Kinesiology Commons^™

Examination Of Adolescent Physical Activity And Overweight Levels , Maika Elizabeth Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests declines in physical activity may occur after age 12. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between adolescent physical activity, BMI, and nutrition. Adolescents, ages 12-17 (N = 223), wore pedometers for 11 consecutive days and completed a nutrition survey, the Youth Adolescent Questionnaire. Activity levels did not differ among the ages of 12-17 year old adolescents, and boys were more active than girls. There was a low, but significant relationship between BMI and physical activity levels for both boys and girls. Energy intake was not related to BMI or physical activity levels in boys …

Foot Cooling Reduces Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia In Men With Spinal Cord Injury, Todd A. Hagobian, Kevin A. Jacobs, B Jenny Kiratli, Anne L. Friedlander

Kinesiology and Public Health

The number of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) participating in sports at recreational and elite levels is on the rise. However, loss of autonomic nervous system function below the lesion can compromise thermoregulatory capacity and increase the risk of heat stress relative to able-bodied (AB) individuals.
Purpose: To test the hypotheses that exercise in a heated environment would increase tympanic temperature (TTY) more in individuals with SCI than AB individuals, and that foot cooling using a new device would attenuate the rise in TTY during exercise in both groups.
Methods: Six subjects with SCI (lesions C5–T5) and six AB …

Exercise And The Elderly: Guidelines And Practical Prescription Applications For The Clinician, Ann Y. Mcdermott, Heather Mernitz

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: To review the components of exercise prescription and approaches to developing an exercise prescription for older persons. Methods: Case studies and qualitative review of the literature. Results: Effective exercise programs specify the appropriate mode, intensity, duration, frequency, and progression of training. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, patients should participate in aerobic exercise 3 to 5 days per week, maintaining target heart rate for 20 to 60 minutes. Resistance training should be performed at least twice per week and should target the 7 major muscle groups. Proper technique is necessary and speed and breathing should be controlled. …

Exercise And The Elderly: A Scientific Rationale For Exercise Prescription, Heather Mernitz, Ann Y. Mcdermott

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: To review the benefits of exercise intervention in older persons and the role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Methods: Qualitative assessment of the literature focusing on randomized controlled trials. Results: Participation in regular physical activity, including aerobic exercise and strength training, can improve health, functional ability, and quality of life in older persons. Higher levels of aerobic activity are associated with increased physical fitness, decreased total mortality, and improvements in cardiovascular risk profile. Resistance training combats myopathy and osteopenia and increases muscle endurance and function. Additional benefits from exercise include improved bone health and …

Promoting Long-Term Weight Control: Does Dieting Consistency Matter?, Amy A. Gorin, Suzanne Phelan, Rena R. Wing, James O. Hill

Kinesiology and Public Health

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined whether long-term weight loss maintenance is enhanced by maintaining the same diet regimen across the week and year or by dieting more strictly on weekdays and nonholiday periods than at other times.
METHOD: National Weight Control Registry participants (N¼1429) indicated on an eight-point scale whether they dieted more strictly on weekends than weekdays, adhered to the same diet regimen throughout the week, or dieted more strictly on weekdays. Participants responded to a similar question about holiday and vacation eating. Participants were then followed prospectively to determine whether scores on these questions were related to self-reported …

Promoting More Modest Weight Losses: A Pilot Study, Gary D. Foster, Suzanne Phelan, Thomas A. Wadden, Debra Gill, Jenna Ermold, Elizabeth Didie

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: This pilot study assessed the short- and long-term effects of a modified cognitive behavioral treatment designed to facilitate obese patients' acceptance of a 5% to 10% reduction in initial weight.
Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were 17 women with a mean age of 46.5 ± 9.7 years and BMI of 34.7 ± 2.9 kg/m². They participated in a 40-week program that included four phases. The first discussed the benefits of modest weight losses and the potential adverse effects of unrealistic expectations. Phase II provided instruction in traditional cognitive behavioral methods of weight control Phase III focused on …

Walking And Running In The Red-Legged Running Frog, Kassina Maculata, Anna N. Ahn, E Furrow, Andrew A. Biewener

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Although most frog species are specialized for jumping or swimming, Kassina maculata (red-legged running frog) primarily uses a third type of locomotion during which the hindlimbs alternate. In the present study, we examined Kassina's distinct locomotory mode to determine whether these frogs walk or run and how their gait may change with speed. We used multiple methods to distinguish between terrestrial gaits: the existence or absence of an aerial phase, duty factor, relative footfall patterns and the mechanics of the animal's center of mass (COM). To measure kinematic and kinetic variables, we recorded digital video as the animals moved …

Loading Rate In Self-Initiated Vertical Jump Landings: Developmental And Gender Comparisons, Pamela J. Russell, Erik E. Swartz, Ron V. Croce, Laura C. Decoster

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The study compared gender and developmental differences in vertical loading rate upon a two-footed landing from a self-initiated VJ. Fifty-seven subjects grouped by age (pre-pubescent (8-11 yrs); post-pubescent (19-29 yrs)) and gender consented to participate. Subjects jumped for a ball set at 50% of their maximum VJ height, and landed on two feet, facing forward, with only their dominant foot on the force plate. Motion analysis (3-D) and ground reaction force (GRF) data were collected. Statistical analyses indicated significant developmental differences in vertical loading rate normalized to kinetic energy, but no gender differences. Children may have higher loading rates because …

No Child Left Behind Act -- A Work In Progress, Joseph H. Huber, J. U. Stein, J. L. Mackool

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

Describes the background of the U.S. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the legislation's mandate, and how it impacts on children with disabilities and their teachers.

Obesity Epidemic In Children: Urgent Call To Action, Joseph H. Huber

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

U.S. Supreme Court Takes Accessibility To A New Level: Renewed Hope For The Americans With Disabilities Act, Joseph H. Huber, J. U. Stein, J. L. Mackool

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

Gives an account of the U.S. Supreme Court case Tennessee vs. Lane, in which a paraplegic sued the State of Tennessee alleging that the lack of disabled access to the Polk County Courthouse violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Batter's Choice: Lessons For Teaching Tactics In A Modified Striking/Fielding Game, Christina Sinclair

Faculty Publications

When played in their standard form, striking/fielding games are often a favorite among elementary students; yet they allow for only limited participation, which is contradictory to quality physical education. This article presents a sequence of lessons leading to Batter's Choice, a modified striking/fielding game, designed to maximize the attainment of tactical awareness, skill enhancement, and enjoyment by elementary children. Each lesson uses a tactical approach to involve students in solving a tactical problem within a game-like situation and then practicing the skills necessary to solve the problem. The tactical problems prepare students for game situations they will experience in the …

Hper Biomechanics Laboratory 2003 Annual Report, Issue 2, Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facility

Biomechanics Annual Report

This issue features Can chaos be used for stability in walking Robots?, Promising insights on the development of posture in infants, The effect of Parkinson’s disease in stair negotiation, How certain are the elderly in selecting a stable gait pattern?, Collaboration with UNMC to improve Robotic Surgical Techniques, Helping High School students and K-12 teachers appreciate math and science, Max Kurz receives three awards for 2003, New Textbook published, Collaborations in orthopedics and cerebral concussion, and 2003 Publications and Presentations.

Pilot Study: Electromyographic Quadriceps/Hamstring Ratios During Drop Jumps, Randall L. Jensen

Conference Papers in Published Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Reliability And Validity Of Laser Distance And Velocity Determination During Running, Randall L. Jensen

Conference Papers in Published Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Public Posting As A Strategy To Increase Walking: A Worksite Intervention, Rayleen Earney, Timothy J. Bungum

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Because most American adults do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines, the need for new and innovative strategies is apparent. The current study employed public posting in an attempt to increase walking behavior in a worksite setting. Pedometer generated data was publicly posted in a prominent location in the worksite. In our study that utilized a pre-experimental design, we found that walking steps were statistically higher during the intervention and in a post intervention period as compared to the baseline data. We conclude that the public posting of physical activity data has the potential to increase walking behavior.

Effects Of Static Stretching On Maximal Isokinetic Torque, Randall L. Jensen

Conference Papers in Published Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Multi-Disciplinary Ecological Model For Childhood Obesity, David W. Hey

Kinesiology and Public Health

During the past two decades the prevalence of childhood obesity has steadily increased in the United States. An ecological model of health behavior change has been recommended to address the rise in childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to build a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, ecological childhood obesity model by examining past theory and research in 25 journals covering five disciplines over a decade (1993-2002).

To identify environmental antecedents, this study collapsed 10 existing ecological models of obesity prevention and divided resultant antecedents (n=94) into five ecological categories (social norms/national policies, community factors, school factors, family/peer or interpersonal …

Dietary Patterns And Prostate Cancer Risk In The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiological Follow-Up Study Cohort, Marilyn Tseng, Rosalind A. Breslow, Robert F. Devillis, Regina G. Ziegler

Kinesiology and Public Health

Ecological studies implicate a “Western” diet in prostate cancer development, but whether dietary patterns measured in individuals are associated with risk has not been studied previously. We examined this issue using prospective data from the nationally representative United States Health Examination Epidemiological Follow-up Study. Among 3,779 men followed from 1982– 84 to 1992, 136 incident cases were identified. Using principal component analysis on responses to a 105-item dietary questionnaire, the following three distinct patterns were identified: a vegetable-fruit pattern; a red meat-starch pattern characterized by red meats, potatoes, cheese, salty snacks, and desserts; and a Southern pattern characterized by such …

The Effects Of Stretching Prior To A 25-Yard Sprint In Female Swimmers, Melissa Lee Tippet

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

While stretching is commonly part of the pre-performance routine in many sports including swimming, its function has been a controversial topic in the research community. Researchers have found decrements in performance measures such as force (Fowles, Sale, & MacDougall, 2000) and torque (Avela, Kyrolainen, & Komi, 1999) after stretching. While still controversial, some researches have also found decreases in one repetition maximum lifts (Kokkonen, Nelson, & Cornwell, 1998) and various jumping tests (Knudson, Bennett, Com, Leick, & Smith, 2001) after the inclusion of stretching.

Because there is much conflicting evidence in the literature pertaining to stretching and a lack of …

Abdominal Muscle Activation When Performing Abdominal Exercises On A Gym Ball And A Flat Surface, Wesley Brian Zwiefel

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study is to determine if there is a difference in muscle activation when performing three common abdominal exercises, isolating the rectus abdominis and external obliques, on a contoured gym ball compared to a flat surface. Thirty female volunteers, aged 19-24, performed an abdominal crunch (AC), an abdominal crunch with a twist (ACWT), and a side-lying crunch (SC) on both a flat table and on a gym ball. A stabilization base was utilized to control instability when on the ball. Exercises were performed in random order to prevent the first exercise to avoid the first exercise from …

Inhibition Of Nitric Oxide Inhibition Of Nitric Oxide Synthase Does Not Alter Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation In Humans, Rong Zhang, Thad E. Wilson, Sarah Witkowski, Jian Cui, Craig G. Crandall, Benjamin D. Levine

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

The aim of this study was to determine whether inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) alters dynamic cerebral autoregulation in humans. Beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity (transcranial Doppler) were measured in eight healthy subjects in the supine position and during 60° head-up tilt (HUT). NOS was inhibited by intravenous N G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) infusion. Dynamic cerebral autoregulation was quantified by transfer function analysis of beat-to-beat changes in BP and CBF velocity. Pressor effects of L-NMMA on cerebral hemodynamics were compared with those of phenylephrine infusion. In the supine position, L-NMMA increased mean BP from 83 ± …

Vasoconstrictor Reserve And Sympathetic Neural Control Of Orthostasis, Qi Fu, Sarah Witkowski, Benjamin D. Levine

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

Background—We tested the hypothesis that individual variability in orthostatic tolerance is dependent on the degree of neural and vasomotor reserve available for vasoconstriction.

Methods and Results—Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and hemodynamics were measured in 12 healthy young volunteers during 60° head-up tilt (HUT), followed by a cold pressor test (CPT) in HUT. Orthostatic tolerance was determined by progressive lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) to presyncope. The same protocols were performed randomly in normovolemic and hypovolemic conditions. We found that mean arterial pressure increased and stroke volume decreased, whereas heart rate (HR), MSNA, and total peripheral resistance (TPR) increased during HUT …

Microscale Investigation Of Thermo-Fluid Transport In The Transition Fil, Region Of An Evaporating Capillary Meniscus Using A Microgravity Environment, Kenneth D. Kihm, Jeffrey S. Allen, Kevin P. Hallinan, David M. Pratt

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

In order to enhance the fundamental understanding of thin film evaporation and thereby improve the critical design concept for two-phase heat transfer devices, microscale heat and mass transport is to be investigated for the transition film region using state-of-the-art optical diagnostic techniques. By utilizing a microgravity environment, the length scales of the transition film region can be extended sufficiently, from submicron to micron, to probe and measure the microscale transport fields which are affected by intermolecular forces. Extension of the thin film dimensions under microgravity will be achieved by using a conical evaporator made of a thin silicon substrate under …

Athleticism In Sports, Judd Allen

Whittier Scholars Program

This project hypothesizes the relationship between collegiate basketball and trial law while focusing on proving that the process of preparing and participating in a collegiate basketball game directly parallels the preparation and process of competing in a legal trial. This student prepared the study through conducted interviews with lawyers and coaches and tested the following concepts: teamwork/team attributes, competitive attributes, performance attributes and commitment.

An Examination Of Psychological Variables Affecting Injured Athletes Prior To Returning To Play, Jessica Marie Meyers

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

Injury occurs in a variety of different sports and affects athletes in a number of different ways. Following injury, athletic identity is often lost, bringing upon feelings of anger and depression (Brewer, 1993; Fortunato & Marchant, 1999). As athletes begin to re-enter sports, lower levels of sport-confidence are exhibited (Johnston & Carroll, 1998). Social support has been shown to motivate individuals as well as aid in the overall progress of rehabilitation (Ford & Gordon, 1999; Magyar & Duda, 2000). The purpose of the current study was to determine psychological factors that may influence returning to a sport in which injury …

Concentration Characteristics And Batting Performance In Collegiate Baseball And Softball, Daniel Samess

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

This study examined relationships between batting performance, trait anxiety, and concentration style. A predictive analysis was also formed to determine the combination of subscales that may best explain variance in batting performance. To accurately measure these variables, the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT; Martens, Vealey, & Burton, 1990) and the Batting-specific Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style (B-TAIS; Albrecht & Feltz, 1987) were employed. Participants consisted of both male collegiate baseball and female collegiate sofitball players located in the southeastern section of the United States. Participants' 2003 batting statistics were utilized to assess batting performance, and participants must have compiled …

Examining The Relationships Between Ability Conceptions, Intrinsic Motivation, Presistence And Performance, Weidong Li

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between ability conceptions, intrinsic motivation, persistence, and performance using an interaction approach. The phase-one study revealed that participants who were more oriented toward incremental ability beliefs were likely to be more intrinsically motivated. For those who were more intrinsically motivated, they displayed more persistence and obtained better performance scores. Participants who were highly intrinsically motivated had lower performance scores as they were more oriented toward incremental ability beliefs. The phase-two study showed that participants who were more oriented toward incremental views were more intrinsically motivated, which provided evidence supporting the …

Influence Of Venous Emptying On Reactive Hyperemic Blood Flow, Zeki Bahadir

LSU Master's Theses

Recent work by Tschakovsky & Hughson (Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 279: H1007, 2000) indicates that venous emptying serves as a stimulus for vasodilation. This suggests the importance of recognizing the potential influence of venous volume on reactive hyperemic blood flow (RHBF) following occlusion. Purpose: To examine the influence of venous emptying on RHBF. Methods: Non-dominant forearm in-flow, venous capacitance and outflow were examined in 21 individuals [age=23±2.27y]. Forearm arterial inflow, venous capacitance, and outflow were obtained two times using strain gauge plethysmography. Forearm blood inflow was estimated at rest and following 5 min of upper arm occlusion. Forearm …

Brachial Artery Dimensions, Flow-Mediated Reactivity And Physical Function In Older Adults, Christina M. King

LSU Master's Theses

Human aging is associated with deterioration in physical functional ability. The causes are complex and multifactorial, but are presumed to include the presence and extent of cardiovascular disease. Purpose: To examine the associations between brachial artery (BA) dimensions, flow-mediated dilation (BAFMD) and physical function in 28 older adults (age: 84.6±10.9, range 66 to 98 yrs). Methods: High-resolution ultrasonography was used to measure BA diameters at rest and following 5min of forearm occlusion. Physical function was assessed using the Continuous Scale-Physical Function Performance (CS-PFP) test. Results: Pearson correlation revealed that BAFMD (r =-.39), and all physical function parameters of the CS-PFP …