Kinesiology Commons^™

The Effect Of Joint Mobilization On Functional Outcomes Associated With Chronic Ankle Instability, Matthew C. Hoch

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries sustained by physically active individuals. Although ankle sprains are often considered innocuous in nature, a large percentage of individuals experience repetitive sprains, residual symptoms, and recurrent ankle instability following a single acute sprain; otherwise known as chronic ankle instability (CAI). In addition to repetitive ankle trauma, those with CAI experience reductions in functional capacity over the life span. This indicates that current intervention strategies for CAI are inadequate and require further investigation.

The objective of this dissertation was to explore differences in walking and running gait parameters between individuals with and without …

How Does Background And Training Affect Dance Pedagogy In Higher Education?, Meredith Erin Sims

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Dance faculty in higher education have various backgrounds and training ranging from professional dance careers to doctoral degrees in dance. This study sought to examine the ways background and training impact faculty members‟ pedagogical approach to a dance technique class in a higher education dance department. This study examined the pedagogical knowledge, content knowledge, and pedagogical content knowledge of participants through qualitative methods including interviews, observations, and document analysis. Six major themes emerged from the data: desire to teach, teaching focus, challenging students, planning and preparation, instructional methods, and assessment strategies.

Coordination Of Swimbench Freestyle In Elite And Non-Elite Swimmers: A Dynamical System Approach, Tracy H. Spigelman

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Elite swimmers can be distinguished from novice swimmers by freestyle stroke technique. Elite swimmers move through multiple coordination modes, increases in stroke lengths, stroke rates, and body roll allowing for a more symmetrical stroke and increased speed compared with novice swimmer during 100m freestyle.

Coaches strive to improve swimmers’ performance by providing feedback about stroke technique, mostly from the pool deck where view of the full stroke cycle is obstructed by the water. Tools to assess swimming are often expensive and require extra training, which does not provide a pragmatic solution. A dryland rotational swimbench would provide a means to …

Hip Muscle Strength And Pelvic Obliquity In Collegiate Females During Walking And Stair Descent Tasks, Kelly Rodriguez

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The goals of the pelvis include maintaining the center of mass of the body, assisting in foot clearance and absorb forces from the lower extremities using muscles and ligaments to stabilize the joint. A better understanding of the influence of muscle strength on controlling pelvic obliquity in a healthy population will help in understanding low back pain and overuse lower extremity injuries. Thirteen females (22 ±2 yrs) participated in isokinetic strength testing of the hip abductors, adductors, internal rotators and external rotators on a Biodex dynamometer. The subjects also underwent gait analysis during self selected pace walking and stair descent. …

Changes In Longitudinally Assessed Biomechanical Parameters Related To Increased Risk Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (Acl) Injuries In Adolescent Female And Male Athletes, Kevin Ray Ford

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Females suffer anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries at a 2 to 10-fold greater rate compared to male athletes participating in similar sports. Altered movement patterns and inadequate knee stiffness are two interrelated factors that may increase ACL injury risk. Onset of these neuromuscular risk factors may coincide with the rapid adolescent growth that results in the divergence of a multitude of neuromuscular parameters between sexes. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to determine if neuromuscular ACL injury risk factors in female athletes increase following rapid growth and development compared to males. Male and female athletes were tested with three-dimensional …

Effects Of Augmented Real-Time Auditory Feedback On Top-Level Precision Shooting Performance, Stacy Marie Underwood

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This study examined the effects of training with real-time auditory feedback in precision shooting. Top-level shooters (N=9) were randomly assigned to the feedback or nonfeedback group. Each group performed a pre-test, a 4-week training intervention and a post-test. The feedback group was provided with augmented real-time auditory feedback based on postural and rifle barrel stability during training sessions. Increases in performance were measured through changes in postural stability, rifle barrel stability, shot outcome and shot group diameter. Real-time auditory feedback did not increase postural or rifle barrel stability in the feedback group. No meaningful differences were found related to shot …

Caffeine Consumption Patterns And Beliefs Of College Freshmen, Gary Eugene Mcilvain

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Recently, energy drinks that contain high caffeine content without any age restrictions for purchase, have been introduced into the U.S. market. Caffeine consumption in the U.S. has increased dramatically, resulting in an increase in emergency room visits and calls to poison control centers. This increase in energy drink consumption, along with the traditional coffees, teas, and soft drinks that people consume regularly, have pushed caffeine consumption to new highs in a multi-billion dollar market.

The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the amount of caffeine consumed by a sample of freshmen students at Marshall University, (2) their beliefs …

Effect Of The SmartstepTm Stabilization System On Balance In Older Adults In An Independent Living Residence, Ann L. Livengood

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

An increase in postural sway is one of the risk factors that have been linked to an increased incidence of falls in the older adult population. Researchers have shown that peripheral sensation is crucial in maintaining a static posture for adults of all ages. It has been reported that older adults have decreased tactile sensation of the plantar surface of their feet. and when the sensory feedback was increased older adults had improved postural control. It was hypothesized that facilitation of the sole of the foot with the use of a semirigid foot orthotic would result in improved postural stability …

Differential Neuromuscular Training Effects On Acl Injury Risk Factors In"High-Risk" Versus "Low-Risk" Athletes, Gregory D. Myer, Kevin R. Ford, Jensen L. Brent, Timothy E. Hewett

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular training may reduce risk factors that contribute to ACL injury incidence in female athletes. Multi-component, ACL injury prevention training programs can be time and labor intensive, which may ultimately limit training program utilization or compliance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of neuromuscular training on those classified as "high-risk" compared to those classified as "low-risk." The hypothesis was that high-risk athletes would decrease knee abduction moments while low-risk and control athletes would not show measurable changes.

METHODS: Eighteen high school female athletes participated in neuromuscular training 3x/week over a 7-week period. Knee kinematics and …