Kinesiology Commons^™

Understanding Motor Competence In Autism And Developmental Coordination Disorder: From Everyday Performance To Underlying Postural Control Mechanisms, Crystal E. Alvarez

Kinesiology Dissertations

Motor competence plays a foundational role in children’s participation, physical activity, adaptive behavior, and overall quality of life. Although motor difficulties are highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (autism) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD), these challenges are frequently under-identified and insufficiently characterized, particularly in autistic populations. Existing research demonstrates substantial overlap in motor challenges across autism and DCD; however, relatively little work has integrated caregiver perceptions, standardized motor assessment, and mechanistic postural control measures within the same investigation. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to examine motor competence and postural control in autistic children, children with DCD, and neurotypical …

Menstrual Cycle Variations In Ultrasound And Biomechanical Risk Factors For Acl Injury In Adolescent Female Athletes, Jessica Garcia

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a significant concern in adolescent female athletes, with rates consistently higher than their male peers. This disparity is attributed to a complex combination of anatomical, hormonal, and neuromuscular factors that elevate injury risk while performing dynamic movements common in running and cutting sports such as soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and volleyball. Knee laxity has been identified as a potential risk factor, yet current measurement tools lack the sensitivity, reliability, and validity needed for practical application. Additionally, fluctuating sex hormones throughout the menstrual cycle (MC) have been implicated in changes to ligament properties and neuromuscular control, …

Force Matters: An Exploration Of Manual Therapies Effects On Passive Tension Properties Of The Lower Extremity., Loran D. Wade Jr

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Musculoskeletal dysfunction is a leading cause of pain, functional limitation, and disability worldwide, necessitating the exploration of non-invasive therapeutic strategies. Manual therapy, which encompasses massage, stretching, and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), has long been used to address musculoskeletal dysfunction, yet its mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy remain inconsistently defined within the literature. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the historical foundations, physiological effects, and current applications of manual therapy techniques in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Emphasis is placed on how these interventions influence key musculoskeletal properties, including tissue stiffness, joint range of motion, neuromuscular function, and …

Evaluating The Effects Of Acute Beetroot Supplementation On Oxygen Consumption And Exercise Performance During Submaximal Exercise: A Systematic Review, Madeline L. Kline

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Beetroot juice has become a very popular supplement to try to improve cardiorespiratory fitness. Beetroot juice contains nitrates which is converted in body into nitric oxide, a vasodilator. This allows for more blood flow to exercising muscles. Many studies have been conducted to see if beetroot supplementation will affect performance and cardiorespiratory parameters during different types of exercise. However, much of the literature has conflicting results. For this study, seven articles were examined to determine if acute beetroot supplementation will affect oxygen consumption and exercise performance of active individuals during submaximal exercise. Of these studies, most of them did see …

Improving Breast Cancer Patients’ Disclosure Practices In The Workplace Through An Elearning Intervention- An Analysis On Interview Data From An Existing Intervention, Daniela E. Loya-Rivera

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Breast cancer diagnoses are rising yearly in the United States; these diagnoses among the 18–45-year-old age group means that many employed women are affected. Previous breast cancer disclosure interventions identify challenges faced following the diagnosis, as well as common themes and aspects in the breast cancer disclosure process in the workplace, however few have approached the process holistically. A pre-existing study conducted by faculty researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington originally planned to examine how individuals with breast cancer perceived the feasibility and acceptability of a theory-driven eLearning intervention on disclosure at work. The focus of this study …

Human System Composite Performance Measures: General Systems Performance Theory Insights, Lawrence Disalvi

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Composite Performance Measures (CPMs) of human performance are widely employed in applications that range from mundane to life-changing, yet they are frequently presented without explanation or reference to theoretical underpinnings. The conceptual soundness of a widely used CPM approach, based on additive combination of constituent components, has been called into question by Kondraske. He argues the relevance of General Systems Performance Theory (GSPT) and performance capacity envelope concepts when applied to multidimensional CPM measures.

To obtain evidence-based answers to assertions regarding CPM types and rationale employed in medical and non-medical contexts, a Systematic Descriptive Review was conducted. Separately, the GSPT-based …

Partitioning The Role Of Myocardial Steatosis On Left Ventricular Function, Andrew Oneglia

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Preclinical studies have long suggested that excess lipid accumulation within cardiomyocytes (myocardial steatosis) leads to adverse cardiac remodeling and ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Whether myocardial steatosis negatively affects the human heart is less clear. Innovations in 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), introduced nearly 20 years ago, provide a method for in vivo quantification of myocardial triglyceride content that has been used to describe myocardial steatosis in obesity, type-2 diabetes, and across multiple disease states. However, most of this literature consists of cross-sectional observations. While these studies identify associations between myocardial steatosis and adverse remodeling and/or cardiac function, the presence …

Sympathetic Control Of Blood Pressure In Young Non-Hispanic Black Women, Brandi Stephens

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Non-Hispanic Black women in the United States have a greater prevalence of hypertension compared to non-Hispanic White women, which contributes to a parallel rise in excessive cardiovascular disease burden. Although women of other race/ethnic groups have a lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease compared to their respective male counterparts, Black women have a similar or greater prevalence to Black men, and early cardiovascular disease markers can manifest even in young adulthood. Heightened sympathetic nervous system reactivity and its transduction to blood pressure (i.e., sympathetic vascular transduction) have been proposed as potential mediators of elevated hypertension risk. In addition, it has been …

The Role Of Muscle Damage On Joint Tissue, Logan Nicholas Moore

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

The musculoskeletal system is a highly diverse network of tissue that operates in conjunction to one other, both mechanically and biochemically. In states of disorder such as musculoskeletal disorders, this cross-communication between tissues is pivotal in the progression of disease state in other tissues, or the prevention and healing of the effected tissue. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSkD) are a broad term encompassing disorders to bones, joints, muscles and connective tissues. These disorders include Osteoarthritis, Osteopenia, Sarcopenia, Tendonitis, Myopathies, and muscle weakness. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder, characterized as damage to the articulating cartilage and alterations in other joint …

Amorphous Silicon Oxynitride Coatings For Craniofacial Implants Stimulate Osteogenesis Via Nrf2 Antioxidant Activity, Neelam Ahuja

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Craniomaxillofacial injuries and defects are functionally and socially debilitating. These defects require immediate attention, and most cases undergo reconstruction surgery to restore the lost tissues. Current treatment strategies such as autologous bone grafts and fixative titanium devices are well established to treat the craniofacial region. But, the limited supply of donor bone and secondary surgery limit the use of autologous bone grafts, and low bioactivity, poor osteointegration of the titanium devices, has led to an increased number of tissue engineering research for the development of newer biomaterials. Bone defects especially in the craniofacial region can have a significant portion of …

Investigating The Short-Term And Long-Term Impact Of Covid-19 On Cardiovascular Health, Damsara Nandadeva

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Recent data indicates that the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is augmented following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Moreover, emerging data indicates that almost 50% of individuals who had COVID-19 experience persisting symptoms which are often debilitating, beyond the acute phase of the illness. This condition that is given the diagnosis post-acute sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC), also appears to be associated with cardiovascular complications. However, it is unclear what factors contribute to CVD risk following COVID-19 and PASC. Accordingly, the aim of this dissertation was to investigate potential factors that may contribute to adverse cardiovascular outcomes following COVID-19 with a …

Reducing Disparities In Physical Activity And Early Child Development: A Systematic And Observational Approach, Samantha Moss

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Engaging in adequate (180 minutes per day) physical activity (PA) is an important component in positioning a young child towards optimal health. PA engagement has been linked to improved cardiovascular health, developmental outcomes (i.e., motor, social, and cognitive development), and weight status. Even with the known benefits PA posits, many young children do not receive enough PA during their day. More specifically, children that are of low socio-economic status (SES) pose a greater risk for inactivity, excessive sedentary behavior, and developmental delays. Knowing these disparities exist, even starting in the early childhood years, children’s PA and development remain complex. Using …

Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Black Females: The Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health And Novel Preventive Strategies, Zachary Thomas Martin

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Among females in the United States, Black females suffer from the highest rates of hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, and total cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Blunted peripheral and cerebral vascular function contribute to the development of CVD and are predictive of CVD risk. Although the causes of disparate cardiovascular health among Black females are multifactorial, upstream contributors such as psychosocial stress attributable to structural and interpersonal racism are likely critical. However, the societal changes required to dismantle structural racism and thus improve health outcomes may take decades to implement. Therefore, in addition to such policy changes, populations who face health …

Investigation Into The Relationship Between Posture And Psychology: The Psychological Ramifications Of Forward Head And Rounded Shoulder Posture, Samuel Thomas Lauman

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Embodied cognition speaks to the notion that the mind and body are inherently linked, and directly influence one another. Nonverbal communication experts hold the thought that sustaining chronic postures can impact an individual’s psychological disposition and vice versa. Therefore, the potential to intervene on these postures from a musculoskeletal rehabilitation perspective provides the opportunity to improve not only an individual’s posture, but also their psychological state. Forward head posture (FHP) and rounded shoulder posture (RSP) are common postural adaptations that occur from musculoskeletal dysfunction, and often lead to acute and chronic changes that can be a precursor to etiological pathologies. …

Sex Differences And Vascular Mechanisms Of Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Non-Hispanic Black Individuals, John David Akins

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including hypertension, disproportionately affect the non-Hispanic black (BL) population in the United States. Despite being an inherently multifactorial process, altered vascular function remains a critical hallmark in the development of CVD. Further, blunted vascular function is often observed in the BL population. Recent advancements have linked several observational and mechanistic findings to the reduced vascular function in BL individuals, though the breadth of functional disparities in this population, the mechanistic contributors to these differences across sexes, and possible interventions to improve vascular function remain unelucidated. Therefore, this dissertation aimed to expand our current understanding of the vascular …

Gamified Text Messaging Contingent On Device-Measured Steps: Randomized Feasibility Study Of A Physical Activity Intervention For Cancer Survivors, Michael C. Robertson, Elizabeth J. Lyons, Yue Liao, Miranda L. Baum, Karen M. Basen-Engquist

Kinesiology Faculty Publications & Presentations - Archive

Background: Physical activity can confer diverse benefits on cancer survivors. Unfortunately, many cancer survivors are not sufficiently active. The efficacy of physical activity interventions for this population may be increased by grounding them in Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Combining game design elements with wearable technologies may be a useful and scalable approach to targeting SDT constructs to promote cancer survivors’ physical activity. Objective: The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of Steps2Health, a physical activity intervention for cancer survivors. It also aims to investigate the effects of the intervention on motivation, physical activity, and step …

Brain Health And Active Living: A Social Ecological Approach, Xiaoxia Zhang

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Advocating active lifestyles and improving brain health across the lifespan is one of the universal and ultimate goals for Healthy People 2030. Unhealthy movement behaviors (physically inactive, excessive sedentary behavior, and insufficient sleep) and high prevalence of depression and cognitive impairment among young adults keep challenging higher education and public health systems. A comprehensive understanding of the determinants and mechanisms of movement behaviors and brain health is needed. Grounded in the social ecological model, this dissertation was to examine the behavioral and psychosocial mechanisms of brain health (depression and cognitive function) among young adults (18-45 years old). Study 1 (Chapter …

Understanding Components Of Motor Imagery Ability And The Association With Motor Proficiency In Children And Young Adults, Chadwick Tyler Fuchs

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Motor imagery (MI) refers to the imagination of a motor task without actual movement execution (Decety & Grézes, 2006) and is believed to represent one’s ability to accurately utilize forward internal models of motor control (Williams et al., 2006). Moreover, MI seems to rely on a network involving motor related regions including fronto-parietal areas and subcortical structures, supporting the view that MI and motor execution are very similar processes (Hétu et al., 2013). This ability has been shown to emerge between 5 and 7 years of age and improve during childhood and adolescence (Molina, Tijus, & Jouen, 2008; Spruijt, van …

Novel Mechanisms Of Peripheral Vascular Dysfunction In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Ben Earl Young

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Currently, over 30 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2D). Importantly, T2D disproportionately augments the risk for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is currently the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. A hallmark characteristic of T2D is insulin resistance (IR), defined as a reduced tissue responsiveness to insulin stimulation, which contributes to prolonged periods of post-prandial hyperglycemia and is associated with a compensatory rise in pancreatic insulin secretion (hyperinsulinemia). Importantly, there is a well-known bi-directional association between the degree of IR/hyperinsulinemia and hypertension (HTN), with nearly …

Dysregulated Calcium Signaling In Cardiomyocytes From Diabetic Atrial Fibrillation To Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy, Xian Liu

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Ca2+ is a vital second messenger in cardiomyocytes and controls excitation-contraction coupling. It also regulates cell cycle, apoptosis, hypertrophy and downstream gene transcription in the heart remodeling. Calcium homeostasis is a complicated network and the intracellular Ca2+ signaling is composed of different Ca2+ movements like Ca2+ spikes [1], waves and oscillations [2-4]. The spatially-temporally regulated Ca2+ signaling is orchestrated with the Ca2+ release through ryanodine receptor (RyR) or IP3 receptor (IP3R) from Ca2+ stores such as sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER), recycling of Ca2+ from cell plasma back to the ER and Ca2+ influx through plasma membrane (PM) from extracellular space. There …

Development And Clinical Application Of A Novel Left Ventricular Diastolic Stress Test, Thomas Jake Samuel

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Cardiology has long focused on the hearts ability to generate forward pressure and ejection of blood from the left ventricle to supply the systemic circulation with oxygen and nutrients. The ability and capacity of the left ventricle to fill with blood prior to systolic ejection is equally important and, until recently, has been largely under studied. The coordination of passive elastic recoil and active relaxation allows the left ventricle to fill with blood in early diastole through generation of the transmitral pressure gradient. Therefore, dysregulation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing these two processes could lead to diastolic dysfunction. …

Trunk Function In Manual Wheelchair Users In Static And Dynamic Conditions, Tyler D. Garner

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

The relationship between functional capacity and trunk control is of significant interest to a variety of people, from wheelchair sport clinicians and professionals to rehab specialists, but has proven difficult to quantify. This project utilizes a “Volume of Action” framework to observe trunk function in both static and dynamic conditions across a functional spectrum using the functional classification system employed in wheelchair basketball. Study 1 (chapter 2) examines the role of functional capacity in a static environment using a Volume of Action framework using a seated limits of stability test to examine functional limitations in wheelchair users across a functional …

The Effects Of Knee Joint Loading On Dynamic Tasks In Individuals Several Years Post-Acl Reconstruction, Meredith Decker

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Joint loading of the lower extremity is studied to identify risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and to determine limb asymmetries. Asymmetrical loading in the lower extremity during ACL reconstruction (ACLR) rehabilitation and at the time of return to sport or activity will cause compensations during functional movements, which can lead to unwanted joint re-injury or long-term joint damage. Re-injury and/or development and progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent after ACLR; therefore, joint loading measurements at extended time points from reconstruction and after return to play may help to identify how asymmetrical loading and compensatory movement strategies …

Cerebrovascular Function In Adults With Depression, Rauchelle Richey

Kinesiology Theses - Archive

Cerebral vasodilatory responsiveness is blunted in older adults (~45-70 yrs) with depressive disorders and thought to contribute to the link between depressive symptomology and increased risk for neurocognitive (e.g., dementia) and cerebral vascular (e.g., stroke) diseases. In young adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), peripheral vascular endothelial dysfunction is evident; however, to date, limited investigations have examined cerebral vasodilatory function in young healthy adults with MDD. We tested the hypothesis that cerebral vasodilatory responsiveness to a hypercapnic stimulus would be blunted in healthy young adults with MDD compared to healthy non-depressed adults (HA). Fourteen HA (22 ± 3yrs) and 14 …

Examining The Influence Of Skeletal Muscle Oxygen Metabolism On Microvascular Reperfusion In Response To Acute Ischemia, Ryan Phillip Rosenberry

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States (and the world), with a death rate greater than cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease (emphysema, bronchitis, asthma) combined. Therefore, it is critically important to continue developing techniques for assessing cardiovascular disease. Reactive hyperemia (RH), the magnitude of tissue reperfusion following a period of transient ischemia, is a common technique that is conventionally interpreted as an index of microvascular function and has been shown to be a sensitive and powerful predictor of cardiovascular risk factors and future cardiac events. In Chapter 2, we provide …

Pathophysiology Of Exercise Intolerance In Breast Cancer Survivors Treated With Anthracycline Chemotherapy, Rhys I. Beaudry

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Anthracyclines emerged as frontline breast cancer adjuvant therapy in the late 1960’s. Within half a decade of their clinical adoption, dose-limiting cardiotoxicity was recognized and cumulative dose limits were established to acceptably balance anti-tumor and cardiotoxic properties. Despite these longstanding dose limits, anthracycline treated breast cancer (BC) survivors have advanced biological aging, as evidenced by a marked impairment in peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak). Given that the pathophysiology of reduced VO2 peak in BC is poorly understood, the aim of this dissertation was to: 1) develop a non-invasive imaging technique to investigate cardiac function under exercise stress; 2) investigate the …

Whole Body Vibration As An Innovative Intervention To Improve Physical Function And Vascular Health Within A Lifespan, Stephen Leroy Newhart Jr.

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Over the past several decades, technological advances in computers, transportation devices, and other automated devices have decreased the need for human locomotion and physical activity in the workplace and at home. The need to be physically active in order to sustain and prosper in life has been almost fully eliminated by these technological advances. As a result, sedentary patterns of living have become more prevalent throughout all socioeconomic levels. Age related injuries and conditions including falls and osteoporosis can be debilitating or life ending and have been associated with sedentary behaviors as these can lead to decreased range of motion, …

Left Atrial Function Across The Heart Failure Continuum: Novel Pathophysiologic Insight Into Diastolic Dysfunction In Women With Ischemia But No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease, Sauyeh K. Zamani

Kinesiology Theses - Archive

Women with signs and symptoms of ischemia but no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) are at increased risk of developing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF); however, the exact mechanism for HFpEF progression remains to be elucidated. Prior studies have focused specifically on impaired left ventricular diastolic function in INOCA. We hypothesized that extending our evaluation to include the left atrium (LA)— a key constituent of the transmitral pressure gradient and left ventricular filling— would provide additional, novel, pathophysiological insight. To extend our knowledge of the pathophysiologic mechanism(s) linking INOCA with HFpEF, we evaluated LA function across the heart …

The Acute Effects Of A Rotational Medicine Ball Throw Exercise On Baseball Pitching Biomechanics, Avery Pierce Rogers Sullivan

Kinesiology Theses - Archive

The ability to throw at higher velocities with proper mechanics is very advantageous for baseball pitchers to increase performance and decrease injury risk. Pitching utilizes the movement of energy through the kinetic chain, wherein momentum is generated by the proximal core segments of the body and transferred to the distal segments of the throwing shoulder and elbow to produce ball velocity. Medicine ball throws (MBT) have been used as a training method for rotational throwing and striking athletes to improve core strength and power. Rotational MBT are sport-specific for baseball pitching because of the similar explosive sequential muscle activation of …

The Effects Of Ginger Supplementation On Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, Alyssa Contreraz

Kinesiology Student Research - Archive

INTRODUCTION: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) peaks 24 to 48 hours after eccentric exercise. DOMS is characterized by increased pain, decreased range of motion, decreased strength, and inflammation to the working muscles. The most common ways this condition is treated is by the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS),cryotherapy, massage, and stretching. Ginger is known to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Ingestion of ginger may be used to decrease recovery time and to reduce the effects of DOMS and after eccentric exercise. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the use of ginger prior to …