Kinesiology Commons^™

The Effects Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Thickness, Knee Joint Laxity, Activity Level, Neuromuscular Imbalances And Lower Extremity Muscular Activation Patterns On Anterior Cruciate Ligament Loading, Zachary A. Sievert

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

There are numerous known mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk that span from knee joint laxity to landing mechanics. However, the relationship of these mechanisms to ACL loading during landing is unclear. In addition to landing mechanics, anthropological aspects such as ACL diameter, which can now be obtained via ultrasound, may also be an important mechanism for ACL loading. However, the relationship between ACL diameter to ACL loading and landing mechanics remains unknown. This study was conducted with three primary purposes. The first purpose of this study was to examine the inter and intra-rater reliability of using ultrasound …

Effects Of High-Carbohydrate Versus Mixed-Macronutrient Meals On Soccer Physiology And Performance, Jaison Lee Wynne

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to measure the effects of an acute pre-competition high-carbohydrate (HCHO) meal versus a mixed-macronutrient (MM) meal on physiology, perceptual responses, and performance in 15 division I female collegiate soccer players. Being there are conjectural advantages to pre-exercise meals higher in fiber, fat, and protein, this study was conducted to evaluate the physiological and perceptual effects of pre-competition MM meals. This study used a randomized, investigator-blinded, crossover design involving two dietary interventions – HCHO and MM meals – that were consumed four hours prior to two separate intra-squad soccer scrimmages. Assessments included running metrics via …

Effects Of A Postural Restoration Focused Intervention On Muscle Activation During Deadlifts, Caleb Richardson

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of implementing two Postural Restoration exercises and relating principles on deadlifts using a hexagonal barbell. Specifically, we aimed to examine the effects of the intervention on muscle activation and the location of the ground reaction force (GRF) center of pressure. Sixteen subjects (age 18-35 yrs.; male (n=14); female (n=2)), with at least 1 year of deadlifting experience, were randomly assigned into a control and intervention group (both n=8). Both groups performed two sets of three repetitions of deadlifts at 50% and at 80% of their estimated one repetition maximum (1-RM). …

Estimation Of Arterial Wall Parameters Via Model-Based Analysis Of Noninvasively Measured Arterial Pulse Signals, Dan Wang

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents a model-based method for estimating arterial wall parameters from noninvasively measured arterial pulse signals via a microfluidic-based tactile sensor. The sensor entails a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microstructure embedded with 5×1 transducer array built on Pyrex/Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. The arterial pulse causes a time-varying deflection on the top of the PDMS microstructure, which registers as a resistance change by the transducer at the site of the artery.

Owing to the time-harmonic nature of its radial motion, the arterial wall is modeled as a second-order dynamic system. By combining this dynamic model with a hemodynamic model of blood flow, …

The Impact Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructive Surgery On Neuromotor Function, Cortney Noel Armitano

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the systemic neuromechanical implications in individuals who have had an ACL reconstruction (ACLR) compared to healthy controls. The specific aims addressed were to: 1) examine differences in inter-limb coordination during walking at different speeds, 2) examine differences in trunk, neck and head acceleration during gait, and 3) investigate whether the reaction time responses assessed during stepping are negatively affected by ACLR.

The findings of study 1 revealed that maximal coordination stability was achieved when walking at the person’s preferred gait speed. However, individuals with a previous ACLR exhibited reduced coordination stability between …

Correction: New Approaches For Assessing Squid Fin Motions: Coupling Proper Orthogonal Decomposition With Volumetric Particle Tracking Velocimetry (Doi:10.1242/Jeb.176750), Ian K. Bartol, Paul S. Krueger, Carly A. York, Joseph T. Thompson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Squid, which swim using a coupled fin/jet system powered by muscular hydrostats, pose unique challenges for the study of locomotion. The high flexibility of the fins and complex flow fields generated by distinct propulsion systems require innovative techniques for locomotive assessment. For this study, we used proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to decouple components of the fin motions and defocusing digital particle tracking velocimetry (DDPTV) to quantify the resultant 3D flow fields. Kinematic footage and DDPTV data were collected from brief squid, Lolliguncula brevis [3.1–6.5 cm dorsal mantle length (DML)], swimming freely in a water tunnel at speeds of 0.39–7.20 DML …

Intraindividual Variability Of Neuromotor Function Predicts Falls Risk In Older Adults And Those With Type 2 Diabetes, Steven Morrison, Karl Newell

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

The current study was designed to examine the effect of increasing age and type 2 diabetes on the average responses and inter- and intra-individual variability of falls risk, reaction time, strength, and walking speed for healthy older adults and older persons with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Seventy-five older individuals (controls) and 75 persons with T2DM aged between 50-79 years participated in the study. Assessments of falls risk, reaction time (RT), knee extension strength and walking speed were conducted. The results revealed that advancing age for both control and T2DM groups was reflected by a progressive increase in falls risk, decreased …

Walking Biomechanics And Energetics Of Individuals With A Visual Impairment: A Preliminary Report, Hunter J. Bennett, Kevin A. Valenzuela, Kristina Fleenor, Steven Morrison, Justin A. Haegele

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

Purpose.

Although walking gait in sighted populations is well researched, few studies have investigated persons with visual impairments (VIs). Given the lack of physical activity in people with VIs, it is possible that reduced efficiency in walking could adversely affect activity. The purposes of this preliminary study were to (1) examine the biomechanics and energetics utilized during independent and guided walking in subjects with VIs, and (2) compare gait biomechanics between people with VIs and sighted controls.

Methods.

Three-dimensional motion capture and force platforms were used during independent and guided walking at self-selected speeds. Joint angles, moments, external work, and …