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 …

Injury To Insight: Exploring The Influence Of Media On Acl Rehabilitation Experiences Of Female Soccer Players, Chynna Ho-Young Cadogan, Jill Tracey

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Participation in soccer inherently carries a risk of injury, with female athletes facing a significantly higher susceptibility to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (Campbell et al., 2014; Le et al., 2025; Silvers-Granelli, 2021). The increasing participation in women’s soccer, coupled with the growing demand for its consumption through spectatorship, has contributed to a rise in ACL injuries, and increase in media coverage on this phenomenon (Parsons et al., 2021). Understanding how media narratives surrounding ACL injuries and recovery may influence rehabilitation experiences can educate coaches, mental performance consultants, athletic therapists, and female soccer players to better understand and navigate ACL …

Modulation Of Persistent Inward Currents With Changes In Posture And Cutaneous Sensory Input, Ryan William Weller

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Spinal motor neuron (MN) persistent inward currents (PIC) increase and sustain the MN output. PIC is amplified by descending monoamines and reduced by afferent inhibition. There is strong coupling between plantar cutaneous sensory input and lower limb MNs. Given that monoaminergic drive is altered with postures and motor tasks, our purpose was to assess posture-dependent plantar cutaneous sensory modulation of tibialis anterior (TA) MNs. We hypothesize that: 1) a supine position will suppress PIC, 2) removing the load from the bottom of the heel will inflate PIC, and 3) cutaneous stimulation of the plantar aspect of the heel will reduce …

Examining Foot And Lower Leg Muscular Activation During Slip Recovery, Keara Sutherland

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Slips during gait are the leading cause of falls and subsequent serious injury in young and older adults. Reactive balance responses generated by the lower limb muscles can restore balance and minimize the chance of experiencing a fall. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the deep muscles in the lower leg and muscles within the foot during recovery from an unexpected slip perturbation. We hypothesized that lower leg musculature and intrinsic foot muscles would exhibit an earlier onset, longer duration, and increased magnitude during slips compared to level walking and that muscle activity would have …

Psychological Readiness In Injured Student-Athletes When Returning To Sport, Samantha J. Burelle

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The physical component of recovery is pertinent to success in sport performance, yet there has been an increase in awareness of psychological symptoms and psychological distress experienced by injured athletes. Thus, the psychological aspect of injuries and return to sport (RTS) process cannot be ignored. Psychological readiness (PR) is described by Podlog et al. (2015), Donald (2019), and Podlog et al. (2022) as a dynamic psychological process including factors of realistic expectation, confidence, motivation, and focus. PR addresses the psychological component necessary for a successful RTS. Measurement tools have been developed to assess PR, yet not all factors of PR …

Action Strategies Of Young Adults During An Attentionally Demanding Collision Avoidance Task In Virtual Reality, Brooke J. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Walking and navigating through cluttered environments is a task that people do almost automatically while completing multiple cognitive and motor tasks simultaneously. Vision plays an essential role in adaptive locomotion as it allows individuals to make anticipatory actions (i.e., alter trajectory and/or gait speed) to successfully avoid oncoming collisions (Cinelli et al., 2008; Patla, 1997). To initiate a behaviour change at the appropriate time, humans rely on optical variables such as time-to-contact (TTC) (Cinelli & Patla, 2007). After determining when to initiate an avoidance behaviour, it is thought that humans maintain a protective zone (i.e., safety margin) by controlling the …

Teammate Social Support For Female Athletes Recovering From Sports-Related Concussion, Brianna Iltshishin, Jennifer Robertson-Wilson, Michael Cinelli

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Objective: Social support is a complex, multi-dimensional construct that is a vital coping mechanism for athletes experiencing sports-related concussion (SRC). Typically reported sources of social support include coaches, athletic therapist, and family/friends. This qualitative study, guided by a phenomenological orientation, aimed to understand previously concussed female athletes’ perceptions of the social support provided by their teammates. The study also explored how social support, or lack of social support, affected athletes as they navigated their concussion recovery.

Methods: Five participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Data collection consisted of background questionnaires and one semi-structured one-on-one interview. Interviews were transcribed …

The Influence Of Decorin, A Potential Pro-Inflammatory Stimulant, On The Mechanical Properties Of The Annulus Fibrosus, Sabrina Sinopoli

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Previous literature has investigated the biomechanical properties of various animal models, but few have studied an isolated and intact rat tail annulus fibrosus. Decorin, a class 1 small leucine-rich protein (SLRP) has the potential to trigger an inflammatory environment as previous research has shown that it may stimulate inflammation via the toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway. An increased inflammatory environment can have biomechanical implications for the disc, and so the ability of decorin to stimulate an environment that alters the mechanical properties of the disc was investigated.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of decorin, a proteoglycan …

Young Adult And Adolescent Balance Control Strategies During A Dual-Task Stone-Stepping Paradigm, Emily Ford

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Stone-stepping demands greater attention and visuomotor integration, as it requires precise foot placement. The amount of attention required during locomotion is typically assessed with a secondary task, by analyzing the dual-task cost. Adolescents are suggested to have a greater dual-task cost than young adults and demonstrate balance control impairments while dual-tasking walking. The purpose of the current study was to explore the balance control differences between adolescents and young adults during a stone-stepping paradigm. We hypothesized that adolescents would experience greater balance control deficits while performing the secondary task compared to the young adults, especially while on the uneven terrain. …

Psychological Resilience In Student-Athletes During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Henley Lapid

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the psychological resilience process in student-athletes during the unique adverse context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study sought to answer the following research questions guided by Fisher et al.’s (2019) heuristic framework: (1) What resilience mechanisms, (2) promoting factors, and (3) resilience outcomes were experienced by participants in their resilience demonstrations? and (4) How does the resilience process unfold over time across adverse contexts including the COVID-19 pandemic? Nine student-athletes from Wilfrid Laurier University were interviewed on their experiences demonstrating resilience within and outside of the pandemic. A thematic analysis (Braun …

The Role Of Ovarian Hormones In Appetite-Regulation: Examining The Post-Exercise Appetite Response In Pre- Vs Post-Menopausal Females, Jessica A.L. Tucker

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

INTRODUCTION: Appetite fluctuates across the menstrual cycle, suggesting ovarian hormones are involved in the regulation of appetite hormones and energy intake. Exercise is another regulator of appetite with higher intensity exercise generating a greater and more consistent suppression. Considering there is limited evidence investigating the role of ovarian hormones in appetite regulation, menopause represents a stage of life where ovarian function declines, thus providing an opportunity to further explore the role of ovarian hormones in the appetite-regulatory response to exercise. PURPOSE: To examine the role of ovarian hormones on appetite-regulating hormones in pre- and post-menopausal females following a …

The Lived Experiences Of Female Informal Caregivers For Individuals With Young-Onset Dementia, Hailey A. O'Neil

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Abstract

Objective: Informal CGs for individuals with dementia experience an increased risk of compromised health. However, CGs of individuals with young-onset dementia (CGs-YOD) are more likely to have longer caregiving durations, less social support, and heavier caregiver burdens than those caring for people with LOD (Arai et al., 2007). Further, there are limited resources available to CGs-YOD, increasing their likelihood of negative health outcomes associated with CGs roles. This qualitative study investigated the experiences of female informal CGs-YOD specifically examining the effect of providing informal care on CGs overall health and well-being.

Methods: The theoretical orientation used to guide the …

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 …

Exploring The Relationship Between Dog Ownership, Physical Activity, And Mental Health, Stephanie Ho, Jennifer Robertson-Wilson, Mark Eys

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The physical and mental health benefits of regular physical activity have been well-documented (e.g., Reiner et al., 2013; White et al., 2017). Additionally, owning a dog is associated with positive health outcomes as owners are encouraged to walk. Dogs are also a source of comfort during stressful times for those in their presence (e.g., Brown & Rhodes, 2006; Westgarth et al., 2017). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between dog ownership, physical activity, and mental health among the university student population. Over 500 university students completed questionnaires assessing their demographic information, mental health, dog ownership status, …

The Impact Of Combined Flexion And Compression On The Mechanical Integrity Of The Annulus Fibrosus, Keaton Briar

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation is characterized by an expulsion of nucleus pulposus (NP) material through the annulus fibrosus (AF). The AF contains two major adhesive structures, the intralamellar matrix and the interlamellar matrix, which act to maintain the strength of the AF and prevent NP material migration. As a herniation occurs, clefts form within the intralamellar matrix, pushing the NP between adjacent collagen fibres; meanwhile, delamination of the interlamellar matrix causes the NP to pool between layers of the AF. Further, herniation more readily occurs in a combined loading scenario of both compression and flexion. Flexion, and in particular …

Spinal Motor Neuron Excitability And Balance Control Changes Following Downslope Walking, Nikki Aitcheson-Huehn

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Downslope walking (DSW) has been proposed as a rehabilitation tool for people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) although there are mixed findings in young adults (YA) regarding the balance control changes, despite both populations experiencing depressed spinal motor neuron (MN) pool excitability. Our aim was to determine whether YAs could demonstrate improved balance control in conjunction with SOL H reflex depression (estimate of spinal MN excitability) following DSW. We also aimed to determine whether reciprocal inhibition was a potential mechanism for H reflex depression via conditioned SOL H reflexes. Thirty young adults (23±1.4y, 6 males) were assigned to 30-minutes of DSW …

A Qualitative Investigation Into The Influence Of A Mental Health Physical Activity Intervention On University Students, Heather M. Tunks

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Objective

Among the university student population, mental illnesses are highly prevalent. Adults aged 20-30 years have the highest rates of mood and anxiety disorders than any other age group, with approximately 12.0% diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and 7.0 to 9.0% experiencing clinical depression (Nunes et al., 2014; Pedrelli, Nyer, Yeung, Zulauf, & Wilens, 2015). Reducing or preventing the effects of mental illness among this population may have lifelong implications including improvements in coping and management of mental illness throughout the lifespan(Jaworska, DeSomma, Fonseka, Heck, & MacQueen, 2016). This research examines the lived experiences of volunteers and participants in a …

The Nature Of Informal Roles In Interdependent Sport Teams, Jeemin Kim

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The degree to which athletes understand and execute their formal role responsibilities (i.e., prescribed by coaches) is important for individual and group functioning (Eys, Schinke, Surya, & Benson, 2014). Recent literature suggested that informal roles can emerge within sport teams more naturally without coaches’ explicit assignments (e.g., team comedians, distracters), and have significant influences on team functioning (Cope, Eys, Beauchamp, Schinke, & Bosselut, 2011). This doctoral dissertation examined the nature of informal roles within interdependent sport teams, focusing on their antecedents and outcomes. Three separate projects were conducted. Project One examined athletes’ personality in the big five dimensions (McCrae & …

“This Is My Little World…”: Navigating The Group Exercise Experience Of Stay-Fit Members, Olivia Jones

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Objective

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, with one in two Canadians expected to develop cancer over their lifetime (Canadian Cancer Society, 2019). Exercise is reportedly a safe therapy to help ease the common side effects of cancer and its treatments (Schmitz et al., 2010). Past research has shown the benefits of group exercise while in treatment for cancer, but there is a dearth of research regarding the impact of long-term group exercise programming for cancer survivors. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of group exercise participation for individuals who previously had cancer and were enrolled …

Examining Disability In The Region Of Waterloo: Physical Activity Programming And Caregiving, Nicole J. Reinders Luymes

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Physical activity (PA) is a necessary component of wellbeing for individuals with and without disabilities. Disabled young people experience many barriers to PA, resulting in inactive lifestyles that compound health issues and hinder their full participation in schools and communities. The following dissertation includes a literature review regarding the effects of PA for young people with a variety of developmental disabilities, in addition to three research studies examining community-based PA programming, and one study exploring the lived experiences of caregivers, all within the Region of Waterloo.

The first study was a needs assessment to examine PA perceptions, practices, barriers, and …

Toll-Like Receptor 4 Inhibition Differentially Impacts Intervertebral Disc Axial Mechanics In Wild Type And Sparc-Null Mice, Mitch Whittal

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Study Design. In vivo examination of the influence of TAK-242 (resatorvid) treatment on the mechanical properties of the intervertebral disc (IVD) in secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) gene knockout (SPARC-null) mice.

Objectives. To examine if chronic TAK-242 treatment mitigates mechanical degradation associated with IVD degeneration in SPARC-null mice.

Summary of Background data. IVD degeneration is associated with low back pain (LBP) and is accompanied by mechanical changes to the spine. SPARC is a protein that contributes to the functioning and maintenance of the extracellular matrix (ECM), with SPARC-null mice displaying accelerated IVD degeneration. TAK-242 is a toll-like …

Examining The Effect Of Exercise Intensity On Post-Exercise Hypotension In Middle-Aged Adults, Seth F. Mccarthy

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Acute bouts of exercise have a transient lowering effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the hours after termed post-exercise hypotension (PEH). While moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) is effective in reducing BP acutely, little is known regarding the effects of higher intensity exercise. This study examined the effects of different exercise intensities on PEH. Six participants (females: 4; age: 48±9 y, Mean arterial pressure: 84±8 mmHg) had their BP measured before and both immediately post- (<2 h) and for 24 h following 4 experimental sessions: 1) 30 min MICT (65% V̇O_2max); 2) 20 min high-intensity interval training (HIIT; 10 x 1 min @ 90% HR_max with 1 …

Fall Reading Week: Exploring The Effects On Student Well-Being, Roobina Medhizadah

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Mental health is a concerning issue in post-secondary institutions across Ontario. Post-secondary students are challenged with many stressors such as time management and living independently for the first time (Wagner & Rhee, 2013). In an attempt to help students, maintain or improve their mental health, universities across Ontario have implemented fall reading week, a mid-semester break (Poole et al., 2017). Previous studies (Cramer & Pschibul, 2017; Poole et al., 2017) provided mixed results in whether fall reading week positively influences student mental health and well-being. To date, few studies have explored the influence of fall reading week on student health …

Effects Of An Acute Session Of High- Vs Low-Load Resistance Training Exercise On Energy Balance, Daniel Grisebach, Derek Pd Bornath, Abigail A. Broad, Seth F. Mccarthy, Tom J. Hazell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study examined the effect of an acute session of low-load high-volume resistance training versus a more traditional high-load low-volume session on energy balance (EB). Five recreationally active males (age: 24±3 y; BMI: 25.8±1.5 kgm^-2) completed three different sessions: 1) high-load (90% 1RM); 2) low-load (30% 1RM); and 3) CTRL (no exercise). Gas exchange (V̇O₂), blood lactate, and subjective appetite perceptions were measured before each session, as well as at 0, 1, and 2 h post-exercise. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the quadriceps, pectorals, hamstrings, deltoids, and latissimus dorsi was measured at 24 and 48 …

Exploring Upper Limb Sequence Behaviours In Egocentric And Allocentric Reference Frames, Robyn Brooke Grunberg

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Voluntary behaviours, such as reaching, are essential for manipulating and exploring our environment. The current body of literature, however, has predominantly investigated reach behaviours through tasks such as peg-moving, tapping, dotting, and circle drawing. The objective of this study was to investigate the order and direction of reaching behaviours in a sequential tapping task in both an egocentric and an allocentric reference frame. Gaze behaviours were observed to explore intent to reach in the sequential task. Implementing reference frames in an upper limb motor control task might be of clinical importance when exploring rehabilitation techniques post-traumatic brain injury. It was …

Incidence Of Responders Vs Non-Responders With Sprint Interval Training, Kyle Schulhauser

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The current study examined the incidence of non-response to a traditional 30:240 s sprint interval training (SIT) protocol, as well as for 2 modified SIT protocols of 15:120 s, and 5:40 s over 4 wk of training in 84 recreationally active males and females (52m, 32f). Pre- and post- testing measures included: aerobic capacity (V̇O_2max), aerobic performance (5-km time trial), and anaerobic capacity (30 s sprint). Non-response was determined using 2x typical error for each variable. Chi square analysis indicated a significant difference (P = 0.032) in the frequency of non-responders for aerobic performance where the 30:240 group …

The Effect Of Loading Rate On Annulus Fibrosus Strength Following Endplate Fracture, John Mcmorran

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Low back pain is the most prevalent cause of chronic pain for North Americans, and its correlation with endplate damage, and deficient mechanical properties in the annulus fibrosus (AF) makes this injury particularly concerning. To date, biomechanical alterations in the AF following endplate fracture have not been well described. Owing to the AF’s collagenous composition, and the intrinsic biomechanics of intervertebral discs (IVDs) during compression, it was hypothesized that the mechanical properties of AF specimens would show rate-dependent alterations in their tensile and adhesive strengths following endplate fracture. The purpose of the present study was to quantify the mechanical properties …

Exploring Psychological Readiness To Return To Sport After Injury, Scott Donald

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Athletes are often cleared to return to sport with little emphasis on psychological readiness in relation to physical readiness. This is important because athletes who are not psychologically ready to return to sport (RTS), despite being physically cleared, may lack motivation to compete and lack confidence in their abilities (Podlog, Banham, Wadey, & Hannon, 2015), drop out of sport, fear re-injury (Ardern et al., 2014), worry about future performance (Podlog & Eklund, 2006), experience anxiety and feel depressed (Tracey, 2003) or incur further injury (McCullough et al., 2012). Remarkably, there is no definition of psychological readiness consistently used in the …

Physical Fatigue Negatively Affects Decision-Making During A Closing-Gap Aperture Crossing Task When Using Joystick-Controlled Locomotion, Natalie Snyder

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Goal-direct locomotion is made possible through the integration of sensory input from the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory system. However, changes in collision avoidance behaviours and action capabilities (i.e., affordances) may occur when a sensory conflict is introduced (i.e., via incongruent input from a sensory system). Further, changes to the person (such as physical fatigue) may have negative implications on the cognitive abilities of an individual following physically fatiguing exercise. This in turn could affect an individual’s ability to avoid collisions with objects or other individuals in their environment. Thus, the objective of this thesis was to explore how physical fatigue …

The Task At Hand: Fatigue-Associated Changes To Corticospinal Excitability During Writing, Kezia Cinelli

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Corticospinal excitability as measured via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is highly dependent on the task being performed at the time of stimulation. As such, this study sought out to measure corticospinal excitability during the relevant, daily task of writing and compare it to the conventional abduction task often utilized. We used single-pulse motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to provide a measure of corticospinal excitability and cortical silent period (CSP) duration, and paired-pulse conditioned MEPs to assess short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous (FDI) of 19 participants on two randomized and counter-balanced days. …