Health and Physical Education Commons^™

Footwear Matters: Speed And Barefoot Running Enhance Medial Gastrocnemius Emg, Kaleb M. Luna, Bryon C. Applequist

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Barefoot running alters foot strike mechanics and may change lower-extremity muscle demands compared to shod running, particularly at different speeds. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of footwear (barefoot vs. shod) and running speed (preferred vs. +20%) on normalized electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and tibialis anterior (TA) in recreational runners. METHODS: Five healthy recreational runners completed treadmill running trials at preferred speed and +20% preferred speed in barefoot and shod conditions. Bilateral surface EMG was recorded from MG and TA (1500 Hz). Signals were bandpass filtered (20–450 Hz), rectified, …

How Does The Stage Of Pregnancy Influence Gait And Sway In Pregnant Women From Six To Eight Months., Lilie-Rose S. Gilbert, Scott P. Mclean, Edward Merritt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Physiological changes that affect gait, posture, and balance during the late stages of pregnancy increase the risk of falling.  These changes were examined across the stages of pregnancy using simulated pregnancy loading. PURPOSE: To compare gait and postural balance measures under three loading conditions simulating zero, 6, and 8-months of simulated pregnancy. We predicted that the added weight in late-stage pregnancy would adversely affect gait characteristics and reduce postural control. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy females (20.1±1.2 years, 1.79±0.11 m, 64.1±9.5 kg) completed a 10-m walking gait assessment.  They then completed three trials under each condition, including the Stability Evaluation Test (SET) …

Effects Of An 8-Week Resistance Training Program On Segmental Lean Mass, Corie N. Smith, Kornkanok Sophonsakulrat, Payton E. Miller, Laura Roden, Avery Prickell, Karley Rayfield, Katherine Adcock, Canyon Massengale, Jessica Jones, Grant Tinsely, Jacob A. Mota

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Resistance training is a powerful stimulus that is known to induce a myriad of positive effects in humans. A popular result desired by athletes is to increase muscle mass. However, the existing literature on resistance training and muscular hypertrophy focuses on whole body lean mass changes. The body of work which elucidate the effect of training on segmental lean mass is less documented. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a short-term resistance training intervention on segmental lean mass in previously untrained college aged women. METHODS: 22 college aged women (age: 21 ± 4) volunteered …

Changes In Ankle Angle And Knee Angle Throughout Gait With Ankle Bracing And Ankle Taping, Genavieve T. Evans, Tristyn G. Kattawar, Scott Mclean

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Ankle taping and ankle bracing are the most common solutions to chronic ankle instability and ankle injuries, however, scientific findings suggest that changes in the individual’s gait patterns can occur with the addition of ankle restrictions. PURPOSE: to compare the effects of ankle bracing and taping with no support to lower extremity joint kinematics while walking on a treadmill. METHODS: Seventeen collegiate athletes (19.9 yrs, 1.74 m, 71.2 kg) completed walking trials on a treadmill under three ankle support conditions; no support, ankle taping, and ankle brace.  Ankle and knee angles were measured during the walking trials using electrogoniometers. Peak …

Acute Effects Of Carbon Fiber Plate Insoles On Drop-Jump Performance And Force Characteristics In Recreationally Trained Adults, Becca Henicke, Boram Lim

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Carbon fiber plate insoles (CFPI) are designed to increase footwear stiffness and may improve elastic energy utilization during human locomotion. However, most research has focused on CFPI effects in running and sprinting, particularly endurance running, with limited evidence examining their impact on plyometric performance that relies heavily on the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC), a key mechanism underlying many sports movements.  Because SSC involves a rapid eccentric-to-concentric transition that stores and releases elastic energy, the drop jump provides a practical model to assess SSC efficiency with and without CFPI. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of CFPI on SSC efficiency and jump …

Examining The Association Between Lower-Body Bone Mineral Composition And Ground Reaction Force In American Football Players, Fatima Alonso, Michael Oldham, Vipa Bernhardt, Brian Jones, Bronwyn Banks, Joshua Nate, Karla Pegueros, Nikita Strogalev, Ouays Bakcha, Stephanie Tapia, Veronika Kramarenko, Dylan T. Sabo

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Mechanical loading is a primary determinant of skeletal adaptation, particularly in collision-based sports such as American football. PURPOSE: The purpose was to examine the relationship between lower body bone mineral characteristics and unilateral ground reaction force production in male athletes. The study was conducted to examine whether force-production capacity is related to skeletal mineralization and limb asymmetry. METHODS: One hundred and ten American football athletes participated in the study.  Lower body bone mineral composition (BMC), lean mass index, and limb asymmetry were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A unilateral vertical jump test was performed using the DARI Motion ® …

Neuromuscular And Body Composition Associations With Estradiol Throughout The Lifespan, Braden A. Wright, Tomas Chapman-Lopez, Micheal Luera, Jaci Kelly, Christine M. Florez, Lem Taylor, Darryn Willoughby, Mandy E. Parra

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Many studies have sought to understand estradiol withdrawal throughout the female lifecycle and its role in the brain and cognitive function, while little is known about its specific role at the neuromuscular junction and body composition. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine estradiol as a predictor of DXA- derived fat-free mass (FFM), lower body muscle quality (MQ), total fat mass (FM), and maximal muscle activation (EMG_RMS). METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from an existing data set using a cross-sectional design of eleven untrained women (pre-menopausal, n=6; age=23.3±4.3 years; height=160.6±8.3 cm; weight=60.5±11.6 kg; …

Speg Activation To Regulate Sarcoplasmic Reticulum In Muscle Disease, Lauren Nguyen, Sara Kondamadugula, Ting Chang, Susan Hamilton

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺ leak contributes to many muscle diseases, including Duchenne Muscle Dystrophy (DMD) and Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) with enhanced sensitivity to heat stroke. Recently, we demonstrated that the striated muscle preferentially expressed protein kinase, SPEG, decreases SR Ca²⁺ leak by phosphorylating Ser2902 on the Ca²⁺ release channel (also known as the ryanodine receptor 1, RYR1). While SPEG is activated in response to increased leak, the mechanisms of this activation are unknown. In addition, this compensatory mechanism is overwhelmed in the disease states associated with excessive Ca²⁺ leak. Increasing SPEG activation could potentially be beneficial …

Age And Cognitive Load Alter Joint Work Distribution And Postural Stability During Single Limb Support, Emery E. Nuner, Telicia Appleton, Ibrahim Burghul

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Age‑related declines in neuromuscular control increase fall risk during single‑limb stance, especially under cognitive load. Altered joint‑work distribution and reduced coordination precision may contribute to this instability, yet dual‑task effects on these mechanisms remain unclear. PURPOSE: To examine age‑related differences in joint eccentric work, inter‑joint coordination (FWHM), and postural stability during single‑limb support under normal and cognitive dual‑task conditions. METHODS: Eight adults (Young: n=4, 22 ± 2 y; Older: n=4, 73 ± 5 y) performed ~3 s of single‑limb support on a force plate following a crossover step under (1) Normal and (2) Cognitive conditions. Under the Cognitive condition, participants …

Muscle Excitation And Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation Responses During Resistance Exercise, Kase J. Pennartz, Jeremiah Blough, Wonjae Lee, Jiwon Song, Myungjin Jung, Joshua L. Keller

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Resistance exercise (RE) enhances cognitive function potentially through increases in cerebral blood flow and oxygenation (O₂Hb). These exercise-induced changes in cerebral blood flow and concomitant neural activity reflect the neurovascular coupling. Blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with low-load (LL) RE is an effective tool for increasing muscle excitation, size, and strength. However, the effects of BFR RE on cerebral oxygenation responses remain unknown. PURPOSE: Therefore, our purpose was to compare the effects of LL, LL + BFR, or (high-load) HL volume-equated squats on changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation and muscle excitation in adults. METHODS: Thirty healthy, young …

Association Of Body Mass Index With Gait Dynamics And Fall Risk In College Students, Diego Diaz-Vega, Heontae Kim, Ho Han, Jungyu Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: Although falls are typically associated with older adults, identifying early indicators of fall risk among young populations may help prevent future mobility decline. Because body mass index (BMI) is a modifiable factor that can influence balance and gait stability, understanding its role in early fall risk is important. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in fall risk and gait characteristics across BMI categories in college students. METHODS: Fifteen college students participated in this study and were classified into normal, overweight, or obese groups according to BMI. Fall risk was assessed using the Fall Risk Assessment …

Anticipation Effects On Landing Error Scoring System Performance: Highlighting The Influence Of Athletic Status And Sex, Heather E. Hinton, Melanie D. Hernandez, Warren O. Forbes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Removing the element of anticipation has previously shown to lead to worse performance on the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) field test. It is unknown if sex or athletic status contributes to this phenomenon. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of sex and athletic status on LESS performance with and without the element of anticipation. METHODS: Twenty-six participants performed five anticipated and five unanticipated trials of the LESS. For the anticipated LESS trials, participants were given specific instructions to perform a drop jump task, similar to the standard LESS assessment. Unanticipated LESS trials consisted of …

Effect Of Load Carriage On Grf, Lower Body Biomechanics, And Physiology, Oakley Slade, Megan Astle, Stetson Mcclellan, Brad Theel, Dallan Bye, Tyler Standifird, Shane Draper

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Rucking has gained in popularity over the past several years due to accessibility, affordability, functionality, and wide-ranging health benefits. Despite its popularity, there are several unknown biomechanical and physiological areas that remain underexplored. PURPOSE: Investigate the effects varying loads and inclines have on biomechanical and physiological factors. METHODS: Fifteen recreationally active individuals were randomly assigned to six different conditions on the treadmill. Treadmill conditions consisted of being unweighted or wearing a weighted pack while walking 1.5 m/s inclined (4.5 degrees), declined (-4.5), or flat. The weight of the ruck was relative to the participant's mass and heart rate (HR) in …

Observation Of Emerging Hand Preference Reflected In Hemispheric Eeg Patterns In Infants With Typical Development, Kashish H. Chainani, Riley Elmer, Erika G. Mora, Beth A. Smith

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

ABSTRACT

Reaching behavior in infants typically emerges around 4 months of age. Neural mechanisms reflected in reaching behavior are crucial for understanding brain organization, cognitive processing, and typical neuromotor development.

PURPOSE:

This study investigates the relationship between emerging hand bias and hemispheric electroencephalography (EEG) activity in infants with typical development. We hypothesize that within subjects, brain activation (EEG relative power) will be greater in the left hemisphere (C3) in infants with right reach bias (RB) and greater in the right hemisphere (C4) in infants with left reach bias (LB), with no significant differences between hemispheres for infants with no reach …

Acute Effects Of Asymmetric Loading On Hip Loading And Oblique Muscle Activation During Walking Gait, Kevin Almontes, Sarah Browning, Dawn Veditz, Owen Mccarry, Scott J. Hazelwood, Christiane R. O'Hara

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Asymmetric load carriage is a common daily task and may alter gait mechanics, potentially increasing the risk of musculoskeletal strain and injury. This study examined the acute effects of asymmetric loading on hip joint mechanics and external oblique muscle activity during walking in healthy young adults. Six participants (4 female, 2 male; mean age 21.6 ± 1.1 years) completed three walking trials each of unloaded, symmetrically loaded, and asymmetrically loaded (right side) conditions, with loads equal to 10% of body weight. Kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic data were collected using a motion capture system, force plate, and surface EMG sensors placed …

Walking On An Omnidirectional Treadmill: Implications For Gait Training, Wendy T. Pham, Gwendolyn Retzinger, Blake Bigham, Kayla E. Hori, Jacob Hinkel-Lipsker

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Virtual reality (VR) has been increasingly used for rehabilitative gait training, however, and only training on a unidirectional treadmill limit the replication of real-world walking. Thus, the omnidirectional frictionless treadmills allow users to slide on a concave surface enhancing the VR experience while imposing new gait challenges. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in gait kinematics and muscle activation in healthy participants between omnidirectional treadmills and traditional modalities like conventional treadmills and overground. We hypothesize that there will be a significant difference in cadence and gastrocnemius muscle activity between the omnidirectional treadmill with virtual …

Prediction Of Collegiate Pitching Performance From Longitudinal Neuromuscular Performance Testing Data, Evan Kroll, Arnel Aguinaldo Facsm, Jacob R. Goodin, Hillary Plummer

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

BACKGROUND: Objective performance testing has become central to baseball, offering insights into force production, neuromuscular readiness, and joint-specific strength that are often invisible through observation. Despite advances in pitch tracking, no study has examined the relationship between these testing outcomes and advanced in-game metrics such as Stuff+. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive accuracy of neuromuscular performance testing metrics in forecasting pitching performance defined by Stuff+. METHODS: NCAA Division II pitchers were monitored during the 2025 season using countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric strength testing, paired with in-game ball flight data. Each …

Equilibrium Or Silence, Why Understanding The Balance Is Crucial, Kayla E. Hori, Jacob Hinkel-Lipsker, Marek R. Kwasek, Sarkis Sarkisyan, Kenneth M. Mazariegos

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: People who are Deaf and hard of hearing have an “invisible” disability because they can do everything except hear. The inner ear has two primary functions: sound and balance. The purpose of a cochlear implant is to restore and simulate the loss of sounds sensed by the auditory nerve. METHODS: A total of 20 subjects, including 10 Deaf with both-sided users, 10 Deaf with one-sided users, 10 Deaf without CIs, and 10 normal-hearing subjects performed bilateral (BLS) and single-leg stance tests (SLS) with open eyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE), on the ground or foam pads, and the Y-Balance …

Relationship Between Lower Body Performance Testing Metrics And Pelvis Energy Flow In Collegiate Baseball Hitting, Adrian Ramirez, Arnel Aguinaldo

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The baseball swing is a complex sequence of coordinated movements in which pelvis energy flow plays a central role in driving swing efficiency and performance. However, the relationship between lower-body performance testing metrics and mechanical energy flow during the swing is not well understood. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between lower-body performance metrics and energy flow during baseball hitting. METHODS: Eleven collegiate hitters (age: 20.7 ± 1.4 years) first underwent a battery of performance tests, including the countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), hip abduction and adduction isometric strength, and passive …

Isometric Force Production Is Not Affected By Shoulder Abduction Position During Chest Press In Recreationally Trained Men, Colin J. Stas, Paulo H. Marchetti

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different shoulder abduction positions on maximal force production during the isometric bench press exercise in recreationally trained men. METHODS: Twenty participants (25 ± 4.2 years, 178.6 ± 8 cm, 83.9 ± 12.8 kg) performed the maximal isometric bench press exercise at 60° and 90° of shoulder abduction. Participants were seated on a vertical bench press machine with a neutral grip and 90° of elbow flexion. Grip width was standardized at 2x the biacromial distance. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions: (1) maximal …

Lower Extremity Movement Strategies Of Defensive Flag Pulling In Flag Football, Claudia De La Cruz, Rianne L. Aguilar, Travis Peterson

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze lower extremity movement strategies as defensive players prepare for the flag pull action. METHODS: Eleven female flag football players (minimum high school varsity level) volunteered to participate in this study. Participants were instructed to pull the flag of a stationary dummy placed 3 yards away as fast as possible. Trials were conducted in three directions: 45 degrees left from center (L), forward (F), and 45 degrees right from center (R). Motion capture (Vicon, 120 Hz) and video analysis were used to analyze technique. A repeated measures ANOVA test was conducted to determine differences in …

User Experience On Virtual Reality On Motor Learning And Real World Skill Transfer Of A Novel Forearm And Hand Prosthesis, Kenneth M. Mazariegos, Jacob Hinkel-Lipsker

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Virtual Reality is a medium that growing as a means for rehabilitation practices, allowing patients to receive personalized training scenarios with minimal equipment and space requirements. However, there is still a need to understand how different aspects of VR design such as physical fidelity (visual realism), cognitive fidelity (psychological realism), and adaptivity (whether the challenge of the VR task scales to user proficiency) influence learning and enhancement of motor skills. PURPOSE. To evaluate the impact of physical and cognitive fidelity in a VR environment on motor learning and real-world skill transfer of a reaching task using a novel arm prosthesis. …

Evaluating Takeoff Mechanics Between Dancers And Non-Dancers During Bilateral Jumps, Danielle Serrano, Nixom Alfaro, Ricardo Pineda, Stephana Powell, John Reed, Ricardo Tolentino, Danielle Jarvis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Many athletes in sports that consist of movements with sharp turns, such as women's basketball and soccer, experience a high amount of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in proportion to dancers, who experience low rates of ACL injuries. There has been minimal research on how jump takeoff mechanics differ between dancers and other active individuals. Some previous work has indicated that dancers use greater motion and forces at the ankle joint compared to non-dancers in jumping movements. PURPOSE: To determine the kinetic and kinematic differences between non-dancers and dancers during bilateral squat jump takeoffs. METHODS: Nineteen healthy female …

Landing Mechanic Differences Between Dancers And Non-Dancers During Vertical Jumps, John Reed, Jenelle Idian, Jasmin De La Cruz, Andrea Rodriguez, Aysha W. Cunningham, Ricardo Tolentino, Danielle Jarvis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Dancers endure training that results in an increased range of motion and flexibility. Such training can impact risk of injury and produce overall differences in movement. Despite these potential impacts, there is minimal research comparing landing mechanics between dancers and non-dancers. PURPOSE: To explore kinetic and kinematic differences between dancers and non-dancers when landing from a vertical jump. It was hypothesized that dancers would demonstrate greater peak ankle dorsiflexion and ankle net joint moments during landing compared to non-dancers. METHODS: A sample of ten dancers and nine non-dancers, all healthy females, were equipped with reflective markers and performed …

Examining Muscle Synergy Deficits In Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy, Nicholas K. Odani, Chethan N. Reddy, Daniel C. Mcpherson, Kayla D. Seymore, Lori A. Michener

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Neuromuscular deficits observed through electromyography (EMG) of individual muscles are common in rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy. However, given that muscles act in coordination, muscle synergy analyses can identify altered neuromuscular patterns that can inform specific interventions to address these deficits.

PURPOSE: Characterize shoulder muscle synergies in RC tendinopathy.

METHODS: 54 individuals with RC tendinopathy (32M, 29.4 ± 8.9 yr) and 54 healthy controls (matched for age, sex, height, weight, and hand dominance) completed four velocity-controlled shoulder elevation tasks with seven repetitions of scaption, flexion, forward reaching, and contralateral reaching. During each task, muscle activity was collected from the …

Upper Extremity Biomechanical Analysis Of Defensive Flag Pulling In Flag Football, Rianne L. Aguilar, Claudia De La Cruz, Travis J. Peterson

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: This project aimed to determine upper extremity techniques during defensive flag pulls in women’s flag football. METHODS: Eleven healthy, female flag football players with at least high school varsity experience volunteered to participate in this study. Participants were instructed to pull the flag(s) of a stationary dummy placed 3 yards away as fast as possible. Trials were conducted in flags facing forward (F), angled 45° left (L), and angled 45° right (R) of the flag puller. Motion capture (Vicon, 120 Hz) and video analysis were used to analyze technique. The Waterloo Handedness Survey was used to indicate hand preference. …

Influence Of Virtual Reality Cognitive Fidelity On Biomechanical Adaptation And Motor Strategies With A Custom Prosthesis And Foot Controller., Marek R. Kwasek

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

In an age of digitization, rehabilitation is embracing newer technologies, particularly VR, to enhance motor development and learning skills with real-world applications. With its practical replicability, VR’s visual (i.e., how visually realistic a virtual environment is) and cognitive fidelity (i.e., how well a virtual environment mimics the cognitive demands of real-world tasks) has the potential to influence motor strategies and, ultimately, a person’s functional biomechanics when learning a new skill. PURPOSE: To examine how different levels of visual and cognitive fidelity impact users’ reaching biomechanics when controlling a prosthetic arm using a foot controller. METHODS: Participants completed 12 …

The Effect Of Fatigue On Hip, Knee, And Ankle Kinetics During Rear Foot-Elevated Split Squats, Sara C. Mills, Jaime Alvarado, Tyler Lindholm, Michele Leblanc Facsm

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Rear foot-elevated split squats (RFESS) are a widely used movement to increase lower body strength, but little is known about how fatigue alters joint torque demands across the ankle, knee, and hip. Previous research has shown that fatigue changes kinematics during RFESS, increasing hip and knee motion while reducing ankle movement, but the effect on joint torques remains unclear. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of fatigue on ankle, knee, and hip torque in the sagittal and frontal planes during the eccentric and concentric phases of the RFESS in active females aged 18–25. METHODS: Participants performed repeated body weight RFESS until …

Dexterity Assessment Scores Vary With Controller Type But Not Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Player Skill, Jacob D. Cervantes, Dillon Harris, Zachary R. Mcfadden, Steven B. Machek

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Within the expanding Esports industry, competitive Super Smash Bros Ultimate (SSBU) players require high neuromotor execution. They consequently select controllers and permit functional modifications to match the individual precision and dexterity preferences within their playstyle. PURPOSE: To examine how skill level and controller preference impact dexterity scores in SSBU players of differing skill relative to each other and non-gamers. METHODS: 56 (22 male casual CAS; 24y ± 4; play >4 hr per week, 15 male ES; 24y ± 4; top 150 globally- ranked competitive SSBU players, and 19 non-gamer controls NG; 24y ± 5; 16F/3M) subjects voluntarily participated …

Using Detrended Fluctuation Analysis To Determine The Effects Of Footwear On Postural Dynamics In Children, Samantha Martinez, Crystal S. Trevino, Bryon C. Applequist

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

ABSTRACT

Footwear, particularly stiff-soled shoes, can impact postural control in young children during a critical period of motor development. While proprioception plays a key role in maintaining balance, shoes may restrict natural movement, potentially affecting overall posture and proprioceptive abilities. This study examines how stiff-soled footwear influences postural control during quiet standing in children. PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the influence of stiff-soled footwear on postural control in young children by analyzing balance and stability during quiet standing. Specifically, we assessed whether wearing footwear with various degrees of stiffness influenced the temporal correlations of center of pressure (COP). …