Kinesiology Commons^™

Comparing Strength Testing Measures And The Association Of Strength And Body Composition In Young Children, Abigayle R. Spong

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Muscle strength is an important component of physical fitness; however, measuring it with isokinetic dynamometry (IKD) is expensive and requires dedicated space. Handheld dynamometry (HHD) provides a practical alternative for field and clinical settings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare peak knee flexion and extension torque measured by IKD and HHD in 37 children (ages 5-11 years) and examine relationships with body composition. Participants completed a RAMPing protocol at 90^o knee flexion consisting of two warm-up contractions at 50% and 75% effort followed by three maximal voluntary isometric contractions. Body composition was assessed via DXA scans. …

Biomechanical Effects Of Exercise-Based Interventions In Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Lara De Vecchi Machado

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide and represents a complex, multifactorial, and heterogeneous condition. It is characterized by substantial interindividual variability in muscle activation patterns, lumbo-pelvic coordination, and movement strategies. Although exercise is widely recommended as a first-line intervention and its clinical benefits are well established, the biomechanical mechanisms underlying functional improvement remain fragmented in the literature and are rarely synthesized quantitatively.

This dissertation conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate the biomechanical effects of exercise-based interventions in individuals with CNLBP. A total of 39 studies were included and …

Innovative Biomechanical And Engineering-Based Assessments Of Hip Mechanics In Individuals With Hip-Related Pain, Holly M. Stanze

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Individuals with hip-related pain exhibit altered movement patterns, and worse fear of movement (kinesiophobia), compared to asymptomatic controls. Exacerbation of hip pain during movement and the role of hip symptom duration may help further our understanding of specific movement patterns that are associated with hip-related pain. A better understanding of the potential connections between hip-related symptom duration, kinesiophobia, hip pain during movement, and lower limb mechanics in those with hip-related pain may allow for more efficient referrals to clinicians and lead to more effective rehabilitation. In addition, the impact of hip-related pain on intra-articular hip loading patterns is not well …

Psychological Impacts In Exercise Riders And Professional Jockeys Following Injury, Kelley M. Renner

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

One of the most well-known equestrian sports, horse racing, is not only a cornerstone of Kentucky’s economy, but also a vital part of its culture, with professional jockeys playing an essential role in the local communities and traditions that define the state. Despite its popularity and financial impact, mental health challenges within the sport have continually been shrouded in silence and ignored in research (Ball et al., 2007). Equally concerning is the high injury prevalence, and psychological impact of these injuries (e.g., psychological distress, depression, anxiety, loss of identity, and self-esteem (King et al., 2022; Losty et al., 2019; McConn-Palfreyman …

You’Re Too Slow! Self-Selected Volitional Efforts Reveal Unexploited Neuromuscular Reserve Capacity Compared To Maximal Efforts During Fatiguing, Load Equated Resistance Exercise, Brian Benitez

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This investigation examined how movement intent influences neuromuscular excitation strategies during fatiguing resistance exercise, comparing maximal intended concentric efforts versus self-selected volitional efforts during load-equated Smith machine back squat exercise to quantify reserve capacity and characterize underlying neuromuscular mechanisms. Twenty-three resistance-trained participants (12 males, 11 females) completed a repeated-measures design, with replication, across six visits, performing smith machine back squat repetitions-to-failure at 70% 1RM under maximal intent (accelerate rapidly) and volitional intent (self-selected effort) conditions. Maximal voluntary isometric contractions used rapid (instantaneous 10-second effort) and ramp (5-second build-up, 5-second maximal) protocols. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from vastus lateralis and …

Effects Of Unilateral Lower Limb Suspension On Quadriceps’ Structure And Contractile Function, Eve N. Elmore

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

BACKGROUND: Muscle unloading such as bed rest or space flight decreases strength and cross-sectional area concomitant with a slow-to-fast fiber type shift, of anti-gravitational muscles such as the quadriceps. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) quantifies tissue anisotropic properties such as Fractional Anisotropy, Mean Diffusivity, Axial Diffusivity, and Radial Diffusivity, as well as muscle volume, fascicle length, and physiological cross-sectional area, and has recently been adapted to assess skeletal muscle structure. In skeletal muscle, anisotropic properties correlate with muscle fiber type and contractile function and may be responsive to unloading-induced atrophy.

PURPOSE: To assess the changes in quadriceps’ size, anisotropy, and contractile …

Altered Gait Mechanics In Marfan Syndrome, Amara G. Sharp

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

FBN1 is a gene responsible for the production of fibrillin, a major component of connective tissue throughout the body including skeletal muscle tissue. In individuals with Marfan Syndrome these mutations in FBN1 result in widespread muscle weakness and a correspondingly higher incidence of lower extremity joint pain. Despite the widespread musculoskeletal impacts of Marfan Syndrome there is a dearth of research on the potential impacts of Marfan Syndrome on gait mechanics that may be related to the high incidence of lower extremity joint pain in the Marfan Syndrome population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the potential …

Cardiorespiratory And Muscle Recruitment Responses To Incremental Exercise In Flywheel-Based Inertial Training (Fit) Squats, Clara Joyce Mitchinson

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

BACKGROUND: Spaceflight induces rapid loss of aerobic capacity and muscle strength. Flywheel-based Inertial Training (FIT) – a gravity-independent form of exercise previously used as a countermeasure against unloading-induced muscle atrophy – provides external resistance through moment of inertia (MOI) of a rotating disk in a velocity-dependent manner. Optimizing FIT for cardiorespiratory fitness may improve exercise efficiency and reduce hardware needs associated with deep space exploration. This modality of exercise has also been of interest among athletes of various disciplines due to its purported benefits on athletic performance. PURPOSE: To determine the cardiorespiratory and muscular recruitment responses to FIT with varying …

Intra- And Inter-Rater Reliability Of Maximum Torque Applied During Passive Elbow Range Of Motion Testing Post-Casting Of Supracondylar And Lateral Condylar Fractures In Children, Joseph T. Armstrong

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Elbow fractures account for a significant number of pediatric orthopedic injuries. The most common of these are the supracondylar and lateral condylar humeral fractures. When surgical repair is necessary casting and pinning of the elbow can affect the elbow’s range of motion (ROM), so recovery is monitored. Practices for measuring recovery are not standardized so measures may not be consistent. A possible novel measure to help account for different clinicians participating in the same study is maximum torque applied during elbow end ROM testing. This study uses several comparisons of maximum torque applied by three different clinicians during end ROM …

Effects Of Constant Load Exercise On Oxygen Consumption And Knee Joint Mechanics In Young Adults, Mariana Victoria Jacobs

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The rate of obesity and its adverse health consequences have continued to rise in the past several decades. Aerobic constant load exercise is recommended to reduce excess body mass, however the effects of constant load exercise on oxygen consumption (VO2) and knee joint mechanics are inconsistent when varying weight-status strategies are employed. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of different weight classification strategies on VO2 and knee joint mechanics during constant load exercise. Participants walked on an instrumented treadmill at a self-selected speed for 30-minutes while gait mechanics and VO2 measures were determined. Between-group differences were …

Responses To Exercise Anchored To Vigorous Intensity Heart Rates, Djadmann Gustave

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Exercise prescription to improve cardiorespiratory endurance (CE) is often based on percentages of the reserve or maximum heart rate (HR_peak) or oxygen consumption rate (V̇O_2peak)that reflect vigorous intensities (77-95% HR_peak, 64-90% V̇O_2peak). These intensities elicit a rating of perceived exertion [RPE] response between 14-17 on the 6-20 Borg Scale. It is recommended that exercise within these ranges be sustained for 20-60min per session. The purposes of this study were to: 1) Determine the metabolic (V̇O₂) and perceptual (RPE) responses as well as the sustainability of exercise (time to exhaustion [T …

Effect Of Sleep Restriction On Quadriceps’ Strength And Voluntary Activation, Scott Sigrist

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Background: As little as three nights of sleep restriction reduces muscle strength. More than one-third of Americans are chronically sleep restricted (< 7.0 hours/night) and are at risk of muscle weakness (dynapenia). Presently, the mechanistic cause of sleep restriction-induced dynapenia (SRID) has not been elucidated. Rapid changes in muscle strength are typically driven by short-term changes in muscle contractility or voluntary recruitment. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sleep restriction affects muscle contractile function and voluntary recruitment. Methods: A sample of 12 subjects (age 24.8 ± 2.6y) underwent isometric and isokinetic knee extensor muscle testing following 3d of adequate sleep (SA; 8.05 ± 0.45h), 3 d of sleep restriction (SR; 5.02 ± 0.05h), and 7d of washout (WO, 8.27 ± 0.50). The morning (7-11a local time) following the last day of each sleep period, subjects performed muscle strength testing using an isokinetic dynamometer. Subjects sat upright with the dominant leg secured at 60⁰ of knee flexion to optimize maximal quadriceps torque. They then performed 3 maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) of the quadriceps. Then subjects performed 6 submaximal contractions at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90% of the greatest MVIC. Next, subjects completed an interpolated twitch experiment while on the isokinetic dynamometer to assess voluntary activation. Finally, subjects completed 5 repetitions of isometric contractions, in descending order, at speeds of 300, 240, 180, 120, and 60 degree/s. From these methods we measured the highest MVIC, calculated the voluntary activation (VA), measured twitch properties, and compared the torque-EMG relationship. One-way repeated measures ANOVA were used to compare sleep, MVIC, and VA values, two-way (time x twitch property) repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare twitch properties and the torque-EMG relationship. Results: MVIC torque decreased following SR compared to SA before and after sleep restriction (SA: 217.1 ± 69.4 Nm vs. SR: 199.4 ± 67.1 Nm, p = 0.032). MVIC after WO (219.2 ± 54.2 Nm) was significantly greater than SR (p = 0.018) but was not significantly different from SA (p = 0.991). Although peak isokinetic torque decreased with increasing velocity (p < 0.001), there was no significant effect of sleep or sleep x speed interaction. Peak twitch torque and rate of torque
development, but not relaxation rate, were significantly greater in the potentiated state, but no significant effect of sleep or sleep x time interaction was noted. Sleep 3 condition did not significantly affect voluntary activation (SA: 86.3 ± 11.1% v. SR:86.6 ± 11.9% v. WO 87.7 ± 11.1%; p = 0.695). The torque output at various levels ofelectromyography (EMG) activity was not significantly different among sleep conditions (p = 0.383). The mean power frequency (MPF) of the VL was …

Investigation Of Lower Extremity Neuromuscular Function In Individuals With And Without Diabetes, Roya Hoveizavi

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with notable neuromuscular and motor dysfunctions that could lead to an increased risk of plantar ulcers and amputations. Several contributing factors, including increased muscle-tendon stiffness and abnormal muscle activation pattern may influence the kinematics and kinetics of walking in people with diabetes and promote formation of plantar ulcers. Hyperglycemia and the resultant accelerated rate of glycation have been recognized as the leading cause of muscle and tendon degeneration, yet the precise mechanisms by which diabetes affects the biomechanical properties of the muscle-tendon unit remains unclear. Altered muscle activity during gait is observed in people with …

Reliability And Validity Of A Commercial Running Power Meter To Indicate Metabolic Workload During Endurance Running, James Harris Hudgins Iii

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Commercial running power (RP) meters may provide endurance runners and coaches with improved precision for monitoring running intensity. Cyclists rely upon the relationship between cycling power and metabolic demand to regulate physiological intensity during training and racing, independent of changes in the physical environment (e.g., terrain, wind). Research demonstrates strong reliability and validity for a specific RP meter to indicate metabolic demand within controlled running conditions. However, several potential influences on this relationship have not been investigated. Therefore, four studies were conducted with the following aims:

- Study 1: Determine the inter-limb reliability and validity of a single-limb-based RP meter …

The Effect Of Physical Activity Courses On The Motivation For Physical Activity In College Students: A Scoping Review, Erica Fauste Waizenhofer Hill

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The lack of physical activity and exercise participation has been an ongoing
problem for young adults aged 18-24. Universities and colleges worldwide offer a variety of required and elective physical activity courses for college credit to increase active participation in lifelong healthy lifestyles. This scoping review collected studies on college students’ motivation to participate in physical activity. The courses were taught using methods based on motivational theories. The authors of the studies collected information from the students before and after the classes to gather data on the theoretical framework’s effect on the students, if any. This review compiles this information, …

The Effects Of Cannabidiol Cream On Soreness And Performance After Exercise In Untrained Individuals, Joseph Thomas Pastina

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Background: Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) results from unaccustomed exercise and can lead to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Impairments associated with EIMD and DOMS can result in moderate-to-severe discomfort and hindered performance. Recently, a compound derived from the cannabis plant, cannabidiol (CBD), has been used as a recovery tool for EIMD and DOMS. Despite the rising popularity of CBD products, their effectiveness in mitigating EIMD and DOMS is unknown. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of CBD cream on DOMS and performance after an intensive lower-body exercise protocol. In addition, the study sought to …

The Effects Of Saddle Angle/Inclination On Lumbopelvic Kinematics And Cardiometabolic Measures, Andrew Nathan Anderson

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Lower back pain (LBP) is a condition which affects the lumbar portion of the spinal column that can lead to mild to extreme physical pain during seated tasks and has been shown to be prevalent in people who spend long durations sitting particularly in a slumped position or in a position with a large degree of lumbar flexion. LBP can cause regular interruptions in work and in a person’s ability to engage in exercise, and in most extreme cases warrants surgical interventions for clinical treatment. While LBP is prevalent in sedentary populations, it is also quite prevalent in cycling populations …

The Relationship Of Multidimensional Athlete Characteristics Versus Competition Performance And Participation In American Football Players, Alex Brownell

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

BACKGROUND: Athlete evaluation in American football is dominated by the evaluation characteristics that underly key performance indicators (KPI’s) in the physical domain of performance. Team sport athlete performance is comprised of a combination of attributes in the physical, technical, tactical, and mental domains of performance. Using only KPI’s in the physical domain of performance to predict competition performance of American football athletes is challenging due to the differences in performance outcomes of the varying positions in American football and absence of the other performance dimensions that are not accounted for. Advances in athlete assessment have revolutionized the process of evaluating …

Evaluation Of Air Consumption And Work Efficiency In Structural Firefighters, Emily Lynn Langford

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

INTRODUCTION: For safe and efficient fireground performance, firefighters (FF) must consume air supplied by the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) efficiently while sustaining high work rates. Firefighter research and fire department physical ability assessments typically quantify performance solely on task completion time (i.e., work rate), failing to consider the critical element of air consumption efficiency, which subsequently impacts the SCBA’s functional work duration. PURPOSES: (Arm 1, Aim #1) To examine variability in air consumption (AC) between FF during standardized pace tasks; (Arm 1, Aim #2) To evaluate AC efficiency (ACE) against a recognized metabolic-work rate concept of economy; (Arm …

The Correlation Between Acl Injury & Concussion, Brandon Michael Phillips

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Concussion (also known as mild traumatic brain injury) is a neurological injury that occurs after a blow to the head or neck area and can have affects to movement based on the severity of the injury. Mild traumatic brain injury has possible linkage to an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The purpose of this thesis was to assess the impact of prior concussion on lower extremity mechanics that are associated with risk of ACL injury. A total of 11 individuals with prior history of concussion and 11 healthy individuals without prior history of concussion (56.5 months since …

Comparison Of The Times To Exhaustion, Physiological, Perceptual, And Neuromusuclar Responses During Constant Heart Rate, Constant Vo2, And Constant Power Exercise, Pasquale Jiovanni Succi

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purposes of this study were to: 1) Determine if there are differences in the sustainability of exercise when anchored at critical heart rate (CHR), the VO₂ associated with CHR (VO₂CHR), or the power output associated with CHR (PCHR); 2) examine the patterns of responses in power output, metabolic (heart rate [HR], VO₂, respiration rate [RR]), neuromuscular (electromyographic [EMG] amplitude [AMP], mean power frequency [MPF], mechanomyographic [MMG] AMP and MPF, perceptual (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]), and muscle oxygenation responses (%SmO₂) during exercise anchored by HR, VO₂, and power output; and …

Examination Of Sex- And Limb-Specific Fatigue During Unilateral, Isometric Forearm Exercise, Caleb Christian Voskuil

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of unilateral, isometric handgrip holds to failure for the dominant (Dm) and non-dominant (NDm) limb on ipsilateral ([IPS] exercised side) and contralateral ([CON] non-exercised side) performance fatigability. Twenty individuals participated in this study (Men [n =10]; Women [n = 10; Composite Demographics: Age: 22.2 years; Height: 174.4 cm; Body Mass: 75.0 kg) and completed three visits. Two, 6 s maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) for the Dm and NDm limb were performed during visit 1, followed by a familiarization of the fatigue test. Visits 2 and 3 included an isometric, …

Quadriceps Recruitment And Twitch Properties In Lean And Obese Women Before And After Fatiguing Exercise, Rebekah Seay Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Skeletal muscle strength, specifically that of the anti-gravitational muscles such as the quadriceps, is essential for performing dynamic tasks including walking, navigating stairs, and transitioning between sitting and standing. Obesity has been shown to negatively impact musculoskeletal function and decrease quadriceps strength relative to body weight. Additionally, obesity has been linked with higher rates of fatigue and lower strength outcomes following a test of muscular endurance of the quadriceps. Since obesity lowers relative strength, it is likely that quadriceps muscle weakness contributes to reduced physical function of dynamic tasks. However, to date, the precise mechanism for obesity-induced muscle weakness has …

The Acute Effect Of High Intensity Resistance Training On Subsequent Firefighter Performance, Mark Ryan Mason

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

High intensity resistance training (HIRT) is commonly performed by structural firefighters to enhance preparedness for occupational demands. Despite the potential for HIRT to induce beneficial adaptations over time, it is important to determine if a single on-duty HIRT session is detrimental to subsequent occupational physical ability due to exercise-induced fatigue. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to assess the acute effect of HIRT on occupational physical ability in structural firefighters and to determine the time course of recovery. The secondary purpose was to determine if timed completion of a standardized bout of HIRT was correlated to occupational performance …

Quantification Of In-Play Competition Demands Of Collegiate American Football Players Using Global Positioning Systems, Alex Brownell

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

There is limited information describing the competition demands of American football. A greater understanding of competition demands will allow strength and conditioning practitioners to create appropriate training programs to enhance athlete readiness and performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the competition demands of collegiate American football players using global positioning systems (GPS), specifically comparing the in-play GPS versus out-of-play GPS outcomes. Twenty-two American football athletes (Age: 20.8 ± 0.9 yr, Height: 190.2 ± 4.7 cm, Body mass: 113.4 ± 22.3 kg) were monitored during 12 regular season competitions over 13 weeks. Athletes were divided into specific …

Biomechanics Of The Lower Back During Repetitive Deadlifts, With And Without Body Armor, Vanessa J. Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Background: Low back pain is a significant problem and one of the primary musculoskeletal-related conditions affecting active-duty service members [1]. Since more than two-thirds of U.S. soldier occupational tasks involve lifting from floor level to waist height [2], increasing individual lifting capacity is strongly correlated with performance with these tasks [3]. Training for the first Army Combat Fitness Test event (3RM deadlift) to improve lifting capacity directly relates to performing carrying/lifting military tasks. One training modality that can be used in training programs to improve lifting capacity is repetitions-to-failure (RTF) or repetitive lifting to volitional failure [4-8]. RTF is widely …

Examination Of Sex- And Intensity-Specific Fatigue During Bilateral Leg Extension Exercise, Taylor Kayln Dinyer

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purposes of this study were to: 1) examine sex-related differences in the performance of repetitions to failure below (CL_-10%, CL_-20%) and above (50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% 1RM) the critical load (CL) to make inferences regarding the mechanisms responsible for variability in the performance of repetitions to failure at varying loads; 2) examine the time course of neuromuscular and muscle oxygen saturation responses during the performance of repetitions to failure below and above the CL; 3) to make inferences regarding motor unit activation strategies used to maintain force during the completion of repetitions below and …

Chronic Low Intensity Continuous And Interval Training Prevent Heart Failure-Related Coronary Artery Stiffness, An Ouyang

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Heart failure (HF) induced by aortic pressure over-load is associated with increased coronary artery stiffness. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and advanced glycation end products (AGE) both promote arterial stiffness. However, the mechanisms by which coronary PVAT promotes arterial stiffness and the efficacy of exercise to prevent coronary stiffness are unknown. The present study hypothesized both chronic continuous and interval exercise training would prevent coronary artery stiffness associated with inhibition of PVAT secreted AGE. Yucatan mininature swine were divided into four groups: control-sedentary (CON), aortic-banded sedentary heart failure (HF), aortic-banded HF continuous exercise trained (HF+CONT), and aortic-banded HF interval exercise trained …

Heart Rate Dynamics During And After Simulated Fire Ground Tasks: Effects Of Physical Fitness And Training, Anssi Ilmari Saari

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Firefighting is a strenuous occupation that increases the risk of cardiovascular events. Greater levels of physical fitness and training improve firefighters’ occupational performance, but little is known whether they are related to lower physiological stress and recovery from fire ground tasks. Heart rate, heart rate recovery and heart rate variability have been used to evaluate physical stress in association with exercise and fire ground tasks. However, there is a paucity of research evaluating the effects of physical fitness and training on heart rate dynamics during a simulated fire ground test (SFGT). Therefore, the primary purposes of this study were to …

Analysis Of Push-Up And Pull-Up Variants To Develop An Upper Extremity Model, Ashley Carlene Wimsett

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Musculoskeletal Injuries are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability. Push-Ups and Pull-Ups are effective dynamic exercises that mimic high level function activities, such as those used in the military. The model developed allows for researchers to analyze the forces and moments associated with the shoulder, elbow and wrist, to further assess function in military personnel, athletes and the active population. The model also follows the guidelines set forth by the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB).