Kinesiology Commons^™

Blood Pressure And Cardiovascular Health Has Relationship With Age In Adults During Adulthood, Allyson K. Getty, Jessica M. Lenzo, Tia R. Wisdo, Joyann E. Oakman, Christina M. Cromwell, Jessica A. Hill, Lauren N. Chavis, Deborah L. Feairheller, Phd

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 798-806, 2017. Efforts to combat cardiovascular disease (CVD) have proven effective, especially in the population aged 55-74 years. However, less research has been conducted in younger populations to determine at what age CVD risk develops. The purpose of this study is to compare cardiovascular health markers in adults, specifically CVD risk between younger adults aged 18-22 and a slightly older group of adults in middle adulthood aged 23-54. Cardiovascular health measures were collected from a group of adults; 13 younger adults (20.2±0.9 yrs) and 10 adults in middle adulthood (42.9±10.1 yrs). All participants were …

Dynamics Of Stride Interval Characteristics During Continuous Stairmill Climbing, Peter C. Raffalt, Srikant Vallabhajosula, Jessica J. Renz, Mukul Mukherjee, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

It has been shown that statistical persistence in stride intervals characteristics exist during walking, running and cycling and were speed-dependent among healthy young adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if such statistical persistence in stride time interval, stride length and stride speed also exists during self-paced continuous stairmill climbing and if the strength is dependent on stepping rate. Stride time, stride length, and stride speed were collected from nine healthy participants during 3 min of stairmill climbing at 100, 110, and 120% of their preferred stepping rate (PSR) and 5 min of treadmill walking at preferred walking …

A Prospective Study Comparing Distance-Based Vs. Time-Based Exercise Prescriptions Of Walking And Running In Previously Sedentary Overweight Adults, Cody E. Morris, John C. Garner Iii, Scott G. Owens, Melinda W. Valliant, Hunter Debusk, Mark Loftin

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 782-798, 2017. Prior work has reported that the declines observed in body mass index (BMI) and circumference measurements in their cross-sectional data were twice as large when calculated from distance energy expenditure estimations compared to energy expenditure estimations based on time and intensity. The primary purpose of this study was to compare walking/running for distance to walking/running for time as part of an exercise intervention. This study followed a between-subjects, repeated measures design. Fifteen overweight, but otherwise healthy participants completed the study. The time-based group walked/ran for self-reported time while the distance-based group walked/ran …

Run Economy On A Normal And Lower Body Positive Pressure Treadmill, Corey Temple, Erik Lind, Deborah Van Langen, Larissa True, Saige Hupman, James F. Hokanson

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 774-781, 2017. Lower body positive pressure (LBPP) treadmill running is used more frequently in clinical and athletic settings. Accurate caloric expenditure is required for proper exercise prescription, especially for obese patients performing LBPP exercise. It is unclear if running on LBPP changes running economy (RE) in proportion to the changes in body weight. The purpose of the study was to measure the oxygen consumption (VO₂) and running economy (RE) of treadmill running at normal body weight and on LBPP. Twenty-three active, non-obese participants (25.8±7.2 years; BMI = 25.52±3.29 kg∙m^-2) completed …

Wrist-Worn Physical Activity Trackers Tend To Underestimate Steps During Walking, Tiffany Sears, Elmer Alvalos, Samantha Lawson, Ian Mcalister, L. Chris Eschbach, Jennifer Bunn

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 764-773, 2017. The purpose of this study was to determine step-count accuracy of pedometers at different walking speeds. Ten recreationally active participants walked at five treadmill speeds (0.89, 1.11, 1.34, 1.56, and 1.79 m/s) for five minutes while wearing four wrist-worn activity trackers (Fitbit Charge HR®, Garmin Vivosmart HR®, Apple iWatch®, Jawbone UP3®) and the hip-worn Digi-Walker®. Each step was manually counted by a research technician (benchmark). Total step count at each speed was obtained for each device and compared to the benchmark using one-way MANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. For all five speeds, …

Examining The Impact Of A University-Driven Exercise Programming Event On End-Of-Semester Stress In Students, Tessa L. Koschel, John C. Young, James W. Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 754-763, 2017. Stress levels in university students peak during the final exam period. An inverse association exists between Physical Activity (PA) and poor mental health. UNLV has created Fitness4Finals (F4F), an event novel in its approach to academic stress reduction by incorporating both physical activity and mental relaxation. To our knowledge, a university-driven programming event aimed at reducing physiological and psychological stress among students approaching final exams had never been studied. Therefore, the aims of this research were to 1) examine the influence of F4F on physiological stress and perceived psychological stress (PPS) and …

Changes In Gait And Texting Ability During Progressively Difficult Gait Tasks, Andrew J. Strubhar, Brody Rapp, Dillon Thomas

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 743-753, 2017. To investigate the effects of a cell phone texting task on an individual’s ability to perform three ambulation-based tasks, each with different and progressively more difficult demands. 36 participants (24 male/12 female, average age 23.4) performed: a Timed Up & Go (TUG), stair ambulation (STAIR), and tandem gait (TAN). Participants completed each gait-based task under four conditions: as a practice, while holding their cellular device (baseline), while texting a message, and while reading a message. Statistically significant differences were found within the following variables: 1) mean time to complete a gait task …

Recovery In Level 7-10 Usa Artistic Gymnastics, Stephen Buckner, Nicholas T. Bacon, Phillip Bishop

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 734-742, 2017. This study assessed physical performance in women’s artistic gymnastics following three variable recovery periods. Participants included fifteen female gymnasts (mean age = 13.5 ± 1.1) who had competed at USA Gymnastics (USAG) levels 7 – 10 within at least one year prior to the study. Each testing session consisted of a warm-up followed by four muscular endurance tests and one explosive maximal test. Assessments included pull-ups, leg lifts, handstand push-ups, vertical jump, and push-ups. After the performance assessments, the participants completed a typical practice session. The performance measures were reassessed at the …

Fluid Intake And Sweat Rate During Hot Yoga Participation, Stephanie Campbell, Robert C. Pritchett, Katie Cederburg, Tim Burnham, Kelly C. Pritchett

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 721-733, 2017. Hot yoga participants are at risk for dehydration due to the nature of the environment they exercise in. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the pre-exercise hydration status, fluid balance, perception of sweat loss, and sweat sodium loss in 21 male and female hot yoga participants (mean age ± SD, 33.0 ± 10.5 yr; mass, 70.7 ± 11.0 kg). Data was recorded pre and post a one- hour hot yoga class (38.7 ± 2.6 °C, 36 ± 13% relative humidity). Pre-exercise urine specific gravity (USG), hydration status, body mass …

In-Season High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Conditioning In High School Soccer Players, Neal Howard, Stasinos Stavrianeas

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 713-720, 2017. Soccer is characterized by high aerobic demands interspersed with frequent bursts of anaerobic activity. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is considered a viable alternative to traditional endurance conditioning and offers the additional time-saving benefits of anaerobic training. We hypothesized that HIIT will compare favorably to traditional (aerobic-based) soccer conditioning over the course of a high school soccer season. Junior varsity soccer players were split into control (CON, n=16) and experimental (HIIT, n=16) groups for the 10-week study. The HIIT group performed 4-6 “all-out” sprints lasting 30s each, with 4.5 minute recovery, 3 times …

Effect Of Sedentary And Physical Activities On Children’S Food Choice, Allison M. Barry, Jesse L. Rhoades, John S. Fitzgerald, Dennis J. Caine, Dalonda L. Dalin, Tanis J. Walch

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 702-712, 2017. Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern. Research has shown sedentary behavior (SB) increases children’s unhealthy food consumption, while physical activity (PA) decreases caloric intake and increases energy expenditure. The purpose of this study was to examine child snack choice following a bout of active, SB, and a mix of SB and active (SB-A). Participants included a volunteer sample of children (n=24) ranging from 9-13 years of age. A within-subjects simple experimental design was used, and children participated in three conditions: active, SB, and SB-A. After each condition, the children were …

Pilot Study Of Endurance Runners And Brain Responses Associated With Delay Discounting, Laura E. Martin, Jason-Flor V. Sisante, David R. Wilson, Angela A. Moody, Cary R. Savage, Sandra A. Billinger

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 690-701, 2017. High levels of endurance training have been associated with potentially negative health outcomes and addictive-like symptoms such as exercise in the presence of injury and higher levels of impulsivity. This pilot study examined the relationships among self-report measures of addictive symptoms related to exercise and behavioral and neural measures of impulsivity in endurance runners. We hypothesized endurance runners would have increased preference for immediate rewards and greater activation of cognitive control regions when making decisions involving delayed rewards. Twenty endurance runners (at least 20 miles/week) were recruited to undergo measures of self-report …

Clinical Outcomes Of Different Tempos Of Music During Exercise In Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients, Jarad S. Miller, Donna J. Terbizan

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 681-689, 2017. This study examined the effects of stimulating and sedative music on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and feeling status during exercise in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients. Twenty-two male and female older adults age 64 ± 8.0 y currently enrolled in phase III CR completed the study. Repeated measures crossover designs guided data collection. The manipulated independent variable was music condition (sedative, stimulating, and non-music control). The dependent variables were RPE, BP, HR, and feeling status with each represented by four repeated measures ANOVAs over time via …

Irisin And Fibronectin Type Iii Domain-Containing 5 Responses To Exercise In Different Environmental Conditions, Matthew Bubak, Matthew W.S. Heesch, Robert J. Shute, Nicholas E. Dinan, Terence L. Laursen, D. Taylor La Salle, Dustin R. Slivka

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 666-680, 2017. Fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) is a skeletal muscle membrane-bound precursor to the myokine irisin. Irisin is involved in stimulating adipose tissue to become more metabolically active in order to produce heat. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of exercise in a hot (33 °C), cold (7 °C), and room temperature (RT, 20 °C) environment on the skeletal muscle gene expression of FNDC5 and the plasma concentrations of irisin. Twelve recreationally trained males completed three separate, 1 h cycling bouts at 60% of W_max in a …

The Effect Of Psychomotor Performance, Cerebral And Arterial Blood Saturation Between African-American And Caucasian Males Before, During And After Normobaric Hypoxic Exercise, Matthew R. Feeback, Yongsuk Seo, Matthew Dancy, Ellen L. Glickman

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 655-665, 2017. To further elucidate physiological and cognitive performance differences between African-American (AA) and Caucasian individuals (CAU) before, during or after hypoxic and normoxic exercise. Twelve college aged (18-25) apparently healthy African-American (six volunteers) and Caucasian (six subjects) males took part in two trials consisting of normobaric normoxia and normobaric hypoxia (12% oxygen). Each subject cycled at 50% of their altitude adjusted VO_2max (-26% of normoxia VO_2max) for one hour after a two-hour baseline. Subjects were monitored for cerebral and arterial O₂ saturation, as well as the Trail Making Test …

Blood Flow Restriction Training: Implementation Into Clinical Practice, William R. Vanwye, Alyssa Weatherholt, Alan E. Mikesky

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 649-654, 2017. To improve muscular strength and hypertrophy the American College of Sports Medicine recommends moderate to high load resistance training. However, use of moderate to high loads are often not feasible in clinical populations. Therefore, the emergence of low load (LL) blood flow restriction (BFR) training as a rehabilitation tool for clinical populations is becoming popular. Although the majority of research on LL-BFR training has examined healthy populations, clinical applications are emerging. Overall, it appears BFR training is a safe and effective tool for rehabilitation. However, additional research is needed prior to widespread …

On The Rules For Aquatic Locomotion, M. Saadat, Frank E. Fish, A. G. Domel, G. V. Lauder, H. Haj-Hariri

Biology Faculty Publications

We present unifying rules governing the efficient locomotion of swimming fish and marine mammals. Using scaling and dimensional analysis, supported by new experimental data, we show that efficient locomotion occurs when the values of the Strouhal (St) number St(=f A/U) and A∗(=A/L), two nondimensional numbers that relate forward speed U, tail-beat amplitude A, tail-beat frequency f , and the length of the swimmer L are bound to the tight ranges of 0.2–0.4 and 0.1–0.3, respectively. The tight range of 0.2–0.4 for the St number has previously been associated with optimal thrust generation. We show that the St number alone is …

Mechanobiology Of Epithelial Clusters In Ecms Of Diverse Mechanical Properties, Samila Nasrollahi

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cell clusters reside in complex extracellular matrices (ECMs) of varying mechanical properties. Epithelial cells sense and translate the mechanical cues presented by the surrounding ECM into biochemical signals through a process called ‘mechanotransduction’, which controls fundamental aspects of disease and development. During the course of metastasis, mechanical changes in the tumor microenvironment can lead to declustering of epithelial cells through a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Throughout different steps of metastasis, escaped epithelial clusters encounter heterogeneous tissues of varying mechanical properties that ultimately influence their behavior in distant locations within the body. This dissertation investigates the mechanobiology of epithelial clusters …

Exercise-Induced Interleukin-6 And Metabolic Responses In Hot, Temperate, And Cold Conditions, Nicholas E. Dinan, Roksana B. Zak, Robert J. Shute, Terry Laursen, Matthew Bubak, D. Taylor La Salle, Matthew W.S. Heesch, Dustin R. Slivka

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of exercise in hot, cold, and temperate environments on plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6). Eleven recreationally trained males (age = 25 ± 4 years, height = 178 ± 5 cm, weight = 79.4 ± 13.5 kg, body fat = 14.7 ± 3.6%, VO₂ peak = 54.6 ± 11.5 ml kg^-1 min^-1) performed a 1 hr cycling bout in hot (33 °C), cold (7 °C), and temperate (20 °C) environments at 60% of W_max followed by 3 hr of supine recovery in temperate conditions. Expired gases were measured …

Rna Sequencing In The Development Of Cancer-Cachexia, Thomas Allen Blackwell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Cancer is a major public health problem in the U.S. and the world. In 2013 there were an estimated 1,660,290 new cases of cancer in the U.S. Cancer-Cachexia (CC) is a common effect of many cancers, and is directly responsible for 20-40% of cancer-related deaths. The mechanisms that control the development of CC are not well understood. Most investigations of CC focus on the post-cachectic state and do not examine the progression of the condition. The purpose of this study was to utilize RNA sequencing to analyze transcriptomic alterations throughout the progression of CC. Methods: Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells …

Effects Of Adaptive-Tempo Music-Based Ras For Parkinson’S Disease Patients, Bart Moens, Leon Van Noorden, Wim De Wilde, Micheline Lesaffre, Dirk Cambier, Dobromir Dotov, Patrick Santens, Jana Blomme, Heleen Soens, Marc Leman

Journal Articles

The use of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) is a potential method to help Parkinson Patients improve their gait characteristics. By providing auditory stimuli such as a metronome or music, gait impairments, which characterize the illness, tend to improve without pharmacological or surgical intervention. This work evaluates three different RAS approaches: fixed-tempo metronomes, fixed-tempo music and adaptive-tempo music. 29 Parkinson Disease (PD) patients were tested in a repeated measures experiment to compare spatiotemporal gait parameters in different cueing conditions. Baseline measures without RAS were taken, followed by counterbalanced trials of the three RAS methods. Compared to the baseline, beneficial effects were …

Single-Limb Landing Biomechanics Are Altered And Patellar Tendinopathy Related Pain Is Reduced With Acute Infrapatellar Strap Application, Adam B. Rosen, Jupil Ko, Cathleen N. Brown

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background

Patellar tendinopathy, a common condition of the knee, is often treated with patellar tendon straps to control pain during dynamic activity. Little is known regarding their effect on pain, landing kinematics and kinetics with their application. The purpose of this study was to determine if patellar tendon straps influenced pain, kinematics at landing and ground reaction forces in individuals with patellar tendinopathy versus healthy controls.

Methods

Thirty participants with patellar tendinopathy and 30 controls participated. They completed single-limb landings with and without patellar tendon straps while pain, three-dimensional kinematics and vertical ground reaction forces were measured. A multivariate …

Analysis Of Human Movement Patterns During Endurance Running, Joshua Paul Bailey

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Endurance running and participation in racing events has flourished over the last decade. Recreational runners enter the training period for an upcoming race at differing levels of fitness and training. As individuals sign-up for the race, they typically follow the commitment with an increase in training load. The increases in training load are accomplished through a combination of increasing mileage, or duration of running, and running intensity through increase velocity. These increases are theoretically being applied in a progressive overload principle, where the musculoskeletal system has time to adapt to the breakdown provided from the previous training session. Progressive overload …

The Influence Of Crossfit Training On Running Mechanics, Sophia D. Bradley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction

40 million Americans run regularly.1 Contrary to many runner’s beliefs, increased strength may be beneficial while not adding body mass. An increase in strength in specific muscles may improve running gait and performance. 9,6 Strength training may also play an important role in preventing common overuse injuries in running 11,12 Depending on the style of strength training, it may also have an enhanced benefit on running economy.4,16

Participation in CrossFit is also widely popular, with an increase in participation of 923% in the past ten years.2 CrossFit is a type of strength training in which most movements performed utilize …

Optimization Of Prosthetic Hands: Utilizing Modularity To Improve Grip Force, Grasp, And Versatility, Jordan William Harris

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

It has been demonstrated that although many varieties of upper limb prosthetics exist, commercially available prosthetics are outdated and unsatisfactory. Ineffectiveness and limitations have led to some prosthesis wearers having to own multiple devices, whereas others have given up on them entirely. Even though ample research has been conducted to design and test new hand designs, the industry appears to rest in an overall stagnated state.

It was proposed here, that one problem with prosthetic research is an excess of variables involved in testing, and therefore the improper application of the scientific method. It seems that each time a research …

Biomechanical Adjustments During Landing In Response To Task Perturbations, John Robert Harry

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Landing strategies are evaluated to determine a performer’s favored neuromusculo-skeletal solution for the performance of the task. Depending on the strategy employed, a performer might increase his or her musculoskeletal injury potential, as defined by increased impact forces and/or demands on the involved joints. In recent history, the manner in which a performer modifies his or her strategy has been evaluated following the application of an added external mass during the impact phase of landings performed from atop an elevated platforms or a hanging position from a raised bar. Furthermore, the strategies evaluated in contemporary research are quantified using biomechanical …

Hip Adduction: Abduction Ratio Differences Between Collegiate Male And Female Soccer Players, Addie Lucci

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Context: Soccer is a high-intensity sport resulting in injuries. Strength ratios have been used to identify areas of weakness and help prevent further injuries. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in hip adduction: abduction ratios in collegiate male and female soccer players. The hypothesis was that males will have a lower ratio than females. Design: Cohort Study. Setting: Research Center. Participants: Five male and nine female NCAA Division 1 soccer players were recruited for this study. Intervention: Independent variable is gender. Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer was used for data collection. The subjects performed …

The Effect Of Normal Helmet Degradation In Division I Football Players Over The Period Of One Half Of A Competitive Season, Matthew Mcmullan

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of normal helmet use by athletes from a Division I football team over the period of the first half of a competitive season upon the impact performance characteristics as measured by peak g values obtained through the application of the NOCSAE drop impact testing protocol. The goal of this research is to determine if one half of a season is enough time exposure to result in a significant decrease in a helmet’s performance quality. This study tracks changes in performance in overall function, as well as the function of each …

Outcomes Of An Integrated Approach To Speed And Strength Training With An Elite-Level Sprinter, Eric D. Magrum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe changes in sprint velocity, ground contact time, and peak force demonstrated by a competitive sprinter following an integrated approach to speed development and strength training. As part of an ongoing monitoring procedure the participant completed 20m sprint testing through an optical measurement system and isometric-strength testing before and after each phase of training. Sprint velocity, ground contact time and peak force were analysed using Tau-U, smallest worthwhile and percent change statistics. Results indicate sprinting velocity statistically improved while changes in peak force were practically significant and ground contact time remained trivial throughout …

Ground Reaction Forces Through A Range Of Speeds In Steeplechase Hurdling, James Brian Tracy

Theses and Dissertations

The men's steeplechase event requires participants to jump over thirty-five 0.914-meter-tall obstacles, 4 rigid barriers and 1 fixed barrier followed by a 3.66-meter-long water pit per lap, over a 3000-meter distance. This study investigated the effect of increasing running velocity, through a range of 5.33 m/s to 6.66 m/s, on takeoff and landing ground reaction forces, for males during steeplechase hurdling using a force plate embedded under a track surface. Subjects completed 1 trial within each of 6 different pace ranges in a random order, once with a hurdle following the force plate to measure the takeoff ground reaction forces …