Life Sciences Commons^™

Virtual Reality And Postural Control: The Virtual Moving Room Paradigm, Hannah R. Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

Virtual reality (VR) is becoming increasingly important in balance training. However, the influence of VR generated visual perturbation, through the novel virtual moving room paradigm, is unknown. Thirty healthy individuals had their static balance assessed on a BTrackS balance plate under eight different conditions: baseline eyes open and eyes closed with and without VR, unexpected toward and away moving VR perturbation, and expected toward and away moving VR perturbation. Multiple statistical analyses were conducted, and the results revealed significantly higher postural sway variables in the unexpected moving toward trials compared to the other moving room conditions; significantly higher postural sway …

The Use Of A Biopsychosocial Framework In Evaluating And Treating Patellofemoral Pain, Jennifer Thorpe

Theses and Dissertations

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a chronic pain condition of the knee that afflicts approximately 25% of the population, and may lead to long-term complaints of pain and dysfunction. In the current literature, PFP is primarily studied using the framework of the pathomechanical model of biomechanical and muscular factors that increase patellofemoral joint loading. However, PFP may be better understood examining it through the Biopsychosocial Model of Sport Injury Rehabilitation (Brewer et al., 2002) as a conceptual framework to explore how injury characteristics, sociodemographic factors, and intermediate biopsychosocial outcomes may impact a patient’s perceptions of pain and function. These relationships may …

Effects Of Seat And Axle Position On Pain, Pathology, And Independence In Pediatric Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury, Hannah Frank

Theses and Dissertations

Manual wheelchair (MWC) users with spinal cord injury (SCI) rely heavily on their upperextremities to complete daily occupations. Due to repetitive shoulder use during wheelchair mobility and propulsion, MWC users are at greater risk of shoulder pain and shoulder pathology, and thus decreased independence, and lower quality of life. The relative fit of the wheelchair and its parameters are critical and can further impact the user’s propulsion biomechanics. Parameters such as seat angle and axle position may put the user in detrimental shoulder positions for longer periods of time, impacting health outcomes even more. Although the effects of wheelchair setup …

Central Sensitization, Muscle Function, And Knee Kinematics In Females With Patellofemoral Pain, Kemery Jean Sigmund

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Females with patellofemoral pain (PFP) are at higher risk, have higher rates, and experience worse long-term outcomes than males. Structural and functional changes have been observed in pain networks and neuromuscular systems in individuals with PFP. Central sensitization describes dysfunctional pain modulation which could lead to altered neuromuscular control. Evidence examining relationships between central sensitization and muscle function in PFP is lacking.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine whether females with PFP exhibit signs of central sensitization compared to pain-free females. Then, after grouping each individual based on her quantitative sensory test results into a centrally …

The Influence Of Adhd On Concussion In Ncaa College Athletes, Brett Steven Gunn

Theses and Dissertations

Evidence suggests attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be associated with an increased incidence of concussion; however, no study has cross-sectionally (Aim 1) and longitudinally (Aim 2) assessed the associations of ADHD with concussion. Additionally, there is reason to expect cognitive alterations following concussion in athletes with ADHD. Further, there is currently no study that has evaluated the influence of common medications often taken to mitigate some symptoms of ADHD, such as methylphenidate and amphetamines. Therefore, we sought to longitudinally assess cognitive profiles (Aim 3) of athletes with ADHD taking medication (ADHD+Rx) and not taking medication (ADHD_uRx) at baseline, 24-48 hours …

Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior During And After Pregnancy And Postpartum Weight Retention, Kaitlyn Taylor Ramey

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

Pregnancy is associated with increased changes in body weight that can shape long-term health in women. Previous studies have shown that increased prenatal physical activity and decreased sedentary time correlated with less excessive gestational weight gain. Little is known about how leisure time exercise and sedentary behavior affects postpartum weight retention. The aim of our study was to identify how sedentary behavior and leisure time physical activity, both mid-pregnancy and after pregnancy, relate to postpartum weight retention from 6 months to 3 years after childbirth.

METHODS

A total of 79 women who delivered a singleton infant 6-months …

Clinical Determinants Of Vo2 Max Response To Endurance Training: Heritage Family Study, Emanuel Ayala

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Maximal oxygen uptake trainability (U+0394VO₂max) is largely determined by non-modifiable traits. However, less is known of the contribution of modifiable phenotypes to VO₂max response to endurance training. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between baseline cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and body composition traits and U+0394VO₂max.

Methods: Subjects were 717 healthy, physically inactive adults (44% female, 34% Black) who completed a 20-week, highly standardized, endurance training program as part of the HERITAGE Family Study. Resting and exercise phenotypes were collected at baseline and post-training. A total of 33 variables related to cardiopulmonary, …

Racial Disparities In Gestational Weight Gain, Body Mass Index, And Physical Activity During Pregnancy And After Delivery, Marcey Acacia Jiles

Theses and Dissertations

Background & Purpose: African American women have higher rates of obesity than white women. Pregnancy is characterized by rapid weight gain, and 48.8% of women in South Carolina exceed recommended limits. Prenatal exercise is recommended and may help prevent excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). Our purpose was to determine whether GWG and prenatal exercise levels differed between African American and Caucasian women.

Methods: We included 79 women who delivered a singleton infant 6 months - 3 years ago and were free from smoking, type 1 or 2 diabetes, or use of steroids or protease inhibitors (mean age =31.3 yrs; mean …

Multiple Processes Predict Motor Learning And Impairments After A Stroke, Christopher Michael Perry

Theses and Dissertations

Acquiring, refining, and adapting motor skills allows for successful interaction with our environment to perform daily activities such as driving, cooking, and self-care. Those with stroke often exhibit a compromised ability to relearn motor skills affected by their stroke resulting in chronic disability. Previous rehabilitation studies suggest that deficits in skilled limb movement primarily contributes to deficits after a stroke. However, studies in motor skill performance suggests that multiple behavioral features including visual search, eye-hand coordination and visuomotor decisions also contribute to improved performance. Currently, it is not known if refinements in multiple behavioral features independently contribute to motor learning, …

The Relationship Of Structured Environments With Children’S Body Composition And Obesogenic Behaviors, Ethan T. Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Recent nationally representative data show among children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years, the prevalence of obesity is 17.0% (95CI= 15.5%-18.6%). Further, rates of obesity are disproportionately high among minoritized youth. The prevalence of children and adolescents with obesity is lower among White children compared to Black children (14.7% vs. 19.5%) or Hispanic children (14.7% vs. 21.9%). Disparities by socioeconomic status exist as well. Prevalence of children with obesity from households with an income that is >350% of the federal poverty threshold (after accounting for household size) is significantly less compared to children from households with an income that …

Relationship Between Cognitive Performance, Physical Activity, And Socio-Demographic/ Individual Characteristics Among Aging Americans, Imtiaz Masfique Dowllah

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the attenuation of association following adjustments for covariates, participants who engaged in 3–6 hr/wk of vigorous- and > 1 hr/wk of moderate-intensity PA scored significantly higher in tests that assessed executive function and processing speed domains of cognition compared to inactive peers (η2 = 0.005 & 0.007 respectively, p < 0.05). Also, after adjustment, the effects of 1–3 hr/wk of vigorous-intensity PA became trivial for the delayed recall memory domain test scores (β = 0.33; 95% CI: –0.01, 0.67; η2 = 0.002; p = 0.56). There was no clear dose-response relationship between the cognitive test scores and weekly moderate-intensity PA. Interestingly, higher handgrip strength and higher late-life body-mass-index were associated with a higher performance across all cognitive domains. Observed associations provide evidence linking habitual PA with superior cognition health among older adults. Furthermore, increased muscle strength and higher late-life adiposity may …

Performance Of The Wrist-Worn Actigraph Gt3x + In Measuring Physical Activity In Older Women, Michal Talley Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Being able to accurately measure physical activity intensity and energy expenditure is crucial to understanding the role physical activity plays in lowering the risk for disease. This thesis aims to examine the performance of the wrist-worn GT3X+ in measuring PAEE and classifying activity intensity in a healthy non-obese population of older women. Methods: Baseline data collected in the Women’s Energy Expenditure in Walking Programs Study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01722136) were used. PAEE was measured concurrently for 2 weeks using the doubly labeled water method in combination with indirect calorimetry, the GT3X+ ActiGraph accelerometer (GT3X+, ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL), and the …

The Influence Of Sport Participation On Physical Activity In Youth, Emily R. Shull

Theses and Dissertations

Youth sport participation has been widely supported as a strategy for promoting physical activity in children and youth. Previous research has identified positive associations between youth sport participation and children’s physical activity levels. However, there is a paucity of research regarding characteristics of youth sport that may affect the amount and intensity of physical activity youth attain during sport participation. This dissertation is comprised of three studies, and the overall purpose is to examine how characteristics of youth sport associate with children’s physical activity. In the first study, the relationship between types of sport participation and objectively measured physical activity …

Effects Of Basketball Exercise Simulation Test (Best) On Landing Mechanics In Active Females, Madison Treece

Theses and Dissertations

Intro: In the United States, female basketball players have the second highest rate of ACL injury, following female soccer players. This injury rate is four times higher than their male counterparts. These injuries occur more frequently at the end of the first and second halves and may be associated with exercise-induced fatigue causing knee instability. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effects of a basketball simulation test on landing mechanics. Methods: Six subjects completed both the intervention and the control trial consisting of four 10-min quarter game simulations of the validated Basketball Exercise Simulation …

Strengthening The Evidence-Base Of Youth Nutrition Programs: A Three Part Approach, Rebecca Kyryliuk

Theses and Dissertations

National dietary guidelines recommend that children’s diets consist of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while limiting high-fat foods. Studies indicate, however, that children consume an abundance of sugar-sweetened, calorically dense foods and are lacking in fruit and vegetables, behaviors which significantly contribute to high rates of childhood obesity and subsequent, lifelong, detrimental health impacts. This dissertation provides new knowledge to strengthen the evidence-base and inform future best practices in youth nutrition programming so that more children will have the opportunity to meet national dietary recommendations. Three distinct investigations sought to 1) examine current and past youth dietary intake by comparing …

The Correlation Between Ankle Proprioception And Lower Extremity Muscle Reactions In Response To Simulated Lateral Ankle Sprains, Erin M. Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Lateral ankle sprains are one of the most commonly occurring sport-related injuries. The somatosensory system is primarily responsible for monitoring the position of the joints in space during movement. This system functions by way of neurological structures that provide proprioceptive and neuromuscular input to the brain. Motor control of the lower extremity relies on proprioceptive input to the central nervous system (CNS) and local neuromuscular control of each joint to produce coordinated, global muscular responses to external events. Previous research has investigated links between proprioception and neuromuscular control in relationship to ankle inversion separately, but none have searched for …

Examination Of Energy Needs And Female Athlete Triad Components In Competitive Cheerleaders, Allison Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The sport of cheerleading has grown immensely over the recent decades. The current sport requires full body athletic abilities like gymnastics, ballet, and swimming and diving. These sports have previously reported high rates of eating disorder (ED) risk, body image dissatisfaction, and Female Athlete Triad (Triad) components (low energy availability with or without and eating disorder, menstrual cycle dysfunction, and low bone mineral density). Scientific research examining these factors within cheerleaders has been limited. The purpose of this study was to examine overall ED risk across cheerleading team type (All-Star, college), squad type (all-girl, coed), and by position (flyer, base, …

Sleep Quality And Prevalence Of Anxiety And Depression In Young Adults With Concussion History, Jessica Barrack

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Concussions are a growing public health concern, and emerging long-term health risks may negatively impact an individual’s quality of life. With concussions, there can be a multitude of signs and symptoms, but frequent long-term sequelae of concussions including mood disturbances (e.g. trait anxiety and depression) and sleep disturbances (e.g. difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep) are given less attention. Few clinicians address mood and sleep disturbances in their concussion assessment and management plan, potentially placing individuals at risk for prolonged disturbances beyond recovery. Purpose: To examine the relationship between sleep disturbances (sleep quality) and mood disturbances (trait anxiety and depression) …

How The Covid-19 Closures And Restrictions Were Perceived By University Students As It Relates To Physical Activity Behaviors, Madison Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how COVID-related closures and restrictions were perceived and received by students at a Midwestern university. Data were collected via an online survey that was distributed two weeks prior to the fall 2020 semester. Participants were 426 student volunteers. Eighty-one percent of respondents planned to return to campus in fall 2020. More than half had been physically active since the onset of COVID-19, primarily at home or outside. Most students reported willingness to attend the university student fitness center if masks were required at entry or during exercise (60%), although fewer were willing …

Biomechanical Assessment Of The Lower Extremity Following An Unexpected Ankle Perturbation, Emilia Gladys Schempp

Theses and Dissertations

A deeper understanding of the response to an unexpected ankle perturbation could help provide insight into ankle sprain injury avoidance strategies. This study compared lower extremity electromyographic and kinematic measures between unexpected ankle perturbation and normal walking conditions, including muscle amplitudes and reaction times, dominant limb joint angles and velocities. Trial conditions included a walking control condition, unexpected 30° inversion, and unexpected 18° combined inversion and plantarflexion. With randomized trials, 20 healthy volunteers walked along the custom-built walkway that unexpectedly released into the described ankle perturbations. Significant differences were found for peak and average EMG of the peroneus longus and …

The Effect Of Load On The Kinetics And Kinematics Of The Lower Extremity During Landing, Michael Akira Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To understand the differences in the lower extremity kinetics and kinematics as load increases during jump landings. Methods: Ten male participants (20.4 years ± 2.41 years, 108.8kg ± 14.02kg) took part in two testing sessions. The first testing session involved testing each participant’s 1-repetition max in the hexagonal barbell deadlift. The second testing session involved the data collection of the jumping trials for each participant. Participants performed their countermovement jumps under seven randomized conditions. Six of the conditions involved the hex bar using loads equivalent to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60% estimated 1-repetition max of the hexagonal …

Milk-Fat Intake And Differences In Abdominal Adiposity And Bmi: Evidence Based On 13,544 Randomly Selected Adults, Klarissa Rae Wilkinson

Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between milk-fat intake and obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, in 13,544 U.S. adults. A secondary objective was to determine the extent to which the association was influenced by multiple potential confounding variables. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Level of milk-fat content regularly consumed was the exposure variable. Body mass index (BMI) and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), a measure of abdominal obesity, were the outcome variables. SAD correlates strongly with visceral fat, when measured by computed tomography, and has been shown …

Modeling Individual Muscle Forces In The Lower Extremity During Loaded And Unloaded Hexbar Vertical Jumps, Abigail Salvadore

Theses and Dissertations

Hexagonal barbell (HB) loaded jumps are often used in training to increase lower extremity power. Given the importance of coordinated muscular effort in achieving maximal power output, an understanding of how the lower extremity musculature individually performs during loaded jumps would be advantageous. The purpose of this study is to describe the effect of load on individual muscle forces, muscle torques, and the contribution to the net joint moment (NJM) during the concentric phase of loaded HB jumps.10 male collegiate athletes performed 5 maximal HB jumps at 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% of their HB deadlift 1-repetition maximum. Filtered Ground …

Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Ratio And Injury In Women's Collegiate Soccer Players, Jake A. Schwab

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The goal of this study was to analyze the relationship between the acute:chronic training load ratio and incidence of injury within a women’s collegiate soccer team over the course of their regular season. Methods: Thirty female collegiate soccer players wore Polar Team Pro heart rate monitors over the course of their season with eight sustaining injury. Two injuries were season ending, four injuries kept athletes out multiple weeks, and two injuries kept athletes out less than one week. Training load and distance were tracked for all individual practices, team practices, and games. Data was extracted from the Polar Team …

Barriers To Physical Activity In University Students Referred To An Exercise Is Medicine On Campus Program, Alexander Michael Diserio

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose was to describe barriers to being physically active based on reason for referral, gender identity, and incoming stage of change (SOC) for physical activity (PA) in university students referred to an Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIMOC) program. METHODS: Students (21.9 +4.1 years of age) referred by university health and counseling services completed a 20-item questionnaire, which included the “Barriers to Being Active” quiz, an assessment of SOC (e.g., precontemplation), and students’ self-reported gender. Reason for referral (RFR), which was provided by a health practitioner, was categorized as Obesity, Anxiety/Depression, General PA, Unspecified or Other. RESULTS: A …

The Effect Of A Text-Message Based Hydration Education Intervention On Hydration Knowledge And Behavior Of Division I Female Collegiate Soccer Players, Milaena Ferrarese

Theses and Dissertations

There is increasing evidence of athletes entering their training sessions in an already dehydrated state. It is crucial for athletes to properly replenish fluid and electrolytes lost via sweat in order to optimize their training and recovery. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a text-message based hydration education intervention on the knowledge and hydration status of division I female collegiate soccer players.A total of 14 participants completed baseline testing, which included hydration knowledge and behavior questionnaires, and pre- and post-practice weights to calculate % weight change (%WC). The participants also provided a baseline urine sample …