Health and Physical Education Commons^™

The Effect Of Acute Hypoxia Exposure, With Exercise, On Bone Metabolic Biomarkers, Alyssa Bailly

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Hypoxic environments, resulting from decreased atmospheric partial pressure of oxygen, reduce oxygen availability in the blood and tissues, leading to a mismatch between supply and demand. This elicits several physiological adaptations and may influence bone metabolism. Although evidence suggests that hypoxia can modulate bone remodeling through hypoxia-inducible pathways, findings remain mixed, with most data derived from chronic hypoxic exposures in animal and cell culture models. Exercise, an essential stimulus for bone health, may exacerbate hypoxic stress; however, the skeletal response to acute hypoxic exposure combined with exercise remains unclear. We propose that intermittent exercise in hypoxia may increase negative markers …

Physical Education Through The Lens Of A Transgender Individual, Allison L. Graham

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Transgender students face unique challenges in K–12 physical education (PE) that other groups of students do not experience. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the life history of a transgender woman, Evergreen, with a focus on her experiences in PE throughout K-12 school. This study was guided by Queer Theory (Jagose, 1996) and Atkinson’s (1998) life history methodology, data was collected through nine semi-structured interviews and participant-selected artifacts. Data was analyzed using Merriam and Tisdell’s (2016) coding procedures to identify themes. Findings revealed distinct experiences across four areas: (1) Elementary School PE—positive memories centered on play …

Predicting The Unpredictable: Advancing Risk Management In Fitness Centers Through Data Science-Driven Judicial Outcome Modeling, Hongyoung Kim

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

This study developed a prediction model of judicial outcomes in fitness exercise-related injury lawsuits to identify key factors influencing fitness centers’ success in litigation. Using 209 U.S. court cases from Westlaw, Phase One employed text mining and content analysis to identify legal variables. Phase Two applied descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression to evaluate the combined influence of these variables on judicial outcomes. For the multiple logistic regression analysis, the sample size was reduced to 184 cases after excluding 25 remanded cases.

Results showed that victim behavior, hazardous facility conditions, and enforceable waivers or exculpatory clause defenses significantly predicted judicial …

Lifestyle Factors Contributing To Occupational Heat-Related Acute Kidney Injury, Jonathan Specht, Fabiano Amorim, Flavio De Castro Magalhaes, Zachary Mckenna, Zachary Schlader

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Workers worldwide are at risk for acute kidney injury due to hyperthermia and dehydration as a consequence of exertional heat stress. Limited research has explored the impact which lifestyle agents such as beverages, recreational drugs, and medications have on core temperature, hydration, and risk of acute kidney injury during physical work in the heat. To address this research gap, we explored the impact of three agents frequently used by construction workers on thermoregulation and markers of risk of acute kidney injury. First, we investigated the effect which ibuprofen ingestion has prior to one hour of running in the heat on …

Addressing Head Injuries In High School Football: An Assessment Of Best Practices And Challenges In The Area Of Concussions As Held By New Mexico Activities Association High School Varsity Football Head Coaches And Athletic Directors, Alonzo Maestas

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Youth sports participation in the United States offers children and adolescents opportunities for physical activity, skill development, social interaction, and personal achievement. However, with sports comes the risk of injury, including concussions. Concussions can have serious long-term consequences such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In response to the risks of concussions, New Mexico enacted a concussion law, NM Stat 22-13-31. In addition to this law, the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) and National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) have also given guidance on how to manage concussions.

However, there is a gap in the literature concerning concussion education, best …

Under Pressure: Performance Loads And Recovery In Ncaa Division I Women’S Soccer During Fixture Congestion, Jade X. Dawson, Fabiano T. Amorim

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Soccer places high physiological demands on athletes, and match congestion—playing more than two games per week—is a growing concern at the NCAA Division I level. Limited recovery time between matches can impair performance and increase injury risk, prompting widespread use of recovery strategies. However, research on their effectiveness remains inconclusive, and most existing studies focus on male athletes, leaving a gap in evidence specific to female players. This review and observational study aim to evaluate non-nutritional recovery strategies in NCAA Division I women’s soccer and examine how recovery duration influences performance.

Match load data were collected from eleven female athletes …

Exercise And Its Regulation Of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Expression And Intracellular Signaling, Jeremy B. Ducharme

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation increases pro-inflammatory cytokine production and upregulation of muscle atrophy signaling pathways. Exercise is recommended to reduce TLR4 expression and intracellular signaling, but the mechanisms for how this occurs are unknown, and even less is known regarding the effect of exercise on TLR4 expressed in skeletal muscle. Activation of TLR4 expressed on skeletal muscle can elicit local metabolic and atrophic effects in addition to systemic inflammation from TLR4 activation on immune cells. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation project is to better uncover the nature and mechanisms by which exercise affects TLR4 expression and intracellular signaling …

Pathways To Physical Education Teacher Education: Understanding Pete Faculty Careers And Lives, Alexander Eugene Kurtzman

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) faculty play a critical role in shaping the future of physical education through teaching, research, and service. However, their career trajectories and professional experiences remain underexamined in the PETE literature. This dissertation combines two studies, one is a mixed-methods study and the second is a qualitative study which explore the complex pathways and socialization processes of PETE faculty. Study 1 investigated PETE faculty members’ perceptions of how prior K–12 physical education teaching experience influences their work in higher education. Drawing on Occupational Socialization Theory (OST) and the Faculty Role Socialization Model (FRSM), data from 53 …

The Feasibility Of An Acute Bout Of High Intensity Interval Vs Continuous Moderate-Intensity Exercise On Cognition In Chronic Stroke Patients, Anna M. Welch, Marissa Ramirez, Christine Mermier, Flavio De Castro Magalhaes, Jessia D. Richardson, Alyssa Bailly, Terence Moriarty

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the feasibility of chronic stroke patients safely completing an acute 30-minute session of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) compared to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (MIE) on a treadmill, with a focus on cognitive outcomes. Design: This feasibility study utilized a randomized controlled crossover trial with two experimental sessions separated by at least 7 days to minimize practice effects on cognitive assessments. Subjects: Five chronic stroke survivors (m=4, f=1) participated in two randomly assigned experimental sessions (n=5, 60.4 ± 11.3 years, 39.8 ± 41.4% body fat, 32.7±6.3 body mass index [kg/m²])., either a …

The Enzymatic Regulation Of Contraction-Induced Toll-Like Receptor 4 Shedding From C2c12 Myotubes, Rebekah C. Gridley

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Stimulated contractions are shown to increase toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) release from C2C12 myotubes in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine if the release of TLR4 from myotubes is controlled by proteolytic membrane cleavage. A broad-spectrum metalloprotease inhibitor was used to test this hypothesis in a C2C12 cell culture model, and TLR4 concentrations in the cell culture supernatant were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) following stimulated myotube contractions.

ELISA analysis revealed TLR4 concentrations below the sensitivity threshold of the ELISA kit for all experimental conditions. In confirming the effectiveness of the electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) treatment, …

Social Identity Theory In Emergency Response Organizations, Erik J. Litzenberg

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Emergency response organizations operate in an increasingly complex environment and could benefit from further understanding of culture. While there is not a single measure of culture, Social Identity Theory (SIT) examines the effect of group informed identities on individual perceptions and group participation. The purpose of this study was to explore SIT as it relates to emergency response organizations. A survey was shared with responders across the United States; a total of 397 responses were collected and analyzed. Social identification and groupness scores were relatively high (Mean = 5.40 on a scale of 1-7; Mean = 7.29 on a scale …

Investigating Software Application Use In Secondary Physical Education, Sean Fullerton

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

The first study explored secondary physical education teachers’ acceptance and use of a supplemental software application, PLT4M (“Plat-form”). The study was an exploratory cross-sectional mixed methods study guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Quantitative results showed that performance expectancy, attitude toward use, and price value significantly predicted PE teachers’ behavior intention to use PLT4M. Qualitative data revealed the following themes regarding teachers’ use: (1) differentiation and modifications; (2) accessibility; (3) limitations and challenges. The second study was a descriptive case study design that applied Activity Theory to examine how one high school PE program uses …

Exploring The Occupational Socialization Of Ethnically Diverse Physical Education Teachers, Martin Vasquez

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

The first manuscript incorporates the theoretical frameworks of Critical Race Theory and Occupational Socialization Theory to offer Critical Race Socialization Theory as a conceptual framework to expand the importance of how we make meaning of race throughout teacher socialization. This framework emphasizes three critical race tenets - counter-storytelling, intersectionality, and challenging color blindness – that are applied across the stages of acculturation, professional socialization, and organizational socialization. This application highlights the unique challenges faced by diverse educators within different educational spaces. The second manuscript is a collective case study that explores the acculturation and professional socialization experiences of two ethnically …

The Effect Of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation In Markers Of Gut Permeability And Gastrointestinal Discomfort After Exercise In The Heat, Suzana Andrade De Oliveira

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Exercise performed under heat stress conditions is associated with an increase in gut permeability, commonly known as "leaky gut.". Recent studies suggest that sodium bicarbonate ingestion (NaHCO3) before exercise in the heat may offer ergogenic benefits. However, NaHCO3 is known to induce gastrointestinal discomfort (GI) and potentially exacerbate gut permeability. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of NaHCO3 on markers of gut permeability and gastrointestinal discomfort after prolonged physical exercise in a hot environment. To test this, we analyzed markers of intestinal permeability and injury pre and post exercise under heat stress comparing a NaHCO3 group to a placebo group. …

The Physiological And Perceptual Responses To Continuous- And Interval-Based High-Intensity Functional Training, Jessica Smith

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

The purpose of this study was to compare the acute physiological and perceptual responses to rest intervals during high-intensity functional training (HIFT) using a “rounds for time” (RFT) and an “every minute on the minute” (EMOM) design. Two studies were conducted in twelve trained and nine untrained individuals who performed two HIFT trials (EMOM and RFT). Blood lactate, oxygen consumption, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion were significantly higher for the RFT compared to the EMOM. There was no difference between the EMOM and RFT for muscle damage responses. Lastly, there was no difference between the EMOM and RFT …

Effects Of Aging On Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption: A Preliminary Study, Steven Klepacz

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Aging and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) is something that has not been adequately studied. Studies looking at EPOC mostly are compiled of young college age individuals. Aging in humans is a topic of much research with still more to be learned. The study in this paper attempts to answer the question of whether age affects EPOC when performing a certain exercise. Preliminary findings based on general age-related research suggest the possibility. This thesis will explore the current research related to age and EPOC, analyze the findings, and discuss additional avenues for future research.

An Investigation Into How The Intense Nature Of Youth Sport Participation Influences Women’S Collegiate Basketball Player’S Experiences Of Burnout, Hana M. Adent

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

One area of athlete well-being garnering increasing attention is athletes’ experience of burnout (Gould & Whitley, 2009). According to Coakley (1992), burnout is a social phenomenon grounded in a set of social relations through which young athletes become disempowered in their sport participation that can lead to fatigue and dropout. Therefore, efforts to reduce athletes’ likelihood of experiencing burnout are important. Often overlooked in the college athlete literature are the experiences of college athletes in youth sport. Yet almost all college athletes participate in competitive youth sport. Therefore, in seeking to further our understanding of college athletes’ burnout experience, it …

High Altitude Exercise, Autophagy, And Angiogenesis, Quint Nikolas Berkemeier

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Environmental hypoxia, as a result of decreased barometric pressure upon ascent to high altitudes (>2500m) presents increased physiological demands compared to low altitudes. Competitive athletes, mountaineers, wildland firefighters, military personnel, miners, and outdoor enthusiasts commonly participate in, or are exposed to, forms of exercise or physical labor at moderate to high altitudes. Interestingly, however, the majority of research on intermittent hypoxic exposure is centered around hematological markers and the skeletal muscle cellular responses to exercise in hypoxic environments remain largely unknown. Two processes that are integral for maintenance of cellular health in skeletal muscle include autophagy and angiogenesis. We …

An Intersectional Grounded Theory Study Examining Identity Exploration For Former Student-Athletes Against The Backdrop Of 2020, Crystle M. Dorsey

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

The purpose of this study was to understand how student-athletes explored and made meaning of their intersecting identities through identity-focused curriculum against the backdrop of 2020. With intersectionality as a theoretical framework, this study examines how axes of oppression influenced the process of identity exploration for student-athletes. Guided by constructivism and critical theory as its epistemological foundations, this constructivist grounded theory study included three guiding research questions alluding to the how, what and why student-athletes explored their identities in 2020. The outcome of this study was an intersectional grounded theory detailing how student-athletes explore and make meaning of their intersecting …

The Effect Of Sodium Bicarbonate On Acute Kidney Injury Markers During Physical Work In The Heat, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman A. Masoud, Fabiano Amorim, Christine Mermier, Michael Deyhle, Zidong Li

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Sodium bicarbonate supplementation (NaHCO₃) before physical work in the heat may reduce the risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI). Purpose: To determine the effects of NaHCO₃ supplementation before a prolonged bout of physical work in the heat on AKI markers and kidney function. Method: A randomized, cross-over, double blinded design was conducted on 8 participants (3 females) who consumed NaHCO₃ (0.2 g/kg body weight) or placebo (CON) before prolonged (120 minutes) moderate intensity (~65% of maximal heart rate) physical work in the heat [40℃ and 23% relative humidity (RH)]. Blood and urine samples were collected …

Risk Management Perceptions And Preventive Practices Of Athletic Directors From Naia Schools, Yan Gioseffi

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

The increase in the number of incidents associated with sports has led to the rise of litigation, and physical, emotional, and financial damage to stakeholders. Collegiate athletic directors (ADs) have the duty to keep their programs safe.

This study aimed to explore and understand the practices, perceptions, and experiences of ADs from National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) institutions regarding preventive risk management. As risk management is significantly new in the sporting industry, an exploratory study using a qualitative design, grounded in narrative inquiry was conducted using the D.I.M. Process as a guide to collect data from 10 NAIA ADs …

International Student-Athletes’ Unique Challenges: Collegiate Coaches’ Facilitation Of Social Capital And Servant Leadership, Daewon Yoon

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

International student-athletes (ISAs) play in almost all NCAA sports at all levels of competition. This factor implies that international student-athletes are now a significant part of the paradigm of college athletics.

Even though an increasingly substantial number of ISAs in international student (ISs) populations in the United States, ISAs would face additional challenges concerning language barriers, cultural differences, adjusting to the new environment, general life on campus, academic settings, and the school's high expectations of them for athletic performance.

Therefore, providing genuine caring and supportive behavior for international student-athletes, ongoing support for social connection to minimize their unique issues, servant …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Mattering Among Doctoral Students, Physical Education Teachers, And Faculty Members, Denis Schulz

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Physical Education (PE) is often considered a marginalized profession where Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) programs face sustainability challenges, and educators experience negative outcomes such as isolation, frustration, and emotional exhaustion. Previous research highlighted that increased perceptions of mattering can help navigate these negative feelings. The purpose of this three-study dissertation format was to explore the perceptions of mattering among PETE faculty members, PETE doctoral students, and PE teachers within different career stages. Findings from these studies indicate that PETE faculty members derive feelings of mattering from external professional networks. PETE doctoral students’ importance grows over time as they progress …

Teachers Perceptions, Practices, And Needs Toward Inclusion In Physical Education, Adriana E. Lucero

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Central Tasks of Learning to Teach provided the theoretical framework for the first study involving one in-service elementary physical educator teaching integrated classes while reflecting on three major stages of the teacher’s career, (1) the preservice, (2) the induction, and (3) the continuing professional development periods. Data revealed the following four themes: (a) authentic field experiences in immersive environments; (b) practice teaching in integrated settings enhanced self-confidence; (c) comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of students; and (d) disposition toward support when teaching and professional work outside of the teaching space. The Situated Expectancy-Value Theory provided the theoretical underpinning to our second …

Self-Efficacy Influences Of Pre-Service Physical Education (Pe) Teachers Who Instruct Students With Disabilites (Swds), Emily Mason, Karen Gaudreault, Glenn Hushman, Victoria Shiver, Amanda Young

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

The purpose of this study was to analyze what factors contribute to the self-efficacy/teacher efficacy (TE) of pre-service teachers (PSTs) as they instruct physical education (PE) to students with disabilities (SWDs). Self-efficacy theory, SET, (Bandura, 1977; Maddux, 2013) was used to make meaning of what SET tenets the PSTs found valuable as it pertained to boosting their teacher efficacy as they taught physical education to SWDs. Data collection involved three semi-structured interviews, three reflections, one critical incident account (Flanagan, 1954), ten to twelve non-participatory observations of the PSTs teaching PE in an elementary school with SWDs, informal conversations, email communication, …

The Effects Of Unsupervised Bodyweight Interval Training In Adults With Obesity, Gabriella Bellissimo, Fabiano Amorim, Christine Mermier, Ann Gibson, Len Kravitz, Jonathan Little, Flávio De Castro Magalhães, Zachary A. Mang, Quint Berkemeier, Alyssa Bailly, Jonathan Specht, Jessica Smith, Matthew J. Stork, Shandy Simpson, Natalie Robson, Jeremy Ducharme, Kelsey C. Bourbeau, Yu Yu Hsiao

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Objective: Bodyweight interval training (BW-IT) using a social media platform may appeal to those who do not wish to exercise in public or do not have access to specialized exercise equipment. We investigated the ability of a 6-week BW-IT program to improve cardiovascular and metabolic markers. Methods: Fourteen adults (30.7 ± 10.3 yrs.) with obesity (body mass index 35.5 ± 5.4 kg/m²) participated. Bi-weekly program progression was applied by increasing the duration of the work intervals to 60s with 60s active recovery. Peak oxygen consumption (V̇O₂peak), isometric muscular strength, body composition, blood pressure (BP), and metabolic …

Perinatal Exercise Effectiveness To Prevent Offspring High-Altitude Pulmonary Hypertension, Eric Leslie

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

The effectiveness of perinatal exercise (i.e., exercise by mothers immediately prior to, throughout, and after pregnancy) to attenuate high-altitude pulmonary hypertension and associated health consequences in the offspring exposed to chronic hypoxia in early life was investigated. Four groups were used to compare the effects of perinatal exercise to offspring exposed to low altitude (i.e., normoxic) conditions or simulated 4500 meters of high altitude (i.e., hypoxic) as well as their respective, sedentary controls. Offspring in the hypoxic groups had lower body weights and tail lengths as well as higher hematocrits, right ventricular systolic pressures, and right heart weights. The hypoxic …

Status Seeking In Conspicuous Spectator Sports Consumption: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective, Yong Wang

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

According to self-determination theory, people are intrinsically and/or extrinsically motivated to self-regulate their behavior (Deci & Ryan, 2012). Sport fans watch games for intrinsic rewards such as having fun and supporting a team, which, from the identity fusion perspective (Swann Jr et al., 2009), derive from their visceral sense of oneness with a team. Although they can choose to watch games at home, many fans spend money attending expensive games (e.g., major sports) and publicly display their experience. A plethora of sport management literature has addressed the intrinsic motivation for attending games; however, less attention has been paid to the …

The Effects Of Whole-Body Hot Water Immersion After Exercise Induced Muscle Damage On Exercise Performance And Inflammatory Markers, Rogelio A. Realzola

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

This study examined the effects of hot water immersion (HWI) on exercise performance and inflammatory markers after a resistance exercise-induced muscle damage protocol. Strength trained males (n = 5) and females (n = 5) completed two experimental trials separated by at least 2 weeks in a randomized crossover design; one trial involved HWI, the other temperate water immersion (TWI). For each trial, subjects performed a muscle damaging protocol followed by HWI or TWI for up to 50 minutes. The protocol consisted of 10 sets of 8 repetitions at 70% of 1-repetition maximum with 4s eccentric, 1s concentric lifting …

A Metabolic Profile Of Escalating Density Training, Desmond Millender

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the acute physiological, perceptual, and enjoyment responses between a single bout of escalating density training (EDT) and traditional resistance training (TRAD).

Methods: Twelve physically active males (n = 6) and females (n = 6) (age: 21.4 ± 3.0 years; weight: 69.8 ± 7.9 kg; height: 172.9 ± 12.4 cm; maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max): 44.7 ± 9.2 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1) performed both EDT and TRAD. During the EDT trial, participants performed chest and leg press exercises in a cyclical fashion for 15 minutes with limited …