Life Sciences Commons^™

Lower Limb Muscle Activation In Young Adults Walking In Water And On Land, Christopher Long, Christopher J. Dakin, Sara A. Harper, Joonsun Park, Aaron Folau, Mark Crandall, Nathan Christensen, Talin Louder

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Previous research has shown that exercise interventions requiring increased activation of the tibialis anterior (TA), the primary ankle dorsiflexor, can improve walking performance in individuals with foot drop. Correspondingly, heightened drag forces experienced during walking performed in water may augment TA activation during the swing phase of gait, potentially leading to improved walking gait on land. Therefore, this study aimed to compare surface electromyographic (sEMG) activation in the TA and medial gastrocnemius (GM) during gait performed in water versus on land. Thirty-eight healthy, recreationally active young adults, comprising 18 females and 20 males, participated in the study. Each participant completed …

A Comprehensive Examination Of Age-Related Lower Limb Muscle Function Asymmetries Across A Variety Of Muscle Action Types, Kylee L. Heap-Eldridge, Brennan J. Thompson, Cody Fisher, Talin J. Louder, Jon Carey

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Previous research has found that lower limb muscle asymmetries increase with age and are linked to fall and injury risks. However, past studies lack a wide variety of muscle function modes and measures as well as comparison to a comparable younger age group. The purpose of this study was to examine age-related lower limb muscle function asymmetries across a variety of muscle action types and velocities in young and old adults. Lower limb balance, strength, power, and velocity were evaluated with concentric, isometric, isotonic, and eccentric muscle actions during a single-leg stance test and on single- and multi-joint dynamometers in …

Post-Activation Potentiation Following Maximal Effort, Multi-Joint, Isokinetic Eccentric Contractions, Tom Dickey

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is a phenomenon that can enhance muscle performance following maximal or near-maximal muscle contractions. While the effects of concentric and isometric conditioning contractions on PAP have been studied, less is known about the influence of eccentric muscle actions. This study investigated the effects of a multi-joint eccentric overload (EOL) protocol on PAP expressed through countermovement jump (CMJ) height and isokinetic peak force (PF) outcome measures. Twenty-eight recreationally trained participants (18-30 years) completed three visits in a randomized, counterbalanced design. Following familiarization, participants performed either an EOL protocol involving 2 sets of 6 maximal isokinetic eccentric contractions or …

Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction During Acute Multi-Joint Eccentric Exercise On Muscle Recovery, Cody Fisher

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise has become an increasingly common modality due to evidence that it may yield positive muscle-related effects from low-intensity exercise. However, eccentric-only exercise in a multi-joint format has not yet been investigated in regard to the BFR influence on muscle recovery characteristics. The purpose of this study was to assess muscle recovery responses via isometric peak force (PF), soreness (i.e., VAS, PPT, PPD), and functional power (i.e., SLHD) following a 5-minute low-load multi-joint eccentric exercise bout with or without blood flow restriction. Thirty participants were randomly assigned into either an eccentric-only (CON) or an eccentric BFR …

Asymmetries In Ncaa Division I Tennis Players Compared To An Athletic Control Group, Elizabeth Cafferty

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Limb asymmetries are an expected adaptation to years of training for athletes participating in dominant-sided sports. Previous research on this topic lacks an athletic control group. PURPOSE: To determine the magnitude of upper limb asymmetries in dominant-sided athletes (tennis players) compared to nondominant-sided athletes (cross-country runners). METHODS: Male and female NCAA Division I athletes (10 tennis, 11 cross-country) participated. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and lean mass (LM) of the whole body, upper extremities, and forearms. Circumference measurements were taken at mid-biceps and the widest part of the forearms. …

Development Of Systems For Processing And Managing Donations For The William A. Burnard Warming Center, Landon Corbett

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Structure is important for any organization to have success and grow. Thus, having a good inventory system can make a huge difference. This project set out to investigate and develop a system that would be able to monitor incoming donations, inventory levels, and items given away to guests. The inventory method needed to be as automated as possible because the warming center volunteers were already busy with other responsibilities.

While many softwares were researched, my proposed solution was created with a combination of Google Sheets and Google Forms, as it is free and can be customized to the specific needs …

Circuit Training Improves The Levels Of Β-Amyloid And Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Related To Cognitive Impairment Risk Factors In Obese Elderly Korean Women, Duwang Kang, Suhan Koh, Taekyu Kim, Eadric Bressel, Doyeon Kim

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of circuit training on β-amyloid, BDNF, and cognitive function in untrained obese elderly Korean women. Methods: The subjects for the study were aged 65–70 years and were each assigned to a circuit training group (EG, n = 12) or a control group (CG, n = 11). The 60 min combined exercise was performed 3 times per week for 16 weeks. The exercise intensity was progressively increased from a 40% heart rate reserve to a 70% heart rate reserve. The test data were analyzed using a paired t-test, an …

Suppressing A Blocked Balance Recovery Step: A Novel Method To Assess An Inhibitory Postural Response, David A. E. Bolton, Charlie C. Baggett Iv, Chase A. Mitton, Sara A. Harper, James K. Richardson

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Stepping to recover balance is an important way we avoid falling. However, when faced with obstacles in the step path, we must adapt such reactions. Physical obstructions are typically detected through vision, which then cues step modification. The present study describes a novel method to assess visually prompted step inhibition in a reactive balance context. In our task, participants recovered balance by quickly stepping after being released from a supported forward lean. On rare trials, however, an obstacle blocked the stepping path. The timing of vision relative to postural perturbation was controlled using occlusion goggles to regulate task difficulty. Furthermore, …

Insights Into The Characteristics Of Outdoor Recreationists In Utah From A Statewide Survey, Jordan W. Smith, Nate Trauntvein, Casey Trout

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Understanding the characteristics and preferences of outdoor recreationists in Utah can inform the administrative, funding, and management decisions of the many entities who provide outdoor recreation opportunities within the state. There is currently a lack of data on characteristics, preferences, and opinions of the state’s outdoor recreating public. As one component of the analysis supporting the development of the state’s outdoor recreation strategic plan, we launched a short online survey to begin to address this need. The survey was administered in spring of 2023 to an online panel of individuals who indicated that they are current residents of Utah and …

Isokinetic Dynamometer Leg Extensor Peak Torque Measurement: A Time-Delayed Reliability And Score Selection Analysis Study, Brennan J. Thompson, Jennifer Xu

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

The reliability of isokinetic peak torque (PT) has been reported mostly using a short-term ( < ~10 day) inter-trial testing time frame. However, many studies and programs utilize a long-term (several weeks to months) inter-trial testing period. Additionally, the methods by which the PT value is selected and reported from a multiple rep testing scheme have not been well investigated for both reliability and PT absolute performance comparisons. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term reliability of isokinetic and isometric PT of the leg extensors with an emphasis on the differences among several PT score selection methods. Thirteen men and women (age = 19.5 years) underwent two testing trials separated by 28.8 (±1.8) days. Testing included maximal voluntary contractions of three sets of three reps for two isokinetic contraction conditions of 60 (Isok60) and 240 (Isok240) deg/s velocities, and three sets of one rep of isometric contractions for the leg extensors. The PT score was derived from seven different methods (see text for descriptions). Reliability as assessed from intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) varied widely across contraction conditions and PT score selection parameters. The Isok60 velocity overall had lower reliability (ICCs = 0.48–0.81) than Isok240 (0.77–0.87) across the conditions whereas the isometric PT variables showed moderate reliability (0.71–0.73). Overall the set 1 PT score selection parameters were generally lower (p ≤ 0.05) than those that involved sets two and three. Systematic error (p ≤ 0.05) was shown for 6 out of the 17 PT selection variables. On a subjective interpretation basis, when taking everything into account the best overall combination of time/trial efficiency, reliability, best/highest PT score parameter, and reduced risk of systematic bias appears to be the PT variable that uses the average of the highest two reps of the first two sets of three reps—i.e., averaging the highest two values of the six total reps from the first two sets.

Comparing Lower-Limb Muscle Activity During Gait Performed In Water Versus On Land, Christopher Long

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The purpose of this study was to compare lower-limb muscle activation during gait, performed in water versus on land, in order to provide preliminary evidence for the benefit of aquatic treadmill walking in treating individuals with foot drop. Foot drop is a debilitating symptom of several neurological disorders characterized by the inability to dorsiflex the foot while walking. Generally, it is due to weakness in the ankle dorsiflexor muscles and/or increased tone in the plantar flexor muscles. Previous research has found that exercise interventions that demand greater than normal activation of the tibialis anterior (TA) (i.e., the primary ankle dorsiflexor) …

Association Between Ideal Cardiovascular Health And Multiple Disabilities Among Us Adults, Brfss 2017–2019, Debasree Das Gupta, U. Kelekar, M. Abram-Moyle

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Objectives

Cardiovascular health is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Our objective was to estimate the association between ideal cardiovascular health (ICVH) and multiple disabilities among US adults stratified into the three age groups of young (18–44 years), midlife (45–64 years), and older adults (≥65 years).

Study design

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data pooled from the 2017 and 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Methods

Using American Heart Association's seven-component (four ideal behaviors and three ideal health factors) scoring tool, we identified ICVH as a composite score ≥5 and also computed the …

Sport Management Study Abroad And International Exchange Program Innovation For A Post Covid-19 Era, James T. Morton, Chris Hanna, Jeffrey F. Levine

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

The globalization of the sport industry has required sport management programs to create strategies for internationalizing students. Study abroad programs are a prominent example of those strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on study abroad programs in Spring of 2020. Many students had their study abroad experiences either cut short or canceled all together. The purpose of this essay is to discuss how the student learning process can continue during an interruption or cancellation of study abroad and international exchange programs due to a pandemic or other global issues. Using an observational study, we asked the following research …

Contributions Of Vision To The Neuromotor Control And Biomechanics Of Depth Jumping, Kenneth Harrison

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of vision during depth jump movements and further explore effects of stroboscopic goggles on the motor control of landing. METHODS: Ground reaction force (GRF), rate of force development (RFD), and lower limb surface electromyography measurements were collected on 20 participants (11 male 9 female) across 6 trials of depth jumping (0.51 m) in each of two visual conditions (full vision vs stroboscopic vision). Root-mean-square was estimated from EMG signals that were reduced to specific time-bins (150ms pre touchdown, 30-60ms, 60-85 ms, and 85-120 ms post touchdown). Main effects of and interactions between visual condition and …

Bioelectrical Impedance Changes Of The Trunk Are Opposite The Limbs Following Acute Hydration Change, Dale R. Wagner

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in impedance and estimates of body composition variables obtained from segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (SMFBIA) following acute hydration change. All participants (N = 11 active adults) had SMFBIA measurements at baseline (euhydration), post-dehydration, and post-hyperhydration in an experimental repeated-measures design. Dehydration and hyperhydration trials were randomized with the opposite treatment given 24 h later. Dehydration was achieved via a heat chamber of 40 °C and 60% relative humidity. Hyperhydration was achieved by drinking lightly-salted water (30 mmol·L^-1 NaCl; 1.76 g NaCl·L^-1) within 30 min. Post-measurements were taken 30 min …

Relationship Of Eccentric Strength And Forward Perturbation Restabilization After Foot Contact, Leandra K. Ashworth

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Background: Forward falls are the most common fall direction and pose safety concerns for adults. To prevent forward falls, compensatory steps, and change-in-support reactions (e.g., foot contact) are critical for restabilizing center of mass after unpredictable, balance disturbances. Multi-joint, lower limb eccentric and isometric strength may provide additional insight on foot contact responses after a forward, temporally unpredictable perturbation. Multi-joint, eccentric muscular contractions have been found to result in significant neuromuscular adaptations (e.g., hypertrophy and muscular strength) and have higher retention capabilities than concentric contractions. Due to the importance of muscular strength in balance recovery, eccentric muscular strength could provide …

The Affect That Injuries Can Have On Collegiate Athletes Mental Health, Emily Dority

Student Research Symposium

This presentation provides research that answers the question of whether injuries affect collegiate athletes mentally. College athletes have a lot of mental challenges that they deal with behind the scenes. If an injury were to occur, the amount of stress and anxiety that the athlete feels would significantly increase. This research aims to determine if universities and colleges are providing the proper mental health resources to their student-athletes who have been affected by an injury. This research was conducted by reviewing both primary and secondary sources that provided first-hand accounts from collegiate athletes who struggled with their mental health after …

Developing A Novel Method For Testing Stopping Ability For Balance Recovery, Charlie Baggett, Chase Mitton

Student Research Symposium

This is a pilot study to determine a new method to assess response inhibition in a reactive balance context. Our aim is to create a method for assessing inhibition of a balance recovery step similar to past cognitive neuroscience research where button press responses in seated participants are used. A total of 17 young adults (18-30 years) were recruited for testing using the ReacStick and lean & release system in which participants were placed in a harness connected by a support cable to the wall behind them and another failsafe cable attached from the ceiling. Participants leaned into the support …

The Relationship Between Isometric Strength And Time To Stabilize, Parker Carroll

Student Research Symposium

Forward falls are the most common fall direction and pose a safety concern for adults. To assess individuals’ balance recovery response, we analyzed how individuals stepped on a forward force plate. Multi-joint, lower limb isometric strength may provide additional insight to balance recovery after a forward, unanticipated perturbation. Gender indicates reaction time differences in the time to stabilize, with males more likely to produce greater isometric strength. Our research question was does maximal, isometric strength, and gender predicts the time it takes to stabilize after a perturbation. We hypothesize that maximal, isometric strength and gender would predict the time to …

Balance Recovery Time Was Different Across Age Groups, Cody Overson

Student Research Symposium

Falls can take a serious toll on the quality of life and independence of daily activities. Among falls, forward falls are the most common fall direction. To prevent forward falls, compensatory steps and change-in-support reactions (e.g., foot contact) are critical for stabilizing after unanticipated, balance disturbances. The purpose was to determine if the time to stabilize varied across ages. Participants were grouped into three age groups (18-24, 25-33, and 40-58 years old). Participants performed 24 forward perturbation trials. Time to stabilize was evaluated as the time from their foot contacted the front force place to when the net anterior-posterior (AP) …

Effects Of Eccentric Overload Training When Combined With Aquatic Plyometric Training On Muscle Function Measures, Cassidy Weeks

Student Research Symposium

Previous research done at Utah State using a novel training machine, the Eccentron, has shown large improvements in muscular strength compared to traditional resistance training in a time and energy-efficient manner. This type of training could be beneficial for clinicians looking for a modality that can elicit rapid and large strength increases in populations that may not tolerate traditional resistance training. The strength gains made from the Eccentron did not transfer to vertical jump height or sprint speed indicating limited use for training the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). SSC is a critical contributor to functional and sport performance measures and is …

Could Differences In Aerobic Capacity Between Lower Limbs Negatively Impact Mobility Among Older Adults?, Daxton Kennington, Chayston Brown

Student Research Symposium

Falls are a primary cause of injury and mortality among older adults with 28.7% reporting falling each year. Previous research has found lower limb asymmetries are not strictly due to strength differences or previous injury among young, healthy individuals. Our proposed strategy will assess aerobic capacity between limbs and quantify asymmetries by comparing VO2 peak and power in single limb cycling vs. double limb cycling tests. We hypothesis that individuals with asymmetries (limb differences) will have greater fall risk and worsened mobility than individuals without asymmetries. Our sampling will include individuals 65 years of age and older. Limb dominance will …

Military Money, Luke Hayes

Student Research Symposium

With one of the largest budgets for any program in the United States, The military of the United States of America is often accused of having too much money allocated to their program. Even though the military keeps well-documented reports on their spending, the average U.S. citizen has little to no idea about how this money is spent. This project attempts to reveal that the spending is reasonable and necessary to accomplish the goals of the United States military. This was accomplished by studying many primary and secondary sources, mainly relying on official financial reports of the United States military. …

Cultural Competency Of Utah Department Of Health Diabetes Programs, Savannah Daines

Student Research Symposium

Purpose: Health disparities, or preventable and unjust differences in health, often exist in populations that experience barriers to health as a result of race or ethnicity. In the Hispanic population, health disparities exist in diabetes prevention and management with Hispanics being 70 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and twice as likely to be hospitalized for end-stage diabetic kidney disease compared to non-Hispanic whites. Delivering culturally competent care that respects how cultural factors impact health can help reduce health disparities. This project evaluates the cultural competency of Utah Department of Health diabetes programs for the Hispanic population and …

Protein Time Machine: Creating An Ancestral Voltage Gated Sodium Channel Of Thamnophis Sirtalis, Jennie Cordingley, Nicole Cook, Kaleb Hamann, Shauntel Johnson

Student Research Symposium

A central goal of evolutionary genetics is to understand how contingency and constraint shape evolutionary trajectories of protein evolution. There is considerable evidence that the fitness consequences of mutations are dependent on the genetic background in which they occur. This context dependence means that understanding the effects of putatively adaptive mutations as well as the evolutionary history of novel protein function can be difficult. An ideal approach might be a “protein time machine” in which mutations of interest are inserted into ancient ancestral gene sequences and their effects quantified. When multiple mutations are thought to be important, the order of …

The Effects Of Strength And Conditioning Training On The Health Of College Students, Brynli Bleak

Student Research Symposium

Does participation in Strength and Conditioning (S & C) classes have a positive effect on the physical, emotional, mental, and social health of college students? This study was designed to measure and explore different markers of physical, mental, emotional, and social health from participants in Strength and Conditioning classes. Class participants were asked to complete a survey to self report the effects of the training on various aspects of their life. Data were analyzed and compared to national averages for college students, and correlation tests were conducted to identify relationships in the reported effects. The study found that no significant …

Houston College Sport Programs’ Hurricane Harvey Communication: A Twitter Content Analysis, Chris Hanna, Robert Thompson, James T. Morton

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

This study provides a Twitter content analysis of tweets by Houston-based Division I college sport programs during Hurricane Harvey. A content analysis was performed on the tweets appearing on the main intercollegiate athletics Twitter pages of University of Houston, Houston Baptist University, Prairie View A&M University, Rice University, and Texas Southern University in response to Hurricane Harvey. The researchers based their study on grounded theory informed by a study conducted by Inoue and Havard (2015). While this study examined tweets rather than newspaper and magazine articles like Inoue and Havard (2015), this study confirmed the theme findings in Inoue and …

Altered Neural Drive From An Acl Injury May Lead To Re-Injury, Hunter Horsley

Research on Capitol Hill

USU senior Hunter, born and raised here in Logan, is a research assistant studying kinesiology. In sports, military action, and manual-labor jobs, many injuries affect not only the site of the injury but also the brain’s ability to receive communication from that site. Hunter’s project focuses on how people with and without ACL prior tears perform certain movement actions. This is the first study that simultaneously observes the physical response of the body as well as the brain activity during the tests, and may lead to more effective rehabilitation of such injuries in the future. Hunter found his passion for …

Precipitation Is A Strong Predictor Of Airborne Ammonia Levels., Bridger Jorgensen, Casey Olson, Connor Snow

Research on Capitol Hill

USU senior Connor has lived in the Uintah Basin all his life and studies kinesiology. Senior Casey, a Cache Valley native, studies climate science and works at the Utah Climate Center. Junior Bridger, also of Cache Valley, studies nutrition science. They led and funded this project through a student grant. Casey was alarmed by the ammonia data he was collecting at the Climate Center. “I immediately began to wonder how this issue would evolve over the coming decades.” The three teamed up to take a look at how Logan’s record-breaking amount of ammonia in our air is impacting those who …

Interdevice Reliability Of A-Mode Ultrasound To Measure Body Composition, Megan Bigler, Dale R. Wagner, R. Stephan Lowry

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

A-mode ultrasound is a noninvasive, rapid method for measuring subcutaneous fat thickness and estimating body fat percentage (%BF). Validity and reliability of the BodyMetrix BX2000 A-mode ultrasound has been reported; however, this study aimed to compare results from two machines to determine interdevice reliability. Ultrasound measures were repeated with two BX2000 machines at 10 body sites (chest, biceps, triceps, scapula, lower back, hip, waist, thigh, calf, axilla) on 42 males of varying age and leanness (age: 28.6±11.9 y, BMI: 25.4±4.6 kg/m2). The intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.939 to 0.998 with standard errors of measurement from 0.31 to 0.58 mm …