Sports Sciences Commons^™

An Analysis Of Strength Training Implementation In Ballet, Claire Hoover

Senior Honors Theses

Ballet, a style of dance that is known for its 180-degree external rotation, extreme precision, discipline, and aesthetics, is an athletic activity that is undertaken by many young people, particularly females. Although ballet has many athletic components, recent studies have shown there are a variety of weaknesses that impact its participants, including the female athlete triad, lack of lower extremity muscular strength, risk of injury, and overtraining. According to recent research, strength training, although not historically paired with ballet, could minimize ballet dancers’ deficiencies by increasing muscular strength and reducing risk of injury and incidence of the female athlete triad. …

Health Consequences Of Low Energy Availability In Females And Their Underlying Physiological Mechanisms, Grace Parry

Senior Honors Theses

Low energy availability (LEA) is a state in which energy intake is insufficient to support energy expenditure while maintaining energy balance, which has been shown to result in gastrointestinal distress, immunosuppression, reduced metabolic rate, menstrual dysfunction, diminished bone health, and impaired cardiovascular function in females. Alterations to the microbiome and mucosal lining may propagate gastrointestinal complaints and compromised immune function associated with LEA. The pathophysiology of LEA is otherwise largely driven by hormonal adaptations. Diminished production of thyroid hormones is known to contribute to reduced metabolic rate. Decreases in leptin and insulin and increases in ghrelin disrupt reproductive function through …

The Application Of Biomechanical Technology In Sports, Timothy Leckrone

Senior Honors Theses

Technology in biomechanics encompasses eight major categories: artificial optical devices, anthropometry, timing devices, electrogoniometry, electromyography, dynamometry, inertial tracking systems, and modeling and simulation. As technology improves and becomes more accessible to the general population, it becomes easier to implement biomechanical technology into sports. For each area of focus, biomechanical technology has numerous points of current application or potential application. This application has benefit in injury prevention, technique improvement, rule enforcement, performance optimization, overall health and condition analysis, sports timing, and product development and testing. This thesis examines each area in turn as well as the various tools implemented in order …

The Role Of Hamstring Contraction During Running: An Analysis, Theodore Hu

Senior Honors Theses

The hamstring muscle group, spanning the posterior aspect of the proximal lower limb, generates large amounts of contractile force during running. Researchers have examined this power generation within different phases of the stride cycle. Forces generated by the hamstrings hold implications for both running efficiency and the role of strengthening for injury prevention. The goal of this review is to examine the hamstring’s unique physiology as a bi-articular muscle, its role in running stride, various training philosophies, and the specific impact on running economy contributing to overall running performance. The summation of research presented shows that the hamstring muscle group …

The Impact Of Power Training On Balance And Visual Feedback Removal, Juliana Bouton

Senior Honors Theses

Because power training has been known to augment stability, the purpose of this study was to assess whether the removal of visual input affects lower limb muscle power production in young women who are resistance trained to the same degree it affects the untrained. This provided insight as far as the need for resistance training protocols in a largely untrained visually impaired population. To study this, fourteen college-aged female participants (18-23 years) performed a seated double-leg press on a leg sled machine, isolating power production of the lower limbs. After establishing baselines, which involved finding an average of power produced …

Supplemental Training And Injury Prevention In The Sport Of Ultra-Running, Jessica M. Heidebrink

Senior Honors Theses

By definition, ultra-marathon running is a sport that covers any distance above the 26.2-mile marathon distance in a single race. The mountains of Virginia host many ultra-marathon races that attract endurance runners from all over the nation to participate. Training is an essential component of running an ultra. Although there is not one specific way to train for an ultra, there is research that correlates the success of the top ultra-runners and their training preferences regarding supplemental training and injury prevention. To gain a more complete understanding of how to prepare for a successful ultra-marathon, an online survey was created …

Understanding Ultramarathoners: Identifying Markers Of Success In Ultras Through An Objective Survey Of Ultramarathoners, Renee A. Cabalka Mrs.

Senior Honors Theses

An ultramarathon (ultra) is defined as a race longer in time or distance than a marathon. Studies have been done to identify factors, which contribute to successful completion of other ultra endurance events. The purpose of this study was to determine factors that contribute to the successful completion of an ultramarathon by collecting data via an objective survey. The subjects of this survey were participants in the 2013 Mountain Masochist Trail Race (MMTR) 50 miler. The survey included factors such as gender, age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), training age, and ultra experience. The survey data was collected and …

The Effects Of Static Stretching On Muscular Hypertrophy During A Resistance Training Program, Zachary A. Martin

Senior Honors Theses

Abstract

Studies have shown that static stretching right before physical activity can negatively affect performance. In regards to weight lifting, it has been shown that static stretching immediately prior to lifting can decrease the maximum amount of weight that can be lifted. This study was created in order to determine if static stretching immediately prior to weight lifting over the course of nine weeks would result in smaller gains in muscle size compared to those who did not static stretch immediately prior to lifting over the course of nine weeks.

External Factors And Athletic Performance, Kimberly D. Dahl

Senior Honors Theses

The science behind athletic performance has progressed significantly with the advancement of technology and research of sport. The current review examines further the effects of several external factors on athletic performance. Factors were deemed external if they involved either variables out of the athlete’s control or an athlete’s conscious decision. Addressing playing environment, voluntary consumption of alcohol, sleep, a variety of emotions, and team environment contributes to a better understanding of the wide variety of factors that may influence athletic performance. The conclusions reveal ways in which awareness of external factors may impact overall performance.

A Review Of Stretching Techniques And Their Effects On Exercise, Cassandra M. Bernhart

Senior Honors Theses

The role of flexibility in exercise performance is a widely debated topic in the exercise science field. In recent years, there has been a shift in the beliefs regarding traditional benefits and appropriate application of static stretching. Static stretching has previously been proposed to increase exercise performance and reduce the risk of injury, however recent research does not support this belief consistently and may even suggest conflicting viewpoints. Several types of stretching methods have also been promoted including proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching, AIS, and dynamic, and ballistic stretching. The role of flexibility in exercise performance continues to be researched …

Incidence And Prevention Of Injury Of The Anterior Cruciate Ligament In Females, Arielle E. Gillie

Senior Honors Theses

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, women are two to eight times more likely to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament injury than men at the same level of performance. This high incidence of women with an ACL injury is thought to be due to a number of gender differences. This study examines the research that has been conducted to determine the reason for the disproportionate incidence of anterior cruciate ligament in female population. The study encompasses anatomical structure of the knee joint, structural differences in the male and female knee, hormonal influences, biomechanical influences, neuromuscular influences, and strategies …