Digital Commons Network^™

Older Persons Participation In Hard Martial Arts: Opportunities To Improve Psychological Well-Being? A Scoping Review., Dan Sullivan, Mike Climstein, Brian Moore, Luke Del Vecchio Dr

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 183-198, 2024. This study aims to explore the potential psychological and cognitive advantages for older individuals engaged in hard martial arts (HMA), through a comprehensive scoping review of literature up to 2023. Specifically, it examines the extent of changes in cognition, mental state, and quality of life among elderly participants of HMA. Inclusion criteria were studies conducted on healthy persons who were over 50 years of age. Only papers published in the English language were included. The search was undertaken in electronic databases and sources of grey literature. Thirteen papers with a total of …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Rotc Army Cadet Exercise Training For The Army Combat Fitness Test, Simone A. Cannon, Jake A. Mintz, Brandon Roberts, Kelsey Rushing, Gregor W. Jenkins, Gordon Fisher, Eric P. Plaisance, Cody E. Morris

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 172-182, 2024. The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is used to evaluate the fitness level of potential Cadets for military readiness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the exercise training program implemented by an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program to gauge the performance metrics of the ACFT. METHODS: Twenty-six student Cadets of the ROTC at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) program participated in the study. Over an 8-month period, the ROTC Cadets trained on campus three days per week. Training was performed in a circuit …

Acute Effects Of Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Exercises On Army Combat Fitness Test Performance, Christopher Bonilla, Robert L. Herron, Greg Ryan, Jason Casey, Brandon Spradley

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 154-171, 2024. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing task-specific, post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) strategies, to acutely improve Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) performance. Nineteen ROTC cadets completed two ACFTs, separated by 72 hours. Approximately half (n = 10) completed the traditional “Preparation Drill” as their warm-up prior to the first session and added PAPE warm-up strategies as part of their second session. The other group (n = 9) completed the treatments in the opposite order to facilitate a repeated-measures, crossover design. The participants’ composite ACFT score was used …

Studying Adherence To Reporting Standards In Kinesiology: A Post-Publication Peer Review Brief Report, Nikki M. Watson, Jafra D. Thomas

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(7): 25-37, 2024. To demonstrate how post-publication peer reviews—using journal article reporting standards—could improve the design and write-up of kinesiology research, the authors performed a post-publication peer review on one systematic literature review published in 2020. Two raters (1^st & 2^nd authors) critically appraised the case article between April and May 2021. The latest Journal Article Reporting Standards by the American Psychological Association relevant to the review were used: i.e., Table 1 (quantitative research standards) and Table 9 (research synthesis standards). A standard fully met was deemed satisfactory. Per Krippendorff’s alpha-coefficient, inter-rater agreement …

Effects Of Supramaximal Anderson Quarter-Squats As A Potentiating Stimulus On Discus Performance In Division I Throwers: A Pilot Study, Ogochukwu I. Nwachukwu, Mark Debeliso Phd, Marcus M. Lawrence Phd

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(6): 99-114, 2024. No study has assessed supramaximal (over 100% 1RM) back squat variations as a potentiating stimulus in collegiate throwers. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a supramaximal Anderson (bottom-up) quarter squat potentiating stimulus would improve discus throw performance in Division I throwers compared to a dynamic warm-up alone. Nine NCAA division I thrower athletes (age: 20.1±1.4 years; 1RM back squat/body weight: 2.5±0.4 kg) randomly completed two sessions separated by at least 72 hours. One session involved a standardized dynamic warm-up alone (DyWU) followed by three trials of maximal …

The Relationship Between Athlete Perceptions Of Coaching Leadership Behaviors And Athlete Grit, Landon Braun, Lindsay Ross-Stewart, Barbara B. Meyer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 12-23, 2023. Coach leadership style has long been positively correlated with athlete experiences such as motivation, health (i.e., burnout), and performance outcomes (i.e., enhanced execution time to complete tasks) (24). More recently, grit (18) has been positively correlated with athlete experiences such as engagement (39) and decreased burnout (32). Given the impact coaches have on their athletes and the positive psychological benefits of grit, it is reasonable to explore the intersections of coaching behaviors and grit. As such, the purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between athlete perceptions of coach …

Fat-Free Mass Index In A Large Sample Of Collegiate American Football Athletes, Jennifer B. Fields, Margaret T. Jones, Adam Feit, Meghan K. Magee, Nicholas M. Kuhlman, Andrew R. Jagim

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 129-139, 2024. High levels of fat-free mass (FFM) are favorable for athletes and are related to sport performance. However, fat-free mass index (FFMI), which includes adjustments for height, may offer a better way to characterize FFM beyond raw values. As FFMI is understudied relative to sport, the purpose of the current study was to assess position and age group differences in FFMI among collegiate American football players. National Collegiate Athletic Association DIII (n=111) football players underwent body composition assessment via bioelectrical impedance analysis. FFMI was calculated by dividing FFM by height squared. One-way analyses …

Stance Time And Impact Loading Rates Are Significant Predictors Of Critical Speed During A 3-Minute All-Out Running Test, Trevor Short, Cris Stickley, Bret Freemyer, Andrew Takata, Paulette Yamada

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 115-128, 2024. The addition of wearable technology during a 3-minute all-out overground running test (3MAOT) could provide additional insights to guide training and coaching strategies. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between critical speed (CS) and biomechanical parameters (cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, stance time, form power, leg spring stiffness, and impact loading rate), and changes in biomechanical parameters throughout the 3MAOT. Sixty-three (male, n=37, female, n=26) recreationally active college-aged (23.4±3.9 years) subjects completed a 3MAOT while wearing a Stryd foot-pod. The correlations between CS and biomechanical parameters were evaluated …

Lower-Body Strength Relationships With Sprint, Jump, And Sport-Specific Skill Performance In High School Girls Softball Players, Robert G. Lockie, Jacob D. Patron, J. Jay Dawes, Erika Viramontes

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 86-98, 2024. Softball athletes require multiple fitness traits (e.g., strength, speed, power) and sport-specific skills (e.g., hitting, throwing) for success. Lower-body strength could underpin these qualities; this has received little analysis among high school female athletes. This research investigated correlations between absolute and relative lower-body strength with age, linear speed, lower-body power, and throwing and hitting velocity in high school girls softball athletes. Archival data collected from 34 high school girls softball players (age=14.91±1.00 years; height=1.66±0.07 m; body mass=63.21±9.59 kg) from a private strength and conditioning facility was analyzed. The data included: age, height, …

Physical Fitness Responses After Sixteen Weeks Of Three Fitness Program Trainings In Untrained Subjects, Habil Hamdouni, Brian Kliszczewicz, Hassane Zouhal, Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 54 - 72, 2024. The remarkable popularity of fitness trends like high intensity functional training (HIFT), choreographed high intensity classes (CHIC) and resistance (RT) trainings raises the question on their effect on cardio-respiratory, lactate removal rate, endurance and body composition responses. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare these effects. Ninety-five participants were randomly assigned into 16 weeks of these trainings, five sessions/week. Anthropometric and fitness tests were carried out before training (PRE), after eight (8W) and sixteen weeks (16W). Body composition measures demonstrated significant decrease in body fat percentage ( …

More Than Body Composition: A Darwinian Theory Of Somatotype, Applied To A Dii Track And Field Outdoor Season, Whitley J. Stone, Matthew J. Garver, Amanda Wakeman, Danilo Tolusso, Hannah Nelson, Josie Hair, Eric Nehlsen

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 1-12, 2024. This study presents somatotype data on a team sport with chronic and diverse sporting demands. The aims were to (1) characterize a somatotype profile for Division II (DII) track and field athletes (n=54) by sex, class, and events; (2) determine if somatotype changed across the season; (3) determine if changes differed based on class or sex; and, (4) assess potential differences in somatotype between sexes. Methods: Anthropometrics (height, weight, body composition, somatotype) were evaluated after a competitive indoor season and immediately before the outdoor conference championships (41 days). Body measurements were assessed …

Feasibility Of Blood Flow Restriction Exercise In Adults With A Non-Surgically Treated Achilles Tendon Rupture; A Case Series, Andreas Bentzen, Stian Langgård Jørgensen, Sara Birch, Louise Mortensen, Marianne Toft, Michael Godsvig Lindvig, Per Hviid Gundtoft, Inger Mechlenburg

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(3): 140-153, 2024. Blood flow restriction exercise (BFRE) appears to provide a unique opportunity to preserve lower limb muscle and function in patients with an Achilles tendon rupture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of BFRE in patients with an Achilles tendon rupture. Additionally, to evaluate muscle volume and patient-reported ankle function, symptoms, complications, and physical activity following 12 weeks of BFRE. Feasibility was measured by adherence to training sessions, drop-out rate, intervention acceptability, ankle pain exacerbation (NRS), and adverse events. At baseline and 12-weeks follow-up, patients completed the Achilles Tendon …

Evaluation Of The Craniovertebral Angle In Standing Versus Sitting Positions In Young Adults With And Without Severe Forward Head Posture, David A. Titcomb, Bridget F. Melton, Helen W. Bland, Theresa Miyashita

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 73-85, 2024. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of standing versus sitting body position on the craniovertebral angle (CVA) in young adults without pathology; and to investigate whether mean differences between positional CVA measures in subjects with severe forward head posture (FHP) are distinct from age-matched controls with normal head posture. Ninety-eight young adults (68 women, 30 men) without pathology (OVERALL; n = 98) volunteered for the study; those with CVA > 53° were also included in a normal posture group (NORM; n = 14); those with CVA < 45° were also included in a severe FHP group (SEV; n = 15). …

Bench Press Range-Of-Motion And Velocity-Based Repetition Control: Effects On Ballistic Push-Up Performance In Males, Kyle Collins, Adam Bradley, Bryan Christensen, Roman Waldera, Lukus Klawitter, Liam Ogren, Robert Salatto

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 38-53, 2024. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ballistic push-up (BPU) is responsive to post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) after a bench press conditioning exercise using velocity-based repetition control. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the effects of range of motion (ROM) conditions on subsequent BPU performance. In a randomized crossover design, 18 males performed two conditions (full ROM and self-selected partial ROM) of bench press at 80% of their 1RM until mean concentric velocity dropped 10%. Each participant performed two pre- and six post-test BPUs to assess the PAPE effect. Paired …

Innovative Virtual Wellness Interventions At An Academic Medical Center: A Pilot Feasibility Study, Ritika Baweja, Michael Hayes, Aditya Joshi, Raman Baweja

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: There is generally a concerning likelihood of burnout in healthcare workers. Given the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers, our institution identified the need for wellness interventions to foster adaptive functioning and mitigate burnout. The purpose of this pilot project was to assess the feasibility of virtual holistic interventions like meditation, art, laughter therapy and dance and their impact on overall well-being of physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs).

Methods: A series of 12 virtual sessions (art therapy, dance therapy, mindfulness-based practices/meditation and laughter therapy) were offered to providers over a 6-month period. Participants completed an online survey reporting …

The Effects Of Combined Aquatic Exercise On Physical Performance And Metabolic Indices In Overweight Healthy Older Adults, Shiva Ebrahimpour Nosrani, Bakhtyar Tartibian, Rasoul Eslami, Carlos Farinha, João Serrano, José Pedro Ferreira, Ana Maria Texeira

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 1499-1513, 2023. Addressing overweight and obesity to promote healthy aging is essential. Exercise is an outstanding approach to manage metabolic and physical dysfunction. Aquatic exercise has been recommended for older individuals due to reduced weight pressure on joints. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of twenty-eight weeks of combined aquatic exercise (aerobic and resistance) in overweight healthy older individuals. Thirty-two subjects of both genders with mean age of 72.06 ± 5.8 years were randomly assigned into two groups: an aquatic exercise group (EG; n = 19) and a control group …

Body Mass Index Superior To Body Adiposity Index In Predicting Adiposity In Female Collegiate Athletes., Annika Grams, Anthony Acevedo, Riley Morton, Payton Price, Kyli Alvarez, Malia Nowlen, Estephania Campa, Zachary Zeigler

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 1487-1498, 2023. Body mass index (BMI) is moderately correlated with %Fat and often used to assess obesity in athletes. Limited research assesses BMI as a surrogate for %Fat in female collegiate athletes. Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is an anthropometric measurement suggested to be superior to BMI at predicting adiposity but has not been well assessed within female athletic populations. This study aimed to determine if BAI is superior to other anthropometric indices to predict %Fat in female collegiate athletes and college-aged female non-athletes. Collegiate female athletes and female non-athletes were invited into the laboratory …

Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Dependence And Fueling Strategies In Trail Runners, Keely Henniger, Kelly Pritchett, Namrita Kumar Brooke, Leah Dambacher

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(2): 1471-1486, 2023. Under fueling, disordered eating (DE), exercise dependence (EXD), and high training demands relative to energy intake may increase the risk of low energy availability (LEA) in endurance and ultra-endurance athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of LEA risk and relationship with risk of DE, EXD, and fueling habits during training and competition in endurance runners. Trail runners between the age of 18-40 (n = 1,899; males: n = 510, females: n = 1,445) completed a 45-question survey using Qualtrics that included training and racing characteristics, questions …

The Effects Of Wearing A Portable Media Armband On Muscle Activation Of The Biceps Brachii, W. Steven Tucker, Melissa J. Allen, Ashley E. Patterson, Alex W. Fotioo

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(1): 1461-1470, 2023. Portable media armbands are commonly used among the physically active population. Their effect on muscle function has not been established. The purpose of this study was to determine if muscle activation of the biceps brachii is influenced by wearing a portable media armband during an elbow flexion exercise. Eighteen participants (11 males: age = 22.5 ± 2.1 years, height = 178.3 ± 5.2 cm, mass = 85.0 ± 6.5 kg; 7 females: age = 22.9 ± 2.5 years, height = 168.3 ± 5.7 cm, mass = 72.3 ± 12.2 kg) with no …

Physical Activity And Its Association With Academic Performance Among Malaysian Adolescents, Vinura Venugopal

Student Works (2020-2029)

The rates of physical inactivity among adolescents have been increasing yearly. Physical activity can reduce the risk of diseases, help manage weight, improve brain health, and ensure healthy growth and development. Besides these benefits, physical activity has also been linked to better academic achievement in certain studies. This study examines the relationship between physical activity and academic performance (national-based examinations) among adolescents in Malaysia. It was also designed to identify a feasible standardised physical activity programme. Methods: This is a multimethod study. The first phase is a prospective closed cohort study using data from 579 students from the Malaysian Health …

Activation Of Renal Epithelial Na+ Channels (Enac) In Infants With Congenital Heart Disease, Laura Ortmann, Shyam Sundar Nandi, Yulong Li, Hong Zheng, Kaushik K. Patel

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to measure the concentration and activity of urinary proteases that activate renal epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) mediated Na

METHODS: Urine samples from infants undergoing cardiac surgery were collected at three time points: T1) pre-operatively, T2) 6-8 h after surgery, and T3) 24 h after diuretics. Urine was collected from five heathy infant controls. The urine was tested for four proteases and whole-cell patch-clamp testing was conducted in renal collecting duct M-1 cells to test whether patient urine increased Na

RESULTS: Heavy chain of plasminogen, furin, and prostasin were significantly higher in cardiac patients prior to …

Factors That Influence Small Mammal Long Bone Morphology: An Analysis Of The Femora, Tibiae, And Humeri Of The Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis), Tyler Everette Blake

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The goal of this study is to examine the effect of urbanization and latitude on bone morphology, specifically limb length and bone density among gray squirrels endemic to the eastern United States. This study’s hypotheses are as follows: gray squirrels occupying lower latitudes will have larger body sizes and longer limbs relative to body size than those at higher latitudes following Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules. Further, squirrels in urban habitats will have greater bone density than those in rural habitats. Results show moderate correlation between body mass and respective proxies and latitude following Bergmann’s rule. Weak correlations were found between …

Role Of Plasmapheresis: A Tale Of Two Thyroid Storms, Zhiwei Zhang, Sam Joseph, Donald Eagerton

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Microvascular Reactivity Is Greater Following Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Exercise Compared To Traditional Resistance Exercise, Michael R. Perlet, Evan L. Matthews

Research Data

Excel document of research data, statistical analysis, and graphs.

The Protective Role Of Melanin Within The Teleost Inner Ear, Gabriel Heckerman

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Melanin is the dark pigment responsible for influencing the color of bodily structures, and it is variably present throughout human and animal tissue. Melanin is also found within the mammalian inner ear, and it has been observed that a lack of melanin is associated with greater susceptibility to sensorineural hearing loss. In this study, melanin levels of the inner ears of different color morphs of the fish species Poecilia latipinna and Cyprinus carpio were measured and the potential protective role of that melanin from acoustical stress was examined. Previous research showed that black morphs of both species exhibited less noise-induced …

The Role Of Uchl1 In Skeletal Muscle Development And Regeneration, Ryan Antony

Dissertations and Theses

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that was originally discovered in neurons. UCHL1 is also expressed in skeletal muscle, but its functions remain to be fully understood. Myogenesis is a critical process involved in embryonic development, growth, and regeneration following injury. Skeletal muscle injury is prevalent in trauma and surgical procedures, and skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a common yet dangerous public health problem. Here we reported that UCHL1 negatively affects muscle growth during aging as well as the regeneration process following IR injury. First, we observed that UCHL1 knockdown in C2C12 myoblasts resulted in increased …

Thyroid Hemiagenesis Associated With Oncocytic Type Follicular Adenoma With Kras Mutation - A Case Report, Sam Joseph, Zhiwei Zhang, Donald Eagerton, Rana Hoda

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Paralog Switching Facilitates Diadromy: Ontogenetic, Microevolutionary And Macroevolutionary Evidence, Rebecca S. Colby, Stephen D. Mccormick, Jonathan P. Velotta, Elizabeth Jockusch, Eric T. Schultz

EEB Articles

Euryhalinity is present in diverse aquatic taxa and requires flexible osmoregulation to field the challenges posed by differing salinities. Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) is a ubiquitous ion pump in the gills of fishes and, for some species, paralogs of the catalytic -subunit (NKA 1a and NKA 1b) exhibit reciprocal expression between fresh- and seawater, termed paralog-switching. We investigated the expression and evolution of NKA paralogs in Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), a euryhaline and migratory fish. Comparisons between landlocked and diadromous life history forms and migrant and pre-migrant ontogenetic stages were used to study shifts in NKA paralog expression related to freshwater or …

Vascular And Metabolic Consequences Of T Cell Aging, David J. Buckley

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Aging is the major non-modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Many common CVD are diseases of the arteries. Two major hallmarks of arterial aging are 1) increased large artery stiffness and 2) endothelial dysfunction which is characterized by impaired endothelium dependent vasodilation and blunted nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Importantly, these adverse alterations in the arteries occur prior to, and are predictors of the onset of overt CVD. Advancing age is also a non-modifiable risk factor for impaired glucose homeostasis and is directly or indirectly associated with almost every …

Sympathetic-Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity In Adults With Major Depressive Disorder, Ashley Darling

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood and/or anhedonia that causes significant functional impairment in daily life. MDD affects nearly 15% of adults in their lifetime, and since 2019, prevalence estimates have increased up to ~30% in young adults (18-25 years old). In addition to its debilitating effects on daily functioning, epidemiological studies link MDD to ~3 times greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), followed by accelerated CVD progression and mortality. Although the mechanisms contributing to MDD-CVD comorbidity are unclear, there is evidence of stress system dysfunction in adults with MDD.

Accordingly, the aim …