Kinesiology Commons^™

Quadriceps Recruitment And Twitch Properties In Lean And Obese Women Before And After Fatiguing Exercise, Rebekah Seay Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Skeletal muscle strength, specifically that of the anti-gravitational muscles such as the quadriceps, is essential for performing dynamic tasks including walking, navigating stairs, and transitioning between sitting and standing. Obesity has been shown to negatively impact musculoskeletal function and decrease quadriceps strength relative to body weight. Additionally, obesity has been linked with higher rates of fatigue and lower strength outcomes following a test of muscular endurance of the quadriceps. Since obesity lowers relative strength, it is likely that quadriceps muscle weakness contributes to reduced physical function of dynamic tasks. However, to date, the precise mechanism for obesity-induced muscle weakness has …

Sleep And Athletic Performance Of Formula 1 Race Car Drivers During The 2019 Season, Alexander Pollack

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Sufficient, good quality sleep is associated with better performance in many sports; however, this relationship has not been examined among motorsport athletes. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the relationship between sleep quality (SQ), sleep duration (SD), and performance metrics among professional racecar drivers. During the 2019 season, five Formula 1 drivers reported SQ, SD, and hours of time change for each race. Performance data (finishing position and points earned) were obtained from a public website. Relationships between sleep variables and driving performance were examined using correlations. Correlations between SQ and driving performance were not significant. SD and …

Predictability Of Vo2max From Three Commercially Available Devices, Luke Daniel Mccormick

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The Polar V800TM, A300TM, and Garmin Forerunner 235TM predict VO2max from a submaximal effort. Purpose: To examine the predictability of VO2max from two heart rate monitors (Device A and V) and a global positioning system (GPS) watch compared to measured VO2max. Methods: Forty participants, 22 males and 18 females ages 18 to 55, came to the Running Science Laboratory at Eastern Michigan University. During visit 1, participants completed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) to determine VO2max. At visit 2, each device’s protocol was followed to estimate VO2max. Pearson correlations, repeated measures ANOVA, and a paired samples t-test were utilized …

Power Amplification Strategies Across Animals, Rayhan Asif

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Animals use muscles for movement, but some have evolved mechanisms to exceed maximum power used in a motion known as power amplification. In this literature review, I analyzed and compared the evolution of structures capable of power amplification between species. Structures capable of power amplification were broken down into the basic components of the engine, amplifier, and tool. The species analyzed were found to possess necessary structures for power amplification which were relatively similar to each other in morphology, but varied greatly in function. The ease with which these structures evolved was evaluated based on the amount of divergence which …

The Effect Of Backpack Load On Trunk Kinematics Of Imitated Pathological Gait: A Case Study, Kara Kracher

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Background: It is well documented that loaded backpacks affect the biomechanics of gait in both children and adults. Minimal information is available with regard to the effects of backpacks on the biomechanics of gait in individuals with clinical gait abnormalities, such as those seen in cerebral palsy. Healthy, non-clinical populations can be taught how to ‘imitate’ typical gait abnormalities in order to study various experimental interventions without enlisting clinical patients. The objective of this study was to determine the acute effect of backpack load on kinematics of the trunk during typical and imitated pathological gait. Methods: COVID 19 restrictions precluded …

Role Of Training Mode On Individual And Group Responses To Sprint Interval Training, Lauren T. Digby, Seth F. Mccarthy, Claudia Jarosz, Derek P.D. Bornath, Jessica A.L. Tucker, Tom J. Hazell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Improvements in V̇O_2peak decrease the risk of heart disease and all-cause mortality, and is predictive of overall health. This study compared the group and individual responses of V̇O_2peak, as well as group responses of aerobic performance and anaerobic capacity following running and cycling sprint interval training (SIT) to determine the optimal modality. Twenty-three recreationally active young adults (males: n = 16, BMI = 27.5±4.9; females: n = 7, BMI = 23.6±3.0) completed 3 training sessions/week for 3 weeks (9 sessions). Pre- and post-testing measures included: aerobic capacity (V̇O_2peak), aerobic performance (time trial), and anaerobic capacity …

Conservative Clothing Effects On Body Composition Assessment By Air Displacement Plethysmography, Shaun L. Orvell, Kasuen Mauldin, John Gieng

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(4): 687-695, 2021. Form-fitting spandex swimsuits or single-layer compression shorts are recommended during BOD POD® testing to ensure accurate results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of various outfit types on body composition measurements using the BOD POD®, and self-reported comfort level wearing each outfit. Twenty-one participants, 8 females and 13 males, (age 31.6 ± 9.8 years) wore a spandex swim cap and three different outfits during BOD POD® testing (manufacturer-recommended form-fitting spandex swimsuit, short sleeve spandex, long sleeve spandex). Measured variables include body mass, body fat percentage, body volume, and …

When Working Out Makes You Sick To Your Stomach: What To Know About Exercise-Induced Nausea, Anne R. Crecelius

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

You’re doing it! You’re working out, reaping all those benefits of exercise that have been drilled into your head.

So you’re pedaling your heart out or running like you’re escaping a zombie horde. You’re feeling accomplished, on cloud nine, until … your stomach starts to churn. You may even feel dizzy. Your feelings of accomplishment have turned to agony as you deal with a bout of nausea.

Exercise-induced nausea is quite common, as are exercise-induced gastrointestinal (GI) problems in general, affecting perhaps up to 90% of endurance athletes.

So why does this happen and, more important, how can you prevent …

The Crossroads Of Wellness And Second Victim Syndrome: Identifying Factors That Alter The Pathway Of Caregiver Recovery Following An Unanticipated Adverse Patient Outcome, Kimia Zarabian, A. Katharine Hindle, Ivy Benjenk, Anita Vincent, Jamil M. Kazma, Benjamin Shambon, Raymond Pla, Eric Heinz

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Second Victim Syndrome (SVS) describes the phenomenon in which a caregiver experiences a traumatic psychological and emotional response to an adverse patient event or medical error. Using quantitative survey analysis, we aim to better understand the personal factors that affect SVS development and recovery.

Methods: Caregivers at a small urban academic medical center who had experienced an adverse patient event in the past six months were invited to take part in this institution-wide, voluntary, quantitative, cross-sectional study. Three surveys were administered; the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory (HRLSI) was used as a surrogate to measure stressful life events. The …

The 2019 P-Mig Student Survey Report And Capturing The Undergraduate Perspective Of Physiology Programming, Jennifer Rogers, Jenny L. Mcfarland, Claudia I. Stanescu, Patrick L. Crosswhite, Anne R. Crecelius

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

The aim of the 2019 Student Survey was to inform the Physiology Majors Interest Group (PMIG) of characteristics of undergraduates enrolled in physiology courses or degree programs from across the United States, to be used as one input source for development of program-level guidelines. 1389 participants from seven universities completed the 2019 P-MIG Student Survey. 37% reported enrollment in a physiology/human physiology major; allied health related programs were the second most common (24%). 61% of respondents reported attending a community college, the majority of whom enrolled in one or more courses at a community college while in high school (44%). …

Biomechanical Properties Of Land Based And Shallow Water Wait: A Comparative Review Of Literature, Mostafa Yaghoubi, Philip Fink, Wyatt H. Page, Sarah P. Shultz

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Aquatic locomotion exercises are frequently used in rehabilitation and cross-training for land-based athletes. Hydrostatic pressure, thermal conductivity and drag force affect a person's ability to move; therefore, it is important to understand differences of biomechanical gait in water vs land. This review investigated biomechanical differences between shallow water and land-based exercises. PubMed, Google Scholar, SPORTDiscus and Scopus were searched; 33 studies included walking forward (27), backward (6) and running (6). Electromyographic amplitude was similar or less in submaximal intensity during aquatic gait, in comparison to on land. At maximal intensities, however, the amplitude was similar (n=5) or higher (n=4) in …

The Combined Effects Of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage And Heat Stress On Acute Kidney Stress And Heat Strain During Subsequent Endurance Exercise, Zidong Li

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effect of downhill running and heat stress on muscle damage, as well as on heat strain and kidney stress during subsequent endurance exercise in the heat. Methods: Using a crossover design and randomized order, ten non-heat-acclimated, physically active males completed downhill running in a cool (EIMD in Cool) and hot (EIMD in Hot) environment followed by an exercise-heat stress (HS) test after 3-hour seated rest. Core temperature, heart rate, thermal sensation and ratings of perceived exertion were recorded throughout each exercise session. Blood and urine samples were collected at …

No Changes In Appetite-Related Hormones Following Swimming And Cycling Exercise Interventions In Adults With Obesity, Brandon G. Fico, Mohammed Alkatan, Hirofumi Tanaka

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(2): 1819-1825, 2020. Swimming is a favorable and ideal modality of exercise for individuals with obesity and arthritis as it encompasses a minimal weight-bearing stress and a reduced heat load. However, the available evidence indicates that regular swimming may not be effective in reducing body weight and body fatness. A current hypothesis is that exercise in cold water stimulates appetite. We determined the effect of swimming training on appetite-related hormones. Thirty-nine adults with obesity and osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of supervised swimming or cycling training. In the initial few weeks, participants exercised …

Cardiovascular And Muscular Response To No Load Exercise With Blood Flow Restriction, Wenyuan Zhu, Noam Yitzchaki, Tayla E. Kuehne, Ryo Kataoka, Kevin Mattocks, Samuel L. Buckner

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(2): 1807-1818, 2020. Changes in muscle thickness (MT), isometric torque, and arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) were examined following four sets of twenty unilateral elbow flexion exercise. Participants performed four sets of maximal voluntary contractions with no external load throughout a full range of motion of a bicep curl with and without the application of blood flow restriction (BFR). For torque there was an interaction (p = 0.012). The BFR condition had lower torque following exercise (56.07 ± 17.78 Nm) compared to the control condition (58.67 ± 19.06 Nm). For MT, there was a main …

Lower Limb Graduated Compression Garments Modulate Autonomic Nervous System And Improve Post-Training Recovery Measured Via Heart Rate Variability, Jonathan Hu, Jonathan D. Browne, Jaxon T. Baum, Anthony Robinson, Michael T. Arnold, Sean P. Reid, Eric V. Neufeld, Brett A. Dolezal

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(7): 1794-1806, 2020. Prior studies have examined the benefits of graduated compression garments (GCG) with regards to diverse exercise regimens; however, the relationship between GCG and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to examine Heart Rate Variability (HRV) trends—a proxy for ANS modulation—in response to donning GCG during a progressive overload training regimen designed to induce overtraining. Ten college-aged male novice runners were recruited for the 8-week crossover study. After three weeks of monitored free living, participants were randomized and blinded to an intervention group …

Short Term High-Repetition Back Squat Protocol Does Not Improve 5-Km Run Performance, Matthew J. Barenie, Jordan T. Domenick, Jason E. Bennett, George G. Schweitzer, Paulina Shetty, Edward P. Weiss

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(7): 1770-1782, 2020. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that a novel high-repetition, low-resistance back squat training protocol, designed to stimulate high-intensity interval training, improves 5-km run performance. Fifteen runners [4 male, 11 female; 150 + minutes of endurance exercise/week; age = 22.7 ± 2.0 y; 21.5 ± 2.2 kg/m² BMI] in this single-group test-retest design completed two weeks of back squats consisting of three sets of 15-24 repetitions at 60% of estimated one-repetition max (1RM), three times per week (1-2 days of rest between sessions). Outcome tests included a …

Energy Expenditure And Muscular Recruitment Patterns Of Riding A Novel Electrically Powered Skateboard, Anthony J. Robinson, Robert P. Carter, Jonathan D. Browne, Jonathan Hu, Michael T. Arnold, Jaxon T. Baum, Eric V. Neufeld, Brett A. Dolezal

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 1783-1793, 2020. Analysis of metabolic gas exchange and muscular output measures have enabled researchers to index activity intensity and energy expenditure for a myriad of exercises. However, there is no current research that investigates the physiological demands of riding electrically powered skateboards. The aim of this study was to measure the energetic cost and muscular trends of riding a novel electrically powered skateboard engineered to emulate snowboarding on dry-land. While riding the skateboard, eight participants (aged 21-37 years, 1 female) donned a portable breath-by-breath gas analyzer to measure energy expenditure (mean = 12.5, …

A Comparison Of United States Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test And Combat Fitness Test Results, Marc Keefer, Mark Debeliso

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 1741-1755, 2020. The United States Marines Corps (USMC) have installed a Physical Fitness Test (PFT) to measure physical fitness levels and a Combat Fitness Test (CFT) to assess a Marine’s functional fitness as it relates to the demands of combat operations. The PFT involves three events; pull-ups/push-ups (PU), two-minute abdominal crunches/sit-ups (AC), and a timed three-mile run (RUN). The CFT also involves three events; Movement to Contact (MTC), two-minute Ammunition Lift (AL), and Maneuver-Under-Fire (MANUF). It is of interest to determine if the PFT and CFT are both necessary. As such, the purpose of …

Metabolic Flexibility And Weight Status May Contribute To Inter-Individual Changes In Breastmilk Lipid Content In Response To An Acute Bout Of Exercise: Preliminary Findings From A Pilot Study, Jill M. Maples, Charlotte Mccarley, Maire M. Blankenship, Kristin Yoho, K.Paige Johnson, Kimberly B. Fortner, Rachel A. Tinius

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(2): 1756-1769, 2020. The purposes of this pilot study were to describe changes in breastmilk lipid content in response to an acute bout of moderate intensity exercise and to explore maternal metabolic health factors, including metabolic flexibility, which may impact this change. A cross-sectional, observational, pilot study design was performed in 14 women between 4 and 6 months postpartum. Whole body fasting lipid oxidation was assessed, a standardized high-fat breakfast was consumed, and lipid oxidation was again measured 120-minutes post-meal. Metabolic flexibility was determined by comparing the change in lipid oxidation before and after the …

New Multisite Bioelectrical Impedance Device Compared To Hydrostatic Weighing And Skinfold Body Fat Methods, Andrew D. Wells, Bryanne N. Bellovary, Jonathan M. Houck, Jeremy B. Ducharme, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman A. Masoud, Ann L. Gibson, Christine M. Mermier

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 1718-1728, 2020. The purpose of this study was to compare the Skulpt Chisel™ to seven-site skinfold (SKF) and hydrostatic weighing (HW) body fat percentage (%BF) estimates. Twenty-six participants (aged 24 ± 4 years; BMI 23.1 ± 3.5 kg∙m^-2) were assessed. Significant differences in %BF estimates were found for all methodological pairings; p < 0.05. The SKF method underestimated %BF compared to HW (-2.52 ± 3.42 %BF). The Skulpt Chisel™ overestimated %BF compared to both HW (3.38 ± 6.10 %BF) and SKF (5.90 ± 5.26 %BF). Limits of agreement comparing HW to Skulpt Chisel™ indicated a difference between 95% confidence interval bounds (Upper bound: 5.84 %BF, Lower bound 0.92 %BF) and for HW to SKF (Upper bound: -1.14 %BF, Lower bound: -3.91 %BF). Regression analysis showed no significant bias for any methodological pairing; (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the Skulpt Chisel™ method should be used with caution when evaluating %BF of adults with similar demographics reported in this study.

The Effects Of Acute Anaerobic Exercise On The Cardiovascular And Metabolic Response To The Cold Pressor Test In Healthy Adult Males, Marc P. Morissette, Dean M. Cordingley, Todd A. Duhamel, Jeff R. S. Leiter

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(3): 1729-1740, 2020. Little is known about the physiological response to the cold pressor test (CPT) when in a clinically-induced state of autonomic nervous system (ANS) imbalance, despite its utility in various disease- and injury-states. To date, research in this area is limited to acute aerobic and isometric exercise, with a paucity of research investigating the effects of anaerobic exercise on the physiological response to the CPT. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to assess the effects of the Wingate anaerobic cycle test (WAT) on cardiovascular (CV) and metabolic recovery following the CPT in …

Use Of Heart Rate Index To Predict Oxygen Uptake – A Validation Study, Jie Kang, Nicholas A. Ratamess, Avery D. Faigenbaum, Jill A. Bush-Wallace, Christopher Roser, Devyn Montemarano, Hannah Mercado, Morgan Choma, Christian Mendez, Matthew Pollock

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(7): 1705-1717, 2020. An equation that uses heart rate index (HRI) defined as HR/HRrest to predict oxygen uptake (VO₂) in METs (e.g., METs = 6 × HRI ‒ 5) has been developed retrospectively from aggregate data of 60 published studies. However, the prediction error of this model as used by an individual has not been established. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the predictive validity of the HRI equation by comparing submaximal and maximal VO₂ predicted by the equation (VO₂-Pred) with that measured by indirect calorimetry (VO …

Relationships Of Lower-Body Power Measures To Sprint And Change Of Direction Speed Among Ncaa Division Ii Women’S Lacrosse Players: An Exploratory Study, Emily Kulakowski, Robert G. Lockie, Quincy Johnson, Keston Lindsay, J. Jay Dawes

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(6): 1667-1676, 2020. This study sought to determine if significant relationships exist between lower-body power measures to sprint and change of direction speed (CODS) in Division II collegiate women’s lacrosse athletes. Archived data for 17 NCAA Division II female lacrosse athletes was provided to the investigators for analysis. Jumping performance was assessed using a countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), and standing broad jump (SBJ). Sprint speed was measured at 10m and 30m, of a 30m sprint. CODS was evaluated using a T-Test (TT), a modified T-Test (MTT), and the 5-0-5 Agility Test (5-0-5). No …

No Change In Executive Function Or Stress Hormones Following A Bout Of Moderate Treadmill Exercise In Preadolescent Children, Brian T. Ebisuzaki, Nicholas D. Riemen, Kory M. Bettencourt, Lupita M. Gonzalez, Kelly A. Bennion, Cory J. Greever

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(5): 1650-1666, 2020. Several studies suggest that acute bouts of exercise improve executive function in preadolescent children. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are not completely understood. Specifically, no studies have examined the relationship between the stress hormone response to exercise and improvements in executive function in preadolescent children. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a bout of moderate intensity exercise versus rest on working memory (List Sorting Working Memory Task) and selective inhibition/attention (Eriksen flanker task) in preadolescent children, as well as to investigate whether changes in stress hormones …

Multi-Joint Vs Single-Joint Resistance Exercises Induce A Similar Strength Increase In Trained Men: A Randomized Longitudinal Crossover Study, Felipe Alves Brigatto, Júlio Benvenutti Bueno De Camargo, Witter Felipe De Ungaro, Moisés Diego Germano, Paulo Henrique Marchetti, Marcelo Saldanha Aoki, Tiago Volpi Braz, Charles Ricardo Lopes

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 1677-1690, 2020. The type of exercise is a relevant resistance training-variable that might be manipulated in order to induce significant increases in muscle strength. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of multi-joint vs single-joint resistance exercises on maximal strength. Sixteen resistance-trained men (age: 23.1 ± 4.4 years; body mass: 86.0 ± 12.8; height: 177.9 ± 6.4 cm; training experience: 4.2 ± 3.4 years) performed one of the following training protocols for six weeks: MULTI, consisting of only multi-joint exercises or SINGLE, consisting of only single-joint exercises. Subjects were then submitted …

The Generality Of Strength: Relationship Between Different Measures Of Muscular Strength In Older Women, João Pedro Nunes, Paolo M. Cunha, Melissa Antunes, Bruna D. V. Costa, Witalo Kassiano, Gabriel Kunevaliki, Alex S. Ribeiro, Edilson S. Cyrino

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(3): 1638-1649, 2020. The aims of this study were: (i) to analyze the relationship between the performance of different measures of muscular strength, and (ii) to identify which measurements present a greater relationship with an overall strength score. Sixty older women (aged 69 ± 6 years) were submitted to muscular strength measurements from isotonic, isokinetic, and isometric tests. An overall-strength score was generated with z-scores of the values obtained in all tests. Interquartile intervals were created for each measure and the overall-strength score. Pearson’s r (0.463-0.951, p < 0.05) and Cronbach’s α (0.500-0.966) suggested that subjects had relatively similar strength performance compared to their peers in the different tests. Greater associations were observed between tests for similar tasks. In addition, strong-magnitude associations were revealed between all the tests and the overall-strength score (r = 0.710-0.806; α = 0.760-0.846). Factor …

Pre-Exercise Maltodextrin Ingestion And Transient Hypoglycemia In Cycling And Running, Costas Chryssanthopoulos, Evangelia Tzeravini, Elias Zachrogiannis, Maria Megalou, Alexander Kokkinos, Maria Maridaki, George Dimitriadis, Michaella Alexandrou, Chrysoula Kontrafouri, Damianos Papafilippou, Argyro Pountoukidou, Effraimia Tsolaki, Maria Evangelia Koloutsou, Nikolaos Zacharodimos, Michael Koutsilieris, Anastassios Philippou

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(2): 1691-1704, 2020. This study examined the phenomenon of transient hypoglycemia and metabolic responses to pre-exercise carbohydrate (CHO) maltodextrin ingestion in cycling and running on the same individuals. Eleven active males cycled or ran for 30 min at 80% maximal heart rate (HRmax) after ingestion of either 1g/kg body mass maltodextrin (CHO-Cycle and CHO-Run respectively) or placebo (PL-Cycle and PL-Run) solutions. Fluids were ingested 30min before exercise in a double-blind and random manner.Blood glucose and serum insulin were higher before exercise in CHO (mean CHO-Cycle+CHO-Run) (Glucose: 7.4 ± 0.3 mmol^.l^-1; …

Impact Of Velcro Cuff Closure On Forearm Skin Temperature In Surfers Wearing A 2mm And 3mm Wetsuit, Daniel Kellogg, Tyler Wiles, Jeff A. Nessler, Sean C. Newcomer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(6): 1574-1582, 2020. Surfing is a worldwide sport that often requires participants to wear a wetsuit to assist in thermoregulation. In a recent study, forearm skin temperature decreased by approximately 3 °C while wearing a wetsuit during recreational surfing. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that reducing water flow in and out of the wetsuit by cuffing the wetsuit at the wrist, with a novel cuff closure system (Velcro cuff), would result in greater forearm skin temperature while surfing. One hundred and twelve (94 male, 18 female) recreational surfers between the …

The Impact Of Formal Strength And Conditioning On The Fitness Of Law Enforcement Recruits: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Robert G. Lockie, J. Jay Dawes, Nicholas Maclean, Rodney Pope, Ryan J. Holmes, Charles Kornhauser, Robin Marc Orr

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 1615-1629, 2020. Research involving law enforcement populations has suggested better fitness could enhance job task performance and reduce injuries. Academy training should lead to improvements in recruit fitness. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a strength and conditioning program on fitness among law enforcement recruits. Twenty-six recruits (23 males, three females) completed a 27-week academy, which incorporated 3-4 physical training sessions per week. Fitness assessment occurred during pre- (week 0), mid- (week 14), and post-testing (week 27) time points. The fitness assessments included: vertical jump, one-minute push-ups, one-minute sit-ups, …

What Factors Predict Upper Body Push To Pull Ratios In Professional Firefighters?, Justin J. Merrigan, Adam A. Burke, Marcie B. Fyock-Martin, Joel R. Martin

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 1605-1614, 2020. Shoulder joint injuries are common for professional firefighters. A potential cause of shoulder injury is an imbalance between anterior (push) and posterior (pull) shoulder joint musculature. Understanding what contributes to these imbalances may help to identify areas needing improvement. The purpose of this study was to investigate different push to pull (P2P) ratios and the relationships among common upper body fitness assessments, body composition, and push to pull (P2P) ratios in firefighters. Thirty-three professional firefighters completed the following testing protocol: one-repetition maximum (1RM) bench press, pull-up repetitions to failure, push-up repetitions to …