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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Effects Of A Movement-Based Curriculum On The Motor And Cognitive Development Of Preschool-Aged Children, Aaron Wood
Effects Of A Movement-Based Curriculum On The Motor And Cognitive Development Of Preschool-Aged Children, Aaron Wood
Doctoral Dissertations
Physical activity has been shown to be positively associated with improved motor skill and cognitive development in young children. Intervention designs are often constructed without focus on interrelatedness of the development of motor and cognitive self-regulatory skills. Purpose: To investigate the impact of a movement-based curriculum designed to integrate both motor skill and cognitive development in preschool children. Methods: Preschool-aged children [n=34; intervention group (n=28); control group (n=6)] participated in the study. Locomotor and object control motor skills were assessed via the Test of Gross Motor Development – 3rd Edition. Cognitive self-regulation (attention, working memory, and inhibition) was assessed via …
Feasibility, Acceptability, And Preliminary Efficacy Of An Academically-Integrated Physical Activity Program On Classroom Behavior In Preschoolers, Sarah Burkart
Doctoral Dissertations
Maladaptive classroom behaviors (i.e., hyperactivity, inattention) are common in preschoolers, yet elevated levels may lead to future academic difficulties or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Physical activity (PA) may be one way to alleviate these maladaptive behaviors within the classroom, yet preschoolers are not meeting PA guidelines. Implementing academically-integrated PA may serve a two-fold benefit of enhancing PA and classroom behavior. However, process evaluation data describing academically-integrated PA interventions are sparse. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week PA intervention integrated into early learning standards on classroom behavior in preschoolers. Two …
Feasibility And Efficacy Of A Recess-Based Combined Fitness Intervention On Cognition And Academic Performance In Elementary School Children, Christine St Laurent
Feasibility And Efficacy Of A Recess-Based Combined Fitness Intervention On Cognition And Academic Performance In Elementary School Children, Christine St Laurent
Doctoral Dissertations
Youth physical activity and fitness have been reported to influence cognition and academic related outcomes. Despite the potential benefits of muscular fitness, few intervention studies have examined the impact of an intervention that has incorporated both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness training on cognition and academic performance in children. Previous studies have mainly been implemented either during the school day or immediately after-school. Although recess may be an ideal time to promote physical activity because it does not compete with other academic demands, it has been an understudied setting. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation project was to examine the feasibility, …
Evaluating The Effects Of Wearable Technologies To Improve Physical Activity Levels For College Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Kelly Nicole Kraiss
Evaluating The Effects Of Wearable Technologies To Improve Physical Activity Levels For College Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Kelly Nicole Kraiss
Doctoral Dissertations
Regular physical activity can decrease the likelihood of being overweight or obese as well as other negative health outcomes. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are more likely to be obese, less likely to be physically active, and at greater risk for health conditions and disease. Thus, there is a need for interventions that aim to increase the physical activity levels of adults with I/DD. However, interventions and related research in this field are limited. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine two independent single-subject design interventions that incorporated the use of wearable technology, a Fitbit, in order …
Interfacing Continuous Measurement Of Glucose And Physical Activity To Predict Glycemic Control In Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes, Jennifer Blankenship
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 …
Effects Of Television Viewing On Psycho-Physiological And Behavioral Outcomes, Brittany Star Overstreet
Effects Of Television Viewing On Psycho-Physiological And Behavioral Outcomes, Brittany Star Overstreet
Doctoral Dissertations
Purpose: To determine the effects of television viewing during exercise on 1) preference for exercise and 2) treadmill walking time. Methods: Twenty-five insufficiently active adults (mean±standard deviation; age: 46±12 years; Body mass index: 31±5 kilogram/squared meter (kg/m2) were recruited for this study. In part 1, participants performed three randomized 1/3-mile walking bouts at an intensity equivalent to 70% of their oxygen consumption at ventilatory threshold (VO2-at-VT). During these exercise bouts, individuals viewed 1) their favorite television program (FavTV), 2) a standardized nature program (NatTV) or 3) no-TV program (NoTV). A behavioral choice paradigm was used to …
Feasibility Of A Combined Physical Activity And Sleep Education Intervention For Girls Living In A Low Socioeconomic Status Urban Community, Cory J. Greever
Feasibility Of A Combined Physical Activity And Sleep Education Intervention For Girls Living In A Low Socioeconomic Status Urban Community, Cory J. Greever
Doctoral Dissertations
Declining sleep duration and poor sleep quality is a public health epidemic disproportionately effecting elementary age girls living in low socioeconomic status urban communities. The Girls Dancing and Sleeping for Health (Girls DASH) program was designed to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a combined physical activity and sleep education program in this population. In combination with baseline data from a previously conducted intervention in elementary age urban girls living in a low SES community in Springfield, MA, results from a cross-sectional analysis indicated that greater screen time was positively associated with parental reports of child’s sleep quality. Additionally, …
Effects Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (Cla) On Skeletal Muscle Metabolism, Yoo Kim
Effects Of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (Cla) On Skeletal Muscle Metabolism, Yoo Kim
Doctoral Dissertations
Although it is well known that increased physical activity can help reduce incidences of obesity, physical activity can be influenced by complex issues, making it difficult to use universal means to control obesity. Recent discoveries of the effects of exercise at the cellular level opened up the unique opportunity to develop compounds with ‘exercise-like’ effects. In fact, CLA has been shown to promote voluntary activity and endurance capacity in mice. Thus, the purpose of these studies is to determine the mechanisms of conjugated linoleic acid on muscle metabolism via the modulation of biochemical events including mitochondrial biogenesis and the alternation …
Impact Of A Preschool Workplace Intervention On Classroom Teachers’ Physical Activity Levels And Quality Of Life, Ogechi O. Nwaokelemeh
Impact Of A Preschool Workplace Intervention On Classroom Teachers’ Physical Activity Levels And Quality Of Life, Ogechi O. Nwaokelemeh
Doctoral Dissertations
PURPOSE: To examine the feasibility and efficacy of a three-month, cluster-randomized workplace PA intervention on PA levels and wellbeing measures in preschool classroom teachers. METHODS: Ten preschool centers were randomized into two groups; short-bouts of structured PA (SBS-PA, n=5) or traditional unstructured PA (TRAD-PA, n=5). The SBS-PA intervention consisted of 10-minute structured, teacher-led PA routines implemented within the classroom setting, followed by 20 minutes of unstructured playtime. The TRAD-PA intervention consisted of supervised 30-minute of unstructured free playtime. Both interventions were implemented during the morning and afternoon designated gross-motor playtime for 30 min/session, five days/week for three months. Participants’ …