physical activity and …

The Relationship Between The Functional Movement Screen™ And Countermovement Jump Height, Joshua Keegan Conlon

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Pre-participation measures of functional movement and functional performance are commonly used to gauge injury risk and performance baselines before engaging in activity. Functional movement can be evaluated using the Functional Movement ScreenTM (FMSTM). Performance on the FMSTM has been shown to be related to injury risk by previous researchers. Functional performance can be evaluated with countermovement jump (CMJ) testing; performance on a CMJ demonstrates transferable power to athletic tasks. Performance literature has shown that there are movement factors that influence CMJ height. However, to date a significant relationship between performance on functional movement and functional performance tests has not …

Effect Of Remote Vibrotactile Noise On Pinch Force Maintenance Ability And Brain Activity, Ying-Ling Tseng

Theses and Dissertations

Noise has been used to enhance detection of signals thereby improving performance of nonlinear systems (referred to as "stochastic resonance"). In biological systems, the noise and signal integration may occur not only at the receptor level but also in the central nervous system, thereby allowing noise remotely applied from a signal to enhance the system's response to the signal. However, integration of tactile signal and noise within the central nervous system has not been demonstrated in humans. In addition, whether the enhanced detection of tactile signals with remote noise results in changes in motor behavior is unknown.

The objectives of …

An Examination Of The Psychological Skills Profiles Of Oval Racers And Road Racers, Andrew Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Given the global popularity and far-reaching economics of auto racing, it is surprising how few studies have examined the sport generally and the psychological aspects of the sport specifically. Consistent with this general lack of research is the specific absence of studies examining the psychological skills needed to participate in the two main disciplines of auto racing, specifically oval and road racing. The purpose of the current study was to examine the use of psychological skills by athletes who participate in distinct sub-disciplines within the sport of auto racing, specifically oval racers and road racers. Methods: A total of …

Plasma Lactate Accumulation During Running With Body Weight Unloading By Lbpp, Nicole Nevitt Rasmussen

Theses and Dissertations

At any given running speed, weight support with a lower body positive pressure (LBPP) device (i.e. Alter-G treadmill) reduces V̇O2. However, it is unknown how application of LBPP during running impacts lactate metabolism, specifically lactate threshold. Purpose: To determine if body weight unloading with the Alter-G treadmill alters lactate threshold. Methods. Maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) and lactate threshold (LT) was determined in 8 male subjects on an Alter-G treadmill at 100% and 80% body weight loading at 0% grade in a randomized crossover design. V̇O2max tests started at 7 mile h-1 and increase speed by 1 mile h-1 every 2 …

Relationship Between Stabilization, Balance, Athletic Performance And Functional Movement, Susan Christine Ashdown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the functional movement screen (FMS) and a battery of stabilization, balance, and athletic performance assessments, including time to stabilization (TTS), Davies test (DT), Y-Balance test (YBT), and maximum vertical jump (VJ). Sixty-one healthy individuals (32 males, 29 females; age: 22.4 ± 2.7 yr; height: 174.4 ± 10.4 cm, body mass: 74.0 ± 18.8 kg), successfully performed the FMS and the accompanying comparison tests. Correlations were generated between the FMS and TTS, DT, YBT, and VJ (including both unilateral and bilateral assessments) using the R Project for Statistical Computing, with …

The Effect Of Whole Body Vibration On Skin Blood Flow And Nitric Oxide Production, Paula K. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Vascular dysfunction due to hyperglycemia in individuals with diabetes is a factor contributing to distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduce the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), a powerful vasodilator, resulting in reduced circulation and nerve ischemia. Increases in blood NO concentrations and circulation have been attributed to whole body vibration (WBV). The purpose of this study was to the determine the effects of low frequency, low amplitude WBV on whole blood NO concentration and skin blood flow (SBF) in individuals with symptoms of DSP. Research Design and Methods: Ten subjects with diabetes and impaired sensory perception …

Steeplechase Hurdle Economy, Mechanics, And Performance, Sarah Ingebretsen

Theses and Dissertations

Research surrounding the steeplechase is scarce, with most research focusing primarily on how biomechanical factors relate to maintaining running speed while crossing barriers. One area that has not been well explored is the relationship between biomechanical factors and hurdling economy. The purpose of this study was to investigate how performance times and biomechanical variables relate to hurdling economy during the steeplechase. This was accomplished by measuring running economy of collegiate and professional steeplechasers while running with and without hurdles. Biomechanical measures of approach velocity, take-off distance, clearance height, and lead knee extension while hurdling, as well as steeplechase performance times …

The Effect Of Anterior Knee Pain On Serum Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein And Muscular Cocontraction During Running, Scott T. Woodland

Theses and Dissertations

Knee pain can alter lower-extremity neuromechanics and often results in functional disability. The relationship between lower-extremity neuromechanical alterations, due to anterior knee pain, and articular cartilage condition is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the independent effect of anterior knee pain during running on articular cartilage condition, as reflected by serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein concentrations and muscle cocontraction duration. Seven men and five women completed a 30-min run in three different sessions: control (no infusion), sham (isotonic saline infusion), and pain (hypertonic saline infusion). Saline was infused into the right infrapatellar fat pad for the duration …

The Effect Of Aerobic Fitness On Visuospatial Attention In Young Adults, Kelly Marie Kunowski

Theses and Dissertations

The recently popular commercial brain- and visual-training programs have become a multimillion dollar industry with claims to enhance various cognitive functions. Although no empirical evidence directly supports the efficacy of these programs, sport expertise has been shown to influence cognition, lending indirect support for training efficacy. However, researchers investigating attention and sport expertise have not previously controlled for level of physical activity, which may also contribute to enhanced cognitive processes. Prior studies have shown strong correlations exist between physical fitness and cognition in both children and older adults. Yet, few studies have examined this relation in young adults, and no …

Behavior Change In Applied Sport Psychology: The Use Of Processes Of Change In Psychological Training For Athletes, William Vincent Massey

Theses and Dissertations

The results of previous research (e.g. Leffingwell, Rider, & Williams, 2001; Massey, Meyer, & Hatch, 2011; Zizzi & Perna, 2003) have led scholars to conclude that the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) may be an appropriate paradigm to study readiness to change in sport psychology settings. However, processes of change - a critical element to the TTM - have yet to be studied or measured in an athlete population. As such, the purpose of the current investigation was to initially develop and examine a measure of the processes of change for use in applied sport psychology settings. Informed by relevant literature, an …

Occupational Athletes: An Integrated Approach To Firefighting Performance, Stacy L. Gnacinski

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Over the past 20 years, the injury rates among firefighters have captured the interest of sport scientists. In order to prevent firefighter injuries, however, scholars must first gain a better understanding of firefighting performance (Smith, 2011). This has been a challenge, since to date sport scientists have focused primarily on the physical aspects of firefighting performance and have overlooked the multidimensional nature of firefighting performance (Gnacinski, Meyer, & Ebersole, in press). In the sport arena, sport scientists often use theoretical models to conceptualize the multiple demands experienced by an athlete. Guided by an integrated model of sport performance, the …

The Effect Of Exertion On Intra-Limb Joint Coordination Variability During Running Using A Waveform Analysis Approach, Lauren Benson

Theses and Dissertations

About half of all runners sustain a running-related injury in a given year. Less variable joint coordination patterns may be detrimental as stress endured by the same tissue, encountered over many running cycles, could lead to overuse running injuries. The effects of fatigue may contribute to runners' risk of injury by altering joint coordination variability. Since fatigue is task-dependent, it is practical to consider a level of fatigue typically experienced by runners. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of running in an exerted state on lower extremity joint coordination variability, using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and …

Investigation Of Web-Based Motivational Interviewing To Increase Physical Activity Participation Among Adults, Sasha Karnes

Theses and Dissertations

Interventions to enhance physical activity (PA) participation are needed given the high prevalence of under-activity and inactivity (CDC, 2001) and related occurrence of negative health consequences among the general adult population (Kung, Hoyert, Xu, & Murphy, 2008). Preliminary support for a therapeutic technique called Motivational Interviewing (MI) suggests promise for application to enhance PA participation (Burke, Arkowitz, & Menchola, 2003). Given the need for interventions to enhance PA and the preliminary support for MI as an intervention to increase PA, the aims of the current study were to: (a) determine if web-based MI is effective in enhancing PA participation, and …

Heat Penetration Into Soft Tissue With 3 Mhz Ultrasound, Jared M. Franson

Theses and Dissertations

Therapeutic ultrasound is a deep heating modality often used to produce vigorous heating (≥4°C Δ) in tissues. The vigorous heating effects of 3 MHz therapeutic ultrasound have only been tested to a 2.5 cm depth, but its maximal depth of producing vigorous heating has yet to be established. Objective: To investigate the tissue temperature change produced by a 3 MHz ultrasound treatment at depths of 3 and 3.5 cm in the human triceps surae muscle group. Design: Randomized control design. Setting: Therapeutic modalities research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Twenty healthy college-aged participants (male = 13, female = 7; age …

Mtor Pathway Activation Following Resistance Exercise With Vibration In Human Subjects, Michael G. Leavitt

Theses and Dissertations

Functional adaptations in human skeletal muscle following a period of resistance exercise are the result of regular activation of cellular signaling pathways that elevate muscle protein synthesis. It has been reported that the addition of whole body vibration (WBV) to a resistance exercise program enhances performance. Such improvements in muscle function may be the result of increased activation of cellular signaling pathways associated with muscle growth. Purpose: We have investigated whether an acute bout of resistance exercise in combination with WBV results in a greater activation of the mTOR signaling pathway compared to resistance exercise alone. Methods: Eight untrained college-age …

The Effect Of Cancer Cachexia Severity And Eccentric Muscle Contractions On Selected Myofiber Metabolic Properties In Mouse Skeletal Muscle, Joshua Earl Mangum

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome that induces skeletal muscle wasting and dysregulation of skeletal muscle metabolism. Alterations in area of myofibers and myofiber metabolic properties can significantly impact the function of skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cachexia severity and resistance exercise training on frequency and area of selected myofiber metabolic characteristics during cachexia-induced myofiber atrophy. Male ApcMin/+ (Min) mice were studied during the progression of cachexia (16-20 weeks of age) and stratified into groups based on the severity of cachexia. For the second study, male Min mice performed resistance exercise (RE) …

The Association Of Physical Fitness With Psychological Health Outcomes In Soldiers During Army Basic Combat Training, Shannon K. Crowley

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the current need for investigation of factors involved with soldiers' resilience to stressors in the Basic Combat Training (BCT) environment, and evidence in civilian populations that physical training is associated with psychological benefits, little is known about the relationship between physical fitness and psychological adjustment during BCT. Study one of this dissertation involved an extensive literature review of factors related to the relationship between physical fitness and psychological adjustment of soldiers during BCT. Using qualitative focus group methods, study two assessed soldiers' perceptions about their sleep, and consequences of sleep disruption during BCT at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC. …

An Investigation Into The Influence Of Dietary Saturated Fat And Quercetin Supplementation On Adiposity, Macrophage Behavior, Inflammation, And Non-Alcoholic Fatty-Liver Disease, Reilly Enos

Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of this dissertation was to examine the degree to which manipulation of the saturated fat content of a high-fat diet influenced obesity-related outcomes as well as to see if the naturally-occurring flavonoid, quercetin, could attenuate the resulting obesity and related metabolic and inflammatory side effects. Specifically, these studies examined 1) the influential role of saturated fat on macrophage function, inflammation, and other obesity-related comorbidities, including non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease, and 2) the potential benefits of quercetin supplementation. Overall, results from these studies suggest that adiposity, macrophage behavior, inflammation, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease progression can be greatly …