Kinesiology Commons^™

Effects Of A Play-Based Intervention On Locomotor Skills And Strength Performance Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Amber Bardsley

Honors Scholar Theses

Emerging evidence indicates that around 80-100% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have motor impairments in gross motor skills, strength, and endurance. In the current study, which is a multisite collaboration with the physical therapy programs at the University of Connecticut and the University of Delaware, we are assessing the effects of two types of movement-based interventions compared to a standard-of-care seated play control intervention on motor performance in children with ASD. This thesis will analyze data from one of the movement training groups, i.e., the play group, that involved children engaging in activities based on music, dance, and …

Narrative Inquiry: Life Experiences Of Elite Athletes, Sarah Elizabeth Brown

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Elite athletes face numerous personal and professional pressures and high-stress experiences; however, there is a gap in the literature connecting identity development with these life experiences. Using narrative inquiry analysis with six emerging adult athletes competing at professional and Olympic levels, this study identified self-narratives they created from life experiences within the context of sport and analyzed when these meanings were formed. Athletes described experiences causing great psychological disturbances as a normal risk within their sport and needing to regulate or compartmentalize their emotions to get through those experiences. Participants discussed various roles they play within their team but lacked …

Effects Of A Mental Skills Training Program On Performance In Distance Runners, Neil Patrick Bangs

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Anxiety affects nearly 20% of the United States population and can have a significant impact on athletic performance. However, athletes can mitigate the effects of performance anxiety through the use of mental skills and mindfulness training. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine if a mental training and mindfulness intervention could reduce anxiety and enhance performance in distance runners. Hypothesis: The hypothesis of the study was that athletes would experience less anxiety, increased levels of mindfulness, and improved performance following a four-workshop intervention. Methods: Distance runners engaged in a mental skills and mindfulness training program where we …

The Effects Of Green Exercise On Perception And Connectedness To Nature, Robert W. Salatto

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation is three-fold: 1. Investigate the effects of acute beta alanine ingestion during green exercise on connectedness to nature, and perception of pain. 2. Investigate the test-retest reliability of the Love and care of Nature Scale during the task of mountain biking. 3. Investigate the effects of green exercise on connectedness to nature and perception. Methods: Three individual studies were conducted: The first was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study design which examined the effect of induced painful sensation (via acute Beta Alanine (B-ALA) ingestion) on Love and Care of Nature (LCN), heart rate (HR), rating …

Movement Integration In Classrooms: Factors Associated With The Adoption And Implementation Of Physical Activity In Us Elementary Schools, R. Blake Densley

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The intentional integration of movement in elementary school classrooms—including both brief instructional breaks for physical activity, or the integration of physical activity with lessons—can benefit children’s physical health and education outcomes. Teachers are key implementation agents, but despite movement integration (MI) being considered an educational best practice, many classroom teachers do not regularly use it. The aim of this study was to obtain updated nationally-representative prevalence estimates in US public elementary schools, regarding four key outcomes pertaining to teachers’ implementation of physical activity: 1) school adoption of physically active lessons (PALs); 2) school adoption of physical activity breaks (PABs); 3) …

Sex-Based Differences In Acvr2b And Grb10 Expression In Skeletal Muscle During Induced Cancer Cachexia And Disuse, Lauren Martinez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Muscle atrophy is the shrinkage of muscle fibers that are largely maintained by a balance of protein synthesis and degradation. Imbalances in protein synthesis and degradation are observed in different muscle atrophy disorders such as cancer cachexia and disuse. These forms of muscle atrophy produce distinct wasting pathologies that are influenced by biological sex. Activin receptor type-2B (ACVR2B) and Growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (GRB10) have been identified as genes that potentially regulate muscle mass while also displaying sexually dimorphic differences. Purpose: To examine the influence of ACVR2B and GRB10 throughout the development of cancer cachexia and disuse-induced atrophy …

Classroom Physical Activity Breaks Effect On Executive Function And Academic Achievement In Elementary School Students, Mark A. Bjornsen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: There were three aims in conducting this pilot study. First, determine the Plus Minus Task assessment's reliability to measure the executive function of shifting. Second, determine the feasibility and acceptability of CPAB by students and teachers. Finally, determine the preliminary dose-response of acute physical activity on shifting in elementary students. Methods: This was a pilot study of a classroom physical activity break intervention. Utilizing a withinsubject, cross-over design, students participated in a practice day and then all three treatment conditions: a 10-minute seated lesson (control condition) and 5 and 10 minutes (experimental conditions) of classroom physical activity breaks. A …

Investigation Of Algorithms To Assess Validity Of Wearable Technology During Field Testing, Brenna Barrios

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Wearable technology is an emerging fitness trend where the technology which supports it lacks validity verification. Furthermore, heart rate validity of these devices vary greatly when observed in laboratory settings vs. field testing. Secondarily, Consumer Technology Association guidelines require a minimum five minute trial for wearable testing. This study examined heart rate data of previously tested wearable devices (Garmin Fenix 5, Jabra Elite Sport, Motiv Ring, Scosche Rhythm+) in an outdoor setting to further understand their performance, and to examine the relationship of the five minute regulation. Two separate algorithms were applied to the original data set, the first shortened …

Assessing The Validity And Reliability Of Several Heart Rate Monitors In Wearable Technology While Mountain Biking, Bryson Carrier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study sought to assess the validity and reliability of several heart rate (HR) monitors during mountain biking (MTB), compared to the Polar H7® HR monitor, used as the criterion device. Methods: A total of 20 participants completed two MTB trials wearing 6 HR monitors (1 criterion, 5 test devices). HR was recorded on a second-by-second basis for all devices analyzed. After data processing, validity measures were calculated, including 1. Error analysis: mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean error (ME), and 2. Correlation analysis: Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Pearson’s correlation coefficient ®. Validity …

The Influence Of Resistance Training On Post Surgical Outcomes In Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury, Kevin H. Choe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is commonly injured, especially in individuals under the age of 25. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is the most common treatment after ACL injury, followed by physical therapy. However, successful surgery and completion of rehabilitation, individuals still demonstrate quadriceps weakness and asymmetries during locomotion. To improve these deficits, an intervention that improves quadriceps strength and lower extremity biomechanics during locomotion is required. First, we aimed to complete a systematic review of the literature to determine the efficacy of resistance training in improving outcomes after ACLR. Second, we aimed to identify if a history of resistance training positively …

Relationship Of Shoe Wetness To Mechanical Performance, Sara Lyn Crawford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to mechanically impact test shoes that underwent both saturation and repetitive loading protocols to determine if these interventions affected the impact absorption and energy return properties of a shoe. Six pairs of the same make and model of shoe were divided into Control and Experimental Groups and tested on an impact machine before and after undergoing a protocol. The repetitive load protocol involved subjecting the shoes to impacts commensurate with a 5 km race. The water saturation protocol involved soaking the shoes until reaching their maximum saturation. The Control shoes underwent initial testing and …

The Investigation Of The Influence Of Long-Distance Running On Foot Volume In Healthy Female Collegiate Distance Athletes, Mufaro M. Hungwe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine the change, if any, in foot volume over time after exercise, specifically a long-distance 5 Km run. Five UNLV Women’s Track & Field and Cross- Country distance athletes (n = 5; 20 ± 1.87 years; 54.50 ± 3.71 kg; 160.88 ± 4.98 cm) were recruited to participate in this study. The dependent variables were foot volume and foot size. These variables were measured pre and post a 5 Km run at a self-selected somewhat hard pace over the independent variable time. Foot volumetrics were performed five times, (Pre-run, post- run(5 min), post-run(10 …

Relationship Between Jump Performance And Asymmetry, Cordero Roche

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the relationship between jump performance and asymmetry. This investigation was divided into three separate studies. The first aim investigated which asymmetry variables for eccentric and concentric phases best predicted jump height (JH) during different jump types. The aim of the second study was to determine if asymmetry variables differed between jump type and genders.

Fourteen participants performed countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop vertical jumps (DVJ). The DVJ were administered from a 30.5 cm platform leading with dominant leg striking separate force platforms with each foot. Vertical ground reaction forces were used to …

Patient-Specific Finite Element Analysis For Mandibular Fracture Fixation, Ethan Snyder

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis proposes an approach for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of mandibular fracture fixation. Using a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan of mandible obtained from a specific person, the material characteristics, density and modulus of elasticity, were determined from a set of discrete points within the mandible that are 1mm spaced based on the Hounsfield Units of these points. The mandible geometry was sectioned to simulate a fracture. Muscle and mastication forces were added to replicate post-surgery loading. Using a standard linear miniplate, this material model was compared with two commonly used mandibular cortical shell bone models: isotropic and orthotropic. A …

The Influence Of Sports-Related Concussion On Lower Extremity Injury Risk In Adolescent And Collegiate Athletes, Jason M. Avedesian

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sports-related concussion (SRC) represents a major epidemiological concern in the adolescent and collegiate athlete populations, with conservative estimates of approximately four million SRCs occurring each year in the United States. While the majority of previous research has emphasized the management and recovery of the cognitive aspects of SRC, recent data indicates subtle motor behavior is altered following a concussive event. Injury surveillance literature indicates that adolescent and collegiate athletes are at an approximately 2–4 greater risk for lower extremity (LE) injury following an SRC when compared to matched controls and pre-SRC LE injury rates. Furthermore, athletes with a previous SRC …

Postactivation Potentiation Improves Jumps Performance In Children Ages 6 To 8 Years Old, Camila Gerber, Paolo Sirieiro, Igor Nasser, Christopher B. Taber, Humberto Miranda

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of postactivation potentiation (PAP) in vertical and horizontal jump performance in pre-pubertal children.

Material and method: One hundred and nineteen children (65 girls and 54 boys; 6.8 ± 0.7 years old; 124.5 ± 6.4 cm; 25.2 ± 5.1 kg) participated in this study. This was a transversal cross-sectional study which incorporated a within-subjects repeated-measures design, where participants completed all protocols. The experimental procedure required four total testing, separated by one week, using a counterbalanced. This study investigated jumping performance associated with weighted jumps, low-load vertical jumps, and …

Tbi With Persistent Cognitive, Visual, And Emotional Challenges Of A 24 Year Old College Graduate, Taryn Bushong

20th Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2021)

24-year-old female experienced a fall and was diagnosed with TBI and is experiencing cognitive and emotional challenges. These effects have lasted a year, despite undergoing multiple treatments and therapies. The patient experiences a lightheaded sensation early in the morning, feeling faint once she gets out of bed, chronic fatigue, and persistent anxiety. The patient continues to move through the grieving process of the injury. A TBI is a Traumatic Brain Injury that occurs when the brain is violently shaken or when there is a blow to the head and causes damage. Due to the damage of the brain, patients may …

The Effect Of The Chirp Wheel And Other Ergogenic Aids On Back Flexion And Recovery, Nolan Krause, Kelsey Larson, Vincent Pelione, Rose Thompson, Sam Vree

20th Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2021)

Foam rollers are used frequently as tools by health professionals and athletes to increase joint range of motion, tissue temperature, and blood flow, providing myofascial relief to areas targeted by the user. Standard foam rollers have been the subject of many studies, with limited work regarding foam rolling of the spine, despite this technique being a common practice among athletes. The chirp wheel is a foam rolling product with a groove down the middle, made to increase pressure on deep back muscles which may act to decrease muscle tension and soreness while optimizing perceived recovery. To our knowledge, this is …

Evaluation Of Whether Habitual Physical Activity Is Associated With An Attenuated Memory Interference Effect, Lilianne Belle Mckissack

Honors Theses

The relationship between exercise and memory is notable. Recently, there has been a sparked interest in studying the effects of exercise on attenuating memory interference. There have been several studies that have investigated whether acute exercise can attenuate memory interference. However, this thesis specifically studies the effects of habitual physical activity on attenuating the memory interference effect, which has been infrequently studied. One-hundred and nine young adults completed an online survey evaluating their physical activity behavior and memory interference, assessed via an AB/AC paradigm. We were effective in inducing proactive interference (p = .001), but physical activity was not …

Open Vs. Closed Skill Acute Exercise On Emotional Memory, Ashley Lovorn

Honors Theses

ABSTRACT ASHLEY LOVORN: Acute Open vs. Closed Skill Exercise on Emotional Memory (Under the direction of Dr. Paul D. Loprinzi)

Accumulating research suggests that acute exercise may influence emotional memory. However, there is limited research on this topic evaluating which modality of exercise elicits the greatest effects on emotional memory. The purpose of this thesis experiment was to evaluate if treadmill exercise (closed-skill) has a differential impact on emotional memory relative to racquetball exercise (open-skill). One-hundred and ninety- three participants were recruited and divided into three groups: closed-skill (N=65), open- skill (N=65) and control (N=64). Prior to exercise, each of …

Biomechanical Energetics Of Terrestrial Locomotion In California Sea Lions, Sarah Kerr

Biology Student Work

Pinnipedia, an order of semi-aquatic marine mammals, adapted a body design to locomote both aquatically and terrestrially. The limbs of these amphibious mammals are modified as flippers, which are beneficial for aquatic locomotion, but can limit their locomotion on land. Phocids (true seals) have reduced forelimbs and are unable to bring their hindlimbs beneath them during terrestrial locomotion. Otariids, like the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), have enlarged forelimbs and can bring their hindlimbs under the body to locomote quadrupedally on land. Due to these differences, phocids are expected to move on land with greater energetic costs compared …

The Evaluation Of A Soft Skills Curriculum In Athletic Training Education: A Mixed Methods Study, Emily Duckett

Literacy Student Work

Purpose: Athletic Training Education Competencies (2011) include exhibiting empathy and compassion as foundational behaviors of practice. Despite abundant evidence supporting the importance of compassionate patient care, there is currently evidence to suggest that healthcare is experiencing a compassion crisis (Patel et al., 2019). The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways in which pre-professional athletic training students’ transfer knowledge from a soft skills curriculum to clinical practice. Methods: This study utilized an explanatory sequential mixed method design with a preliminary quantitative input (Morgan, 2014). Phase 1 of the study includes participants (n=19) enrolled in a pre-professional AT course. …

S.O.S. For Covid-19 (Subjective And Objective Screening): Are Asymptomatic Cases Truly Without Warning Signs?, Nathan Hughes

Honors College Theses

This study investigates the usefulness of five objective signs, evaluates relationships between objective signs with symptoms of COVID-19, and assesses the accuracy of ambient forehead temperature with tympanic temperature. Data were collected at Wayne State University. Blood oxygen levels and blood pressure were measured via pulse oximeters and blood pressure cuff. Body temperature was measured with a thermometer via the temple and the forehead. Smell was tested with two scented markers. None of the 29 participants confirmed a positive COVID-19 test. Therefore, only relationships between vital sign measurements were reported. No significant correlations were revealed upon analysis. Infrared and temporal …

Growing The Youth Olympic Games: Comparing Millennial Generation Sport Festival Engagement, Lawrence W. Judge, Jeffrey C. Petersen, David M. Bellar, Leeann M. Lower, Makenzie A. Schoeff, Amy S. Blake, Dagny Zupin, Nick Nordmann

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(6): 578-593, 2021. Despite the continued growth of the Olympic Games (OG), the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) has received minimal attention from mainstream media since its introduction in 2010. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare event awareness and consumption intention for the 2012 Winter YOG to two international sport events occurring in the same year. A survey instrument was utilized to examine and compare event awareness, consumption intention, and logo identification for three international sport events within a millennial generation sample. The study showed significant differences in personal and public awareness …

Interlimb Asymmetry Thresholds That Negatively Affect Change Of Direction Performance In Collegiate American Football Players, Nicolas M. Philipp, Derek A. Crawford, Matthew J. Garver, Dustin W. Davis, Josie Hair

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(4): 606-612, 2021. Researchers and strength and conditioning practitioners have had an increased interest in the effects of interlimb asymmetries on different aspects of sport performance over the past couple of years. Interlimb asymmetries have been found to negatively affect performance in key performance indicators (KPI) such as jumping, sprinting, and changing directions, within various sports populations. However, there is no consensus about a meaningful threshold at which asymmetries start to negatively affect KPIs or performance. The aim of this study was to investigate a potentially meaningful threshold for three asymmetry metrics (mean peak velocity …

Lack Of Correlation Between Natural Pelvic Tilt Angle With Hip Range Of Motion, And Hip Muscle Torque Ratio, Maria Cristina Herrera, Tal Amasay, Claire Egret

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(1): 594-605, 2021. Excessive anterior and posterior pelvic tilts (PT) angles are associated with overuse injuries of the lower limbs and of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. There is a lack of evidence that correlates anterior and posterior PT angles with limited hip internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER), and hip muscles torque ratios. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between averaged anterior/posterior PT angle in standing position and hip IR and ER range of motion (ROM), hip adductors and abductors (Add/Abd) torque ratio, and hip flexors and extensors (Flexor/Extensor) torque ratio. …

Beatwalk: Personalized Music-Based Gait Rehabilitation In Parkinson’S Disease, Valérie Cochen De Cock, Dobromir Dotov, Loic Damm, Sandy Lacombe, Petra Ihalainen, Marie Christine Picot, Florence Galtier, Cindy Lebrun, Aurélie Giordano, Valérie Driss, Christian Geny, Ainara Garzo, Erik Hernandez, Edith Van Dyck, Marc Leman, Rudi Villing, Benoit G. Bardy, Simone Dalla Bella

Journal Articles

Taking regular walks when living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) has beneficial effects on movement and quality of life. Yet, patients usually show reduced physical activity compared to healthy older adults. Using auditory stimulation such as music can facilitate walking but patients vary significantly in their response. An individualized approach adapting musical tempo to patients’ gait cadence, and capitalizing on these individual differences, is likely to provide a rewarding experience, increasing motivation for walk-in PD. We aim to evaluate the observance, safety, tolerance, usability, and enjoyment of a new smartphone application. It was coupled with wearable sensors (BeatWalk) and delivered individualized …

The Effect Of Lumbar Support On Holding Shoulder Electromyography And Trunk Kinematics In Collegiate Violinists, Lauren Elizabeth Lee, Kevin Enstrom, Michael T. Soucy

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Instrument-specific holding mechanics in violinists likely contribute to a high incidence of playing related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs). The inclusion of a lumbar support while playing may alleviate potential risks for PRMDs. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of lumbar support on left holding shoulder musculature electromyography (EMG) activity and thigh, trunk, and hip kinematics. METHODS: Eleven (6 F; 5 M) collegiate musicians (19.5±1.3 years, 1.71±0.1 m, 68.1±7.7 kg, playing experience: 10.0±3.9 years, weekly playing time: 14.1±8.2 hours) gave voluntary informed consent and performed Prelude from Suite No. 1 in G Major (JS Bach, BWV 1007) with and without a lumbar support. …

Domestic Violence In The World Of Athletics, Abbigayle L. Gesler

ONU Student Research Colloquium

There is an ongoing debate whether athletics is linked to domestic violence in professional athletes or individuals who were athletes for a long period of time. The purpose of this research is to see if being an athlete leads to domestic violence, and if so, to find ways to decrease the numbers. Professional athletes with a history of domestic violence will be researched and this could help determine if there is a link between the two. To get an idea on aggression levels in athletes, the Buss & Perry Survey was sent out via email to all Ohio Northern students, …

Adherence To A Lifestyle Modification Program: What Can Baseline Differences Tell Us?, Grace Allan, Kristen Pogue

Celebration of Scholarship 2021

Obesity is a major risk factor for diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. To date, lifestyle modification programs have been shown to be effective in reducing obesity and related diseases, however, adherence to such programs is often poor. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine baseline differences between individuals who adhered to a lifestyle modification program and those who did not.