The Effects Of Exercise On Breastmilk Composition And Supply: A Critical Literature Review, Jewell Mcroy

Masters Theses, 2020-current

It is well established that breastfeeding provides dual benefits to both the mother and the infant and is the preferred method of providing nutrients to infants essential for growth and development. Participating in regular physical exercise is also well-supported by research to be beneficial to one’s overall health and quality of life. Currently there are no physical activity guidelines developed for women who are postpartum and breastfeeding. An online database search was conducted; three articles met the inclusion criteria and were included within the review. Studies were included if there were direct measures of human breastmilk composition, supply/volume, and included …

Impact Of 12-Weeks Of Nordic Pole Walking On Arterial Stiffness In Sedentary Overweight And Obese Adults, Arbër N. Shehu

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Arterial stiffness (AS) is an independent predictor for cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Regular aerobic exercise is considered to improve AS. Nordic walking provides important health benefits, however, the effect of this walking method as treatment for AS remains unclear. We conducted a randomized controlled study to examine the effect of a 12-week supervised group walking intervention (controlled pace, ~3000 steps/day, 30 minutes/day, 5 times/week), with (NW) and without (SW) Nordic poles, on AS in sedentary overweight and obese adults. Fourteen individuals were randomly assigned to NW (n=7; median age 54.0 years; body mass index (BMI)=31.3 kg/m²) or …

The Effects Of Caffeine Ingestion On The Hemostatic Response To Simulated Firefighting Activities, Sierra Wassell

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

The leading cause of death among firefighters is sudden cardiac event, and it is acknowledged that most ischemic events are due to an occlusive thrombus formation. In addition, due to the demanding job requirements and shift work, firefighters are commonly known to overuse caffeine as an ergogenic aid. The purposes of this study were to examine the potential effects of caffeine on the hemostatic response to simulated firefighting activity.

The Effect Of Oral Contraceptives On Caffeine Metabolism And Cycling Performance, Annette M. Lemanski

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

This project objectives were to determine the effects of oral contraceptives and menstrual cycle on the benefits of caffeine supplementation for cycling performance. Seventeen recreationally trained female cyclists completed four trials consisting of 3 kilometer time trials. Subjects ingested either caffeine or a placebo one hour prior to each trial. The magnitude of the ergogenic aid of caffeine was compared between oral contraceptive users and eumenorreheic females. In addition, the effect of caffeine was compared across different phases of the menstrual cycle, specifically the follicular and luteal phases.

Hematological Changes In Response To A Drastic Increase In Training Volume In Recreational Cyclists, Jessie Axsom

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

Changes in blood volume contribute to improvement in oxygen utilization (VO2max) with chronic endurance exercise training. Although hematological changes resulting from long-term endurance training have been well documented, it has not been well established whether an increased volume of endurance training preferentially affects plasma volume or red blood cell volume. To answer this question, I studied seven female and four male recreational cyclists before and after exposure to drastic increases (632%) in training volume. Following the 10-week training period, the mean hematocrit (Hct) of the 11 subjects who completed the study significantly (p0.05) correlated with the change in self-reported weekly …

Validity And Reliability Of The Ymca Submaximal Cycle Test Using An Electrically Braked Ergometer, Justin Kidd

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: To test the effect of using an electrically braked ergometer on the validity and reliability of the YMCA submaximal cycle test.

Methods: 22 male and 13 female subjects ages 19 to 31 completed one maximal treadmill test and four submaximal cycle tests to measure and estimate VO_2max, respectively. The maximal tests involved recording heart rate and VO₂ during graded exercise until volitional fatigue; an actual max was verified when two out of the following criteria: respiratory Exchange Ratio > 1.1, VO₂ plateau (< 150 ml/min increase in VO₂ during final stage), and achievement of 90% age-predicted HR max (or completed …

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 …

The Impact Of Freedson Bout Vs. Non-Freedson Bout Physical Activity On Metabolic Syndrome Risk In College Students, Valerie Olijar

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Purpose The aim of this study is to examine moderate to vigorous physical activity in Freedson bouts compared to non-Freedson bouts and their association with Metabolic Syndrome risk factors in college students.

Methods 72 subjects aged 18-26 were recruited from James Madison University. Subjects height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and body composition were assessed on visit 1. Blood pressure, fasted blood glucose, and lipid profile were assessed on visit 2. Subjects wore an Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer, which measured physical activity and sleep for 7 days and nights. Univariate Pearson correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationship physical activity …

The Effect Of Menstrual Phase And Oral Contraceptive Steroids On Caffeine During Cycling Performance, Annette M. Lemanski

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: There is evidence that female sex hormones impact caffeine metabolism, with decreased CYP1A2 activity and diminished caffeine clearance in women with higher estrogen levels. Therefore, the objectives of this project were to determine the effects of oral contraceptives and menstrual cycle on the benefits of caffeine supplementation for cycling performance. METHODS: Sixteen recreationally trained female cyclists, oral contraceptive steroid (OCS) users (n=8, age = 21.4 ± 1.4 years, height = 168.4 ± 3.6 cm, weight = 63.6 ± 7.2kg, VO_2max = 48.0 ± 4.0 ml/kg/min), and non-users (n=8, age = 20.9 ± 2.1 years, height = 161.0 ± …

The Hemostatic Effects Of Acute Exposure To Colored Cornstarch Powder During A 5k Run, Robert C. Allsbrook

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: To examine the acute hemostatic effects of particulate matter (PM) in the form of colored corn starch powder during a 5 kilometer race. METHODS: 10 recreationally active adults completed two 5k runs, one with color and one without color. 10 mL blood samples were taken 6 hours prior to the trial and immediately following the trial. PAI-1 activity, FVIII antigen, and tPA activity were measured using an ELISA. RESULTS: No significant main effects or interaction effects (P<0.05) were observed among any of the variables although a trend (P = 0.082) was observed for increased PAI-1 activity during exercise in the color condition. CONCLUSIONS: There is a trend towards increased PAI-1 activity levels during exercise during color runs that could be due to increased inflammation. Furthermore, the lack of increased FVIII:ag and tPA activity suggests that the intensity of the exercise may not have been adequate and further research should be conducted in this area.

Macronutrient Supplementation For Endurance Athletes, Jonathan B. Hurst

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: The present study addressed two questions related to macronutrient supplementation during endurance exercise. Firstly, the effects of carbohydrate and protein co-ingestion on time trial (TT) performance were compared to carbohydrate alone. Secondly, the effects of isolated protein ingestion on TT performance were compared to a placebo.

Methods: Six trained cyclists (Age: 22 ± 1 years; Height: 167 ± 12 cm; Weight: 60 ± 10 kg; VO_2max: 62 ± 7 ml/kg/min) completed four experimental trials, consisting of constant-load cycling for two hours (55% W_max) immediately followed by a 30-km simulated time trial. During the trials, subjects …

A Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet Combined With Six Weeks Of Crossfit Training Improves Body Composition And Performance, Rachel M. Gregory

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

A low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is a popular approach to weight and fat loss. CrossFit is a high-intensity power training (HIPT) type exercise for all levels of age and fitness that has gained recognition as one of the fasting growing sports in America. No previous research has been found which examines body composition changes or performance in individuals consuming a LCKD and participating in CrossFit training. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of a 6-week LCKD and CrossFit program on body composition and performance. METHODS: Twenty-seven non-elite CrossFit subjects (mean ± SD age = …

The Effect Of Run Sprint Interval Training On Diabetic Metabolic Markers In Prediabetic Adults, Kathryn L. Hilovsky

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Abstract

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an 8-week run-sprint interval training (R-SIT) and continuous moderate-intensity training (MIT) on fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin sensitivity, and β-cell function in sedentary, prediabetic adults. Secondary outcomes of the study included anthropometric, body composition variables, and aerobic capacity.

Methods: Sedentary, physician diagnosed prediabetic individuals were randomized into R-SIT (n=7, BMI 36.76 ± 9.79) or MIT (n=8, BMI 40.59 ± 12.49) interventions. Subjects participated in supervised exercise three times a week and attended a Diabetes Prevention Program course, once weekly. R-SIT participants performed 4-6 x 30-second …

Satellite Cell Behavior In Cyclists Following Intensified Training With And Without Protein Supplementation, Alec I. Mckenzie

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: The objectives were to determine the satellite cell (SC) response among endurance-trained cyclists (n=8; VO_2max: 63.1 ± 8.4 mL/Kg/min)to a period of intensified training (ICT) (10 days) and 10 days of recovery (RVT), with and without protein supplementation. METHODS: Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis prior to- and immediately following ICT and RVT. Fluorescent microscopy was used to analyze SCs and myosin heavy chain I and IIa (MHC I and IIa). Data were analyzed using magnitude-based inferences. RESULTS: MHC I SCs were exceptionally abundant at baseline (38 ± 20 SCs/100 fibers). MHC I SC count …