Sports Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of Pre-Participation Exams In Identifying Student Athletes At Risk For Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Elizabeth Frey

Honors Projects

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in young student athletes (Drezner et al., 2007). With athletes being recognized as some of the healthiest members of society, a catastrophic event like this can stimulate debate over pre-participation screening and appropriate emergency actions. With 55-80% cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) being asymptomatic before the event (Drezner et al., 2007), looking into how well pre-participation screenings identify at risk individuals becomes much more important. This project investigates to what extent pre-participation physicals (PPE) can be improved to better identify student athletes at risk for sudden cardiac death and …

Effects On Adherence And Comprehension With Video Demonstration Support Versus Traditional Home Exercise Programs: Culminating Project, Emily E. Morales

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This culminating project examines the need for video-supported home exercise programs (HEP) in outpatient hand therapy clinics in South Jersey by developing a YouTube channel. This YouTube channel will consist of HEPs for common upper extremity diagnoses including proper demonstration of each exercise and clear concise written instructions within a playlist correlating to diagnosis. Advance clinical skill in hand therapy is the main goal for this capstone project. An analysis was completed evaluating adherence and comprehension when clients are prescribed traditional HEP to HEP supported by a video demonstration. The ultimate goal of this project was to establish an easily …

The Role Of Exogenous Ketones On Various Aspects Of Exercise Performance, Manuel D. Quinones

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Routinely, athletes and coaches pursue novel nutritional strategies in an attempt to support exercise training techniques and/or enhance athletic performance. Body carbohydrate (CHO) stores are limited so strategies to enhance fat use and spare CHO during exercise and thus, attenuate the onset of fatigue are commonplace. It has been suggested that oral exogenous ketone administration is ergogenic not only by altering exercise metabolism (sparing CHO), but also by improving exercise cognitive function as well as enhancing post-exercise glycogen resynthesis. However, data supporting these claims are limited and contradictory. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to explore the role of …

Comparing Different Scaling Methods For Monitoring Weightlifting Performance, Jake Slaton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Physiological performance has been commonly scaled for body size using various methods to scale anthropometrics, but a paucity of data exists on scaling muscle size. The aim of this thesis was to elucidate the optimal method to scale height (HT), body mass (BM), lean body mass (LBM), and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) when scaling weightlifting performance for body size. 26 weightlifters (13 male, 13 female) participated in this study. The measurements collected were the snatch (SN), clean and jerk (CJ), isometric peak force (IPF), and countermovement jump height (CMJH). HT, LBM, BM, and vastus lateralis CSA were scaled using the …

Test Transferability Of 3d-Mot Training On Soccer Specific Parameters, Micaela Dusseault

Honors Theses

Objective: The benefits of perceptual-cognitive training in elite level athletes has recently been investigated in multiple sports such as basketball, soccer, and archery, but conclusive evidence proving test transferability of 3D-MOT training is lacking. The purpose of this research is to examine the transferability of perceptual-cognitive training to on-field soccer performance parameters. Participants: NCAA Division I women’s soccer players (n=22) between the ages of 18-25 who were placed into either the experimental group (n=10) or control group (n=12). After baseline testing for both groups to determine visual tracking speed (VTS), the experimental group completed 10 3D-MOT training sessions with NeuroTracker …

Transfer Effects Of A Multiple-Joint Isokinetic Eccentric Training Intervention To Nontraining-Specific Traditional Muscle Function Measures, Steven Spencer

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The transfer effects of isokinetic, eccentric-only resistance training programs on non-specific measures of muscle function such as isometric peak force, isokinetic concentric peak force and dynamic constant external resistance 1-repetition maximal strength (DCER 1RM) have been researched extensively in a single joint context, yielding mixed results. However, investigations involving multiple-joint isokinetic eccentric-only training models have been sparse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the transfer effects of a short-term multiple-joint isokinetic eccentric leg press (Eccentron) training program on several measures of lower-body strength and performance. Fifteen participants performed Eccentron training three times/week for four weeks and were evaluated …

Survey Of Ncaa Athletic Trainers’ Administration Of The National Wrestling Coaches Association Weight Certification Program, Samuel Konrath

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Context: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented a minimum weight certification program in 1997 to help protect wrestlers from dangerous weight loss practices. Despite nearly a quarter of a century of this program, there is no published research detailing the implementation of it.

Objective: Determine how the NCAA minimum weight certification is being implemented across Division I programs.

Design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: Survey

Patients or Other Participants: A total of 35 (45.5%) of 77 NCAA division I wrestling athletic trainers responded to the survey.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Survey data on how the NCAA minimum weight certification program was implemented …

Stress Among Ncaa Division Ii Head Coaches, Dee Gerlach

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify factors that create stress among head coaches at the National Association Athletic Association Division II level. Data was collected through a demographic questionnaire and the Coaching Issues Survey (CIS), a tool used to measure specific factors that may create stress among coaches. The factors of the CIS include four subscales: Athlete-Concerns, Time-Role, Program-Success, and Win-Loss. Participants (N=416) consisted of head coaches representing the following sports: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s and women’s golf, softball, women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s tennis. The independent variables for this …

Pacing Variability And Performance In A 100 Mile Ultra Marathon, Brendan Gilpatrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between pacing variability and performance during a 100 mile trail race with significant changes in elevation. Changes in pace throughout an endurance event of this length could lead to insight into the relationship of early pacing on overall performance and placing among finishers. Due to variables like changes in terrain or weather it could prove difficult to construct a way to analyze data from these races. Race data from a loop style course with significant elevation change was used to determine if 1). There were significant changes in pace per …

Designing And Evaluating An Intervention To Target Functional Movement, Flexibility, And Strength In Paddle Whitewater Raft Guides, Leah Irwin

All Theses

According to the Outdoor Industry Association (2020), about 3.4 million people across the United States went whitewater-rafting in 2019. The majority of the research on whitewater rafting has focused on guest injuries, with less attention on the whitewater raft guides, who have an arduous job and are at risk for shoulder, back, and hip injuries. In addition to these injuries, rafting guides also experience bilateral imbalances from utilizing a dominant guiding side. One way to prevent these types of injuries and imbalances is to improve functional movement, strength, and range of motion (ROM). The goal of this study was to …

Exploring Integration Between Athletic Trainers And Strength And Conditioning Coaches Among The Ncaa Division I Southern Conference Institutions, Yoshihiro Kojima

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the interdepartmental integration between athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches in relation to relationship, communication, collaboration, and education. Forty participants from the NCAA Division I Southern Conference, twenty-eight athletic trainers and twelve strength and conditioning coaches, completed an electronic survey during a two-week period. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive and thematic coding analyses. The results suggested participated athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches were interactive and collaborative. Open-ended responses identified key concepts when athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches communicated and collaborated. A high interaction and collaboration model …

Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Evaluating Postoperative Rehabilitation Progress And Return To Sport Readiness, Trevor A. Day

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is a common cause of non-arthritic hip pain and reduced physical activity in active young adults. It is defined as a motion-related disorder of the hip with a triad of symptoms, clinical signs, and imaging findings that represents symptomatic premature contact between the proximal femur and the acetabulum. There are two anatomical morphologies that can cause FAIS, cam, and pincer, and is a challenging clinical pathology. Patients typically undergo hip arthroscopy to repair damage to the joint and recess the bone causing the impingement. These procedures can result in positive outcomes for the patient, like reduced …

Self-Perceived Leadership Behaviors Of Collegiate Athletic Trainers And Strength And Conditioning Coaches: A Case Study, James Thomas Daley

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of the case study was to examine the self-perceived leadership characteristics, behaviors, and communication styles of professionals within the pillars of the high-performance sport model, specifically athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches, to gain perspective on their ability to influence student-athletes and colleagues at the NCAA DIII level. A qualitative case study format allowed the researcher to engage with a small sample of participants and explore the differences and similarities between the participant groups. Participants were selected based on their primary job title and setting at over 80 institutions of higher education that participate in NCAA Division …

Accelerometer-Determined Physical Behavior Metrics And Their Associations With Sarcopenia Among Oldest-Old Adults, Eric M. Eberl

Masters Theses

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle function and muscle mass which frequently occurs among the oldest-old adult population (aged 85+ years). The analysis of accelerometer-determined physical behavior volumes and patterns of oldest-old adults might provide novel insights into the associations with sarcopenia and its components. METHODS: A total of 145 participants in the primary sample and 87 participants in the subsample with a mean age of 88.2 (2.5) years from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study cohort provided cross-sectional data of handgrip strength, appendicular lean mass, gait speed, and accelerometry. Probable, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia were assessed based …

Coordination Variability And Injury Risk In Experienced Collegiate Dancers, Emily Klinkman

All NMU Master's Theses

Dance is a sport that places a number of physical demands upon the human body, and injuries are a common occurrence in the sport. While it has not yet been linked to dance-related injury, coordination variability (CV) is a measure of how much movement strategy changes between repetitions of a task and low levels of CV have been linked to injury in other sports. This study aimed to determine the relationship between CV and dance injury in collegiate dancers. Eight (8) undergraduate student subjects were recruited from the dance major and minor, BFA major and minor, and recreational dancers who …

Influence Of Posterior Elements On The Correlations Between Microarchitecture Parameters Of Trabecular Bone And Stochastic Predictors From The Dxa Scans Of Human Lumbar Vertebrae, Indu Reddy Enukonda

Health and Kinesiology Theses

Osteoporosis is a bone disease affecting both postmenopausal women and older men. Bone fractures caused by osteoporosis are a major health concern, creating a great economic burden to our society. Bone mineral density (BMD), a measure of bone mass by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), is a major risk factor for bone fractures. In addition to BMD, trabecular microarchitecture also contributes to bone strength and therefore is a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures. Recently, stochastic predictors derived from DXA scans have been found to correlate with trabecular microarchitecture in human vertebrae. In routine clinical scans of the human lumbar spine, posterior …

Deception Of Resistance And The Effects On Muscular Fitness And Perceived Exertion, Tyler Mchenry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resistance training has been a popular tactic that individuals have used to increase muscular fitness for decades. Muscular fitness includes muscular endurance, strength, and power. However, limitations such as self-efficacy and the Central Governor Theory may influence individual maximal performance ability. One training tactic that has been rarely researched is the deception of resistance during exercise, which is assumed to increase performances in all aspects of muscular fitness and improvements in perceived effort. Inconsistent results have been concluded from previous studies that have examined the same topic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance …

The Effect Of Training Status On Adaptations To 11 Weeks Of Block Periodization Resistance Training, Alexander Wetmore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the effect of training status on adaptations to resistance training. A secondary purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the relationship between subjective and objective forms of monitoring resistance training (RT). The benefits of RT are well understood but training status may be a major influence on training outcomes. Fifteen males of various training status were recruited for this study. Subjects completed 11 weeks of block periodization (BP) training. Subjects were tested for absolute strength (ABS) and relative strength (REL) in the barbell back squat, 0kg and 20kg static jumps (SJ) …

Peaking For Maximal Strength: Muscular Adaptations And Performance Outcomes, Spencer K. Travis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this dissertation were to 1) determine what tapering and peaking practices appear to be most effective via systematic review, 2) to identify the tapering and peaking practices used by North American powerlifters, 3) to experimentally compare muscular adaptations and performance changes following two different training cessation periods, and 4) to experimentally compare the two most common taper models following a training program aimed at peaking maximal strength. Based on the scientific literature, a step and exponential taper appeared to be the most effective tapering models used when volume-load is reduced by half over 2±1 week. Interestingly, North …

Mindfulness-Based Practices For The Impaired Performance Athlete, Mackenzie L. Campbell

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Mindfulness-based programs are becoming commonly considered for the improvement of athlete's mental and physical state. However, their usage in improving performance in impaired athletes is limited and not fully understood. The purpose of this thesis was to review the standing literature on the topic of the application of mindfulness to improving athletic performance in wellbeing-impaired athletes. Seventy-three articles were included as references for this paper describing functional mechanisms, clinical significance and anecdotal evidence that points to the effectiveness of mindfulness in sport for the treatment of pain, injury recovery, prevention of injury, and chronic illness. Ultimately, this review supports the …

Bilateral Ground Reaction Force Jumping Asymmetry And Performance, Keith Painter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of asymmetry in performance research has increased in recent years with mixed results. Much of the performance research has focused on unilateral jumping activities attempting to show relationships to other performance variables. However, bilateral ground reaction forces (bGRF) from jumps are more frequently assessed in athlete monitoring programs and the asymmetry from those jumps could be a simple addition to data already being collected. Research into bGRF asymmetries is lacking and no studies have addressed longitudinal changes. Additionally, research into the relationship of asymmetries to performance have infrequently used athletes. For these reasons, this dissertation will focus on …

Accelerometry And Global Navigation Satellite Systems Derived Training Loads, Abdulmalek Bursais

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this dissertation include 1) to review accelerometry and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) derived measures used to monitor training load, 2) to investigate the validity and reliability of accelerometers (ACCs) to identify stepping events and quantify training load, 3) to assess the relationship between accelerometry and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) derived measures in quantifying training load. In Study I, acceleration data was collected via two tri-axial ACC (Device A and Device B) sampling at 100Hz mounted closely together at the xiphoid process level. Each participant (n=30) performed two trials of straight-line walking, running, and …

Athlete Monitoring Program In Division I Collegiate Female Soccer, Ai Ishida

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this dissertation include 1) to review athlete monitoring strategies and the physical performance demands of female soccer match-play and to provide practical application of athlete monitoring programs, 2) to examine individual and group relationship between training load (TL) and subjective recovery and stress state and neuromuscular performance, and 3) to investigate acute effects of match-play on neuromuscular and subjective recovery and stress state in National Collegiate Association Athlete (NCAA) division I collegiate female soccer. TL was assessed using 10Hz Global Navigation Satellite System units. Subjective recovery and stress state was measured using the Short Recovery and Stress …

Functional Performance Testing In Ice Hockey: The Role Of The Single Leg, Medial Countermovement Jump, Anthony S. Donskov

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Due to the physical nature of the game, injuries are common in ice hockey. Injury rates have been difficult to interpret due to the inconsistencies in the definitions of injury and athlete exposure. Consensus statements on injury definitions have been developed for sports such as soccer and rugby but have not been established in ice hockey. Furthermore, many different off-ice tests are performed, but a hockey-specific performance test has not been promoted. Accordingly, the objective for this thesis was to investigate injury rates, injury definition, athlete exposure and injury type in men’s ice hockey, and providing information on a practical …

The Impact Of Participation In A Mentored Cycling Program, Dana Bolduc

DNP Scholarly Projects

Physical activity (PA) has the potential to have a positive impact on mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and self-esteem. In particular, this project focused on self-esteem because low self-esteem can lead to increased risk of developing anxiety or depression. In contrast, high self-esteem can have a protective effect against anxiety and depression. Group PA programs combined with mentorship have been shown to build relationships and enhance self-esteem. The purpose of this DNP project was to determine the impact of participation in a rural midwestern, mentored cycling program on self-esteem in an at-risk adolescent population. Self-esteem was measured using …

Be The Hammer, Jonathan M. Novick

Theses and Dissertations

John Young is an accomplished athlete, he has run marathons, long distance triathlons and other impressive feats all at the height of 4 feet 3 inches tall. Jon Novick, a fellow little person athlete, journeys into Young’s story sidestepping played out themes of inspiration and plunging into something deeper.

Appropriate Medical Care: A Mixed Method Study Of Perceptions Of Athletics Directors In National Collegiate Athletic Association Division Ii Colleges And Universities, Laura Crowell

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (DII) Colleges and Universities face expanding athletic seasons, more teams, more athletes, increasingly complex medical protocols, and an increasingly litigious society. Athletic Trainers (ATs) are responsible for development and implementation of appropriate athletic health care for Student-Athletes (SAs). Athletics Directors (ADs) are the administrative decision-makers and the agents of change when dealing with these competing interests. Athletics Directors allocate the budget and control hiring processes. Athletic Trainer workload poses a moral and legal threat to SAs, ATs, and universities. The problem continues to persist in NCAA DII Universities despite ample research. The …

A National Study On The Relationship Between Programmatic Factors And Athletic Training Education Board Of Certification Pass Rates, Leslie Rippon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In athletic training (AT) education, the first-time BOC pass rate is a significant marker of a program’s success, and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) requires programs to maintain a first-time 3-year aggregate BOC examination pass rate over 70%. There is limited published research on BOC pass rates on Professional Masters’ (PM) programs. Therefore, it is essential to identify modifiable factors that have a relationship with first-time pass rates. This study's aim was to investigate the relationships between programmatic factors and the first-time BOC pass rate for PM AT students while controlling for student and institutional factors. …

Exploring Occupational Therapy With Athletes Using Principles Of Lifestyle Redesign® To Support Academic Success And Life Balance., Michaela M. Dendinger

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Occupational therapists have a range of skills that can benefit a variety of populations. Despite these skills, occupational therapy has limited exploration within the field of athletics. The capstone project gave insight to the services occupational therapy can provide to the student-athlete population. Through the lens of Lifestyle Redesign®, the Student-Athlete Wellness Program was created to support student-athlete academic success and life balance. Following a needs assessment an online program was developed. The program was provided to students and athletes a University in the Midwest U.S. The program attracted 21 student-athletes and five students. Limited participation in surveys provided difficulties …

Acute Physiological And Perceptual Responses To Unilateral Versus Bilateral Walking With Blood Flow Restriction, Sage Donaldson

Honors Theses

The use of blood flow restriction (BFR) has skyrocketed in popularity in the past few years as a therapeutic modality. Studies have shown that the application of BFR at 20-30% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max) yields similar improvements in cardiovascular fitness, muscle mass, and strength when compared with traditional exercise at 60-90% of VO_2max. The substantially lower workload accompanying BFR allows for more tolerable workloads in special populations, such as those recovering from musculoskeletal injury. Because previous studies regarding BFR have mainly focused on bilateral BFR, it is unclear how unilateral BFR compares to bilateral BFR. …