Kinesiology Commons^™

Integrating Survivors Of Stroke Into Cardiac Rehabilitation, Elizabeth Wherley Regan

Theses and Dissertations

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States (U.S.). Impairments after stroke typically result in reduced physical activity which increases the risk for stroke recurrence and the development or worsening of comorbid health conditions. Physical activity and exercise behaviors can reduce cardiovascular risk factors and improve endurance for survivors of stroke. Despite these known significant benefits, survivors of stroke face barriers to participating in regular physical activity due to limited self-efficacy, safety concerns, environmental restrictions and lack of accessible community programs.

Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) is a structured exercise and behavior modification program for people with cardiovascular disease …

Piloting A Smartphone-Based Sedentary Behavior Reduction Intervention For Adults With Overweight Or Obesity: Take A Stand 4 Health, Chelsea Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown a relationship between sedentary behavior as an independent and novel risk factor for high blood pressure. However, most of the evidence comes from cross-sectional and experimental studies, with only a few studies examining whether blood pressure is improved in individuals participating in a behavioral intervention. None of these studies utilized mHealth approaches, which hold potential for behavioral interventions, and none have focused on individuals with hypertension as a part of their target population. Therefore, the purpose of the dissertation was to 1) Examine the efficacy of a smartphone-mediated multi-component sedentary behavior reduction intervention for individuals …

Lipoprotein Discordance: Associations With Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, And Response To Exercise, Jonathan Joseph Pulama Kupaianaha Ruiz-Ramie

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To compare baseline CVD risk factor profiles among groups of individuals with discordant levels of high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C respectively) compared to lipoprotein particle concentration (HDL-P and LDL-P respectively) and examine the associations between lipoprotein discordance and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Furthermore, to examine the association between lipoprotein discordance and exercise induced changes in CVD risk factors.

Methods: Standard lipid panels as well as lipoprotein subclass profiles via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were measured among three previously completed studies (CARDIA cohort, HERITAGE Family Study, and HART-D study) spanning over …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Autonomy-Supportive And Controlling Coaching Styles, Kayla Love

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine how collegiate athletes perceive their coach’s behaviors and if there are differences in the perceived effectiveness of autonomy-supportive and controlling coaching styles.

Method: A cluster analysis was conducted among collegiate athletes (N = 306) from the Midwest portion of the United States. The athletes were given questionnaires to report on perceived autonomy-support and control exhibited by their coach, as well as the perceived effectiveness of their coach in terms of confidence in their coach.

Results: Preliminary analyses found that autonomy support was positively related to confidence in the coach, whereas controlling …

Hemodynamic Effects Of Graston Technique On Trigger Points In The Upper Trapezius In Patients With Neck Pain, Hannah Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Non-specific neck pain (NS-NP) is defined as neck pain without a specific diagnosis with varying causes such as poor posture, occupational stressors, and muscular trigger points. Individuals often present with poor posture, including forward head and rounded shoulders. In this position, the upper trapezius muscle becomes tight due to sustained muscle activity leading to trigger points as a result of decreased oxygen to the muscle. Graston Technique® (GT) is a form of manual therapy that uses stainless steel instruments to break down tissue adhesions. GT on trigger points has been presumed to increase local blood flow leading to tissue …

Sprint Speed And Musculoskeletal Fitness Test Performance In Youth, Brittany Nicole Walleck

Theses and Dissertations

Sprint speed is a common focus of adult strength and conditioning programming and research. However, the links between sprint speed and other tests of musculoskeletal performance have not been extensively studied in youth. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between sprint speed and tests of jumping performance, muscular strength/endurance, agility, and anaerobic capacity in children and adolescents. METHODS: The analysis included 402 boys and 148 girls (ages 7 to 18 years) participating in a baseline musculoskeletal fitness evaluation. Sprint speed was assessed via a 10-yard and 20-yard sprint. Agility and anaerobic capacity were assessed via the pro-agility and 200-yard shuttle run, …

The Relationship Between Exercise And Quality Of Life In Adults In The U.S. Who Suffer From Cystic Fibrosis, April Renae Pitts

Theses and Dissertations

Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening lung condition that affects many yet the knowledge of its existence is very little. There is a relationship between the health and well-being of Cystic Fibrosis patients and physical activity. This research is designed to expand the knowledge on the effects exercise and lung function may have on the quality of life on adults that suffer from Cystic Fibrosis. The researcher also seeks to examine what control and behavioral beliefs might contribute to the intentions of an adult with Cystic Fibrosis exercising regularly while using the behavioral and control belief constructs of the Theory of …

Muscle Synergy Adaptation During A Novel Postural Stabilization Task, Rajat Emanuel Singh

Theses and Dissertations

Background: In human postural studies, it is believed that low dimensional motor modules are combined to simplify the movement. These lower dimensional modules are termed as muscle synergies (MS). Therefore, understanding MS evoked by postural perturbation may provide us the specific muscle co-activation pattern for stability. Research Aim: The scope of our study is to identify synergies associated with postural stability while walking on a perturbing platform and study the effect of different proficiency levels on their size and structure. Methodology: We asked nine human participants to walk overground and on a slackline to study task-specific modulation of synergy structures. …

Back-Squat Exercise And Its Correlation With Vertical Jump In Division I Female Volleyball Players, Taylor-Annette Kathryn Lindberg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the back-squat exercise and determine how this exercise correlates with vertical jump in Division I female volleyball players. Athletic data from current and previous collegiate volleyball athletes from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Volleyball Program were obtained, analyzed, and reviewed during the spring training/conditioning cycle. Squat maxes, standing vertical jump, and approach vertical jump were tested on the first day of the spring training session (first day of January training), and then retested after a six-week training cycle.

The Acute Effects Of Warm-Up With And Without Blood Flow Restriction Cuffs On Lower Body Temperature, Flexibility, And Vertical Jump Power, Phillipe Thomas Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of blood flow restriction warmups (BFR-WU) on skin temperature (ST), range of motion (ROM), and vertical jump (VJ) performance.

Methods: Forty-seven participants performed WU’s with unilateral BFR application. Each participant took part in five different WU durations. Measurements of ST, ROM, VJ were taken at baseline, post-WU, and post-8min.

Results: Significant conditions main effect (p<0.05), condition*time (p<0.05), WUduration*condition (p<0.01), and conditions*time*sex interactions (p<0.05) were found by repeated measures ANOVA.

Conclusion: The current findings reveal that BFR-WU’s react differently throughout time, when compared to NBFR-WU, for ST and VJ performance, but not ROM. The length of duration was only significant …

The Correlation Among Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors, Hemodynamics, And Arterial Elasticity In Hispanic College Students, Paloma J. Mendoza

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation among MetS risk factors, hemodynamics, and arterial elasticity in Hispanic students attending The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and fasting glucose (GLU) were the only components of MetS that had a significant correlation with large arterial elasticity (SPB: males: -.477 and females: -.503; DBP: females: -.300; p

CONCLUSION: MetS risk factors significantly correlated with both arterial elasticity and hemodynamic components. Uniquely in this population, waist circumference and systemic vascular resistance was reversely associated.

Reproducibility And The Effects Of Exercise On The Endurance Index, Michael Dean Smith, Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The Endurance Index (EI%) is a method to objectively assess a muscle’s ability to resist fatigue. The purpose of these studies was to determine the reproducibility of the EI% and determine the influence of muscular fatigue on the EI%. Methods Study 1: sixteen apparently healthy participants (18-30yrs) completed three nonconsecutive visits each with 3 bouts of 5-minute electrical muscle stimulations (EMS) and accelerometer-based mechanomyography (aMMG) of the vastus lateralis at 4 Hz and low amperage (25-35mA) on the hamstrings of the dominant leg; peak torque was measured at each visit. Study 2: fifteen apparently healthy participants (ages 18-30yrs) …

Differential Cholinergic Modulation Of Prelimbic And Thalamic Input To The Basolateral Amygdala, Sarah Catherine Tryon

Theses and Dissertations

The basolateral amygdala (BL) is critical for emotional memory acquisition and expression. It receives afferent projections from both cortical and subcortical regions that send glutamatergic transmission to the BL. This input conveys information necessary for survival, including information about one’s behavioral state and environment. How this information is integrated and processed by the BL, however, remains largely unknown. Interestingly, the BL receives the densest amount of cholinergic innervation from the basal forebrain. This acetylcholine (ACh) can modulate emotional memories, but how it modulates specific afferent inputs to the BL is unexplored. To answer this question, we used brain slice field …

The Effect Of Patient Financial Liability On Physical Therapy Utilization And Patient Reported Outcomes For Patients With Low Back Pain: An Instrumental Variable Analysis, Adam D. Lutz

Theses and Dissertations

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common orthopedic complaint managed by physical therapists in the United States. Insurance plans that require greater patient financial liability per physical therapy visit are thought to disincentivize participation in recommended physical therapy plans of care. The primary purpose of this investigation was to use instrumental variable regression to investigate the effect of insurancemediated patient financial liability per visit on physical therapy visit count and functional patient reported outcomes. The secondary purpose of the study was to examine the generalizability of results to the broader excluded patient population—and beyond to patients that seek physical …

Leveraging For-Cause Physical Activity Events For Physical Activity Promotion: An Investigation Using Self-Determination Theory, John A. Bernhart

Theses and Dissertations

Motivating individuals to live active lifestyles remains a challenging but important public health issue. For-cause physical activity events reach large groups of people, many of whom are not regularly active. However, little research has applied established health behavior theories to explain participation in for-cause events. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to investigate participation in for-cause events through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT).

The first study recruited participants (n=207) registered in a for-cause PA event (i.e., 5K distance or shorter) to complete online surveys that assessed need satisfaction for autonomy, competence, and relatedness; intrinsic motivation; altruism; PA behavior; …

The Relationship Between Vascular Endothelial Function Andpeak Exercise Blood Flow, Brady Edward Hanson

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose The vascular endothelium is an influential contributor to vasodilation at rest, yet its role during peak exercise is relatively unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine if exercise leg blood flow during dynamic submaximal and maximal exercise is related to resting vascular endothelial function. Methods Nineteen subjects (aged 23 ± 0.57 yr) completed multiple assessments of vascular endothelial function including passive leg movement (PLM), rapid onset vasodilation, (ROV) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Peak muscle blood flow was assessed during single leg knee extension (KE) exercise. Doppler ultrasound of the femoral artery was utilized to assess muscle blood …

The Role Of Ampk In The Regulation Of Skeletal Muscle Proteostasis During Cancer Cachexia, Dennis K. Fix

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer-induced cachexia is a debilitating disease that diminishes quality of life due to severe loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Skeletal muscle proteostasis fluctuates diurnally depending on different fasting and feeding durations as well as in response to activity and exercise stimuli. Nutrient availability is key in the net loss and gain of skeletal muscle protein. The adenosine monophosphate protein kinase (AMPK) is a nutrient sensitive kinase that has long been established as a critical regulator of both protein synthesis and protein degradation. AMPK is capable of being activated by many different stimuli as well as diseases such as …

Effects Of Spinal Manipulation On Brain Activation In Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain, Max K. Jordon

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) continues to be one of the most common health conditions in the United States. Despite an enormous amount of research, there are no treatments for this condition that consistently improve outcomes. For decades health professionals have incorporated spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) into their practice, but the evidence to date has shown that SMT has only small to modest effect sizes when treating cLBP. One way to improve the effectiveness of SMT is by getting a better understanding of its underlying mechanisms so that the intervention be more specifically targeted to the appropriate individual.

While biomechanical …

Physical Activity Of Preschoolers With Developmental Disabilities And Delays, Michaela A. Schenkelberg

Theses and Dissertations

Children with developmental disabilities and delays are at greater risk for developing overweight and obesity compared to typically developing peers. Participation in regular physical activity is a modifiable behavior that is consistently associated with improved weight status and other positive health outcomes. Previous studies have identified numerous individual- and environmental-level factors that associate with physical activity among school-age children with and without disabilities. However, little is known about physical activity behaviors and related correlates among preschool-aged children with disabilities (ages 3 – 5 years), especially while they are in preschool settings. Therefore, the overall purpose of this dissertation was to …

Examination Of Student-Athletes' Developmental Transition From Youth Sport To College Sport, Coleman Childers

Theses and Dissertations

The majority of research in developmental sport psychology has targeted the youth and adolescent age groups (aged five to 18) and has tended to avoid athletes in organized and highly competitive environment such as major college athletics. The transition from high school to college brings many challenges. Academically and socially, students encounter increased course rigor, decreased in-class time, and adjustment to new social groups. Additionally, student-athletes encounter scrutiny from the public, extensive time commitments, changing social dynamics, and physical and mental demands as they combine athletic and academic pursuits. This on-going study explores student-athletes’ perspectives of the developmental transition from …

Hip Abductor To Hip Adductor Strength Ratio Measurements In Patients With Non-Specific Low Back Pain, Matthew Hugg

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The hip musculature is globally known to support the pelvis, which in turn can aid in reducing the occurrence of low back pain (LBP). Previous research has shown a decrease in strength of the hip abductors in patients with LBP. The hip abductors also have an important role in stabilizing the pelvis while walking. The hip adductors attach to the pubic symphysis and assist in stabilizing the pelvis. Due to the ability to activate and assist with hip and leg motions, the adductor muscles may have an effect on controlling hip motion to reduce LBP and sacroiliac dysfunction. The …

Identification Of Factors Contributing To Musculoskeletal Injuries In Military Basic Trainees, Amy Fraley Hand

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the physical activity requirements of the United States (U.S.) Armed Forces, there is a concerning incidence rate of musculoskeletal injuries in military personnel. In the basic trainee population specifically, multiple studies have reported a range of exercise- related injury incidence from 14% to 42% in males and 27% to 61.7% in females. Depending on the severity, these injuries can exclude basic trainees from participation, ultimately altering career trajectory and creating the possibility of long-term disability. The studies of this dissertation examine variations in muscle strength, flexibility, and dynamic postural control as a means to identify those basic trainees …

Effect Of Cuff Pressure On Blood Flow During Blood Flow-Restricted Rest And Exercise, Kent Westerberg Crossley

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the blood flow/pressure relationship (linear or nonlinear) in the superficial femoral artery when seated, as well as to investigate blood flow changes with exercise using varying cuff pressures and a preexercise (PE) condition. The presence of venous outflow with occlusion at rest and exercise was also investigated.Methods: Twenty-three subjects visited the lab on 3 occasions. First to determine linearity of blood flow using 0% to 90% arterial occlusion pressure (AOP), and venous outflow at rest and during exercise with cuff inflated to 40% AOP. Subsequent visits compared blood flow between rest …

Effect Of Trb3 On Skeletal Muscle Mass Regulation And Exercise-Induced Adaptation, Ran Hee Choi

Theses and Dissertations

Skeletal muscle, which composes over 40% of body mass, is responsible for daily locomotion and energy metabolism. It is a malleable tissue that can adapt its structure and function in response to internal and external environmental stimuli. Changing muscle mass and energy substrate utilization is a common skeletal muscle adaptation in response to various pathological conditions, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. Failure to maintain skeletal muscle mass and function has been correlated with increasing morbidity and mortality, as well as poor quality of life. Hence, maintenance of skeletal muscle integrity is a recommended strategy in achieving better quality of …

The Regulation Of Skeletal Muscle Fatigue During The Progression Of Cancer Cachexia, Brandon N. Vanderveen

Theses and Dissertations

Cachexia is the unintentional loss of body weight secondary to chronic disease and is prevalent is roughly 50% of cancer patients. The loss of body weight and skeletal muscle mass is reduced functional capacity associated with reduced life quality. The etiology of cachexia is multimodal and complex; however, cachexia has been linked to several systemic (e.g. chronic inflammation, hypogonadism, anemia, insulin resistance) and behavioral (e.g. anorexia, inactivity) changes that can compound to accelerate muscle mass and body weight loss. While several inflammatory cytokines are associated with cachexia’s disease progression, our laboratory has established that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key regulator …

Effects Of Attentional Focus Cues On Soccer Trap Kinematics And Performance, Ladule Lako Losarah

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this research was to assess how the kinematic performance of an inside of the foot soccer ball control movement changed with an internal, external, or holistic attentional focus coaching cue. The researchers used pendulum catapult to launch a soccer ball from 8.5 meters at the participant. Ten female active NCAA division 1 soccer players received one of three cues, or no cue, and then had five trials to control the ball onto an artificial turf mat to score 1-3 points depending on where the ball landed. Participants completed a manipulation check survey to ascertain the efficacy …

Single Leg Hop Landing Analysis In Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability, Lateral Ankle Sprain Copers, And Healthy Individuals, Jordyn Ashlyn Rine

Theses and Dissertations

CONTEXT: There are an estimated 28,000 ankle injuries that occur per day in the United States, thus making the pathology one of the most common sports-related injuries. Lateral ankle sprains account for 80% of all athletic injuries and approximately 73% will suffer from a recurrent injury. The residual symptoms that linger following repetitive lateral ankle sprains are often correlated with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) copers successfully cope with the damage that results from sustaining a lateral ankle sprain, whereas CAI patients suffer from residual symptoms. Traditional measures of COP from force-plate data are useful in evaluating …

Body Mass As The Optimal Load Predictor For Power Clean Variations: A Practical Approach, Marcel Lopes Dos Santos

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of estimating the optimal load of the Hang Power Clean (HPC), Hang High Pull (HHP), and Mid-thigh Clean Pull (MTP) based on a relative percentage of the subjects’ body mass (BM). Fifteen males with experience in weightlifting (age: 21.8 ± 1.9 years; BM: 83.2 ± 9.0 kg; height: 175.4 ± 6.0 cm; 1-repetition maximum [1RM]: 93.0 ± 12.7 kg; 1RM to BM ratio: 1.12 ± 0.13) performed HPC, HHP, and MTP at intensities of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90% BM. Kinematic data were collected through a 16-camera …

Impact Of A Single Injury Prevention Instructional Session On The Incidence Of Injury Among U.S. Army Rotc Cadets, Joshua Wooldridge

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries are the leading health concern for the United States Army. These injuries are the third leading cause of hospitalizations for Army service members and the primary cause for the majority of service-connect disability discharges. Over 80% of musculoskeletal injuries are overuse injuries caused by physical training. The Joint Services Physical Training Injury Prevention Work Group considers education to be a mandatory component of all injury prevention efforts; however, little military research has investigated the impact of education as a primary intervention. Objective: To examine the effect of an injury prevention education class on the incidence of injuries …

Evaluation Of Acft Scores In Army Rotc Cadets, Calvin Britt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) and Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) in U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) cadets. Eighteen ROTC cadets volunteered to participate in the study (age; 21.9±3.4 years, height; 67.9 ± 3.1 in, weight; 165.3 ± 22.9 lbs., body fat percentage [BF%]; 16.3±7.4%). All participants performed two separate test sessions (APFT & ACFT) seven days apart, at the same time of day. Physiological data was collected for the ACFT using a Zephyr BioHarness monitoring device which included: physiological load (PL), physiological intensity (PI), maximal heart rate (MHR), …