Kinesiology Commons^™

Mechanical Improvements And Control Implementation On A Biomimetic Quadruped Model, Matthew Jack Lutz

Dissertations and Theses

Robotic development started billions of years after earth first began biological prototyping. While the evolutionary process in animals is quite different from robotic prototyping, it still remains no surprise that animals remain more agile, more efficient, and more adaptable than even the most advanced engineered robots to date, simply due to the sheer length of their improvement process. While bridging this improvement gap between deficits in robots and the abilities of animals is difficult, a specific subfield of robotics engineering has attempted to do so using biomimetic robotics. At Portland State, the Agile and Adaptive Robotics Lab (AARL) studies these …

Psychological Responses To Interval And Continuous Exercise In People Living With Hiv: A Single-Blind, Counterbalanced, Crossover Study., Phelipe Wilde, Victor S. De Queiros, Jason R. Jaggers, Angelo Sabag, Julio M. Alves, Elaine Fernandes, Robert F.C. Rocha, Paulo F. De Almeida-Neto, Ronaldo Vagner Thomatieli-Santos, Paulo Moreira Silva Dantas

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Abstract
Aim: This study compared acute psychological responses to a single session of low-volume high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE-LV), high-volume highintensity interval exercise (HIIE-HV), and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) in people living with HIV, and healthy controls using a randomized, counterbalanced crossover design. Methods: The participants (people living with HIV, and healthy controls) completed three exercise sessions in randomized order: HIIE-HV (4  4 min at 80% of maximal power output [Wmax]), HIIE-LV (10  60 s at 90% Wmax), and MICE (30 min at 60% Wmax). Psychological outcomes included affective response assessed by the Feeling Scale, exercise enjoyment and future exercise intention …

Metal Exposures And Their Interactions With The Dietary Inflammatory Index On Inflammatory Biomarkers In Mexican Adolescents, Yanelli Rodríguez-Carmona, Ana Baylin, Peter X.K. Song, Edward Ruiz-Narvaez, Cindy W. Leung, James Hébert Scd, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., Michael David Wirth Msph, Phd, Face, Aljandra Cantoral, John D. Meeker, Niladri Basu, Martha María Tellez-Rojo, Karen E. Peterson, Sung Kyun Park

Faculty Publications

Background:

Heavy metals, like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, are linked to increased inflammation even in early life; however, anti-inflammatory diets may offset these effects.

Methods:

We evaluated associations between heavy metals and inflammatory biomarkers, and potential effect modification by diet in 399 adolescents aged 10 to 18 at baseline who attended two study visits 2 years apart (773 observations). At baseline, blood lead, urinary arsenic, and cadmium concentrations were measured, and the Children’s Dietary Inflammatory Index (C-DII) was calculated. Fasting serum interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured for both visits. Generalized …

Cv: Catherine Bohlin (Exercise Science), Catherine Bohlin

Rehabilitation and Health Sciences Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Cv: Catherine Bohlin (Exercise Science), Catherine Bohlin

Health Sciences Department Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of A Stimulant And Non-Stimulant Pre-Workout Supplement On Sprint Performance, Macie Reagan

Student Scholar Symposium

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of a stimulant pre-workout that contains caffeine and a non-stimulant pre-workout that does not contain caffeine on sprint distance. We anticipate that 10 recreationally active individuals will participate in this study, and each participant will act as their own control. Sprint performance will be measured by the distance covered within 10 seconds of allotted time on an Assault Runner Elite treadmill. On the first day, participants will be familiarized with the experimental protocol, so neither pre-workout supplement will be administered. After completing a five-minute structured warm-up, they will complete three …

Pioneering Insights Into The Complexities Of Salt-Sensitive Hypertension: Central Nervous System Mechanisms And Dietary Bioactive Compound Interventions, Renjun Wang, Bo Xu, Xiping Liu, Qi Guo, Gregory Miodonski, Zhiying Shan, Dongshu Du, Qing Hui Chen

Michigan Tech Publications

Salt-sensitive hypertension (SSH) is an important and common subtype of hypertension, whose pathogenesis involves multi-level regulation, including the central nervous system (CNS), metabolic stress, and epigenetics. Dietary bioactive compounds have emerged as a research hotspot for SSH intervention due to their safety and multi-target effects. Although existing studies have focused on the CNS regulation of SSH or the role of individual dietary components, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis integrating multiple mechanisms, systematically summarizing multiple compounds, and incorporating a clinical translation perspective. This review first outlines the mechanisms of CNS pathways, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic …

Validation And Efficacy Of A Novel External Ankle Support Device For The Prevention Of Lateral Ankle Sprains, Sally Kennon Barfield

Theses and Dissertations

Ankle sprains are a common injury in sports and in life and can lead to debilitating consequences if not managed properly. Current prevention methods are limited to bracing or taping of the ankle. While these methods have been shown to help in mitigation of ankle sprains, associated issues such as performance decrements and discomfort have been noted in the currently available literature. The BetterGuards is a novel external ankle support that has been touted as the key to the issues presented by more traditional prevention methods. The purpose of this study was to determine both the effectiveness of the BetterGuards …

Fitness Changes, Dietary Practices And Sleep Quality In Non-Elite Through-Hikers: A Case Series, Cory J. Greever, Blayke Harrison, Holland Gaston, Anna Grexton, Dante Argento

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 6: Issue 1, Article 13, 2025. Through-hikes on long distance backpacking routes have the potential to both improve physical fitness and pose health risks. PURPOSE: To quantify changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition, while recording dietary intake and sleep habits in a sample of through-hikers. METHODS: Participants completed two lab visits consisting of a maximal graded treadmill test and body composition assessments. Hiking volume, energy expenditure, sleep duration, and sleep staging were estimated during the hike using a smart watch. Participants kept a journal of all food and beverage intake. RESULTS: Over …

Knee Injury Prevention Program In An Early Pubertal Female Athlete During A Recreational Softball Season, Doug W. Dendy, Toby Brooks, C Roger James, Micah Lierly

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 6: Issue 1, Article 12, 2025. This case study was intended to analyze the impact of a knee injury prevention program (KIPP) for a young female athlete in a short recreational softball season. It was hypothesized that initiating a KIPP early within a recreational sports season would positively alter lower extremity biomechanics, subsequently reducing the risk of knee injuries during and after skeletal development. During a recreational softball season, a 13-year-old female athlete completed a preliminary biomechanical test, the drop vertical jump battery (DVJB_pre), underwent a 7-week in-season KIPP, then was …

Acute Effects Of Multi-Joint Eccentric Exercise On Lower-Extremity Muscle Activation Measured During Land And Water Walking, Brayden Worley, Brennan J. Thompson, Jon Carey, Talin Louder

Kinesiology and Health Science Student Research

Falls are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence in older adults, often linked to deficits in lower-limb muscle function and gait mechanics. Eccentric exercise can improve muscular resilience, while aquatic walking offers a safe, supportive environment to retrain gait; however, little is known about how these modalities interact at the neuromuscular level. This study compared lower-limb muscle activation during gait on land and in water, before and after an acute bout of eccentric exercise, in healthy young adults. Surface electromyography was collected from the tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), vastus lateralis (VL), and biceps femoris (BF) …

Spike Timing Depended Plasticity Produces Unsupervised Learning Of Synergistic Muscle Feedback In A Synthetical Neural Network, Mark Allen Pupkiewicz

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates how type Ia feedback from muscle spindles can be organized into groups representing agonistic muscle pairs through Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP). A single degree of freedom joint is actuated with four biologically modeled muscles forming two agonistic pairs. In order to emulate the sensory dynamics of biological muscle spindles, sensors in the model record the active length and velocity states of each muscle, the two primary factors eliciting type Ia afferent responses. In biological networks, synapses from Ia sensory neurons frequently activate interneurons representing agonistic muscle sources. This research investigates whether this organization can emerge in …

Plant Vs. Animal Protein: Effect On Recovery, Performance, And Long-Term Health, Claudia Stachura

Honors Theses

Protein plays a fundamental role in muscle repair, growth, and athletic performance, which has led to increased interest in how different protein sources compare, particularly as plant-based diets become more common among athletes and physically active individuals. The debate surrounding plant-based versus animal-based protein sources primarily focuses on differences in protein quality, amino acid composition, digestibility, and potential long-term health implications. This paper examines current evidence comparing the effectiveness of plant and animal protein sources in supporting muscle protein synthesis (MPS), resistance training adaptations, recovery, and performance, while also considering broader health and environmental outcomes.

Protein supports muscle growth by …

Displaced Myonuclei Are Attributable To Both Resident Myonuclear Migration And Stem Cell Fusion During Mechanical Loading In Adult Skeletal Muscle, Nathan Serrano, Pieter Jan Koopmans, Kevin A. Murach

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Non-peripheral (displaced) myonuclei are characteristic of skeletal muscle pathology and severe injury but also appear after exercise and with aging. Displaced myonuclei are typically attributed to the activity of muscle stem cells, or satellite cells. We sought to address whether displaced myonuclei in adult skeletal muscle are exclusively from an exogenous source such as satellite cells or can result from resident myonuclear migration. To address this question, we used a murine recombination-independent muscle fibre-specific doxycycline-inducible fluorescent myonuclear labelling approach, EdU stem cell fate tracking, two durations of plantaris muscle mechanical overload (MOV, 3 days and 7 days), and fluorescent histology. …

Effects Of Ghost Energy Drink On Muscle Strength, Psychomotor Vigilance, And Mood., Jason M. Curtis, Jose J. Rojas, Flavia F. Pereira, Cassandra Evans, Elizabeth Espocito, Alyana Andal Andal, Gavin Poulshock, Hena Thakkar, Taila De Castro, Alexandra Jimenez, Antonio Cristanti, Antonella V. Schwarz, Juan Carlos Santana, Jose Antonio

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a commercially available energy drink (Ghost®) compared to a caffeine-matched control on measures of mental and physical performance.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind design, 62 participants were assigned to receive either the energy drink (Ghost®) or a caffeine-matched control (200 mg caffeine). Assessments were conducted at baseline and approximately 45 minutes post-ingestion, including the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), CNS Tap Test, handgrip strength, and the Profile of Mood States (POMS).

Results: Participant demographics are presented in Table 1. No significant between-group differences were observed for any performance measures. Both groups …

Effectiveness Of Education On Increasing Training Likelihood: An Analysis In Relation To Physique Inflation, Reid J. Venable

Honors College Theses

Resistance training is a widely recommended form of exercise for enhancing muscular strength, improving metabolic health, and promoting overall quality of life. In addition to these benefits, perhaps the most popular reason for participating in resistance training is to achieve muscle hypertrophy and attain a desired or aesthetic physique. However, various factors such as the use of performance-enhancing drugs and social media have led to “physique inflation,” a cultural phenomenon in which exposure to highly enhanced or unrealistic body types shifts perceptions of what is considered a “normal” or attainable physique. As a result, many individuals avoid or delay resistance …

Differences In Loading Rate In Shod And Unshod Treadmill Walking, David Austin Kropushek

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the loading rates of shod and unshod conditions in treadmill walking. It was hypothesized that walking barefoot would demonstrate higher loading rates than walking with shoes. It was also hypothesized that walking barefoot on a treadmill would result in greater stride-to-stride variability than walking with shoes. Sixteen healthy adult females volunteered and provided their consent to participate in this study. Participants were given time to accommodate to the instrumented treadmill both while wearing shoes and without. Two 10-minute trials were collected with a rest period between. Data were analyzed using Vicon Nexus …

Host-Intrinsic Factors Determine Anti-Tumor Efficacy Of Exercise In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Sumedha Pareek

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths with a low 5-year relative survival rate of approximately 13.3% for all stages combined. We have previously shown that exercise can improve quality of life and enhance functional capacity among patients with PDAC. Exercise induces a variety of changes in the tumor microenvironment with beneficial effects in several tumor types. However, our understanding of the clinical effects of exercise and the mechanisms that mediate anti-tumor effects are limited in pancreatic cancer.

In this project, using C57BL/6 mice from Taconic Biosciences (Tac) and Jackson Laboratories (Jax), we established a …

Investigating The Cardiovascular And Autonomic Responses To Energy Drink Consumption: The Role Of Energy And Calorie Content, Sophia Schmidt

Honors Theses

Energy drinks (EDs) are among the most consumed functional beverages, often marketed to enhance focus, alertness, and physical performance. Despite their popularity, the combined cardiovascular and autonomic effects of caffeine and sugar during exercise remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute cardiovascular, metabolic, and autonomic responses to sugar-sweetened (ED-S), non-nutritive sweetened (ED-NNS), and placebo beverages during submaximal cycling in healthy young males.

Nine male participants (age 22.2 ± 2.4 yrs; BMI 26.2 ± 2.9 kg/m²) completed three experimental visits in a randomized, repeated-measures design. Each visit involved ingestion of one drink (ED-S, ED-NNS, or …

The Unilateral Neuromuscular Effects Of Cross Education Eccentric-Focused Isokinetic Strength Training With Blood Flow Restriction In Sedentary And Recreationally Active Males, Bryan Mixumi

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if BFR unilateral training protocols can elicit the same or greater cross-education effect as observed with HIGH protocols.

RESULTS: Significant time main effects and trained vs. untrained interactions revealed both training groups improved in isometric and isokinetic strength, work and power across limbs (P < 0.05). EMG analyses showed significant increases in vastus lateralis activation, with limb-specific neural adaptations but no group differences (P < 0.05) suggesting potential cross-education influence in the lower musculature.

CONCLUSION: With lower workloads, the BFR training protocols produced improvements in isometrics and isokinetic strength, work, power, and EMG that were comparable to those of the HIGH group across the trained and untrained limbs. The magnitude and limb-specific patterns varied across isometric, isokinetic, and EMG variables, but …

Transcriptomic And Contractile Adaptations In Skeletal Muscle In A Rodent Model Of Anorexia Nervosa, Oscar Armando Vicen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder marked by severe chronic caloric restriction and is primarily diagnosed through psychological and behavioral symptoms. AN has the highest mortality of any psychiatric disorder with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Many individuals with a history of AN experience incomplete recovery despite intervention treatment. Skeletal muscle molecular mechanisms under chronic energy deprivation remain poorly understood. PURPOSE: To investigate transcriptomic profiles of the gastrocnemius muscle following one month of a rodent model of AN. This study analyzed whether the molecular changes correlate with collected muscular force data to provide a comprehensive understanding of …

Comparative Assessment Of Lower Limb Neuromusculoskeletal Activation And Joint Kinematics In Normal And Impaired Gait, Jack Ryan Schule

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis evaluates whether accessible and affordable technologies can provide clinically significant, quantifiable gait analysis comparable to traditional marker-based motion capture systems. Modern high-end systems offer excellent accuracy but remain financially and logistically inaccessible to many clinicians and researchers. To address this gap, a framework was developed using markerless pose estimation using the model, MediaPipe, inertial measurement units (IMUs) processed through an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), and surface electromyography (sEMG) to measure joint kinematics and neuromuscular activity during gait. An experiment was performed where data was collected from participants with both normal gait and pathologies including: Osgood–Schlatter disease, Plica Band …

Effects Of Rehabilitative Device On Parkinsonian Gait, Brooke N. Ray, Ksenia I. Ustinova, Joseph E. Langenderfer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(7): 1422-1440, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/TGOI6101 Parkinson’s disease (PD) is second in occurrence among neurodegenerative disorders after Alzheimer’s disease and significantly impacts gait and mobility. This research tested the effect of the NewGait rehabilitative device in PD impaired individuals. Twenty individuals with PD participated in this study. Walking gait for three conditions were analyzed: Normal, wearing NewGait and Post-NewGait. Standard spatial and temporal analysis measures as well as nonlinear measures from recurrence quantification were compared to determine any effects of the device on walking gait. NewGait was perceived to be both comfortable to wear as well as …

Assessing The Validity Of The Mental Health–Related Survey In Collegiate Student-Athletes, Lindsey Keenan, Zachary K. Winkelmann, Luis Torres, Yvette Ingram, Rachel Daltry

Department of Kinesiology Scholarship and Creative Works

Context

Mental health screenings are recommended during preparticipation physical examinations. The Mental Health–Related Survey (MHRS), a 9-item questionnaire adapted from the 18-item Mental Health Screening Form-III, is suggested in 3 consensus and/or position statements. However, there is no evidence on the effectiveness of the MHRS.

Objective

To assess the validity of the MHRS for mental health screening in collegiate student-athletes.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

University athletic program.

Patients or Other Participants

Five hundred fifteen National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II student-athletes (age = 20 ± 1 years).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Participants completed the MHRS, the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression …

The Effect Of Three Precooling Methods On Endurance Performance In Active Men, Bahman Mirzae, Mohammadreza E. Toloee, Omid Malekshahi, Victor Romano

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(6): 1410-1421, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/ERZX6867 The study aimed to compare the effect of three precooling techniques (internal, external, and combined) on the time to reach exhaustion in active men. Eight active men (23 ± 2 yrs; 178 ± 6 cm; 73 ± 11 kg) participated] in 4 exhaustive test sessions with a minimum power output of 40Wmax. Sessions included consumption of 7.5 grams of ice water with a temperature of -1 degree per kilogram of body weight, cold towels (4-6°C) used to cool the skin surface], a combination of ice water consumption and a towel cooling, …

Associations Between Gad-7 And Phq-9 Scores And Willingness To Seek Treatment, Josephine Shaw

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

In recent years, mental health concerns among college students have increased significantly. This study aims to analyze data on student willingness and frequency to seek counseling services, such as UNLV CAPS (Student Counseling and Psychological Services), and the appeal of utilizing alternative interventions such as exercise and meditation. This study collected data from UNLV students, faculty, and staff through distribution of a scannable QR code. It included whether they were in therapy, the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, their respective functional impairment questions, and willingness to consider therapy alternatives. Based on respondents’ answers to the PHQ-9, the highest proportion peaked at 36% …

Assessing How Early Vs. Late Exercise Influences Whole Body Glucose Tolerance And Insulin Signaling Pathways In Quadriceps During Social Jetlag, Ariana Khzarjyan, Austin Cooper, Paula Martinez, Joshua Corpuz, Srushti Wagh, Elias Malek, Todd Schrubb

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythms regulate our physiological and metabolic processes throughout a 24-hour cycle. Disruptions to this rhythm with modern lifestyles creates irregular patterns. One of the most common forms of circadian rhythm disruptions amongst humans happens during the weekends, when people tend to stay up later and sleep in later compared to weekdays. This phenomenon is referred to as social jetlag (SJL).

PURPOSE: To determine whether timed exercise (early vs. late) can reduce the negative effects of social jetlag in mice. More specifically, determining whether exercise conducted in the early or late active phase of mice will impact the effects …

Can Motivation And Self-Efficacy Predict A Law Enforcement Officer’S General And Job-Specific Fitness?, Robert G. Lockie, Maria M. Beitzel, Tyler Campana, Jennifer Kramer, Robin (Rob) Marc Orr, J. Jay Dawes, Joseph Dulla

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 1393-1409, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/GEHB5425 Sedentary behaviors contribute to law enforcement officer fitness declines over a career. An officer’s motivation (desire to exercise) and self-efficacy (belief in ability to exercise) could affect whether they exercise and predict resulting fitness. Data from 60 officers (48 men, 12 women) were analyzed. Motivation (amotivation, external, introjected, identified, integrated, and intrinsic regulation) was measured via the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire. A 6-item questionnaire assessed coping (confidence in exercising under challenging conditions) and scheduling (confidence in scheduling exercise) self-efficacy. General fitness variables included sit-and-reach, grip strength, 60-s push-ups, 60-s sit-ups, …

Assessing Aerobic And Anaerobic Thresholds With Emphasis On Isocapnic Buffering In Endurance Runners, Yahya Mushaflar Fathi, Seyed Houtan Shahidi Dr., Prof. Dr. Mohamed Twfeq Othman Alhusaen Aga

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(5): 1381-1392, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/IYED1370 Accurate determination of metabolic thresholds is essential for designing effective endurance training. This study aimed to apply a multi-visit Step–Ramp–Step (SRS) protocol to identify aerobic (VT1) and anaerobic (VT2/RCP) thresholds in trained endurance runners, with a particular focus on delineating the isocapnic buffering region—the ventilatory phase between VT1 and VT2 where carbon dioxide (PetCO₂) remains stable despite rising ventilation. Twelve trained male runners (mean age: 27.1 ± 1.9 years; VO₂max: 60.5 ± 2.1 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) completed the SRS protocol across separate lab visits. Each session included a 4-minute moderate-intensity phase, a progressive …

Countermovement Jump Force Plate Metrics As Neuromuscular Indicators For Seasonal Micro-Adaptations And Hitting Performance Variability In Professional Baseball, Brandon Russell Pentheny

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explored the use of countermovement jump (CMJ) force plate metrics as indicators of neuromuscular status and their relationship to hitting performance variability across a competitive season in professional baseball. Although there is an increase in the integration of sports science and performance analytics in professional sports, a significant gap remains in longitudinal, in-season monitoring models that connect neuromuscular adaptations to hitting-specific outputs, such as bat velocity and ball exit velocity (BEV). This study examined lower-body force production as measured by uniaxial bilateral force plates and how they interact with hitting output task demands over time. Using a longitudinal …