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The Relationship Between Health And Movement Screens And Field-Based Physical Fitness Tests In Reserve Officer Training Corps Students, Lukas Krumpl, Nickolai J. P. Martonick, Youngmin Chun, Ann F. Brown, Joshua P. Bailey

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 42-52, 2023. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between scores achieved in physical fitness tests and outcomes of health and movement screens (HMS) in ROTC students. Twenty-eight students (20 males: 21.8 yrs [± 3.4] & 8 females: 20.7 yrs [± 1.8]) enrolled in an ROTC branch (Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marines) completed a series of screens, including body composition analysis via Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA), balance and functional movement tasks via a lower-quarter Y-Balance test, and knee and hip joint concentric strength testing on an isokinetic dynamometer. Official …

How Did Participating In A Prenatal Nutrition And Exercise Program Influence Postpartum Experiences During Covid-19?, Rozhan Momen, Maya Weinreich, Taniya S. Nagpal, Michelle F. Mottola

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(3): 1-11, 2023. Lifestyle interventions focusing on prenatal physical activity (PA) and healthy nutritional habits can carry forward into the postpartum period. As many health resources, like PA facilities and postpartum support groups, were inaccessible due to the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions, it may be plausible that individuals who participated in a prenatal lifestyle intervention continued engaging in positive health behaviours on their own. This study explored experiences of postpartum individuals during the pandemic who had engaged in a prenatal PA and nutrition program prior to COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews were completed with postpartum individuals following …

Growth And Survival Of Amphibians Exposed To Road Salt And Glyphosate-Based Herbicide, Jerica Eaton

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Amphibian populations are threatened by increasing levels of environmental pollution resulting from human activities. Areas with mixed land use that include agriculture and urban development experience increased contamination from surface herbicide and road deicer application. Upon entering water sources, these chemicals have the capacity to disrupt the natural dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of these contaminants on amphibian populations. I used the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) as a model, rearing larvae from hatching to metamorphosis. I subjected larvae in each of the treatment groups to varying levels of herbicide and salt concentrations. …

Covid-19 And Eating Disorders: How Covid-19 Increased The Prevalence And Severity Of Eating Disorders, And The Lasting Implications, Lucy Rogers

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

COVID-19 brought on a whirlwind of changes that were impossible to have foreseen. The impacts on individuals have left lasting impressions, the natures of which continue to be unearthed even now- 4 years later. This thesis will outline the impacts of COVID-19 on those suffering from eating disorders and disordered eating habits, as well as ideas for how to support and care for these individuals through their continued hardships which have been set in motion by the pandemic.

The research conducted on this topic utilized peer reviewed articles found through databases such as CINAHL, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. The findings …

Examining The Impact Of Holistic Practices On Lgbtqia+ Wellness, Airelle Railley

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The project involved surveying the before and aftereffects of holistic healing for ten undergraduate Kentuckians who identify as LGBTQIA+. The purpose of the project was to heighten and expand the LGBTQIA+ participants experience with holistic and wellness care, by utilizing on or off campus wellness activities. Those ten participants were split into two groups of five. The control group was lightly “encouraged” to attend any health and wellness activities. The intervention group was required to attend at least one yoga session per week. Each participant was instructed to complete and submit documentation each month. Those documents included surveys and monthly …

A Systematic Review Of The Effects Of Meditative And Mindful Walking On Mental And Cardiovascular Health, Dustin W. Davis, Bryson Carrier, Kyle Cruz, Brenna Barrios, Merrill Russen Landers, James W. Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(2): 1692-1734, 2022. Meditative and mindful exercise are types of physical exercise during which people pay attention, on purpose, to each new present moment without judging their experience. The goal is to apply an accepting awareness of the environment, bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions without labeling them (e.g., good or bad). The literature centers on qigong, tai chi, and yoga, which are types of mindful exercise that improve mental and cardiovascular health. It is unclear if meditative and mindful walking also improve these health domains. To the authors’ knowledge, this question has not been addressed …

Physical Activity Independently Predicts Perceived Stress During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Private University Students, Curtis W. Brownell, Laura S. Kabiri, Cassandra S. Diep, Heidi Y. Perkins, Amanda M. Perkins-Ball, Augusto X. Rodriguez

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(7): 1680-1691, 2022. Physical activity has significantly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Declines in physical activity have correlated with increased levels of perceived stress, though studies examining physical activity and stress have failed to account for critical confounds. The present study aims to determine whether physical activity independently predicts perceived stress in students attending private four-year universities. Physical activity, socioeconomic status, resilience, gender, and perceived stress data were collected from 85 students and used in a multiple linear regression analysis. The regression model accounted for 43.5% of the variance in perceived stress (R2 = .462, …

Muscle Architecture And Strength Changes Induced By Different Resistance Training Frequencies And Detraining, Tiago Volpi Braz, Felipe Brigatto, Danilo Rodrigues Batista, Wellington Gonçalves Dias, Luan Oenning Col, Guilherme Borsetti Businari, Jhenipher Rosolem, Julio Benvenutti Bueno De Camargo, Paulo Henrique Barbosa, Charles Ricardo Lopes

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(4): 1661-1679, 2022. The purpose of the present study was to investigate muscle thickness and strength outcomes of the quadriceps femoris induced by different resistance training (RT) frequencies and detraining. In addition, muscle architecture (MA) parameters were also assessed. Twenty-seven healthy resistance-trained subjects (men, n = 17; women, n = 10; 20.8 ± 1.9 years; RT experience = 3.3 ± 1.6 years) volunteered to participate in this study. One leg of each subject was randomly allocated into the 2 sessions per week condition (2x) and the contralateral leg was then placed in the 4 sessions …

Advance Care Planning In Faith Communities: A Quality Improvement Project, Lorie Hacker, Jan Gaddis, Jessica Grimm, Catherine Chung

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

This quality improvement project examined the impact of providing an advance care planning training tool to faith community nurses in the community setting on advance care planning knowledge, self-efficacy, and implementation of advance care planning outreach and advance directive completion. The pre- and post-intervention frequencies measure and paired-t test survey design resulted in clinically significant improvements in knowledge, and self-efficacy of advance care planning among faith community nurses. A fifty-fold increase was seen in advance care planning outreach activities among the group from pre- to post-intervention. The limitations of the project included small sample size and short implementation timing. However, …

A Preliminary Comparison Of Firefighter Candidates' Biddle Physical Ability Test Performance And Success Based On Training Class Participation, Robert G. Lockie, Tomas Ruvalcaba, Megan Thompson, Erika Viramontes, Robin (Rob) Marc Orr, J. Jay Dawes, Joseph Dulla

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(4): 1627-1640, 2022. The Biddle Physical Ability Test (BPAT) was developed to identify candidates who possess the physical ability to become structural firefighters. The test must be completed in ≤ 9:34 min:s before a candidate is admitted to an academy. Some community colleges offer semester-long training classes for candidates. This study analyzed whether candidates who completed a training class could perform the BPAT more effectively. Retrospective analysis of 30 males and 2 females who attempted the BPAT was conducted. BPAT tasks were: dry and charged hose drag; halyard raise, roof walk, and attic crawl; roof …

The Effects Of Traditional Versus Ability-Based Physical Training On The Health And Fitness Of Custody Assistant Recruits, Karly Rodas, Joseph Dulla, Matthew R. Moreno, Ashley Bloodgood, Megan Mcguire, Robin (Rob) Marc Orr, J. Jay Dawes, Robert G. Lockie

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(3): 1641-1660, 2022. This study investigated traditional training (TT) versus ability-based training (ABT) in custody assistant recruits. Retrospective analysis was conducted on two recruit classes who completed an 8-week academy. The TT group (18 males, 13 females) followed a physical training model where recruits completed the same exercises with the same intensity; the ABT group (17 males, 12 females) had exercises tailored towards their ability. Pre- and post-academy, recruits were assessed in: body mass; body fat percentage (BF%); resting heart rate (RHR); blood pressure (BP); waist circumference (WC); waist-to-hip ratio (WHR); grip strength; push-ups; sit-ups; …

Near Infrared Spectroscopy Is Not A Surrogate Of Venous Occlusion Plethysmography To Assess Microvascular Resting Blood Flow And Function, Manuel Gomez, Alvaro N. Gurovich, Samuel Montalvo

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(2): 1616-1626, 2022. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive technique that measures tissue perfusion using red blood cells oxygen saturation and venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) is the gold standard to assess microvascular blood flow and function. The purpose of this study was to determine if NIRS can surrogate the microvascular blood flow assessment after an ischemic challenge obtained via VOP. Twenty apparently healthy subjects (10 males and 10 females), aged 18 to 35 years, were recruited for this single session study. NIRS probes were placed 40mm apart along the epicondylar muscles on the right forearm …

Associations Between Childhood Sexual Abuse And Binge Eating, Kristen Krogh

Psychology Capstone Projects

Childhood sexual abuse is the subject of many studies and analyses. Eating disorders, specifically bulimia nervosa, are also frequently studied to help clinicians gain an understanding of how they develop and the risk factors that make a person more susceptible than their peers. However, binge-eating disorder and its relationship to childhood sexual abuse is not as commonly researched. This paper seeks to investigate the literature available on the overlap between the two topics, childhood sexual abuse and binge-eating disorder. Then articles examining the relationship between the two will be identified and reviewed to determine the state of the literature. Finally, …

Pupil Dilation Differences When Playing Valorant Under Practice And Competition Conditions: A Case Study, Ryan Szuch, Cody S. Dulaney, Sergi Garcia Retortillo, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Esports have been growing faster than any other sport in history. Esports are video games that are played in official competitions and usually fall into a major genre, such as fighting games, real-time strategy, multiplayer online battle arena games, or first-person shooters (FPS). Valorant is an FPS. Advances in technology have now made a new class of information, namely biofeedback, readily available. An example of biofeedback is pupil size, which is an indirect measure of the amount of material under active processing and sympathetic/parasympathetic activity. Eye behavior is considered crucial in FPS games. Relevant research is scarce in this specific …

Femur Stress Fracture - Marathon, Bill Siddiq, Nikolaos Gravvanis, Lisa A. Vicencio, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

HISTORY: During a race, a 35-year-old marathon runner complained of experiencing dull, achy pain in the right groin. After the race, he occasionally experienced radiating pain in the right thigh. The athlete was examined by a general practitioner (GP). During the clinical evaluation, the athlete had no signs of tenderness or swelling. The GP suggested rest and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Ten days later, during training, the athlete felt the same discomfort after a challenging training session. He, then, decided to see an orthopedic physician. At the clinical examination, there was no localized pain. Focal pain was present during …

Sleep, Diet, And Physical Activity During Covid-19: Practitioners Should Be Aware Of Considerable Individual Differences, Thomas Wigger, Hiroki Matsuo, Ryan Mccarthy, Emily Locke, Grant Morgan, Joel Martin, Ali Boolani, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for prolonged periods of time is related to cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Sleep quality (SQ) can be operationally defined from components, such as sleep efficiency and sleep-onset latency. Diet is operationally defined as the quantity and quality of nutrient intake. CRF, SQ, and diet are related to all-cause mortality. During the COVID-19 health crisis, non-pharmaceutical interventions (curfews, stay-at-home orders) disrupted people’s lifestyles, including sleep, diet, and physical activity (PA). PURPOSE: To analyze MVPA, diet, and SQ trends over time and variations in changes over time during COVID-19. METHODS: PA (in mins/week), diet (via REAP-S), and SQ (via …

Older Adults With Osteoarthritis: Higher Mental Toughness Associated With Greater Improvement In Knee Pain/Functionality, Levi Sochia, Alexandra Spinou, Konstantinos G. Tsigaridis, Hiroki Matsuo, Grant Morgan, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Older adults (the least physically active of all age groups) have a high prevalence of knee pathologies, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Physical activity (PA) is essential for managing OA through its anabolic, lipolytic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Pain and functional limitations can present challenges when performing PA. Mental toughness (MT) is associated with higher success when pursuing exercise/PA goals, but little is known about its role in rehabilitation settings. MT has been primarily researched cross sectionally. MT can be developed. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between MT and knee pain/functionality via a longitudinal design in older adults with OA who underwent …

Grit Explained 29.4% Of The Variability In Mental Toughness Of Student-Athletes: Perseverance Was Primarily Responsible, Madeline Taylor, Hiroki Matsuo, Grant Morgan, Zacharias Papadakis, Ali Boolani, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Grit is a dispositional concept applied to individuals pursuing a singular objective. Mental toughness (MT) is a state-like concept, crucial when pursuing multiple goals. Although frequently used interchangeably due to commonalities (purposefulness, perseverance), both these conceptually distinct Positive Psychology constructs have been positively associated with athletic performance indicators. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between grit with MT in a sample of student-athletes. METHODS: The student-athletes (n = 39; female = 29) reported playing one of many sports: football, basketball, golf, volleyball, rowing, acrobatics & tumbling, soccer, baseball, hockey, tennis, track & field, and softball. Grit levels were assessed through …

Barriers To Adopting Lifestyle Behaviors Under The Prism Of Lifestyle Medicine, Janyll Barber, Zacharias Papadakis, Matthew Manierre, Ali Boolani, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

According to the ACSM, lifestyle medicine (LM) is in the top 20 worldwide fitness trends for 2022. The LM pillars of a plant-based diet, physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, social interactions, and avoidance of risky substances have been proposed as effective strategies for preventing and treating chronic conditions. However, implementing lifestyle behavioral changes to improve noncommunicable chronic disease outcomes has still been problematic. Individuals’ mental and physical status has been suggested as a key component in closing the gap between the intention to adopt a healthy lifestyle and actually adopting that behavior. PURPOSE: To examine the associations of …

Measuring Mental Toughness In Firefighters: Preliminary Results On The Concurrent Validity Of Two Inventories, Peter Beitia, Andreas Stamatis, Zacharias Papadakis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Mental toughness (MT) research is predominantly cross-sectional and based on self-assessment. MT has been consistently positively associated with performance metrics when investigated in stressful and demanding environments, such as sports and tactical. The Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) has been used extensively in sports, while the Military Training Mental Toughness Inventory (MTMTI) in the military. In firefighting, MT research is scarce. There is no firefighting-specific MT instrument. Firefighters are considered tactical athletes. PURPOSE: To examine the concurrent validity of SMTQ and MTMTI in firefighters via a repeated-measure design. METHODS: Male firefighters from two departments (n = 14; Age: 29.0 …

Strength Versus Deficit Educational-Based Mental Toughness Interventions On Mental Health Of Female Student-Athletes, Lindsay Guzzetta, Zacharias Papadakis, Grant Morgan, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Educational-based psychological skills training (PST) is effective in terms of Mental Health (MH) outcomes. Mental toughness (MT), a Positive Psychology construct, is positively associated with MH. Sports training emphasizes working on the weaknesses of the athlete. Positive Psychology is rooted in strength-based interventions. In Applied Sports Positive Psychology, where females are underrepresented, the two approaches appear contradictory. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of deficit- versus strength-based MT interventions on MH levels of female collegiate athletes. METHODS: Out of the 161 female athletes of a SUNYAC institution, 95 participated. MH scores were collected via the Mental Health Continuum Short …

Age-Related Changes In Skeletal Muscle Oxygen Utilization: A Review, Maxwell T. Aiken, Sabrina S. Salvatore, Kyle N. Zelenski, Ryan K. Perkins

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The cardiovascular and skeletal muscle systems are intrinsically interconnected, sharing the goal of delivering oxygen to metabolically active tissue. Deficiencies within those systems that affect oxygen delivery to working tissues are a hallmark of advancing age. Oxygen delivery and utilization are reflected as muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) and may be assessed using near-infrared resonance spectroscopy (NIRS). PURPOSE: This review is intended to provide an update on the current state of literature regarding age-related effects on SmO₂. Furthermore, we attempt to bridge the gap between SmO₂ and associated underlying mechanisms affected by aging. FINDINGS: SmO …

Determining Validity And Reliability Of Caloric Expenditure Recorded By Wearable Technology While Walking And Running, Bianca C. Weyers, Dustin W. Davis, Nicole R. Vargas, Jorge Perdomo Rodriguez, Elias M. Malek, Katherine V. Carlos, Bryson Carrier, James W. Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

With growing interest in tracking exercise progress, wearable technology is increasingly popular. While heart rate and step count are typically accurate for consumer-available devices, research from our laboratory indicates that caloric expenditure is not. PURPOSE: The current investigation aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of caloric expenditure in multiple wearable devices during a self-paced walk and run. METHODS: Ten participants were tested (5F, 5M, age = 26.9± 9.43 years, body mass = 72.64± 7.73 kg, height = 168.66± 9.37 cm). Participants were asked to wear 5 devices: 2 Garmin Instinct watches (one on each wrist), 2 Polar Vantage M2 …

Aging Male Runners Show Achilles Tendon Thinning Following A 10k Run While Females Do Not - Pilot Analysis, Annie Smedley, Joshua Sponbeck, Benjamin Smedley, Aaron W. Johnson

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The Achilles tendon experiences large amounts of force while running, which leads to Achilles tendon adaptation. One known Achilles tendon adaptation to running is Achilles tendon thinning. The Achilles tendon thinning response has not been examined at multiple locations of the Achilles tendon and has not been studied in an aging (>50 y) population. PURPOSE: We examined the effect of a 10k run on Achilles tendon cross sectional area in three locations of the Achilles tendon in runners aged 50 years and older. METHODS: Seven runners - three male (age = 73.6 y ±8.2, height = 174.4 …

Resisting Arrest: Analysis Of Different Prone Body Positions On Time To Stand And Engage, Krissy Sanchez, J. Jay Dawes, Mark Stephenson, Robin (Rob) Marc Orr, Robert G. Lockie

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

An isolated police officer executing an arrest can be placed in a dangerous situation should the detainee become non-compliant. Further research is needed to ascertain the position that a detainee can be placed in that takes the longest time for them to rise from the ground, as this can influence the officer’s reaction time to a life-threatening situation. PURPOSE: Determine differences between participants' time from four prone positions to a standing athletic position which would then prepare the participant to engage or run from the officer, similar to what could be seen during an interaction between police and detainees. METHODS: …

Impact Of Meal Planning On Physical Health And Functional Ability, Alejandra Ramirez, Sarah Dunn

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

It is well known that unhealthy nutritional habits as well as poor dietary choices may increase one’s risk of developing hypertension, overweight/obesity, and inflammation which can lead to comorbidities, diseases states or even death. Planning your meals serves a wide purpose that together with nutrition aids in maintaining a healthy body system. Meal planning has been utilized by the individuals in the exercise world to assist in receiving the valuable nutrients needed to help build and maintain a healthy body. However, the curiosity in understanding whether meal planning may impact the functional status of the individuals who do not consistently …

Effects Of Acute Aerobic Exercise On Circulating Stlr And Srage Profiles In Normoglycemic And Insulin-Resistant Individuals, Ryan K. Perkins

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Impaired blood glucose regulation as a consequence of insulin resistance is linked to development of many clinical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and skeletal muscle wasting via inflammatory processes. Recent evidence suggests circulating solubilized Toll-Like Receptor (sTLR) and Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (sRAGE) originate from skeletal muscle and are related to glucose management and inflammation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to explore 1) relationships among sTLR and sRAGE profiles and indices of metabolic health and 2) sTLR and sRAGE responses to an acute bout of aerobic exercise (AE) in normoglycemic (NG) and insulin-resistant (IR) individuals. We hypothesized …

Concurrent Validity And Reliability Of Average Heart Rate And Energy Expenditure Of Identical Garmin Instinct Watches During Low Intensity Resistance Training, David R. Pearce, Jocelyn M Graffius, Brynlie Ellingford, Bryson Carrier, Charli D. Aguilar, Damian Gil, Mike Torres, Dustin W. Davis, Wesley Zielger, Wyatt Fullmer, Myranda Peck, Nicole R. Vargas, Bianca Weyers, Katherine Carlos, Nathaniel Bodell, Jacob W. Manning, James W. Navalta, Mark Debeliso Phd, Merrill Funk, Marcus M. Lawrence

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

ABSTRACT

Wearable technology and resistance training are two of the top five worldwide fitness trends for 2022 as determined by ACSM. Many devices, such as Garmin’s Instinct, have functions to track various physiological aspects during resistance training. However, to our knowledge, independent verification of the validity and reliability of these devices for estimating average heart rate (HR) and energy expenditure (EE) during resistance training are nonexistent. PURPOSE: To determine the concurrent validity and reliability of identical Garmin Instinct watches during resistance training. METHODS: Twenty subjects (n=10 female and male; age: 23.2±7.7 years; height: 169.7±11.1; weight: 76.3±15.7 kg) completed …

Impact Of Load Carriage On Metabolic Efficiency, Tyson Ngatikaura, Shane Draper, Lily Poulton, Ally Sipple, Tyler Standifird, Andrew Creer

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Load carriage is a crucial detail of long-distance running, especially when it comes to ultra-marathon distances (>26.2 miles). Longer distances require larger loads to carry fluids and nutrition to maintain performance during these events. Running packs fitted close to the torso are the most popular methods for carrying 1-3 L of fluid, additional food, and gear; however, little is known to what extent load mass may impact running performance. PURPOSE: To identify at which point relative load mass (% of body mass) begins to negatively impact submaximal metabolic efficiency. METHODS: To date, 7 active runners (≥3 days/week, ≥16.09 km/week …

Effects Of Time-Restricted Exercise On Training Induced Adaptations In Mice, Graham R. Mcginnis, Michael Dial, Elias M. Malek, Greco Neblina, Austin Cooper

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Recent studies have shown that the time of day that exercise is performed can alter the physiological and molecular response. However, very few studies have investigated the longitudinal effects of time-of-day dependent training. Identification of an optimal exercise timing could lead to subsequent exercise prescriptions to elicit specific adaptations based on desired outcomes in healthy or disease populations.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if voluntary exercise performed at different times of day would alter the physiological response to training. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice (Jackson Labs) housed on a strict 12:12 light dark cycle performed …