Kinesiology Commons^™

Social Influences On Exercise And Physical Activity, Domanick Speelman

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Background: Regular exercise plays a big role in maintaining an individual’s physical and mental health, preventing diseases, and improving overall well-being. A plethora of things can influence an individual’s exercise habits, for better or worse, including social, environmental, and familial contexts. This study described exercise and social influences among undergraduate college students. More specifically, this study described exercising habits (frequency, duration, type, etc.) as well as the role of social media, environmental conditions, and family support during a typical week of the academic semester.

Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive survey

Methods: A sample of 33 undergraduate students from a public university in …

Toadally Not A Frog: A Neuromuscular Physiology Study, Iris Renna

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Upper-level physiology labs in undergraduate education use freshly isolated bullfrog and/or leopard frog tissue to teach core concepts in nerve and muscle physiology. Sourcing live animals for routine educational use raises ethical and conservation concerns. Cane toads (Rhinella marina) are an invasive species that are routinely culled, can provide a potential source of laboratory animals which would remove pressure to native amphibian populations. This study tested the hypothesis that cane toads can serve as a functional substitute for bullfrogs and/or leopard frogs in the muscle and nerve physiology lab. Isolated sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle preparations from cane …

Comparing Strength Testing Measures And The Association Of Strength And Body Composition In Young Children, Abigayle R. Spong

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Muscle strength is an important component of physical fitness; however, measuring it with isokinetic dynamometry (IKD) is expensive and requires dedicated space. Handheld dynamometry (HHD) provides a practical alternative for field and clinical settings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare peak knee flexion and extension torque measured by IKD and HHD in 37 children (ages 5-11 years) and examine relationships with body composition. Participants completed a RAMPing protocol at 90^o knee flexion consisting of two warm-up contractions at 50% and 75% effort followed by three maximal voluntary isometric contractions. Body composition was assessed via DXA scans. …

Biomechanical Effects Of Exercise-Based Interventions In Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Lara De Vecchi Machado

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide and represents a complex, multifactorial, and heterogeneous condition. It is characterized by substantial interindividual variability in muscle activation patterns, lumbo-pelvic coordination, and movement strategies. Although exercise is widely recommended as a first-line intervention and its clinical benefits are well established, the biomechanical mechanisms underlying functional improvement remain fragmented in the literature and are rarely synthesized quantitatively.

This dissertation conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate the biomechanical effects of exercise-based interventions in individuals with CNLBP. A total of 39 studies were included and …

Predicting Tilt In Esports: A Psychophysiological Approach To Understanding Player Emotional Regulation, Nathan Rhea

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Emotional regulation and stress management are important to both casual and competitive esports players. When players become dysregulated, they experience a phenomenon known as “tilt” within the gaming community, where they often lose control of their emotions and their performance declines. This study aimed to investigate whether a psychophysiological variable in heart rate variability could predict tilt in college-age esports players. Additionally, the relationship between heart rate variability and emotions predicted by the Tiltometer system with gameplay performance and winning or losing was tested.

This study used a quantitative correlational research design. Participants for this study were college-age players (N=23) …

Acute Lower Leg Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Increases Leg Blood Flow And Exercise Capacity In Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease, Thomas K. Pellinger, Catherine B. Neighbors, Joshua C. Hefta, Patrick H. Luo, Carl B. Suarez, Erotokritos T. Varlas, Grant H. Simmons, Brett J. Wong

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

We tested the hypothesis that two different durations of lower leg transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) increase post-TENS popliteal artery blood flow (PABF), popliteal vascular conductance (PVC), and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Seven subjects (5 male, 2 female) with PAD (67.9 ± 7.4 years; claudication: ankle-brachial index (ABI) < 0.90) participated in three randomized treatment sessions: control or bilateral TENS (3.0 Hz burst mode, 250 µs) for either 15 or 45 min. PABF (Doppler ultrasound) was measured before and after treatment. 6MWD and time/distance to claudication onset were measured 25 min post-treatment during each session. PABF, PVC and 6MWD increased after both 15 and 45 min of TENS (P < 0.05, post-TENS vs. pre-TENS baseline/control). Our preliminary results suggest that as little as 15 min of lower leg TENS increases leg blood flow and exercise capacity in individuals with PAD.

The Influence Of Limb Dominance On Neural Activation Patterns While Performing Different Motor Control Tasks, Kevin A. Hooks

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Humans interact with our environment in many ways. One of the most outward-facing aspects of this is limb dominance. The neural underpinnings of limb dominance remain in question today. The objective of this research was to use different methods to analyze neural activation while subjects performed upper extremity motor tasks while recording electroencephalography (EEG). The first experiment used decoding methods to examine whether neural signals collected from the contralateral limb could be used to train a classifier to test on the ipsilateral limb during a reach-to-grasp or reach-to-touch task. It was determined above chance level that within-subject action and direction …

An Exploratory Analysis Of The Role Of Sex In Load Carriage, Rachel E. Perez, Dustin R. Slivka, Brent C. Ruby

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Axially loaded weight may impose a metabolic demand equivalent to that of fat mass (FM) during load carriage. Males (M) typically have a lower body fat percentage than females (F), resulting in metabolic demand differences during load carriage that may be mitigated by accounting for FM in pack loads. PURPOSE: To determine whether normalizing pack load to FM equalizes metabolic cost across sexes during load carriage. METHODS: Twenty-eight participants (14M, 23 ± 5 y, 1.81 ± 0.07 m, 78.7 ± 10.0 kg, 12.7 ± 5.4% body fat, VO₂peak 4.18 ± 0.54 L·min^-1; 14F, 22 ± 4 …

Velocity Based Training In Athletic Development, Ross Martin Sangalang

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The foundation of high-level sport performance is the ability to produce and express force rapidly across the task-specific temporal demands of sport. Traditional percentage-based prescription methods have long been used to develop hypertrophy, maximal strength, and power; however, fixed %1RM prescriptions fail to account for daily undulations in athlete readiness, accumulated fatigue, and changes in neuromuscular capacity. Velocity based training (VBT) offers a practical framework to regulate training through measurement of concentric velocity, allowing coaches to more accurately prescribe loads, stringently monitor repetition quality, and precisely regulate fatigue. This review discusses the neuromuscular qualities underpinning success in athletic endeavors, limitations …

Perceived Barriers To Physical Activity And Campus Recreation Facility Usage In College Students Referred Or Not Referred To An Exercise Is Medicine® On Campus Program, Benjamin M. Colbert

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 36-50% of college students are inactive and report numerous barriers to being physically active. Physical activity (PA) barriers are any obstacle an individual believes affects their PA participation. Individuals who perceive more barriers are less likely to participate in PA and as such, interventions that target barriers may increase PA participation. Exercise is Medicine^® on Campus (EIM-OC) is one intervention that may improve PA levels on college campuses by reducing barriers. The purpose of this study was to document PA and campus recreation facility barriers in university students and examine the influence of an individualized EIM-OC intervention …

Prevalence Of Grip And Leg Strength Asymmetries In U.S. Youth, Elyse M. Deschryver

Theses and Dissertations

Early-life physical activity is important for building muscular strength, supporting healthy growth and disease prevention, and for establishing physical activity and strength habits that often track into adulthood. Although grip strength asymmetry is a well-documented risk factor in older adults, evidence in children and adolescents is limited and largely based on small, sport-specific samples. PURPOSE: To describe grip and leg extension strength asymmetries in a nationally representative sample of U.S. youth aged 6–15 years using the National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS). METHODS: The analysis included 1,214 participants (606 boys, 608 girls) with valid grip or leg extension data. Age, sex, …

Evaluation Of Electroencephalography Processing Methods For Estimating Metabolic Energy Expenditure During Walking, Stephanie L. Pinelo

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

In this study, three EEG datasets, created via different levels of pre-processing, were used to train VO2 prediction models whose performance was tested and compared. Understanding the link between EEG and VO2 during walking is important when working in rehabilitation or studying metabolic energy optimization. Common methods of measuring these two bio-signals tend to be bulky, uncomfortable, and inefficient, so finding a way to predict VO2 from EEG via 1D CNN model training is a worthy pursuit.  It was hypothesized that, due to a CNN needing more data to find patterns for prediction, a minimally processed EEG dataset would have …

Injury To Insight: Exploring The Influence Of Media On Acl Rehabilitation Experiences Of Female Soccer Players, Chynna Ho-Young Cadogan, Jill Tracey

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Participation in soccer inherently carries a risk of injury, with female athletes facing a significantly higher susceptibility to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (Campbell et al., 2014; Le et al., 2025; Silvers-Granelli, 2021). The increasing participation in women’s soccer, coupled with the growing demand for its consumption through spectatorship, has contributed to a rise in ACL injuries, and increase in media coverage on this phenomenon (Parsons et al., 2021). Understanding how media narratives surrounding ACL injuries and recovery may influence rehabilitation experiences can educate coaches, mental performance consultants, athletic therapists, and female soccer players to better understand and navigate ACL …

Identifying The Physical Activity Promotion Practices Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists: Patients With Endometriosis And Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Allison P. Herman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Despite efforts to promote physical activity, many females in Canada do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines. For individuals with gynecological conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), physical activity may aid in symptom management and improve daily functioning. Healthcare settings, including obstetrics and gynecology, represent an area of opportunity to promote physical activity among this population. This thesis aims to understand the physical activity promotion practices of Ontario-based Obstetricians and Gynecologists (OBGYNs) to patients with endometriosis and/or PCOS. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to explore OBGYNs promotional practices and perceived factors influencing their engagement in physical …

Comparison Of 2000-Meter Row Prediction To Measured Vo2peak During Gxt, Andrew S. Ashley

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Aerobic capacity is essential for the performance of military personnel and first responders. Traditionally, graded exercise tests (GXTs) with metabolic gas analysis have been the criterion-referenced method for assessing aerobic fitness. However, treadmill running and cycle ergometers may not fully reflect the whole-body demands required in tactical environments. Rowing-based assessments and the currently commercially available VO2max prediction formula are widely used across tactical organizations as practical field measures, and most tactical operators are considered inexperienced rowers, which has been minimally examined. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare measured VO2peak from a rowing GXT with estimated VO2max …

Risk Of Gestational Diabetes By Aerobic And Resistance Exercise During The First And Second Trimesters, Takaki Tanamoto, George Saade, Leryn J. Reynolds, Tetsuya Kawakita

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Objective

While some studies have shown that exercise reduces the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), there is limited evidence on whether aerobic or resistance exercise is more beneficial. This study aimed to examine the rate of GDM according to the type of exercise during early pregnancy.

Study design

We analyzed data from the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b), a prospective cohort of individuals enrolled during the first and second trimesters. We excluded participants with pregestational diabetes or delivery < 20 weeks. The primary exposure was either aerobic or resistance exercises in the first or second trimester. For each trimester, the metabolic equivalent of task hours per week (MET-h/week) was calculated for each exercise. Participants were grouped as follows: "Aerobic exercise" (≥7.5 MET-h/week from aerobic exercises), "Resistance exercise" (≥2 times/week from resistance exercises), "Both types of exercise" (≥7.5 MET-h/week from aerobic exercise and ≥2 times/week from resistance exercises), and "Insufficient exercise" (≤7.5 MET-h/week from aerobic exercise and ≤2 times/week from resistance exercises). Our primary outcome was GDM. Adjusted relative risks (aRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

In both the first and second trimesters, analyses included 9049 individuals. In the first trimester, individuals who performed …

Biomechanical Integrity Of The Female Pelvic Floor: A Comparison Of Military And Civilian Women, Vladimir Egorov, Peter Takacs, Vincent Lucente, Heather Van Raalte, Joy A. Greer, Noune Sarvazyan

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Introduction

The health of the pelvic floor depends on the integrity of its muscles, connective tissue, ligaments, and their innervation. The female pelvic floor may be more vulnerable to repetitive heavy loads in a military environment than the male pelvic floor because of anatomical and physiological differences. The study aim was to identify and explore possible differences in the female pelvic floor conditions between active military and civilian women with similar demographics.To identify and explore possible differences in the conditions of the female pelvic floor between active military women and civilian women with similar demographics.

Materials and Methods

Military active …

Healthcare Provider Perspectives On A Clinical Decision Tool To Support Individualized Exercise Prescriptions And Discussions For Breast Cancer Survivors, Jinani Jayasekera, Oliver W. A. Wilson, Kaitlyn M. Wojcik, Eleanor M. Kerr, Rachelle Brick, David Berrigan, Jennifer Yeong-Shin Sheng, Takeo Fujii, Kathleen Thomas, Henri K. Parson, Padma Sheila Rajagopal, Richard L. Street Jr.

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose: We evaluated healthcare providers' current knowledge, practices, and perspectives on a novel clinical decision tool (beta-version) to facilitate individualized exercise prescriptions and discussions in clinical settings.

Methods: We recruited healthcare providers who had treated or provided care to breast cancer survivors aged >= 35-years in the past 12 months. The participants were presented with a tool to provide individualized exercise recommendations considering women's individual, clinical, and contextual characteristics. Validated and reliable pre-existing instruments were used to survey providers' current knowledge, practices regarding exercise discussions, and perspectives on the beta-version (paper-draft) of the novel tool.

Results: The sample consisted of …

Failure Rates And Patient-Reported Outcomes Are Similar Across 5 Arthroscopic, Suprapectoral Bicepts Tenodesis Fixation Techniques, Senah E. Stephens, Samantha M. Strohm, Rachael M. Shaughnessy, Katherine S. Worcester, Kevin F. Bonner

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose

To compare failure rates and patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) across 5 arthroscopic, suprapectoral biceps tenodesis fixation techniques: tenodesis screw, tenodesis anchor, expanding tenodesis anchor, onlay with single all‐suture anchor, and soft tissue tenodesis in the bicipital groove with suture.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study approved by the Institutional Review Board, including patients age 18 years or older who underwent arthroscopic, suprapectoral biceps tenodesis between 2014 and 2024 with a minimum of 6 months of clinical follow‐up. Exclusion criteria included cervical pathology, chronic pain syndromes, revisions, and workers' compensation cases. Patients completed PROMs including pain Visual Analog Scale …

Impact Of Free Summer Day Camp On Physical Activity Behaviors And Screentime Of Elementary-Age Children From Low-Income Households: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd, Sarah Burkart, Christopher D. Pfledderer, Elizabeth L. Adams, Robert Weaver, Bridget Armstrong, Keith Brazendale, Xuanxuan Zhu, Brian Chen, Alexander C. Mclain

Faculty Publications

Background

To examine the efficacy of providing free summer day camp (SDC) to children from low-income families on changes in physical activity, time spent sedentary, and screentime.

Methods

Across three summers (2021–2023), we randomized 422 children (8.2 ± 1.5yrs, 48% female, 51% Black, 69% at or below 200% Federal Poverty Level, 30% food insecure) from seven elementary schools to one of two conditions: summer as usual (control, n = 199) or free SDC for 8-10wks (intervention, n = 223). Accelerometry measured activity (moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA] and time spent sedentary) and parent daily report of screentime were measured using a 14-day …

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 …

The Value In Rapid, Multi-Site Team Ethnography For Understanding Context To Design Public Health Interventions: Learning From The Passport Study, Danielle House, Robert Walker, Simona Kent-Saisch, Lydia Emm-Collison, Ruth Salway, Alice Porter, Frank De Vocht, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd, Russell Jago, Rebecca Langford

Faculty Publications

Low levels of physical activity is a global public health challenge, and children are not taking part in recommended amounts of physical activity. To date, the majority of school-based physical activity interventions have not yielded increases in pupils’ physical activity levels, and it is suggested that this is partly due to traditional intervention approaches ignoring the role of individual school context. By context we mean the school setting, ethos, staff, and sociodemographic factors. Public health interventions must consider the context in which they are intervening to be sustainable and to capture complexity. Yet in this field, ethnographic approaches have been …

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 …