Sports Sciences Commons^™

Using The Adam Questionnaire In Primary Care To Identify Hypoandrogenism In Males Aged 40 Years Or Older, Jeremy Burns

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has been shown to improve the symptoms of metabolic syndrome by reducing Hemoglobin A1C, belly fat, cholesterol, and blood pressure (Cunningham, 2015). The ultimate goal for testosterone-deficient patients is to have an improved quality of life by starting TRT. This quality improvement project was conducted at a small primary care clinic in South Texas. The project was started by screening 84 male patients ≥ 40 years of age using the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males (ADAM) questionnaire. The ADAM questionnaire was considered positive for anyone who answered “yes” to 3 or more questions or “yes” to …

Estimating Body Mass Through Bone Mineral Density Studies Using Dexa (Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry), Kaitlin Harstine

Master's Theses

Identification of a decedent is one of the primary goals of forensic anthropologists. In order to do this, one must build a biological profile based on the remains that are provided. Sex, age, ancestry, and stature are four of the most common, however a fifth addition piece of information that could be beneficial is body mass. The goal of this research is to explore the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and body mass, using data collected from dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans of 107 collegiate football athletes. Athletes are a good fit for this study because they have achieved …

Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction With Traditional Docking Compared To Novel Surgical Techniques, Kayley D. Guy, Brendon P. Mcdermott, Kaitlin Gallagher, Tyrone Washington

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction (UCLR) is a surgical procedure on one of the main ligaments that provides normal stability for the elbow joint against excessive valgus stress. Damage to this ligament is common in athletes performing overhead throwing activities, primarily baseball players, due to excessive valgus stress during the throwing motion. The most common form of treatment for this type of injury is reconstructive surgery of the ligament, especially if athletes wish to return to sport participation. This type of surgery is extremely invasive and requires extensive post-operative rehabilitation in order to facilitate return to play. To date, many …

Does An Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture Become A Patient's Achilles Heel In The Long-Term?, Michaela Cm Khan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

It is unknown if deficits in the involved limb following acute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) persist in the long-term, or differ between patients treated operatively or non-operatively. This study investigated 43 patients 15±1 years post-AATR from a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compared operative and non-operative treatment. Structural characteristics in the Achilles tendon and surrounding musculature were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. We also performed physical examinations and evaluated performance-based and patient-reported outcomes. Overall, there were substantial differences between the involved and uninvolved limbs in most outcomes. Some outcomes improved over time from the initial RCT to the final …

The Effect Of Exercise On College Students' Overall Health, Tanner Steineke

Honors Thesis

Introduction: Many individuals are not attaining the World Health Organization and American Heart Association’s recommendations for daily physical activity. Physical activity habits are developed during young adulthood and it is therefore important to study barriers to physical activity in college students.

Objectives: Investigate the relationship between college student’s physical activity and their overall health. Methods: Data was collected by circulating an online survey to students on the University of South Dakota campus. Several survey questions were used from the SF-36 and the National College Health Assessment. Measures included mental health, physical activity, overall health, diet, and sleep habits.

Results: Results …

Evaluation Of The Psychometric And Measurement Properties Of The Scat5 And Child Scat5, Michael Robinson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Concussions are one of the most complex conditions to manage in sport medicine due to the individualized clinical presentation caused by the complex neurometabolic cascade that occurs. The identification, assessment and management of concussion requires clinicians to employ a multifaceted approach including the subjective disclosure of symptoms by patents. In order to aid in this, symptom checklists are commonly used as they provide a standardized method for collecting the severity of concussion symptoms. One of the most common symptom checklists is the 5^th Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5) symptom evaluation which is available in an adult and pediatric version. …

Biofeedback Use In Sport, Kendra Nelson Ferguson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The general purpose of this dissertation was to examine the effects of biofeedback training on sport performance. This dissertation was divided into three studies. Study 1 qualitatively explored athletes’ perspectives of biofeedback post-intervention. Five varsity athletes were provided with a five-session biofeedback intervention training respiration rate, heart rate variability, and skin conductance. Following the intervention, an interview was conducted. Athletes perceived biofeedback to enhance self-regulation skills both in sport and academics, contributing to perceptions of superior performance.

To further examine perspectives of biofeedback training, Study 2 qualitatively explored mental performance consultants’ use of biofeedback and their perceptions of the tool. …

Humeral Retroversion, Range Of Motion, And Strength Adaptations In Tennis Players, Daniel Hannah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an understanding of humeral retroversion (HRV) asymmetries in tennis players and its impact on physical and performance characteristics of the shoulder.Participants: Healthy tennis players were categorized into 3 groups: younger juniors (n=11, age=14.5±0.5 years), older juniors (n=12, age=17.1±0.9 years), and collegiate (n=16, age=19.6±1.2 years). Methods: HRV, internal rotation (IR), and external rotation (ER), total arc of motion (TAM), HRV-corrected IR (HRVcIR), and HRV-corrected ER (HRVcER) were measured and calculated bilaterally using a digital inclinometer and ultrasonography. Bilateral differences (Δ) were calculated (dominant minus nondominant) for HRV and ROM variables. Isometric ER:IR strength ratios …

Individual Eeg Asymmetry As A Predictor Of Hydration Status During Exercise In The Heat, Ayano Katayama

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hydration behavior varies among individuals; continuous and correct fluid consumption behavior prevents decreased physical performance and severe dehydration, especially during extended exercise and hot environments. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine individual frontal alpha electroencephalographic asymmetry index (FAI) score in eu-hydrated, hypo-hydrated, and exercise in well-trained men and assess if there is a correlation between FAI score and individual ad libitum fluid consumption behavior. Subjects were kinesiology major college students ranging from 21 to 29 years of age. Subjects were categorized either approach group (n = 8) with resting FAI score more than 0 or avoidance …

Effects Of Neuromuscular Fatigue Resulting From Repeat Sprint Exercise Among Trained Cyclists On Measures Of Strength And Power Performance, Robert B. Blaisdell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to better understand the role of repeated-sprint ability (RSA) and resulting fatigue in cyclists; how it relates to measures of aerobic power and strength and power performance indices- due to the nature of cycling competitions and the necessity of RSA for success.

The first part of this dissertation attempted to elucidate the relationship between RSA and aerobic power and strength/ power measures in competitive cyclists. The purpose was to potentially illustrate the importance of the inclusion of strength and power training in the training regimen of cyclists. The findings showed several statistically significant relationships …

Changes In Psychological, Morphological, And Performance Characteristics In Preparation For A National Weightlifting Competition, Donald Marsh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary aim of this study was to examine the time course of change in muscle morphology and vertical jump performance in weightlifters preparing for a national competition. The secondary aim of this study is to examine how perceived recovery and stress state corresponds with alterations in training load leading up to competition. Eleven Olympic Training Site weightlifters completed a 4-week peaking phase for a national competition. Body mass, stress and recovery psychometric measures, and unloaded/loaded (20kg) squat jump height (SJH) were measured weekly and at the competition site. Vastus lateralis cross-sectional area (CSA), muscle thickness (MT) and pennation angle …

The Effects Of Branched Chained Amino Acid Supplementation On Acute Markers Of Fatigue And Performance, Joseph Walters

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this dissertation were to investigate the acute effects of branched-chain amino acids on psychological, physiological, and subsequent performance changes following high volume resistance training. The rationale for this study design was based on abrupt or contiguous training/ competitions that specific athletes encounter in a competitive season. This study design also sought to fill some gaps in the scientific literature concerning the efficacy of BCAAs for subjective fatigue in a resistance training paradigm. To address the purposes of this dissertation, a one-week study was conducted on resistance trained males, in which half of the subjects were randomly selected …

Exploring The Match Demands Of Division I Women’S Collegiate Soccer, Robert W. Sausaman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to shed light on the physical demands of women’s soccer at the NCAA division I college level. Though research does exists describing the physical demands of women’s soccer, the vast majority seeks to explain the physical demands association with the professional and international level. This dissertation sought to: 1) examine the physical demands of NCAA division I women’s soccer and 2) observe changes in physical demands of two NCAA division I women’s soccer players over a four-year career using a case study approach.

Study 1 examined the physical demands of twenty-three athlete from a …

Successful Shot Locations And Shot Types Used In Ncaa Men’S Division I Basketball, Olivia D. Perrin

All NMU Master's Theses

The primary purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of court location (distance and angle from basket) and shot types used on shot success in NCAA Men’s DI basketball during the 2017-18 season. A secondary purpose was to further expand the analysis based on two additional factors: player position (guard, forward, or center) and team ranking. All statistical analyses were completed in RStudio and three binomial logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors that influence shot success; one for all two and three point shot attempts, one for only two point attempts, and one for only …

Sex Effects On Ankle Biomechanics During Sports-Relevant Tasks And Peroneal Muscle Parameters, Wyatt D. Ihmels

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Ankle sprains from excessive inversion are the most frequent sports- related injury. Common ankle prophylactics are designed to prevent injury by limiting excessive ankle inversion, yet may restrict other ankle motions leading to repeated re-injury. Females are twice as likely as males to suffer an ankle sprain, however, it is unknown if a sex dimorphism in ankle biomechanics exists when wearing ankle prophylactics, and whether differences in the peroneal musculature exist between sexes. Purpose: To quantify the ability of ankle prophylactics (Ankle Roll Guard (ARG), Brace, Control, and Tape) to prevent excessive ankle inversion during a sudden inversion event, …

Investigating The Effects Of Social And Temporal Dynamics In Fitness Games On Children's Physical Activity, Ankita Samariya

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Obesity in children has more than doubled in the last four decades. A variety of fitness technologies such as activity trackers, exergames, and mobile applications are available to promote physical activity, but few are designed adequately to meet children's specific needs. In my initial research, I found that children prefer having social interaction, a narrative, and flexibility while interacting with such technologies. Other research has shown that persuasive displays encouraged adults towards physical activity. As a part of this work, a collection of mobile applications, collectively known as KidFit Suite were developed. These applications encourage children to be physically active …

Validity Of The Polar M430 Among Females Of Varying Fitness Levels, Body Fat Percentage, And Reported Physical Activity, Kevin Earl Miller

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The Polar M430 is a heart rate monitor that uses a non-exercise prediction method to predict one’s V̇O_2max. Research has revealed that this method will overestimate predicted V̇O_2max among females. Studies have investigated the validity of this method, however, these studies have not taken into account how physical activity (PA) levels, body fat percentage, or measured V̇O_2max could affect the prediction value. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of the Polar M430 in predicting V̇O_2max amongst females of varying PA levels, body fat percentages, and fitness levels. Methods: Forty-eight …

Perceptions On The Effectiveness Of Diversity And Inclusion Hiring: Are We Really Getting Ahead? [2019], Deidre D. Pierson

Master's Theses

Diversity and inclusion hiring in NCAA Division III athletic departments has seen some improvement over the last two decades, but questions remain on whether we are really getting ahead. There continues to be a lack of diversity, particularly in private Northeast institutions. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effectiveness of hiring practices and initiatives utilized by athletics departments. The study utilized tenants of critical theory which supported the in-depth questioning and centering of the lived experiences of participants. This study used semi-structured interviews of nine Division III female head coaches of women’s sports to examine their …

The Salivary Alpha-Amylase Response To Resistance Training, Asher Flynn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this dissertation were to investigate the response of salivary alpha-amylase to a single resistance training session and to a week-long resistance training over-reaching protocol. The major findings of this dissertation are as follows:

Study 1 – A single resistance training session consisting of 5 sets of 10 repetitions of squat and bench press at 95 percent of repetition maximum creates a statistically significant increase in salivary alpha-amylase concentrations.

Study 2 – Two resistance training sessions consisting of 5 sets of 10 repetitions of squat and bench press at 95 percent of repetition maximum within 5 days does …

The Influence Of Chronic Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation On Measures Of Central And Peripheral Fatigue In Training Athletes, Tara K. Whiton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation may improve recovery from competitive endurance training by reducing symptoms of central and peripheral fatigue. The purpose of this dissertation was to provide evidence for the use of BCAAs as a training nutrition strategy in order to improve recovery from training and further drive adaptive processes to training by increasing readiness to train. Collegiate distance runners undergoing intense competitive endurance training were monitored for symptoms of muscular soreness and psychological stress through a rated soreness chart and the Daily Analysis of Life Demands for Athletes Survey (DALDA) while taking either a BCAA supplement or a …

Barbell Trajectory And Kinematics During Two International Weightlifting Championships, Aaron J. Cunanan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Several methods have been used in the scientific literature to study the weightlifting pull. Broadly, these methods are used to measure kinematic or kinetic variables exhibited by the lifter, the barbell, or the lifter-barbell system. However, there is an apparent disconnect between weightlifting research and coaching practice that may reduce the perceived benefits of technique analysis among coaches and present some challenges for coaches who seek to incorporate technique analysis into their coaching practice. Differences and trends in the technique of competitive weightlifting performances are apparent from the available literature. However, there are also gaps in the literature due to …

Impact Of Footwear On Mechanisms Of Knee Osteoarthritis Progression, Ethan Steiner

Masters Theses

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease affecting the entire knee joint by inducing pathological changes to the cartilage and menisci. Currently, the etiology of OA is not completely understood. However, altered gait mechanics, specifically increased joint loading, of OA patients have a clear association with both symptomatic and structural OA progression. Non-surgical intervention tools, such as variable stiffness shoes (VSS), have been developed as a way to decrease loading within the knee joint. However, with external moments being surrogate measures for knee loading, it is unclear if changes in knee moments with the footwear are sufficient to result in …

General Strength And Muscular Endurance: Relationship To V1- And V2-Skate Skiing Economy In Collegiate Cross-Country Skiers, Ian Torchia

All NMU Master's Theses

Introduction Cross-country skiing is a power-endurance sport requiring upper and lower body activation for propulsion across the ground. While high aerobic markers such as VO_2max and lactate threshold are important performance indicators, recent research has demonstrated the importance of full-body general strength and muscular endurance in skiing success. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of strength indices via a full-body series of muscular endurance tests, as well as a general 1-RM strength test, to VO₂ skiing economy utilizing the V1- and V2-skate technique.

Methods Oxygen uptake was measured during baseline and economy testing on …

A Nutrition Guide For Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Student Athletes, Dominic Frasch

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to develop a nutritional guide for student athletes at California Polytechnic State University that will increase their awareness of proper nutrition before, during, and after exercise so they can maximize their athletic performance.

Exploring The Decisions Involved In Evidence-Based Practice Adoption By Athletic Trainers, Brittany Vorndran Allard

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Background: The governing bodies of athletic training have been putting an emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP) through college curriculum changes and continuing education requirements. Research has shown these interventions are increasing knowledge, but there is still a knowledge to practice gap.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the decisions involved in EBP adoption by practicing athletic trainers (ATs).

Methods: This study utilized a general qualitative approach that was exploratory in nature. Fifteen participants participated in the study, and all were practicing certified athletic trainers who stated they were using EBP when making treatment decisions.

Data Collection …

Training Load Management And Injury Prevention In Collegiate Men's Soccer, Lorenzo Salvatore Tomasiello Jr.

MSU Graduate Theses

Soccer is a popular sport within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) evidenced by 23,602 athletes participating in Men’s soccer as of 2014. The sports complexity, coupled with the structure of a collegiate season, demands athletes train to improve performance and prevent injuries. Coaches are able to monitor training through the use of global positioning system (GPS) technology to properly prescribe training loads to meet the individual demands for an athlete. By utilizing an acute to chronic ratio derived from GPS data, coaches are able to determine whether an athlete is prepared for the workloads they are going to be …

Orthorexia Nervosa Among Collegiate Female Student-Athletes, Maryse Bard-Martel

MSU Graduate Theses

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a specific style of disordered eating defined as an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy food, or going to extremes in the pursuit of a diet that is supposed to be good for you. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa tendencies in college female soccer players in the NCAA Division 1. Purposive sampling was used, and participants were current student-athletes from the Missouri State women’s soccer team (n=18). Survey research was utilized to assess athletes’ attitudes and behaviors related to various aspects of diet and training, and the control it …

Effects Of Foam Rolling On Range Of Motion And Vertical Jump Height, Giovanna Leone, Chad Smith

Honors Theses

Static stretching has been shown to elicit an acute improvement in range of motion (ROM) in both the contralateral and ipsilateral limb. However, static stretching has also been shown to impair performance. Foam rolling has been used in clinical settings as well as by the general population to increase ROM without impairing performance. To date, there is limited research evaluating the effect of foam rolling on the contralateral limb. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effect of foam rolling on ROM and single-leg drop jump performance in the foam rolled and non-foam rolled legs. The results …

A Comparison Of Quadriceps -To-Hamstrings Ratios During Isokinetic Testing, Cutting, And Drop Landings In Male Soccer Players, Shane R. O'Donnell, Jenevieve L. Roper

Honors Thesis

Collegiate soccer is not an unusual place to suffer a knee injury. The sport has many dynamic movements, such as cutting, jumping and shooting. Many professionals use quadriceps-to-hamstring (Q/H) ratios as a tool to determine when an injured player can to return to game play or use the ratio to investigate how predisposed a certain player is to sustaining a knee injury. However, many of these ratios are taken in isokinetic testing in a controlled environment and to our knowledge it is unknown if these ratios are similar to those measured during dynamic activity. Therefore, this study investigated if there …

The Effect Of Functional Movement Control On Patient-Reported Outcomes In Individuals With Non-Arthritic Hip Pain, Ryan Mcgovern

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Both the single leg squat test and step-down test assess for deficiencies relating to the hip and surrounding musculoskeletal structures and could be useful in the evaluation of functional movement control for individuals with non-arthritic hip pain. The purpose of this study is to determine if individuals with non-arthritic hip pain that improve functional movement control during the single leg squat test and step-down test have better patient-reported outcomes than those that do not improve, following the implementation of a rehabilitation intervention and a standardized home-exercise program.

Subjects: Forty-six individuals (31 females; 15 males) with a mean age of …