Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Cyp1a2 Genotypes On The Ergogenic Effects And Subjective Mood States Of Caffeine Ingestion In Resistance-Trained Women, Jessica M Prather, Christine M Florez, Amie Vargas, Bella Soto, Audrey Ross, Abby Harrison, Ariane H Secrest, Darryn S Willoughby, Sydney Kutter, Lem W Taylor

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Caffeine’s metabolism is determined by CYP1A2 genotypes: AC/CC (SLOW) and AA (FAST). This trial evaluated CYP1A2 genotypes’ impact on exercise and cognitive effects in 36 resistance-trained females assessed under placebo (PL) and caffeine (6 mg/kg bw anhydrous caffeine-CAF) conditions, before ingestion and throughout the session. 23andMe® (San Francisco, CA, USA) determined genotypes using saliva. Data were analyzed using two-way RMANOVA and paired-samples t-tests (p < 0.05). A significant main effect for genotype existed for leg press repetitions to failure (RTF) for CAF (p = 0.038), with the FAST group performing more repetitions than the SLOW (p = 0.027). There was a significant condition x genotype interaction for the subjective outcome index score (p = …

Examining Burnout Among Collegiate Athletic Trainers: The Relationship With Age, Gender, And Years Of Experience, Stephanie M. Singe, Alexandrya Cairns, Christianne M. Eason

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Burnout continues to be a concern for healthcare providers who work in sport organizations. More research is needed on variables such as age, gender, and years of experience and its relationship with burnout. The purpose of this study is to better understand burnout within athletic trainers in a collegiate setting, specifically how burnout differentiates between men and women, age, and years of experience. Methods: Athletic trainers (n=1,006) working in the collegiate setting completed a cross sectional survey via Qualtrics (Provo, UT) that consisted of 2 main sections: 1) demographic information, and 2) Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). Results: Seventy-two percent …

L-Citrulline Supplementation Improves Arterial Blood Flow And Muscle Oxygenation During Handgrip Exercise In Hypertensive Postmenopausal Women, Yejin Kang, Katherine N Dillon, Mauricio A Martinez, Arun Maharaj, Stephen M Fischer, Arturo Figueroa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Endothelial dysfunction decreases exercise limb blood flow (BF) and muscle oxygenation. Acute L-Citrulline supplementation (CIT) improves muscle tissue oxygen saturation index (TSI) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) during exercise. Although CIT improves endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation [FMD]) in hypertensive women, the impact of CIT on exercise BF and muscle oxygenation (TSI) and extraction (HHb) are unknown. We examined the effects of CIT (10 g/day) and a placebo for 4 weeks on blood pressure (BP), arterial vasodilation (FMD, BF, and vascular conductance [VC]), and forearm muscle oxygenation (TSI and HHb) at rest and during exercise in 22 hypertensive postmenopausal women. Compared to …

A Mixed-Method Analysis Of The Contribution Of Informal Sport To Public Health In Australia, Ruth Jeanes, Justen O'Connor, Dawn Penney, Ramon Spaaij, Jonathan Magee, Eibhlish O' Hara, Lisa Lymbery

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Informal sport is a growth area of sport participation but there has been limited examination of how informal and unstructured forms of participation may contribute to health outcomes that are important for public health. This article aims to address the current lack of data examining the health outcomes associated with informal sport participation and consider the potential role of informal sport within efforts to promote healthier communities through sport. The article seeks to broaden understanding of how informal sport participation can contribute to health outcomes, particularly with regard to increasing physical activity and enhancing mental health and social connection. The …

Mental Health Among Collegiate Athletes, Stella Elise Fairbanks

Honors Thesis

Mental health has become increasingly more linked with athletics, especially collegiate athletics. There has been an increase in public acknowledgment of the presence of mental health in sports, specifically, more athletes are speaking about their mental health struggles as well as more research is being conducted in order to gain a greater understanding of the relationship between mental health and athletics. This literature review discusses athletes’ personal experiences of their mental health struggles, the presence of stigma associated with mental health and athletics, and the results of the recent NCAA, National Collegiate Athletic Association, research. This thesis aims to uncover …

Major Injuries Sustained In Towable Watersports, Elijah J. Klein

Honors Thesis

Towable watersports are activities where a participant is being pulled by a motorized watercraft while wearing or holding onto a floating device. Watersports come with many known risks such as drowning, whiplash, and fatigue; however, other injuries are often overlooked or misunderstood. With this thesis, I aimed to explore injury records pertaining to towable watersports and attempted to identify prevalent injury trends in wakeboarding, waterskiing, and water tubing. Using the National Electronic Injury Survey System (NEISS), a public database with yearly injury records, I compiled information related to the relevant sports from 2013 to 2022. Included with the data is …

Addressing Air Quality Mitigation As A Key Factor In Asthma Management And Prevention, Julia Buckles, Jewel Radford

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Asthma is the most prevalent disease in childhood and disproportionately affects African American (AA) populations in terms of prevalence and frequency of exacerbations. Air quality and environmental factors are strongly associated with the diagnosis and management of asthma and AA children are more likely to live in areas with poor air quality. An air quality flag program was implemented in a daycare located in a county with a predominantly AA population with a high prevalence of asthma diagnoses. The goal of the intervention was to increase staff awareness of air quality and the impact it can have on asthma diagnosis …

Sports Science: An Entrepreneurial Venture, Nicole J. Jones

Senior Honors Projects

In sports science, ensuring maximum athlete safety and optimizing data utilization are pivotal yet leave room for further work. My project, Unbeaten SafeWare, addresses these critical issues by focusing on two primary concerns: preventing heat-related and cardiac illnesses, which are significant causes of athlete fatalities, and enhancing the transparency and utility of sports data. This initiative involves developing a shirt integrated with sensors to monitor vital signs and an athlete management system to handle data input, storage, analysis, and accessibility for athletes.

The project has advanced through the efforts of a multidisciplinary team, which includes biomedical engineering undergraduates, two faculty …

Kinetic And Kinematic Effect Of Flag-Carrying On Referee Agility And Sprinting Performance, William Reed

Master's Theses

Within competitive soccer, assistant referees are expected to keep up with the top speed of players on the field, despite being hindered mechanically by a flag held down at their side. This ability to keep up with speed-of-play can determine effectiveness of calls on the field, yet while being tested, referees are not required to replicate the game-like state of flag-carrying. The purpose of this study was to examine kinetic and kinematic effects of flag-carrying within sprinting and change-of-direction performance in assistant referees to better inform training programs and testing protocols. 18 male referees (mean age 32.11 ± 9.08 years) …

Ua12/2/2 Talisman: Pulse, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2024 Talisman:

• Hunter, Leah. Pulse
• Muscutt, Carson. High on Bluegrass – Jordan Riehm
• Meyers, Jeffrey. Science of Movement – Exercise Science
• Murray, Debra. Pasture to Plate – Agriculture
• Murray, Debra. Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
• Coffee, Bobbi. Passion, Pain, Curiosity – Innovation Campus
• Story, Miriam. Drafts of a Postcard (October 2023)
• Johnston, Katelyn. Beyond Sound – Deaf
• Hunter, Leah. One Good Week – Madison Weis
• Alali, Cecilia. Crafted Cadence – Speech Team
• Blankenship, Alisa. Loving You
• Sandlin, Ellie. Here After – Death
• Booth, Pandora. Rooted in Rhythm – Step Shows
• Booth, Pandora. Horoscopes
• Pulse Playlist

Music As A Coping Mechanism: Clinical Implications Of How College Students Utilize Music To Cope With Anxiety, Depression, And Daily Stressors, Karly Pikel

Senior Theses

Many college students face stress, anxiety, and/or depression in their daily lives which they cope with in their own ways. Listening to music or playing an instrument are particularly powerful forms of coping that can have a plethora of positive effects on an individual. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey amongst the University of South Carolina student body to determine how they utilize music to cope in their daily lives. Of 847 respondents, almost all of them reported experiencing some extent of anxiety and/or stress and listening to music to help them cope. Respondents agreed that …

‘You Have To Respect The Water’: Participant Experiences Of Appreciating And Managing The Risks Associated With Open Water Swimming – A Rapid Ethnographic Study, Mark A. Christie, David Elliott

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Open water swimming (OWS) has rapidly grown in popularity, driven by the purported health benefits of cold-water immersion. A paucity of research remains specifically considering the notable risks inherent in OWS participation, and a lack of qualitative research on freshwater swimming experiences, and safety-related issues therein. This rapid ethnographic study, based at a dedicated OWS lake in the UK, conducted semi-structured interviews with OWS participants (n=17; female=11, male=6). Two core themes emerged: environmental issues impacting OWS experiences and behaviours; and knowledge and education of OWS which highlighted safe/unsafe practices, levels of education for managing risks, personal preparedness, swimming solo/with others, …

Lay Rescuer Equipment Preferences And Efficacy During A Simulated Drowning Event, Alison M. Miller, William D. Ramos, Kristina R. Anderson, Jill Cuvala

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

During a drowning incident where a lifeguard is not present, a bystander – referred to as a lay rescuer - may put themselves in danger by attempting a rescue. When lay rescuers can avoid entering the water by using rescue equipment to help a drowning victim, it serves to not only help the person actively drowning, but also provides a layer of protection to a lay rescuer. This study sought to examine the following questions: (a) which pieces of rescue equipment were preferred by lay rescuers at pre-determined short and long distances, (b) do lay rescuers select appropriate rescue equipment …

Barriers: Location, Functionality, And Method Of Access In Childhood Pool/Spa Submersion Incidents, United States, 2000-2017, Alison Miller, Kristina R. Anderson, William D. Ramos

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning is a leading cause of fatality among children in the United States, and residential pools/spas currently account for as much as 80% of these submersion incidents. This study reviewed narrative case reports obtained from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to understand barrier location, type, and functionality as methods of pool/spa access for childhood submersion incidents. Retroactive analysis of 1,523 fatal and non-fatal submersion incidents among children aged 13 years old and younger was conducted using the CPSC in depth investigation dataset from 2000-2017. Narrative descriptions were coded according to the attributes of barrier location, functionality, and …

Evaluating Drowning Prevention Campaigns - The Challenge Of Getting The Right Information To The Right People At The Right Time: A Response To Calverley, Petrass, And Blitvich, Gemma Crawford, Meg Abercromby, Malena Della Bona, Justine E. Leavy Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Evidence-informed decision making requires timely and readily available research and evaluation for policy and practice. In the context of drowning prevention, evaluation of interventions in the grey and peer reviewed literature is relatively scarce. Lack of evidence and associated barriers to access limits the scope of knowledge translation efforts and the application of research outcomes to initiatives designed to prevent drowning. The paper, Alcohol Focused Drowning Prevention Campaigns: What Do We Know and What Should We Do Now? highlights a lack of specific evaluation for alcohol-focused drowning prevention campaigns. We offer insights as evaluators of a youth water safety program …

Descriptive Investigation Of Work-Life Balance And Self-Care Practices Among Collegiate Athletic Trainers, Alexandrya H. Cairns, Riley Cigal, Stephanie M. Singe

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Although there is a plethora of data on factors that negatively influence an athletic trainer’s work-life balance (WLB) and mental health; there is a paucity of research on strategies that can directly address WLB. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to better understand how collegiate athletic trainers promote their mental health and wellbeing, focusing specifically on WLB and self-care practices. Methods: This was an online, cross-sectional survey in a collegiate setting. Participants were recruited via email and included 1,053 ATs (398 males, 646 females, 9 other) employed at the collegiate level. The participant’s mean age was 33 ± …

Benefits Of Pilates Exercises On Functional Fitness And Quality Of Life In Older Men: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Mohammad Khazaei, Jolanta Marszałek, Reza Aminzadeh, Elham Dehghani, Bahador Azizi

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: As age increases, declines in basic motor skills are observed in older men. Limited physical activity-based interventions, such as Pilates exercises, focus on enhancing these basic motor skills. This study aimed to identify the benefits of Pilates exercises on functional fitness and the quality of life in older men.

Material and Methods: Older men were randomly assigned to either a Pilates exercises group or a control group. Balance, strength, flexibility, and agility were tested using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT). The Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (SF-36) assessed the quality of life before and after 6 weeks of Pilates exercises. Differences over …

Does Smart Money Believe In The Hot Hand? Evidence From Daily Fantasy Baseball, Jeremy M. Losak, Andrew P. Weinbach, Rodney J. Paul

Sport Management - All Scholarship

The behavior of informed traders, or 'smart money,' in sports betting markets has long been f interest to researchers. In this paper, we focus specifically on the behavior of smart money in Major league Baseball (MLB) daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests to determine if they avoid cognitive behavioral biases to increase their expected earnings. Specifically, we investigate whether smart money avoids the hot hand bias, where individuals tend to overestimate the likelihood of success for players on a hot streak. Using a dataset of MLB DFS contests, we find that winning lineups have lower usage rates for players exhibiting the …

On The Value Of A Premium College Football Player: Evaluating The Literature, Jeremy M. Losak, Benjamin J. Posmanick, Raymond Sauer

Sport Management - All Scholarship

Over the past decade, the issue of player compensation in college sports has been the subject of several successful legal challenges. Athletes contend that the compensation they receive falls significantly short of the value they generate, attributing this gaps to unlawful NCAA restrictions. Numerous tools exist in the sport economic literature that estimate the value of colelge athletes, with an emphasized focus towards premium college football players. In addition to providing updated estimate of player marginal revenue product (MRP), we review past and contemporary methodologies for esitmating colllege player MRPs. We contend that, while presenting some evidence that restrictions on …

Gait Analysis Of Male Professional Boxers, Jacek Perliński, Joanna M. Bukowska, Łukasz Rydzik, Wojciech Wąsacz, Dariusz Kruczkowski, Tadeusz Ambroży, Wojciech Czarny, Jarosław Jaszczur-Nowicki

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Gait plays a crucial role in both daily life and sports performance. This study analyzes professional boxers’ gait, as it is essential to understand its influence on performance and injury risk. However, there is a need to comprehend the effects of boxing training on gait and the occurrence of asymmetries between limbs. Research Question: Does the gait of professional boxers exhibit significant differences between limbs, and what are the potential implications of this asymmetry? Materials and Methods: The study involved 36 professional boxers, and the Gaitway 3D Pressure treadmill was used to collect data. The analysis was performed using …

Relationship Between Body Composition, Body Fat Distribution, And Blood Lipids Among Law Enforcement Officers: Part 1, Jacob Broeckel, Megan Leonard, Anisha Patel, Broderick L. Dickerson, Ryan J. Sowinski, Matthew J. Mcallister, Drew E. Gonzalez, Steven E. Martin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) have a high-stress occupation which is prone to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, data suggest that LEOs have a 1.7-fold higher CVD prevalence versus the general public, in addition to 40.5% of LEOs being classified as obese. However, research is lacking regarding the relationship between body composition, body fat distribution, and blood lipid panels as it pertains to CVD risk in LEOs. PURPOSE: To determine if body composition and fat distribution measures correlate with predictive lipid markers in LEOs. METHODS: Forty-three LEOs (age = 41.7±9.6 yrs; weight = 91.9±15.4 kg; height = 179.8±8.7 cm; …

Effects Of Endurance Training On Skeletal Muscle Mass And Inflammation In A Rat Model Of Heart Failure, Aaron Garcia, Dillon Harris, Quinten Pigg, Daniela Sayuri Inoue, Mariana Janini Gomes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Chronic disease states including heart failure (HF) often lead to reduced physical activity, resulting in disuse and low-level systemic inflammation, which contribute to the decline in muscle mass and function. An important goal of therapy in HF patients is to counteract or prevent the development of skeletal muscle alterations in order to restore a normal functional capacity. Exercise is an established means of improving exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with HF. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of an endurance program on skeletal muscle mass and inflammation in a rat model of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-induced …

Systemic Inflammation Persists In Rats With Heart Failure After A Short-Term Endurance Training Protocol, Quinten Pigg, Dillon Harris, Aaron Garcia, Daniela Sayuri Inoue, Mariana Janini Gomes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Exercise has been shown to produce an anti-inflammatory response and an increased exercise tolerance in heart failure (HF) patients. In rats, monocrotaline (MCT) leads to pulmonary arterial hypertension-induced HF (PAH-HF), resulting in exercise intolerance and chronic inflammation. However, little is known about the effects of endurance training in rats with PAH-HF induced by monocrotaline. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of an endurance training protocol on systemic inflammatory markers and exercise tolerance in rats with HF. METHODS: 30 male Wistar rats (~250g) were randomly divided into 4 groups: control untrained (CU); control trained (CT), PAH-HF untrained (HFU), and PAH-HF trained (HFT). …

Maximal Isometric Contraction In Skeletal Muscle Of Endurance Trained Rats With Heart Failure, Dillon Harris, Jacob Kendra, Quinten Pigg, Shadi Golpasandi, Aaron Garcia, Daniela Inoue Yoshimura, Aaron Morton, Mariana Janini Gomes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Heart failure (HF) leads to debilitating skeletal muscle dysfunction and atrophy, with exercise tolerance (ET) remaining a crucial indicator of clinical, practical, and mortality-based outcomes. To simulate these comorbidities, monocrotaline (MCT) is a pharmacological agent typically used to aid in replicating experimental models of right ventricle HF. PURPOSE: To investigate the viability of moderate-intensity aerobic training to preserve skeletal muscle function and ameliorate muscle atrophy in MCT-induced HF. METHODS: Thirty 8-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sedentary (SED) or trained groups (EX; 30min/day treadmill running sessions, 5 days/wk, for 4 weeks) at 60% intensity determined by a maximal …

Effects Of Continuous Aerobic Exercise On Skeletal Muscle Atrophy Induced By Heart Failure, Carolina Tonon, Bertha F. Polegato, Quinten Pigg, Dillon Harris, Aaron Garcia, Daniela S. Inoue, Mariana Janini Gomes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Heart failure is a common and severe disease that worsens morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. One of the clinical manifestations of heart failure is peripheral muscular atrophy, whose presence impacts the prognosis of heart failure patients. Inflammation is one of the main mechanisms related to muscle atrophy. We hypothesized that inflammation, through excessive activation of the Nlrp3 inflammasome, would be tightly associated with skeletal muscle atrophy induced by heart failure. Additionally, aerobic exercise, well known for its anti-inflammatory action, would counteract this condition in a rat model of heart failure. PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of continuous …

Validity Of Body Volume Estimates From A Smartphone 3-Dimensional Scanning Application, Ethan G. Tinoco, Christian Rodriguez, Madelin R. Siedler, Christian Lavalle, Christine M. Florez, Sarah White, Alexandra Brojanac, Jaylynn Rasco, Gabrielle Dehaven, Grant M. Tinsley

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Body volume (BV) indicates the total 3-dimensional (3D) space an individual occupies. BV is either used alongside body mass in density-based two-compartment models or in conjunction with other body components in multi-compartment models to estimate body composition (BC). BV estimates are typically produced by costly laboratory methods, such as hydrostatic weighing or air-displacement plethysmography (ADP). However, more accessible options are emerging. Smartphone-based 3D scanning uses the phone’s built-in camera to provide a BV estimate in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner. However, few investigations have validated this method against an accepted laboratory technique. PURPOSE: To determine the validity of BV from …

Characterization Of Physical And Cognitive Performance And Hydration In Older Adults, Corey Lawrence, Casey R. Appell, Nigel C. Jiwan, Jarrod Blinch, Alan T. Ky, Ruben M. Moya, Cherish A. Keeney, Yasuki Sekiguchi, Hui-Ying Luk

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

In younger adults, dehydration has been shown to impair physical and cognitive performance. Older adults are habitually hypohydrated alongside experiencing physical and cognitive performance deficits. Despite these deficits, the link between these factors remains unexplored. Purpose: To examine the effect of hydration status on physical and cognitive performance in older adults. Methods: Sixteen (5 men and 11 women) community-dwelling adults (74±7yr; 78.2±15.0kg; 161±11cm) completed measurements of hydration status (urine specific gravity [USG], urine color), bioelectrical impedance analysis (lean mass, fat mass, total body fluid, intracellular to extracellular fluid ratio [ICF: ECF]), blood pressure, physical performance (handgrip strength test, sit-to-stand test, …

The Effects Of Hydration Status On Heart Rate Variability Following Supramaximal Intensity Exercise, Ryan A. Dunn, Nigel C. Jiwan, Casey R. Appell, Andrew Schindel, Ryan Ellis, Jayln Dunlap, Christopher Washington, Isabell R. Trevino, Carson Lewis, Ruben E. Moya, Jan-Joseph S. Rolloque, Marcos S. Keefe, Hui-Ying Luk, Yasuki Sekiguchi

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive method used to monitor physiological stress via assessment of sympathetic and parasympathetic regulations and can indicate an individual’s recovery and readiness to exercise. Evidence suggests dehydration negatively impacts HRV; however, the influence of hydration status on HRV following supramaximal resistance exercise (RE) is unknown. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of hydration status on HRV indices following supramaximal intensity RE. METHODS: 14 recreationally resistance-trained men (age, 21 ± 2 years; height, 176.25 ± 5.84 cm; weight, 81.31 ± 12.77 kg) participated in this study. In a randomized, counterbalanced order, participants performed a supramaximal intensity …

Optimal Ranges Of Training Load And Recovery Status Prior To The Game To Maximize Game-Day Performance In Soccer, Cherish Keeney, Kelly B. Elliott, Jan-Joseph S. Rolloque, Ruben Moya, Kathryn E. Southall, Kealey J. Wohlgemuth, Jacob A. Mota, Yasuki Sekiguchi

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Identifying ideal ranges of training load (TL) and recovery status before soccer games is essential to maximize game-day performance. PURPOSE: To determine how accumulative TL and subjective fatigue affect performance during the game. METHODS: Twenty-one male semi-professional soccer players (mean ± standard deviation; age: 22 ± 2 years; mass: 77.3 ± 6.9 kg) wore a player tracking device to monitor TL during each practice and game. A 7-day accumulation of high speed running and sprinting (HSR+Sprint, ³12.30 mph), total distance (TD), low acceleration (Low_ACC: 0.50-1.99 m×s^-2), and high acceleration (High_ACC: 2.00-50.00 m×s …

Firefighters Versus Law Enforcement Officers: A Comparison Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk, Bethany C. Guerra, Hunter Martaindale, Steven E. Martin, Lisa C. Colvin, Drew E. Gonzalez, Matthew J. Mcallister

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Firefighters (FF) and law enforcement officers (LEO) have heightened cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk due to the stressful nature of their occupations. Data suggest that 45% of on-duty FF fatalities are related to CVD, while LEO have a 1.7 times higher CVD prevalence compared to the general public. To our knowledge, studies comparing FF to LEO, in terms of CVD risk factors, have not been published. This information is necessary to better understand differences in occupational disease risk, as well as to help bridge the gap between stress and CVD markers. PURPOSE: To compare CVD risk biomarkers, fitness, and body …