Health and Physical Education Commons^™

A Chronic Pain Self-Management Quality Improvement Bundle For Veterans, Srijana D. Baniya

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Veterans often face challenges accessing care services due to limited awareness of available resources for support, Self-care, and mental health (Harding et al., 2019; Patel et al., 2024). Given the high prevalence of Chronic pain and opioid use in this population, Self-management (SM) education and non-pharmacologic interventions are required to address the biological, psychological, and social effects of pain (Bair et al., 2015; Mumba et al., 2024; Nahin, 2017; Higgins et al., 2020). This Quality improvement project aims to determine whether implementing an evidence-based SM bundle for chronic pain improved Pain severity scores and increased understanding of SM strategies. …

Lessons Learned Using Participatory Research To Develop Physical Education Resources And Recommendations For Blind Students, M. Ally Keene, Nina Marranca, Julia Lagrand, Andrews Mead-Colegrove, Angela Eckhoff, Justin Haegele

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Using a participatory action research (PAR) methodology, the purpose of this manuscript was to describe the experiences of co-constructing resources and recommendations for physical education (PE) teachers, with blind individuals as research partners, aimed at enhancing PE for blind students. Four blind young adults served as research partners within the project. The project consisted of 15 meetings over 19 weeks and two stages, and took place entirely on Zoom. Stage one consisted of four meetings and focused on exploring the needs of the partners and their experiences and opinions related to improving PE for future blind students. Stage two consisted …

Competitive Dance And The Adolescent’S Body: Considering Pedagogical Approaches To Teaching Competitive Dancers, Catri E. G. Barba

Dance (MFA) Theses

Diving into the past and researching for the future, this thesis explores the development and perpetuation of hyper-sexualized adolescent bodies through the competitive dance scene. Drawing on dance theorists, educational theorists, and embodied research (i.e., the author’s body archive), this thesis explores how the competition gaze is performed for and by a capitalist patriarchy. Specifically, this thesis critically reflects on the author’s career as a young competitive dancer in the greater Los Angeles, California, area during the 1990s and 2000s, as well as a competition dance instructor and K-12 educator for two decades, and how those personal experiences have shaped …

Creating An Effective Video Case-Based Teaching Tool To Enhance Undergraduate Clinical Skills, Tyler Kam

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Occupational Therapy Education In Cancer Rehabilitation​, Elizabeth A. Dorn

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This doctoral capstone project aimed to enhance entry-level occupational therapy (OT) education by developing and evaluating evidence-based instructional materials addressing musculoskeletal and oncology rehabilitation within a doctorate curriculum. Designed as an oncology-focused experience, the project involved a two-phase approach: (1) testing educational techniques by implementation and evaluation of an elbow pathology lecture and lab, and (2) development of an asynchronous oncology rehabilitation unit informed by outcomes from the initial phase. The project was guided by the ASSURE instructional design model and emphasized active, visual, and case-based learning strategies to support clinical reasoning.

Student outcomes were assessed using pre- and post-lecture …

Competencies, Knowledge, And Skills Of Effective School Nutrition Program Directors, Kymberle Gordon Phd, Jane Peterson Phd Rdn

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

Abstract
School nutrition program directors play a vital leadership role in ensuring school meal programs operate efficiently, effectively, and in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements. Competencies, knowledge, and skills (CKS) frameworks support these professionals by defining performance expectations, guiding professional development, and strengthening leadership capacity. The most recent CKS resource for school nutrition program directors was published in 2010, and substantial changes in regulatory requirements, operational complexity, workforce conditions, and leadership expectations have created a need for revision.

This study aimed to identify and validate the competencies, knowledge, and skills required for effective school nutrition program directors in …

Examining Any Differences Between Genders’ Activity Levels During Recess, Kara M. Wells

2026 Honors Symposium

Physical activity in children is significant for all aspects of their development, including cognitive, physical, emotional, and social aspects. Recess is important for children to be given a designated time to exercise and get physical activity. For some children, recess is the only time they get to exercise in a day. This study aims to examine differences in activity levels between genders at Leverett Elementary School. It is important to know if there is a disparity between boys and girls at recess, so that educators, parents, and administrators can work to bridge any gaps and ensure that all kids are …

Evaluating Rate Of Perceived Exertion And Heart Rate In High School Weight Training Students For Assessing, Enhancing, And Maintaining Health-Related Fitness, Nicholas Searcy

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study evaluated the relationship between rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and heart rate (HR) among high school weight-training students during circuit training sessions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether RPE could serve as a practical method for gauging moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among high school weight-training students while allowing students to assess and enhance their health-related components of fitness. Participants were high school students enrolled in weight-training classes who completed upper- and lower-body circuit training sessions over a 4-week period, or a total of 16 school days. RPE was self-reported using Borg’s CR10 …

Visual Aids And Numeracy In Healthcare: Leveraging The Drawing Effect, Zephyr J. Markley

Capstone Showcase

Healthcare decisions often require patients to interpret numerical risk information under stress, yet many struggle with low numeracy, which can distort comprehension and undermine informed consent. Well-designed visual aids can improve diagnostic inference, calibrate confidence, and support better choices, especially for patients with limited numeracy, but their impact depends on whether users can actually interpret the format accurately. Drawing may further enhance these tools by adding a tactile, generative layer that engages visual, semantic, and motoric processing while helping patients organize information into concrete models.

Passive visual aids appear useful but limited because they often position patients as observers rather …

Health Matters: Advancing Pediatric Health Equity Through Accessible And Engaging Health Literacy Activity Books, Lorraine Sheldon

2026

This poster describes the development and implementation of the Health Matters activity book series, a health literacy initiative designed to provide engaging, accessible, and developmentally appropriate health education for pediatric patients and their families. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, audience-centered design, and distribution across more than 30 departments, the project demonstrates how interactive educational materials can advance pediatric health equity, support family engagement, and improve health literacy outcomes.

Understanding Motivations And Health Outcomes Of College-Aged Triathletes During Covid-19: A Mixed-Methods Study, Patrick Wilson, Eddie Hill, Justin Haegele, Xihe Zhu

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

A triathlon is a multi-sport event that consists of three simultaneous events: swimming, biking, and running. This sport has experienced significant growth in the past few decades, with colleges and universities now participating. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined the motivations and perceived health benefits of college triathletes during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the Means-Ends of Recreation Scale and the Perceived Health Outcomes of Recreation Scale (N = 29), as well as semi-structured interviews (N = 4). Results indicate no difference in motives or health outcomes between male and female survey respondents. The thematic analysis of open-ended interview questions highlighted lived …

Epistemic Injustice In Physical Education And Sport: A Critical Disability Studies Perspective, Janine Coates, Justin A. Haegele, Anthony J. Maher, Maria Luiza Tanure Alves, Martin Giese, Sebastian Ruin, Lesley Sharpe

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This paper examines epistemic injustice as a valuable epistemological lens for critical disability studies (CDS) researchers examining issues of equity and social justice in physical education (PE) and sport. Drawing on the work of Miranda Fricker, we examine the ways in which knowledge production related to PE and sport for disabled youth may perpetuate injustices through affording excess credibility to those in positions of power who may have no lived, embodied experience of disability. We argue that disabled young people are frequently marginalised in knowledge production about PE and sport, with non-disabled adults often afforded greater epistemic authority. Building on …

Questioning Body-Normativity Dominance In Inclusive Physical Education: A Transgressive Analysis Through Bell Hooks' Perspectives, Maria Luiza Tanure Alves, Justin A. Haegele, Anthony Maher, Sebastian Ruin, Lesley Sharpe, Martina Giese, Janine Coates

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Grounded in Critical Disability Studies, this study examines how mechanisms of oppression are recurrently legitimized in relation to Disabled students in Physical Education (PE). Drawing on bell hooks’ perspective, this study explores recurring logics of domination, thereby deepening understandings of how oppression is produced and sustained in PE. Using a post-structuralist approach, we conducted qualitative interviews with nine PE teachers to examine the dominant beliefs and pedagogical practices that shape PE in relation to disability. Interview data were analyzed through interpretative discourse analysis, guided by Critical Disability Studies and informed by hooks’ critical insights on oppression. The findings suggest …

Exploring Youth Soccer Coach Recruitment Practices, Han-Earl Lim

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This qualitative single-case study examined how a private-interest, nonprofit youth soccer club in the Midwestern United States recruits coaches, what coach qualities are prioritized in hiring, and how organizational and sociocultural conditions shape those practices. The study was guided by three research questions focused on (a) recruitment and early support processes, (b) hiring criteria and decision rationales, and (c) the organizational and sociocultural contexts influencing recruitment. Data were generated through five semi-structured interviews with four participants who were involved in recruitment practices (the Executive Director, the Assistant Director, and two full-time head coaches). Additional sources included an organizational mapping survey …

The Impact Of A Social Wellness Intervention On The Perception Of Social Support Among Working Adults, Jannysse Gray

DNP Research Projects

Abstract 

Objective: Social isolation and loneliness have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. For working adults, these experiences may impact work attendance, performance, satisfaction, and retention, leading to burnout, fatigue, grief, and disengagement. Barriers to developing and nurturing healthy relationships, such as competing work and family responsibilities, or a lack of resources or energy, can contribute to this problem; therefore, this group was chosen for the intervention. This project aimed to raise awareness of the importance of social connections and to analyze whether an online educational intervention was associated with improved perceptions of social support among working adults. Methods: …

Course Revision To Enhance Preservice Student Knowledge Of And Engagement Within Collaborative Learning Communities, Emily M. Jones, Oscar Nunez Enriquez, Zack Beddoes, Dan Phelps, Deborah Garrahy

Faculty Publications - Kinesiology and Recreation

This article shares a collaborative approach to refining an upper-level physical education teacher education seminar course. The primary goal of this refinement was to thoughtfully consider the existing course structure, content, and relevance to the evolving needs of schools. The approved course content focused on sociopolitical issues in education, strategies to navigate the complexities of professional roles in schools, and the transition into the teaching workforce. Through this process, the use of professional learning communities (PLCs) was considered as a viable approach to support preservice teachers’ learning and engagement in course content. Furthermore, by embedding PLCs into the course, the …

Addressing Mental Health In College Athletics: Developing A Mindfulness-Centered Curricular Intervention For Student-Athletes And Coaches, Douglas W. Lampman

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Rising rates of mental health concerns among collegiate student-athletes have intensified calls for a more holistic approach to athlete development and well-being.  While student-athletes regularly interact with coaches and educators, few curricular interventions explicitly address mental and emotional wellness in the athletic context.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the development, implementation, and perceived impact of a mindfulness-centered approach and curriculum.  This curriculum is designed explicitly for collegiate student-athletes and coaches.  Grounded in mindfulness-based pedagogy, the curriculum addressed stress management, emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships, performance anxiety, and personal growth.

Using a multi-tiered qualitative design, data were collected …

Comparing Strength Testing Measures And The Association Of Strength And Body Composition In Young Children, Abigayle R. Spong

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Muscle strength is an important component of physical fitness; however, measuring it with isokinetic dynamometry (IKD) is expensive and requires dedicated space. Handheld dynamometry (HHD) provides a practical alternative for field and clinical settings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare peak knee flexion and extension torque measured by IKD and HHD in 37 children (ages 5-11 years) and examine relationships with body composition. Participants completed a RAMPing protocol at 90^o knee flexion consisting of two warm-up contractions at 50% and 75% effort followed by three maximal voluntary isometric contractions. Body composition was assessed via DXA scans. …

An Evaluation Of Aquatic Interventions To Support Increased Physical Fitness Levels For Children With Cerebral Palsy, Grace Kasberger

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study was designed to determine the most appropriate aquatic interventions to best improve physical fitness levels in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Children with CP often experience reduced aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and functional mobility, which can limit participation in traditional land-based physical activities such as walking and playing. Aquatic environments provide safe and resistance-based environments that can reduce joint loading, spasticity, and provide training. This systematic review examined a variety of different aquatic interventions (e.g. HIIT, aerobic based, strength training, flexibility, and the Halliwick Method) to improve physical fitness in children with CP. Data collection focused on outcomes …

Association Of Aerobic Performance With Balance, Anaerobic Power, Agility, And Visual Reaction Time In Fencers, Aysel Gökçe Kurt, Manolya Acar

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic performance on balance, anaerobic power, agility, and visual reaction in fencers and was designed as a prospective cohort study. Materials and methods: This study involved 26 fencing athletes (age = 20.35 ± 5.12 years, sports experience: 8.44 ± 4.33 years). The 20-m shuttle test, the vertical jump test, the Y-balance test, the fencing-specific 4-2-2-4 forward-back step method, and the Nelson hand reaction test were used to evaluate aerobic performance, anaerobic performance, balance, agility-change of direction, and visual reaction, respectively. Results: The maximum oxygen consumption determined with a use of the …