Kinesiology Commons^™

The Effectiveness Of A Fitness Mentoring Program On Life Skills In At-Risk Youth, Delaney Dunlap

Undergraduate Honors Theses

BACKGROUND: The Aspire program is an eight-week program for troubled youths around the Canberra, Australia community that is run by former Canberran of the year and Canberra Raiders Captain Alan Tongue. The program aims to build self-esteem, develop social skills, help teach the effects actions have on others, understand how practice and hard work provide support, give purpose in life, and teach other practical, lifelong skills. During the program, Alan uses a combination of various activities including fitness, teamwork, discussion, writing, and self-reflection to help youth see their potential. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the lasting …

El Baloncesto Es Vida: A Look Into Strength And Conditioning, Physical Therapy, And Coaching During My Internship Abroad, Jessica Doublesin

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: An experience abroad can help a person grow in confidence and knowledge and allow them to immerse themselves in a new culture. During my time in Valencia, Spain, I was able to work at a youth basketball club, CB L’Horta Godella, alongside the club’s strength and conditioning coaches and the physical therapist and be a coach for the young athletes. The fact that I lived with a Spanish family and had an open mindset towards making friends and exploring new things allowed me to grow closer to the culture in Spain. By using my knowledge and passion for sports …

Development And Clinical Application Of A Novel Left Ventricular Diastolic Stress Test, Thomas Jake Samuel

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Cardiology has long focused on the hearts ability to generate forward pressure and ejection of blood from the left ventricle to supply the systemic circulation with oxygen and nutrients. The ability and capacity of the left ventricle to fill with blood prior to systolic ejection is equally important and, until recently, has been largely under studied. The coordination of passive elastic recoil and active relaxation allows the left ventricle to fill with blood in early diastole through generation of the transmitral pressure gradient. Therefore, dysregulation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing these two processes could lead to diastolic dysfunction. …

Trunk Function In Manual Wheelchair Users In Static And Dynamic Conditions, Tyler D. Garner

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

The relationship between functional capacity and trunk control is of significant interest to a variety of people, from wheelchair sport clinicians and professionals to rehab specialists, but has proven difficult to quantify. This project utilizes a “Volume of Action” framework to observe trunk function in both static and dynamic conditions across a functional spectrum using the functional classification system employed in wheelchair basketball. Study 1 (chapter 2) examines the role of functional capacity in a static environment using a Volume of Action framework using a seated limits of stability test to examine functional limitations in wheelchair users across a functional …

The Effects Of Knee Joint Loading On Dynamic Tasks In Individuals Several Years Post-Acl Reconstruction, Meredith Decker

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Joint loading of the lower extremity is studied to identify risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and to determine limb asymmetries. Asymmetrical loading in the lower extremity during ACL reconstruction (ACLR) rehabilitation and at the time of return to sport or activity will cause compensations during functional movements, which can lead to unwanted joint re-injury or long-term joint damage. Re-injury and/or development and progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent after ACLR; therefore, joint loading measurements at extended time points from reconstruction and after return to play may help to identify how asymmetrical loading and compensatory movement strategies …

Effects Of Pre-Workout Caffeine Supplementation On Post-Exercise Hypotension, Shelby L. Gibbs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) is believed to play a major role in the antihypertensive health benefits of exercise. While it has been shown that resistance exercise is effective at eliciting PEH, commonly consumed sports supplements may attenuate or completely eliminate that response. Caffeine, a popular stimulant, is often consumed prior to exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pre-workout caffeine supplementation on the post-exercise hypotensive response in adults with above normal blood pressure. Participants (n = 5) were recreationally resistance trained men and women who consumed placebo or caffeine (3 mg/kg bodyweight) 45-minutes prior to …

Effect Of Football Shoe Collar Type On Ankle Biomechanics And Dynamic Stability During Anterior And Lateral Single-Leg Jump Landings, Yunqi Tang, Zhikang Wang, Yifan Zhang, Shuqi Zhang, Shutao Wei, Jiahao Pan, Yu Liu

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this study, we investigated the effects of football shoes with different collar heights on ankle biomechanics and dynamic postural stability. Fifteen healthy college football players performed anterior and lateral single-leg jump landings when wearing high collar, elastic collar, or low collar football shoes. The kinematics of lower limbs and ground reaction forces were collected by simultaneously using a stereo-photogrammetric system with markers (Vicon) and a force plate (Kistler). During the anterior single-leg jump landing, a high collar shoe resulted in a significantly smaller ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), compared to both elastic (p = 0.031, dz = …

Mass Support In Dogs, Frank E. Fish

Biology Data Repository

No abstract provided.

Cerebrovascular Function In Adults With Depression, Rauchelle Richey

Kinesiology Theses - Archive

Cerebral vasodilatory responsiveness is blunted in older adults (~45-70 yrs) with depressive disorders and thought to contribute to the link between depressive symptomology and increased risk for neurocognitive (e.g., dementia) and cerebral vascular (e.g., stroke) diseases. In young adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), peripheral vascular endothelial dysfunction is evident; however, to date, limited investigations have examined cerebral vasodilatory function in young healthy adults with MDD. We tested the hypothesis that cerebral vasodilatory responsiveness to a hypercapnic stimulus would be blunted in healthy young adults with MDD compared to healthy non-depressed adults (HA). Fourteen HA (22 ± 3yrs) and 14 …

Effects Of Asthma On Lung Function, Aerobic Fitness, And Physical Activity Levels In Young Adults, Trey Deal

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Asthma is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in the United States. Research has shown that one form of asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, is experienced by the overwhelming majority of individuals with the condition during physical activity, potentially causing fear and avoidance of physical activity in the future. Physical inactivity could have several negative health implications, including lower lung function and aerobic fitness levels. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare lung function, aerobic fitness, and physical activity levels between young adults with asthma to those without asthma. The hypothesis is that there will be a statistically …

An Analysis Of Perception Vs. Reality In Physical Fitness And The Effect Of Fitness Testing On Physical Activity In College Students, Sarah Schwartz

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background. There is limited knowledge on whether college students are as fit as they believe themselves to be, or if discovering discrepancies in their understanding of their fitness will impact their behavior. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of fitness in college students and the effect fitness testing has on future behavior and intentions. Methodology. A sample of 28 undergraduates at the University of Arkansas, ages 18 to 25, were recruited to participate in an in-person fitness assessment during which, the five health-related components of fitness were measured. Prior to the assessment, participants were …

The Role Of Protein Degradation In Cancer Cachexia In Female Tumor Bearing Mice, Noah Thomas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death in the world in which half of the people affected by this disease die from its effects. Cancer-cachexia is a syndrome associated with the significant loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, which cannot be fully reversed by nutritional intervention alone and in turn, impairs the host. Cancer-cachexia affects 50-80% of cancer patients and is a primary cause of death accounting for 20-40% of cancer related deaths. Efforts to reverse the effects of cancer-related cachexia have been largely unsuccessful and have primarily focused on the late stages of CC. Methods: Lewis Lung …

The Effects Of Machine-Weight And Free-Weight Resistance Exercise On Hemodynamics And Vascular Function, Erica M. Marshall, Jason C. Parks, Yu Lun Tai, J. Derek Kingsley

Health & Human Performance Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine hemodynamic and vascular responses between machine-weight and free-weight exercise. Resistance-trained individuals were assigned to a machine-weight (n = 13) or free-weight (n = 15) group. Groups completed two visits consisting of their assigned exercise condition and a control (CON). A 2 × 2 × 3 repeated measures ANOVA was used to test the effects of group across condition and time on the hemodynamic parameters [cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), total peripheral resistance (TPR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and stroke volume (SV)]. A 2 × 2 × 2 repeated measures …

Defining Athletic Training In The Military Setting: A Survey Investigation Into Professional Characteristics, Preparation, And Barriers In Clinical Practice, Kara N. Radzak, Edward J. Sedory, Michael Hooper, Tricia M. Kasamatsu

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

Context: The skill sets of athletic trainers (ATs) provide a unique contribution to the US military's optimization of physical readiness, and these positions are becoming more prevalent. However, knowledge regarding the job characteristics of, and ATs' preparation for, employment in a military setting is limited. Objective: To assess the position and clinician characteristics of ATs working with military members and document their perceptions of working in the military setting. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Online survey. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 53 ATs who currently or formerly worked in the military setting. Data Collection and Analysis: A Web-based survey …

The Effects Of Watermelon Juice Supplementation On Tissue Oxygen Saturation During Hyperglycemia, Sarah Elizabeth Kemp

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Reliability And Validity Of The 30-15 Intermittent Field Test With A Ball, Kathleen Paulsen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the 30-15 Intermittent Field Test (30-15IFT) with and without a ball and to determine differences across these two methods in female soccer players. Twenty-four collegiate female soccer players participated in this study (19.46 ± 1.22 years; 167.01 ± 7.23 cm; 60.95 ± 7.84 kg). Players performed one trial of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery (YYIR) test, three trials of the 30-15IFT, and three trials of the 30-15IFT with a ball (30-15IFT-B), separated by a minimum of 48 hours. Maximal intermittent running velocity (VIFT), heart rate at exhaustion (HRpeak), …

Bilateral Muscle Oxygenation Kinetics In Response To Repeat Sprint Cycling In Strong And Weak Individuals, John Abbott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Repeat sprint ability has been investigated thoroughly, however optimal training methodology to improve RSA remains elusive. Both kinetic and physiological viewpoints have been used to scrutinize aspects of RSA including, initial sprint performance (anaerobic power), maximal cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), lactate threshold, anaerobic capacity (mean power), muscle activation (EMG), and local muscle oxygenation kinetics. To our knowledge no study has utilized maximal strength levels as a separate factor among a homogenous group of cardiorespiratory fitness individuals (as determined by peak VO2 during RSA). The purpose of this study was to better understand the relationship between maximal strength, muscular characteristics, and cycling …

Investigation Of Acute Response To Carbohydrate In Subsequent Resistance Training, Damon Mccune

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Resistance training has been shown to have several positive benefits to health including increasing muscle size and strength, reducing risk of sarcopenia with aging, and is associated with reduced risk of mortality. A cornerstone in accomplishing these goals is to progressively overload the muscle by increasing training volume to promote muscle protein synthesis following training stimulation. Total training volume has been demonstrated in the literature to be a prime determinant of muscle hypertrophy and overall training performance. Carbohydrate (CHO) manipulation has been observed as a potential ergogenic aid when training demands are high. Current research investigating nutrition related to exercise …

The Influence Of Motivational And Attentional Focus Factors On Throwing Accuracy In Elite Softball Athletes, Jacquelyn Sertic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

According to the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning (Wulf & Lewthwaite, 2016), autonomy support (AS), enhanced expectancies (EE), and external focus (EF) of attention are key to effective motor performance and learning. AS allows individuals to exercise control, EE

provides performers with an increased sense of confidence, and EF directs attention to the intended movement effects. Previous research indicates that these factors individually and collectively can improve motor performance and learning in novices and experienced performers. Few studies have used elite performers as participants. Purpose: To determine whether skilled throwing performance can be enhanced by a successive implementation of AS, …

The Effects Of Group Fitness Classes On Self-Efficacy, Katherine Dalton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self-efficacy is one of the largest predictors of behavior, when related to exercise studies have shown that self-efficacy can predict drop-out rates within six months of being an exercise program (Middelkamp, et. al., 2016; Sallis, et. al., 1988). College students have the biggest decline in physical activity when compared to other stages of life (Buckworth, 2001; Grubbs & Carter, 2002). University recreation centers provide group fitness classes for students to promote physical activity. Minimal research has been done to show the impact that group fitness classes has on student life. This study aimed to show the impact of group fitness …

Preliminary Study: Leucine Supplementation Exacerbates Muscle Wasting Independent Of The Ubiquitin-Proteasome System, Katarina Bejarano

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cancer cachexia is the rapid, drastic loss of muscle mass associated with cancer and is not reversible by conventional nutritional means (Brown et al., 2018; Brown et al., 2017). It occurs in ~80% of cancer patients and is responsible for 20-40% of cancer-related deaths (Brown et al., 2018; Brown et al., 2017). This condition leaves patients with fatigue, functional impairment, reduced quality of life, and a decrease in survival rates. Cachexia occurs through an imbalance between protein degradation and protein synthesis (Brown et al., 2018), which is associated with inflammation and altered metabolic processes.

Several studies have investigated the effects …

A Comparison Of Vertical Ground Reaction Forces In Single-Leg Jump Take-Offs And Double-Leg Jump Take-Offs In Indoor Collegiate Volleyball Players, Margaret Elisabeth Latchford, Maggie Mcdermott, Austin Deshner, Moroni De Moors, Will W. Peveler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in vertical ground reaction forces (vGRFs) exist between single-leg take-off approaches (SL) and double-leg take-off approaches (DL) and if sex or positional differences existed in vGRFs in SL- or DL-style approaches. It was hypothesized that DL jumps would generate greater vGRFs, males would generate greater vGRFs in both styles, and middle blockers would have higher SL vGRFs while pin hitters would have higher DL vGRFs. Nine collegiate volleyball players (4 female; 5 male) (age: 20.44 ± 1.42 years; height: 186.02 ± 6.44 cm; body mass: 78.21 ± 10.63kg; body fat: …

Young Athletes' Perceptions Of Playing Through Pain, Aubri Keesee

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Throughout the early career of an athlete, they are introduced and socialized into the sport ethic culture of risk of playing through pain. The purpose of this paper was to examine factors thought to influence young athletes’ conformity to the sport ethic by playing through pain. These factors included: athletic identity, fear of failure, and perceived pressure from important others to play through pain (Jessiman-Perreault & Godley, 2016; Nixon, 1994). The researcher contacted sport club organizations, recreational clubs, and school principals to seek cooperation. Participants included 140 male and female athletes aged 11-18 years old. Participants completed the Risk of …

Through Their Eyes: Exploring The Relationship Between College Females' Body Perceptions And Recreation Center Messaging, Sydney Leigh Ann Cindrich

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The study aimed to investigate the influence that recreation center promotional messaging had on college females’ body perceptions. Body perceptions among young adult females have been linked to mental health (McKay, 2013; Miner-Rubino, Twenge, & Fredrickson, 2002). Female participants 18 to 25 years of age (N = 137, Mage = 20.41) from a mid-sized, Midwestern university completed two separate body perception questionnaires. These questionnaires assessed body appreciation (functionality) and body shame (objectification). Participants were divided into three groups and shown a collage of recreation center messages that were portraying one of three conditions (a) body functionality, (b) self-objectification, or (c) …

Analyzing Change-Of-Direction And The Laterally Resisted Split Squat: Incorporating A Lateral Vector Into The Single Leg Squat, Derek Maddy

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Improving change of direction (COD) with the use of strength training has led to mixed results. To date, the modified single leg squat (MSLS) and the bilateral squat (BS) have been successfully used to improve COD, with equal improvement. COD is primarily performed at a 45-75° frontal plane angle; however, the MSLS and BS are performed at a 90° frontal plane angle. Based on the force vector theory, it is proposed that a more mechanically similar strength training exercise, the Laterally Resisted Split Squat (LRSS), be used. The purpose of this study is to compare COD with the LRSS, MSLS, …

Body Composition Of Female Collegiate Track And Field Athletes, Adelaide Cooke

Biological Sciences

The aim of this study is to see if there is a correlation between an athlete's body compostion and the demands of their different track and field events. Track and field is arugably the most diverse when it comes to body types in a single sport, with distance runners tending to be leaner and smaller and throwers more muscular and larger. However, most data collected is not female specfic. Thirty-one female track and field athletes were asked to take part in a series of physical measurements, which included recording their height, weight, percent body fat, and muscle mass. They were …

Utilizing Breathing Techniques To Maximize Training Performance, Peyton Cater

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Anaerobic exercise causes metabolic acidosis to occur in the muscle, which is unfavorable for sustaining high intensity activity, as fatigue starts to set in. In order to compensate for the onset of fatigue produced by an acidic environment, respiratory alkalosis, induced by hyperventilation, can be performed to mitigate these effects. In contrast, research has shown that slowing down the breath rate, such as a two second inhale and three second exhale, has led to an increase in performance outcomes. Purpose: To investigate power output and the physiological responses after implementation of different breathing techniques during the recovery periods of intermittent …

Do Compression Garments Work? The Effect Of Compression Garments On Biomechanical And Physiological Factors, Andrew Craig-Jones

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

New and innovative technology is consistently being introduced to help runners gain an edge over their competition. One of the more popular ergogenic aids in running today is compression garments. It is estimated that the compression garment market will surpass $5 billion by the year 2022. Despite the popularity, there is no clear consensus as to if or why compression is effective as an ergogenic aid. Although there has been a large variety of variables tested, there is little agreement on any of them as to the effect compression has. It appears as if the rate at which compression is …

Partitioning The Mechanical Cost Of Human Walking: Unveiling Cost Asymmetries For Bionic Technologies, Michael Richard Isaacs

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Biomechanics studies over the past 150 years, suggest that animals, including humans, move at speeds that “optimize” their cost of transport. These optimizations can be metabolic, mechanical, or a mixture of the two; however, the consensus on the relationship between metabolic and mechanical cost has been muddied by our current conceptualizations of mechanical cost. Our prior considerations in assessing mechanical cost of transport for animal locomotion often rely upon the exchange of potential and kinetic energy for a rising and falling center of mass that is supported by rigid legs. As a result, our understanding of the mechanical costs associated …

Respiratory And Perceptual Responses To High Intensity Interval Exercise In Obese Adults, Nicholas Andrew Ross

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: Obese adults experience low lung volume breathing at rest and during exercise, which provokes ventilatory constraints and dyspnea on exertion. High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) has emerged as an alternative to continuous exercise (CE); however, the effects of HIIE on lung volumes, ventilatory constraints and dyspnea on exertion have not been studied in obese adults and thus tolerability of HIIE remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the differences in respiratory and perceptual responses during HIIE versus CE in obese adults when compared with nonobese adults. Methodology: Ten healthy, nonobese (24.1 ± 6.2 yr., BMI: 23 …