Kinesiology Commons^™

The Effects Of Physical Activity Timing And Adherence To Physical Activity Guidelines On Sleep In Children With Adhd, Xiao Liang, Mengping Zhao, Li Su, Justin A. Haegele, Richard H. Xu, Jingjing Li, Andy Choi-Yeung Tse, Shirley X. Li

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Regular physical activity (PA) has been shown to benefit sleep. However, the effects of PA timing and adherence to the WHO's recommended 60-min moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guideline on sleep are unclear, especially for children with ADHD who often experience sleep problems. This study examined whether timing of MVPA influenced objectively measured sleep, including sleep latency (SL), sleep efficiency (SE), total sleep time (TST), and wake after sleep onset (WASO), among children with ADHD. This cross-sectional study involved 253 children with ADHD (Mage = 8.60 ± 1.31 years, 81% boys). MVPA timing was categorized as more than 8 h before …

Identifying The Physical Activity Promotion Practices Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists: Patients With Endometriosis And Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Allison P. Herman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Despite efforts to promote physical activity, many females in Canada do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines. For individuals with gynecological conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), physical activity may aid in symptom management and improve daily functioning. Healthcare settings, including obstetrics and gynecology, represent an area of opportunity to promote physical activity among this population. This thesis aims to understand the physical activity promotion practices of Ontario-based Obstetricians and Gynecologists (OBGYNs) to patients with endometriosis and/or PCOS. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to explore OBGYNs promotional practices and perceived factors influencing their engagement in physical …

Does Motor Skill Competence Influence Physical Activity Behavior? Focusing On Sport-Specific Skills, Yubing Wang, Yaogang Han, Pan Li, Bin Zhang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The purpose of this study was to investigate the widely held belief that motor skill competence positively affects physical activity behavior (PA), considering the task-specific nature of motor skill competence and the context-specific nature of PA. Specifically, we examined the effects of students’ jump rope (JR) and basketball (BB) competence on their PA in six contexts. A total of 134 sixth grade students participated in this study. All variables were assessed using appropriate tools. A series of hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to address the research questions. Students’ JR competence did not significantly influence their PA in either JR-related or …

Managing User Conflicts In A Water Aerobics Program On Behalf Of A Veteran’S Group: A Short Case Study, Hadley Blankenship, Steven N. Waller Ph.D., Jason L. Scott

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This article captures an experience in conflict management that happened during the summer of 2024 as a recreational therapy intern with an adaptive sport and recreation organization located in the Southeastern United States. The backdrop to the case is that a recreational therapy intern worked with various special needs populations – mainly with paraplegic (adult and youth) athletes and veterans. In many organizations, user conflicts and poor communication regarding service provision and scheduling hinder the implementation of programs for special populations, such as veteran groups. In this case, a problem occurred with the scheduling of a water aerobics program for …

Curbing Fatal And Non-Fatal Drowning Deaths: An Effort To Reach Under-Resourced Children In Baltimore, Maryland, Ashton P. Christo, William D. Ramos

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning remains a significant public health problem in the United States, with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting approximately 4,000 drowning deaths annually. Children aged 1-4 face the highest risk, and African American children are disproportionately affected–7.6 times more likely to drown than white children (CDC, 2024). In a city on the East Coast that is predominantly African American, limited access to swimming lessons heightens the risk. To reduce drowning rates, a collaborative swimming program was established between a city high school and a public school enrichment program. The initiative provided essential water safety and swimming skills …

Diversity In Aquatics:4th Special Issue, Tiffany M. Quash Ph.D., Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq, Steven N. Waller Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The theme of this special issue is “Building a Community of Champions.” The purpose of this theme is to highlight and promote a civic engagement perspective that engages, advocates, and supports communities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in addressing the national, regional, and local evolving health-related issue of drowning. Aquatic Settings have been a pivotal focal point of social justice, water safety, and public health, not only in the past but also in our present day (Beale-Tawfeeq, Quash, et al, 2023 and Waller and Bemiller, 2023). Diversity In Aquatics (DIA) strives to positively impact the field of aquatics …

Teaching Swimming To Children With Disabilities: A Qualitative Analysis Of Swim Instructorstea, Stephanie S. Garcia-Hidalgo, Martin E. Block

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

When teaching children with disabilities, swim instructors need to be able to assess the unique strengths and needs of each child to determine modifications needed to instruction, equipment, and the setting and then be flexible enough to make changes in real-time to ensure success for the child. Unfortunately, many swim instructors only work seasonally and have the occasional child with a disability, and as a result are likely to have limited training and experiences with children with disabilities. The purpose of this pilot qualitative study is to examine backgrounds, training, and experiences of six swim instructors who work with children …

Promising Practices For Increasing The Number Of Equity-Owed Lifeguards In Canada And The United States Of America, Sofia Pantano, Audrey R. Giles

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Currently a shortage of lifeguards exists in Canada and the United States (US) (Frommer, 2023; Santucci, 2024), and those who are working as lifeguards often do not reflect the diversity of the communities they serve (Martinez, 2020). Increasing the number of lifeguards from equity-owed groups is a potential way of increasing the lifeguard workforce and decreasing the shortage of workers in these important roles, as well as a moral imperative. In this paper I explore challenges to and promising practices aimed at increasing the representation of members equity-owed groups in lifeguarding. I begin with an overview of lifeguarding in Canada …

Adopting Stuart Hall’S “Race, The Floating Signifier” As A Conceptual Framework Within Aquatic Research And Education, Kurt J. Cordice

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

During his 1997 lecture at Goldsmiths College in London, Stuart Hall, renowned for his contributions to sociology and cultural studies, offered his argument that the concept of race functions as a Floating Signifier. In this essay, Stuart Hall’s Race, the Floating Signifier is presented as a strong conceptual framework to support more accurate and effective positioning of race as an important consideration within aquatic research and education. Evidence from a range of disciplines, including historical research, is presented to establish both the importance and challenge of race within aquatic research and education. This evidence is also used to demonstrate …

Building Swimming Skills In A Community Based Program For Black Youth: An Evaluation, Tyler Lennon Md, Mph, Ashley Hayes Mph, Leonardo Barrera Mph, Amy Hill Ms, Mph, Andy Miner, Michelle Macy Md, Ms

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Black youth in the United States disproportionately experience fatal drowning at rates up to five times higher than their white peers. Eliminating these inequities requires new approaches that address historical and structural barriers of learning to swim. The objective of this study was to evaluate the three-week long swimming component of a community-based discovery program to empower Black youth in Evanston, IL. Participants were Black youth ages 8-10 years enrolled in summer 2023 and 2024. Swim skills were assessed by instructors using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC). Caregiver surveys, collected post-intervention, also assessed perceived changes in swim …

An Innovative Approach Addressing Childhood Drowning: Making Use Of Collegiate Aquatic Facilities And Expertise, Gennette Cordova, Natasha Lloyd, Chezik Tsunoda

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The silent epidemic of childhood drowning, and the racial disparities associated with it require scalable and innovative approaches that both break cycles of exclusion and circumvent our societal tendency to overlook drowning as a matter in need of urgent resolution. No More Under, a Seattle-based water safety organization whose mission is to eradicate childhood drowning, has launched the Swim Safely Series. The series is a national program uniquely poised to overcome the various barriers associated with racial and socioeconomic drowning disparities by tapping into underutilized collegiate aquatic spaces and merging water safety with mentorship and social intervention.

Transcriptomic Analysis Demonstrates Moderators Of Muscle Quality Are Altered In Age-Related Sarcopenic Obesity, Eleanor R. Schrems, Ana Regina Cabrera, Ronald G. Jones Iii, Francielly Morena, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene, Tyrone A. Washington

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

BackgroundSarcopenic obesity (SO) is the combined condition of sarcopenia and obesity, which commonly occurs in the older adult population. SO is associated with poor physical function, increased risk of musculoskeletal injury, and reduced quality of life and independence. Information on the molecular underpinnings of this condition is limited. The aim of this study was to provide a transcriptomic analysis characterizing SO induced by lifelong obesity and to provide a deeper understanding of the etiology of the condition.ResultsYoung (Y) (6 mo) and aged (A) (21-24 mo) mice were fed either normal chow (L) (12% kcal from fat) or high-fat (O) (60% …

P.L.A.Y. For All Pilot: Effects Of A Community-Based, Inclusive After-School Program On Physical Activity And Motor-Skill Outcomes, Allison R. Tsuchida, Karl-Richard Hennebach, Erin E. Centeio

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

After-school programs for physical activity (PA) can contribute to helping children and youth achieve the suggested 60 minutes a day of PA. Previous research also suggests that developing motor competency can positively impact long-term PA participation. Additionally, parent and peer support can help children and youth overcome barriers to PA participation. The primary purpose of this pilot research study was to determine the effects of an inclusive after-school program on PA levels and motor-skill outcomes for children with and without disabilities. A secondary purpose was to examine parental support for physical activity and children’s physical activity and motor skills. 38 …

Demographic Characteristics And Selected Personality Traits Of Women In Competitive Bodybuilding, Chloe A. Zeeuw

Master's Theses

This study investigated demographic characteristics and measures of personality (dimensions of performance perfectionism and five-factor model characteristics) in women in competitive bodybuilding between 18-25 years old. A total of 24 women completed an online survey which included a demographic questionnaire, the Five Factor Model Rating Form (FFMRF), and the Performance Perfectionism Scale for Sport (PPSS) inventories. Descriptive results for the FFMRF were Openness (18.17±3.12), Conscientiousness (25.58±3.33), Extraversion (19.96±3.46), Agreeableness (19.88±4.58), and Neuroticism (15.67±4.94), and for the PPS-S were Self-oriented performance perfectionism (20.96±3.53), Socially prescribed performance perfectionism (13.96±4.26), and Other-oriented performance perfectionism (10.54±4.23). Pearson’s correlation coefficients and Shapiro-Wilk tests revealed that …

Resilience Mediates The Association Between Discrimination And Psychological Distress Among Rural, Black Women In South Carolina: A Structural Equation Model, Camryn Garrett, Abhisheak Aggrawal, Huiyi Xia, Cheuk Chi Tam, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sarah Wilcox Phd, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction

The marginalization of intersecting racial, gender, and rural identities compounds the structural vulnerabilities (e.g., discrimination, stigma, health disparities) experienced by Black women in South Carolina’s rural areas. Discriminatory experiences can deteriorate mental health; however, resilience can potentially reduce the ill effects of discrimination by decreasing associated psychological distress. This study examines the mediating role of resilience in the association between discrimination and psychological distress among rural, Black women in South Carolina in the post-pandemic era.

Methods

Black women (n = 300, mean age = 48.6) living in rural South Carolina were recruited from January to February 2024 using …

Evaluation Of Physical, Mental, And Mechanical Aspects Of An Extreme Military Training Event: A Continuous Monitoring Approach, Tirthankar Chatterjee, Debojyoti Bhattacharyya, Roshani Meena

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

Soldiers receive extensive training at extremes of environments and simulated terrains to improve their battle efficiency. A study was designed to evaluate the actual cost of a military physical efficiency test consisting of several physically engaging activities to quantify physiological, mechanical, and subjective demands. Sixteen Indian soldiers participated in a military training session consisting of events such as a 5-km run, 4-m vertical rope climbing, a 2.75-m jump, a 60-m dash, and a 9-m horizontal rope climbing with 6.5 kg of equipment in a hot dry environment. Their physiological status was monitored continuously. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load …

Predicting Sleep And Sleep Stage In Children Using Actigraphy And Heartrate Via A Long Short-Term Memory Deep Learning Algorithm: A Performance Evaluation, Robert Weaver Med, Phd, James White, Olivia Finnegan, Hongpeng Yang, Zifei Zhong, Keagan Kiely, Catherine Jones, Yan Tong, Srihari Nelakuditi, Rahul Ghosal, David E. Brown, Russell R. Pate Ph.D., Gregory J. Welk, Massimiliano De Zambotti, Yuan Wang, Sarah Burkart, Elizabeth L. Adams Phd, Bridget Armstrong, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd

Faculty Publications

Children's ambulatory sleep is commonly measured via actigraphy. However, traditional actigraphy measured sleep (e.g., Sadeh algorithm) struggles to predict wake (i.e., specificity, values typically < 70) and cannot predict sleep stages. Long short-term memory (LSTM) is a machine learning algorithm that may address these deficiencies. This study evaluated the agreement of LSTM sleep estimates from actigraphy and heartrate (HR) data with polysomnography (PSG). Children (N = 238, 5–12 years,52.8% male, 50% Black 31.9% White) participated in an overnight laboratory polysomnography. Participants were referred be-cause of suspected sleep disruptions. Children wore an ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer and two of three consumer wearables(i.e., Apple Watch Series 7, Fitbit Sense, Garmin Vivoactive 4) on their non-dominant wrist during the polysomnogram. LSTM estimated sleep versus wake and sleep stage (wake, not-REM, REM) using raw actigraphy and HR data for each 30-s epoch. Logistic regression and random forest were also estimated as a benchmark for performance with which to compare the LSTM results. A 10-fold cross-validation technique was employed, and confusion matrices were constructed. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated to assess the agreement between research-grade and consumer wearables with the criterion polysomnography. For sleep versus wake classification, LSTM outperformed logistic regression and random forest with accuracy ranging from 94.1to 95.1, sensitivity ranging from 94.9 to 95.9 across different devices, and specificity ranging from 84.5 to 89.6. The addition of HR improved the prediction of sleep stages but not binary sleep versus wake. LSTM is promising for predicting sleep and sleep staging from actigraphy data, and HR may improve sleep stage prediction.

The N-Pact Factor, Replication And Power Associated With Quantitative Research In Physical Activity And Health, Angelina Haidar, Jeffrey J. Martin, Adam J. Martin, Sarah Rogers, Fatemeh Dehghan, Eva Prokesova

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Physical Activity (PA) and health science researchers often face challenges related to sample size, which can impact the reliability and generalizability of study findings. The purpose of the current paper is to address these issues by discussing key statistical concepts: effect size and Type I and Type II errors, with a specific focus on examining statistical power and sample size using studies from the Disability and Health Journal (DHJ). We examined research articles published in DHJ over a 15-year period (2008–2022), covering 62 issues and analyzing a total of 1,177 articles. Our analysis revealed that the median sample sizes …

Walk A Mile: Exploring Cause-Based Charity Event Participation As A Catalyst For Increasing Physical Activity Behavior, Kimberly S. Fasczewski, Andrey A. Sanko Posada, Meg Hopkins

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Despite the known benefits of physical activity (PA), more than half of U.S. adults do not meet the American College of Sports Medicine’s PA recommendations for health, often resulting in negative health outcomes. Developing programming that increases motivation for PA participation is critical for healthcare professionals to combat physical inactivity. Previous research has demonstrated that framing disease-based PA charity fundraising events as “helping a cause” improved motivation for PA due to the individual’s emotional connection to the cause. There is currently no congruent research on motivation for participation in cause-based charity events. Behavioral economics theory posits that cognitive, emotional, and …

Aging-Induced Increase In Top-Down Connectivity From Dlpfc To Sma/M1 And Decrease In Inter-Limb Motor Coordination During Standing Tasks, Jiahao Pan, Shuqi Zhang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This study aimed to investigate the effects of aging on inhibitory control from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to the motor cortices and inter-limb coordination during dual task standing. Participants performed single-task and dual-task standing. Ground reaction force, center-of-pressure, muscle activity, and cortical activation were measured. The older group showed a greater effective connectivity index from the intra-hemispheric dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) to supplementary motor area (SMA) (right, p = 0.009; left, p = 0.003) and left DLPFC to right M1 (p = 0.020)than the young group across task conditions. Also, the older group had greater inter-tibialis anterior coherence at 15–35 …

It Is Not Clear How Well Physical Activity Promotion Materials Are Understood: Findings From A Rapid Literature Review, Jafra D. Thomas, Jasmine C. Wong, Regina F. Hockert, Yi Sheng Wu, Winston Kennedy

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 6: Issue 1, Article 6, 2025. Efforts to promote physical activity and other health-related behaviors are more effective when resource materials are understood by a wide and diverse audience. Before our lab’s previous investigations (Thomas et al., 2024), only one study seemed to use the cloze procedure to directly test the comprehension (i.e., readability) of physical activity promotion material (Cardinal & Seidler, 1995). Thus, this rapid literature review sought to (a) determine the extent the cloze procedure has been used to study physical activity promotion material comprehension in lay adults and (b) collate …

The Impact Of Prenatal Yoga On Hip Mobility And Delivery Outcomes, Zoe Avery

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Yoga has been shown to decrease lumbar pain, improve maternal mental health, and improve delivery outcomes. While there are many well-established benefits of yoga, the mechanism by which yoga elicits these improvements is unclear. One potential mechanism that has not been studied is through improvements in hip mobility. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the effect of prenatal yoga on hip mobility. The secondary aim was to determine the relationship between hip mobility and pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Hip mobility via hip internal and external range of motion and hip flexor muscle length was measured in pregnant females …

A Cross-Sectional Analysis: Employment And Its Impact On Physical Activity, Academic Performance, And Quality Of Life Among Bellarmine University Students, Orlando Exposito Nuñez

Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Half of undergraduate students are employed, meaning they must balance work with academics, physical activity (PA), and personal responsibilities. This study examines the potential negative impact of employment on PA, academic performance, and quality of life (QOL) among college students. Methods: The cross-sectional survey comprised 125 Bellarmine University students (Age 21.07 ± 3.40; 52% female, 48% male). Measures included the RAND SF-36 for QOL, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and a custom academic and employment questionnaire. Racial and ethnic demographics included White (75.2%), Black or African American (11.2%), Hispanic or Latino (15.2%), Asian (4.8%), Multiracial (4.8%), …

The Impacts Of Physical (In)Activity On Endothelial Function, Joel Ernest Harden

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Exercise and physical activity are known to have beneficial effects on endothelial function and vascular health. Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity, however, have been shown to be related to poor endothelial function and vascular health. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to further elucidate the physiological links between physical (in)activity and vascular health. In the first study, 12 active, young (18-40 yr) individuals and 12 active, old (55+ yr) individuals were recruited. Participants underwent 5 days of removal of exercise, and had their endothelial function assessed via flow-mediated dilation (FMD) during their normal, habitual exercise state (EX) and during …

The Intensity Of 10-Minute Classroom Physical Activity Breaks In Elementary School Children, Jeffery J. Honas, Amanda N. Szabo-Reed, Joe Sherman, Anna Rice, Robert Montgomery, Ken Murfay, Richard A. Washburn, Joseph E. Donnelly

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This study examined the intensity of different physical activity (PA) breaks for elementary school children in a simulated classroom setting. Researchers compared the energy expenditure (Kcals/min, METs) of PA breaks developed for the Physical Activity Across the Curriculum (PAAC-3) program, delivered via video or in-person, to commercially available GoNoodle^© videos. 71 children (age 9.0 ± 1.1 yrs., 47 males, 24 females, 18% minority) participated in 10-minute PA breaks. The intensity of activity breaks was assessed using a COSMED® K5 portable indirect calorimeter (weight ~ 1 kg) (COSMED®, Rome, Italy) and and portable accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+; ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL) …

Construct Validity, Test-Retest Reliability, And Inter-Rater Objectivity Of The Swimming Competence Assessment Scale (Scas), Jon Sundan, Håvard Lorås, Monika Haga

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This study aimed to investigate the construct validity, test-retest reliability, and inter-rater reliability of a newly developed and comprehensive instrument for assessment of children’s swimming competence. The Swimming Competence Assessment Scale (SCAS) consists of six consecutive test items (entry, swim on front, surface dive, float, swim on back and exit) that aligns with the Norwegian curricular standard of swimming competence. The exploratory factor analysis retained a unidimensional model, supporting one underlaying statistical dimension with acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.79). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between test and retest ranged from .84 to .98, and .97 for the total score. Strong …

"Feel For The Water": What Is It, Really?, Robert Keig Stallman, Kristine De Martelaer

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The phrase, 'feel for the water,' is commonly used. But what does it really mean? The traditional idea of this 'feel' focuses on the sensation of touch and use of the hands to produce propulsion. But what about water resistance? Mastering a feel for how to reduce resistance is equally important as the unique relationship between aquatic propulsion and resistance is of great importance. While being in the water, the effects of gravity and buoyancy also need to be perceived by the learner and taught by the instructor. Reflection on the effects on propulsion-resistance and gravity-buoyancy requires relevant exercises to …

Water Orientation Skills And Basic Safety And Swimming Skills Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kelle L. Murphy, Min Liu

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning is the leading cause of death among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study examined water orientation (i.e., comfort level), water safety, and beginning swimming skills of individuals with ASD of ages ranging from 3 to 13 years using the Aquatic Orientation Checklist (AOC) (Kilian et al., 1984). Data were collected during consecutive Fall and Spring semesters. A total of 23 children (n = 15 boys; n = 8 girls) volunteered for the study. Lessons were conducted twice a week for 10 weeks continuously and each lesson was 45 minutes in length. Overall, the swimming program had …

Fighting Instinct: The Brain, Emotions And Decision-Making In The Water, Jill Nash, Sam Hills

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This conceptual paper explores the complex interplay among the human brain, emotions, and decision-making processes, particularly in aquatic environments. Integrating insights from neuroscience, psychology, and behavioural economics, we investigate how instinctual responses and emotional states influence our decisions during water-related activities. By analysing both biological and psychological factors, the paper aims to illuminate the intricacies of human behaviour in various aquatic settings and highlights significant gaps in the research on emotional decision-making that warrant further investigation. Additionally, the paper suggests interventions, including plausible communication strategies, to mitigate the impact of instinctual responses and improve safety and decision-making efficiency.

Goggles And Water Competence: An Addendum, Marek Rejman, Robert Keig Stallman Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

We offer this short addendum to the 2017 article that appeared in IJARE, ‘’From swimming skill to water competence: Towards a more inclusive drowning prevention future’’ (Stallman et al., 2017), as an editorial to argue that the essential water competencies ought to be mastered “without goggles.” The focus is on the potential negative effect of goggle use during beginning swimming instruction along with their likely absence during unintended and unexpected immersions in natural bodies of water that often lead to drowning. Rejman and Stallman (2024) demonstrated the development of dependence on goggles among young adults and described its negative effect …