Kinesiology Commons^™

Determining The Validity Of The Nintendo Wii Balance Board As An Assessment Tool For Balance, Sabrina Mae Deans

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Context. Application of the Nintendo Wii-fit balance board and its games have been used in Physical Therapy clinics, showing success in individuals with neurological disorders, and has been recommended as a minimum baseline assessment of a symptoms checklist and standardized cognitive and balance assessments for concussion management by the NCAA. However, it still faces challenges of being considered a reliable and consistent tool for producing normative data in the allied healthcare. Because there is little to no evidence for the Wii-fit balance board as a valid balance assessment tool for clinical and/or research usage, the significance of this study is …

The Self: Your Own Worst Enemy? A Test Of The Self-Invoking Trigger Hypothesis, Bradley J. Mckay

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The self invoking trigger hypothesis was recently proposed by Wulf and Lewthwaite (2010) as the mechanism underlying the robust effects of attentional focus on motor learning and performance. The hypothesis suggests that causing individuals to access their self schema will negatively impact their ability to learn and perform a motor skill. The purpose of the present study was to provide an initial test of this hypothesis by causing one group of participants to activate their self schema in a straightforward manner. Participants (N = 32) were assigned to either a self-activated or control condition and asked to practice a wiffleball …

The Effect Of Self-Controlled Practice On Forearm Passing, Motivation, And Affect In Women’S Volleyball Players, Nels Rydberg

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Motor learning research has suggested that self-controlled practice (or “autonomy”) leads to more effective learning of motor tasks. Debate continues, however, as to why. Most motor behaviorists maintain the better learning is due to cognitive and information-processing factors. Recently, others have proposed the learning enhancement is due to such psychological factors as motivation and affect. The present study sought to measure motor skill learning, intrinsic motivation, and affect in self-controlled versus externally-controlled (yoked) practice conditions.

Participants, 16 collegiate women’s volleyball student-athletes from two National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I programs, were paired by forearm passing skill level, and one of …

Agonist And Stabilizer Muscle Activity During A Push Up On Unstable Surfaces, Anthony J. Dyrek

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A recent trend among fitness professionals is to have clients perform resistance exercises on unstable equipment. Anecdotally, this is done with the intent that stabilizing and agonist muscles are more active while doing certain exercises on unstable surfaces. However, there are limited data as to whether or not this is the case and no studies have investigated muscle activity while doing the same exercise on surfaces that offer different levels of stability. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to measure electromyography (EMG) during push up exercise performed on unstable surfaces as well as on the ground. Surface EMG was …

Effect Of Aquastretch On Range Of Motion At Knee Joint In Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients, Raja Devinder Kochar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The success of the Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) depends upon its functional outcomes of increase in reduction in pain, and gait ambulation and performing functional activities of daily living. Compromised range of motion, pain and weakness can reduce their ability to perform activities of daily living. Aquatic Physical Therapy may offer an alternative intervention to traditional Physical Therapy Rehabilitation and many studies have shown improvements in range of motion, swelling, pain reduction, stiffness and quality of life after TKA. AquaStretch, a relatively new form of aquatic therapy, claims to restore the functional mobility which is lost restrictions caused due to …

The Acute Effects Of Various Types Of Stretching (Static, Dynamic, Ballistic, And No Stretch) Of The Iliopsoas On 40-Yard Sprint Times In Non-Athletes, Scott David Christensen, Craig Perry, Ryan Richard Resnik

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of static, ballistic, dynamic, and no stretching immediately prior to a 40-yard sprint in college students. There were 35 healthy subjects (22 male and 13 female) between the ages of 24 and 37 (Mean = 26.46 yrs, SD = 2.99 yrs) who participated. The experiment consisted of running 4, 40-yard sprint trials immediately following 1 of 4 different stretching protocols. Prior to each 40- yard sprint trial, a 5-minute warm up was performed at 3.5 mph on a treadmill. Each subject received each of the four techniques in a randomized …

Examining Activity Levels And Motor Proficiency: A Comparison Of Children Who Are Overweight And At A Healthy Weight To Their Parents And Peers, Aaron Copeland, Maresa Madsen, Riley Phelps, Brandon Richards

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine relationships and differences between motor proficiency, activity level, and parental activity level in children who are at a healthy weight and children who are overweight or obese.

Methods: Forty-four children (26 children at a healthy weight and 18 children who were overweight or obese) between the ages of 8-16 (BMI: 14.3-43.6 kg/m2) and 36 parents (BMI: 18.1-44.7) participated in this study. Children and parents wore StepWatch activity monitors (SAM) to measure activity levels over a 72 hour period. Tests reflecting several determinants of motor performance were also administered to …

The Acute Effects Of Static Stretching Of The Gastrocnemius On Limits Of Stability In Young Adults Versus Elderly Adults, Matt Bugnet, Kirk Player

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Balance is an important part of everyday life for all individuals with many body systems interacting to achieve optimal balance. Proprioceptive organs aid in this interaction, while also acting as stretch receptors. Therefore, it is possible that stretching may influence the overall balance of the individual. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of stretching on dynamic balance of healthy young and elderly adults. The two groups were used to determine if stretching may discriminately affect balance at different ages.

Subjects: Thirty healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 35 …

Effects Of Environment On Children's Motor Scores, Eligibility Status, And Administration Times, Derrick Mittelstadt, Abigail Parker, Kirsten Pickett, Heather Temkin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Best practices for assessing developmental skills in young children focus on naturalistic observation in everyday settings, but the effects of environment on test scores, eligibility status and administration time have not been explored. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition (PDMS-2) was administered to 34 children aged 18 to 59 months in natural and pull-out settings. PDMS-2 total, gross, and fine motor quotient (TMQ, GMQ, and FMQ) scores were significantly lower in the natural environment (p’s≤.014). Based on our results, more children would qualify for services when tested in natural environments using TMQ and GMQ scores. It also took significantly longer …

The Effect Of Acute Exercise-Induced Fatigue On Pistol Shooting Performance In Police Officers, Melissa Jean Brown

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Duties of police officers include apprehending suspects, which may involve foot pursuit and firing a weapon at a suspect. Previous studies in biathletes and soldiers suggest that shooting performance is compromised when fatigue is present. Purpose: To investigate the effects of exercise-induced fatigue on shooting performance in police officers. Methods: Nine police officers fired five rapid-fire shots at three targets each with a fifteen second rest period in between each trail. Officers then exercised on a cycle ergometer to 85% maximum heart rate or voluntary fatigue. The pretest shooting was repeated post-exercise. Distances of 4 shots from the center of …

The Relationship Of Snowmobile Year, Track Length, And Riding Terrain To The Occurrence Of Musculosketetal Symptoms In Recreational Snowmobile Drivers, Erica L. Heisler

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms in recreational snowmobile drivers and relate them to the manufacture year of the snowmobile, the length of the track, and/or the riding terrain. Participants included 186 males and 57 females (n=243), aged 18 years and older, and were all snowmobile drivers. Subjects were asked to complete either an online survey or a paper survey to gather information about the year of snowmobile they drove, the track length of that snowmobile, the typical riding terrain they drove on, and any musculoskeletal symptoms they developed from driving snowmobile. …

Development Of Software To Estimate Pressures On The Residual Limbs Of Amputees By Means Of A Pylon Mounted Transducer, Malli K. Yalamanchili

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The alignment of prosthesis has been recognized as one of the main factors that determine successful prosthetic outcomes for trans-tibial amputees. Alignment is defined as the relative position and orientation of the prosthetic components. Misalignment can result in changes in the position and orientation of the joints of the leg and moments experienced by them during gait, increases in energy use, and discomfort or even tissue breakdown at the socket/stump interface. Hence it is very important to align the prosthesis in correct manner. Gait analysis can be used to examine the effects of incorrect alignment of the prosthesis during gait. …

Variability Of Pacing In Marathon Distance Running, Thomas A. Haney Jr.

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purposes of this study were to describe variability of pacing during a marathon and to determine if there is a relationship between variability of pacing and marathon performance. A total of 301 race profiles that contained personal global positioning system (GPS) from the Rock „n‟ Roll Las Vegas (Race 1) and San Diego (Race 2) marathons were downloaded (http://connect.garmin.com) and analyzed. Each marathon finish time was placed into one of three finish time bins: Bin 1: 2.5 – 3.9 hrs, Bin 2: 4.0 – 4.6 hrs, Bin 3: 4.7 – 7.2. The coefficient of variation of velocity (Velcov) was …

The Relationship Between Fitness Level, Gender, And The Percentage Of Vo2 Max At Crossover, Christina Louise Pettigrew

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The “crossover” concept is a means of understanding fuel utilization over a range of exercise intensities. According to this concept, certain biochemical adaptations occur in a fit individual allowing for an increase in lipid oxidation. The present study examined whether there was a relationship between fitness level, gender, and the percentage of maximum aerobic capacity (VO2 max) at crossover. Twenty-five subjects age 18-40 participated in this study. Subjects were divided in half based on their fitness level. After completing a graded exercise test to exhaustion, the crossover point for each subject was determined relative to their VO2 max. A 2x2 …

The Effect Of Self-Efficacy Manipulation On The Efficiency, Rate Of Perceived Exertion, And Affective State Of Runners, Isabelle Stoate

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objectives: To determine the effect of self-efficacy manipulation on the movement efficiency, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and affective state of runners while running on the treadmill at a constant submaximal pace.

Methods: 20 trained male and female runners were randomly assigned to experimental (self-efficacy manipulation) and control groups. Participants first filled out a pre self-efficacy questionnaire and the positive affect negative affect schedule (PANAS), and then completed a 20 minute run on the treadmill running at 75% of their peak treadmill running speed. After 10 minutes, their oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), and RPE was recorded. Participants (n=10) …

Comparison Of Body Composition Between Physically Active And Inactive Wheelchair Users, Masaru Teramoto

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between regular physical activity and body composition in individuals with physical disabilities. The study was designed to compare body composition parameters between wheelchair users participating in adapted sports programs and those being physically inactive. Male wheelchair users were recruited and classified based on physical activity level (active or inactive) and disability type (paraplegic or quadriplegic). Regional and whole-body percent body fat (%BF), lean body mass (LBM), and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. These variables were then compared among the groups using a two-way between-groups multivariate …

Evaluation Of A 3-Dimensional Inertial Tracking System For Quantifying Human Movement, David T. Delion

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an inertial tracking unit (ITU) by comparing it to an optical tracking system. The ITU was attached to a bowling ball along with reflective markers for the optical system. Each trial started with the ball at rest on a pedestal the ball was then hung from a steel cable 10 feet long and set in motion in an elliptical pattern for approximately 25 seconds. The ball was then removed from the cable and returned to the pedestal so as to end each trial at rest. This was repeated 10 times with 5 …

The Effects Of Observation, Dialogue, And Attentional Focus In Dyadic Training Protocol, Carolina Granados

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The present study examined the impact that dyad training with an emphasis on attentional focus has on learning in the performance of a golf putt. The participants were randomly divided into four dyad groups: dialogue and observation with external focus, dialogue and observation with internal focus, dialogue and no observation with external focus, and dialogue and no observation with internal focus. Participants were given a set of instructions to verbalize to their partners during practice. These instructions were designed to generate either an internal or an external focus. The results determined that those participants who were instructed to have an …

Kinetics At Front Foot Contact Of Cricket Bowling During A 10-Over Spell, Jacobus Noël Liebenberg

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine what effect bowling a 10 over spell (60 balls) would have on approach velocity, vertical ground reaction forces and shock attenuation during the front foot contact of a delivery stride in cricket.

Ten Amateur cricket players (age 27±4 years, height 1.78±0.3 m, mass 80.6±8.5 kg) participated in the study. Testing was conducted at University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the Biomechanics laboratory. Participants performed a 10-over bowling spell from a 12 meter run-up. These dependent variables were measured and calculated during the bowling protocol: 1) approach velocity 2) vertical ground reaction force …

The Relationship Of A Long-Term Exercise Program And Selected Coronary Risk Factors, Maryse Wells

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate body composition and blood pressure as potential risk factors for coronary artery disease after 3 years of participation in a structured exercise program. The sample group was comprised of 21 male participants (66%) and 11 (34%) female participants with a mean age of 55 years who attended the exercise program and completed health and fitness testing annually. Participants did cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility training 5 days a week with an average attendance of 70%. After 3 years, BMI, waist circumference, and percent body fat increased significantly (p < .01); blood pressure levels did not change significantly (p > .05). Low control of diet …

Effects Of Obesity On The Biomechanics Of Children’S Gait At Different Speeds, Philana-Lee Gouws

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and spatio-temporal gait characteristics of overweight/obese and non-obese school-aged children (12-14 years) at two different walking speeds. Eighty-four overweight/obese (n=28; age: 13.96 ± 0.79 yrs; mass: 74.8 ± 18.21 kg; height: 159.2 ± 7.1 cm and BMI: 29.28 ± 5.64 kg/m2) and non-obese students (n=56; age: 13.72 ± 0.79 yrs; mass: 51.7 ± 10.2 kg; height: 157.8 ± 8.3 cm and BMI: 20.69 ± 2.74 kg/m2) with no present injuries were recruited. Participants were instructed to walk across an electronic walkway in each of two …

An Examination Of Body Composition Measurement Methods In Children, Robert Kaplan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction . Body-composition methods include underwater weighing (UWW), skinfold thickness (SKF), bioelectrical impedance (BIA), and the BOD POD. Although these techniques are used routinely, each has its inherent limitations, especially in children. Purpose . The purpose of this study was to examine the various methods of body composition in children. Methods . The body composition of 7 boys between the ages of 12-14 (13.1 +/- 1.1 years) was determined using the BOD POD, UWW, SKF, and BIA. Results . Percent body fat estimated from the BOD POD (21.9 +/- 7.8%BF) was not significantly different than the estimated percent fat from …

The Effect Of Concurrent Cell Phone Use And Walking On Gait Characteristics, Jennifer Marie Aldridge

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined the effects that cell phone use has on gait and situation awareness. Subjects (n=18; 24.67±3.60 yrs) completed three five-minute treadmill walking conditions (self-selected speed): (1) CONTROL (walking only), (2) TALK (walking and talking), and (3) TEXT (walking and texting). The number of detected lights presented in the visual field was recorded, as were kinematic data of the feet. Using a one-way repeated measure ANOVA it was determined light detection (F _(2,17) =39.777, p<0.001) and TC_min (F_(2,17) =8.574, p=0.001) were different between conditions. Specifically, light detection decreased during TEXT (2.6±2.2 lights) versus TALK (5.8±0.05 lights, p<0.001) or CONTROL (5.9±0.05 lights, p<0.001); TC_min decreased …

Ground Reaction Forces For Children Running In Different Shoes, Dana Forrest

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine whether certain ground reaction force parameters such as impact force (F1), second maximum force (F2), loading rate, stance time and average vertical ground reaction force (Fzavg) differ when 11-13 year old children run in a neutral shoe (Nike Air Pegasus+ 25) that is either a child or adult style.

Shoes were impact tested in an impact test instrument to determine any performance differences between the two shoes. Next, 10 healthy female subjects aged 12.03 ± 1.14 years with a height of 154.6 ± 4.90 cm and a mass of 46.18 ± 14.33 …