Exercise Science Commons^™

A172: Performance Of Muscle Explosive And Maximal Strength In Trampoline Athletes At Different Levels Of Competition, Mengzi Sun, Fangtong Zhang, Feng Qu, Xinglong Zhou, Wenhui Mao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: To study the differences in lower limb muscle explosive and maximal strength among trampoline athletes at different levels of competition.

Methods: A total of fifteen trampoline athletes, comprising seven elite and eight non-elite athletes, participated in this project. Lower limb explosive strength was assessed using the countermovement jump (CMJ) test. Maximal strength was evaluated by the MicroFet portable system. The maximal strength of the hip, knee, and ankle were measured and standardized by weight. Independent t-tests were employed to examine the differences between the two groups. Cohen’s d was used to evaluate the related effect size. Small, medium, and …

A168: The Effects Of Physical Activity And Family Environment On Executive Function In Preschool Children, Siyi Zhang, Chunrong Wang, Dongmei Luo, Sha Qu, Xing Zhao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: Based on the investigation and analysis of the current situation of physical activity, the family objective environment, and executive function development of children aged 4–6 years, this study analyzed the correlation between the three, so as to explore the influence of family objective environment and physical activity on executive function, and provide a reference for families and kindergartens to formulate effective interventions to improve the level of physical activity and executive function of preschoolers.

Method: A total of 123 preschool children aged 4–6 years old in a kindergarten in Beijing were selected as study participants. The Acti Graph GT3X+ …

A166: Effects Of Mind-Body Exercises On Women Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review And Network Meta-Analysis, Peng Pei, Liqing Zeng, Yan Wang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world and the leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Mind-body exercise (MBE) is a non-pharmacological and low-intensity multimodal form of exercise with reliable benefits for improving quality of life (QOL) and relieving cancer-related symptoms. Currently, there is a lack of consensus in clinical studies on the optimal form of MBE to improve QOL and cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in BC survivors. Therefore, this network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to quantitatively analyze and rank different MBE interventions for women BC survivors, thereby improving the accuracy and generalization of …

A175: Effects Of Physical Activity Interventions On Physical Fitness In Chinese Preschool Children: A Systematic Review, Jintao Hong, Jingjing Wang, Sitong Chen, Jie Feng

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: The early years are a critical period for the development of health-related physical fitness (PF). National surveillance data showed that PF decreased among Chinese preschool children aged 3-6 years. There is a widespread call for effective physical activity (PA) intervention strategies for this age group. Nevertheless, the depth and breadth of the evidence on such interventions in Chinese preschoolers remains relatively small. Therefore, the present systematic review aimed to investigate the effects of PA interventions on PF in typically developing Chinese young children.

Methods: In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, a …

A167: The Impact Of Physical Exercise On Subjective Well-Being In Elementary Students: A Chain Mediation Model, Xinwei Wu, Mengyue Hu, Youfa Li

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: Physical exercise has been recognized for its beneficial effects on emotional states, with previous research highlighting its positive correlation with subjective well-being. However, the pathways through which physical exercise influences subjective well-being remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which physical exercise impacted subjective well-being among elementary school students, analyzing the chain mediating role of peer relationships and depression.

Methods: The study sampled 15,538 fourth-grade students from 312 elementary schools in Taiyuan City, including 7,838 boys (50.5%) and 7,690 girls (49.5%), with an average age of 10.38 ± 0.56 years. Data collection was conducted on October …

A176: Meta-Analysis Of The Effects Of Phototherapy On Sleep Quality Across Different Populations, Zhen Chen, Wenqiang Wu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: Sleep, a fundamental physiological need for humans, significantly impacts an individual's physical and mental health. Phototherapy, a non-pharmacological intervention, has been extensively researched in recent years to improve sleep quality. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of phototherapy on sleep quality across different populations through a meta-analysis, using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index as the outcome measure, thereby providing a scientific basis for improving the population health levels and life quality.

Method: As of March 1, 2024, this study conducted a systematic search of four databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and CNKI. A comprehensive set of inclusion …

A177: Association Between Physical Activity And The Risk Of Depression Among Middle And Older Chinese People, Yunqing Zhang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: Relevant studies have shown that insufficient physical activity (PA) is associated with the risk of depression in middle-aged and elderly populations, but the relationship between different levels of PA and the risk of depression remains unexplored. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the relationship between different levels of PA and depression risk among middle-aged and older adults in China.

Methods: The survey data of this study was based on the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A total of 13,316 middle-aged and elderly community residents aged 45 years or older with complete values of …

A178: Effect Of Aerobic Exercise Intervention On Anxiety In College Students: A Systematic Review, Yiming Chen, Shengting Dai, Xinming Ye

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: The role of exercise interventions in the treatment of psychiatric disorders is receiving increased attention, and the positive protective effect of aerobic exercise on anxiety symptoms has now been extensively demonstrated. This study aimed to investigate the systematic evaluation of the effects of different aerobic exercise interventions on anxiety symptoms in college students.

Method: Using keywords such as “physical activity,” “anxiety,” and “college students” screened Randomized controlled trials (RCT) published until February 2024 in three databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. A total of 5073 studies were retrieved after systematically searching individual databases. After removing duplicate literature, 4112 …

A173: An Experimental Study Of The Effects Of Exercise Intervention On Executive Function In Obese Adolescents, Lingling Hu, Hengchan Yin, Lei Cui, Qiqi Shen

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: Executive function (EF) is an important component of cognitive function, referring to a higher-level cognitive process that coordinates and controls various basic cognitive processes when completing complex cognitive tasks. It includes three sub-functions: inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Globally, high rates of overweight and obesity remain a public health issue. Previous studies have shown that, compared to adolescents with healthy weight, adolescents with obesity have poorer inhibitory function in EF. In addition, the effectiveness of the exercise intervention is seen in the normal adolescent population as well as in special adolescents with poor EF. However, there have been …

A181: The Realistic Path Of Green Sports To Boost Urban Development, Xinyu Huang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Green sports is an emerging form of sports that pursues the integrated development and harmonious coexistence of sport, humanities, and ecology. As the interaction between the green sports industry and cities becomes increasingly closer, it is of great practical significance to explore how the development path of green sports can enhance urban development. Green sports have the characteristics of close industrial connection, environmental protection, low carbon, and a huge consumption base.

It can promote the transformation of social, economic, and ecological models of cities by bringing into play the economic vitality, social benefits, and ecological benefits of the green sports …

A180: The Effects Of Weight Control By Hypoxia On Judo Athletes With Hiit, Liying Huang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is recognized as an effective means of fat reduction, and HIIT is also used in the pre-competition weight control of judo. In addition, hypoxic adaptation can reduce blood lipids, maintain exercise capacity, and improve physical function. Therefore, this study explored the effects of weight control by hypoxia on judo athletes with HIIT by observing the changes of body composition, blood lipids, exercise ability and body function, so that to explore an innovative method of weight control pre-competition for judo athletes.

Methods: 12 female athletes of the provincial judo team preparing for the 2023 Guangdong Provincial …

A018: Dual-Process Advantages Of Ball Players In Sport-Related Domains, Xuechen Mao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: Based on a dual-process framework, two qualitatively different modes of processing guide human behaviour. Type 1 processes refer to automatic, unconscious processing that can be responsible for Task 1, while Type 2 processes refer to controlled, conscious processing required by Task 2. Although many existing sport psychology studies emphasize that the dual-process model can be applied to the sports domain, this application has shortcomings. The first debate of this application is whether dual-process advantages in athletes are limited to sport-specific realms. Furthermore, although the dual-process framework pays more attention to automatic processes (Type 1 processes), it loses sight of …

A027: Does Participation In Sports Competitions Enhance Medical Students' Interprofessional Teamwork?, Guochun Liu, Zhiling Shen

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: Healthcare systems are complex linkages, and efficient interprofessional collaboration is essential to their efficiency, safety, and quality. The ability of medical students to collaborate across professions directly impacts future healthcare delivery practices. Physical education programmes provide a simple and easy way for medical students to develop interprofessional collaboration that can be translated into future team performance in clinical settings. To test the effectiveness of the physical education programme "competition instead of examination" in improving the teamwork ability of medical students.

Method: Using a quasi-experimental intervention design, 188 students were recruited from five classes to complete a teamwork scale consisting …

A047: Research On The Structure And Scale Of Service Quality Of Sports Park, Liping Xu, Zhihua Yin, Jian Wang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: Since the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, with the vigorous promotion of China and the provincial and municipal governments, the number of sports parks has shown a continuous positive trend of growth. While accelerating the construction progress, how to improve the service quality of sports parks should become the primary issue that needs to be solved to promote the sustainable and healthy development of sports parks. Therefore, based on the perspective of public demand, this study formed a scientific assessment scale by exploring the specific content structure contained in the service quality of sports parks, to promote the high-quality development …

The Effect Of Exercise Type On Working Memory, Ariana Gonzalez, William R. Kochen

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Martial arts encompass a wide range of sports and techniques that have been practiced for self-defense and combat for thousands of years. It has expanded to include various styles such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, judo, and karate. It has also been practiced as a form of exercise and entertainment. Martial arts have been associated to discipline, integrity, improved stamina, and increased mental and problem-solving capabilities. Unlike other exercise methods, most martial arts require focus, skill, and technique, which have been hypothesized to improve memory. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a significant improvement in the …

A Systematic Review Of The Long-Term Efficacy Of Physical Activity Interventions In Reducing Risk Factors For Obesity In Adults, Jude Ominyi, Andrew Clifton, Noreen Cushen-Brewster

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) provides numerous health advantages, including lowering mortality rates and preventing obesity. Despite well-established guidelines advising 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic PA weekly, sedentary lifestyles remain prevalent, especially in industrialised nations. This systematic review examines the long-term effectiveness (12-24 months) of PA interventions aimed at reducing obesity risk among adults, with a particular focus on identifying strategies that promote sustained adherence.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using multiple databases, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase, focusing on studies published between January 2004 and January 2024. The inclusion …

Supporting Students’ Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Within High School Physical Education, Ken Murfay, Aaron Beighle, Heather Erwin, Erin Aiello, Sarah Pyszczynski

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Research examining physical activity (PA) is significant because of the known benefits of PA. Studying high school (HS) students is particularly important due to the consistent decline in PA as students age. One strategy to increase PA is to increase someone’s self-efficacy (confidence) to be physically active which is commonly positively associated with PA. Most of the research on how to support physical activity self-efficacy (PASE) comes from outside-of-school interventions with minimal literature on how to support students’ PASE within HS physical education (PE). This study attempted to identify and share practices that current HS PE teachers were implementing to …

Neuronal Control Of Posture In Blind Individuals, I. Helmich, R. Gemmerich

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

The control of posture is guided by the integration of sensory information. Because blind individuals cannot apply visual information to control posture as sighted individuals do they must compensate by the remaining senses. We therefore hypothesize that blind individuals alter their brain activation in the sensorimotor cortex during postural control to compensate for balance control without vision by the increased integration of somatosensory information. Ten blind and ten sighted (matched) individuals controlled posture during conditions with (I) eyes closed / open, and (II) stable / unstable surface conditions. Postural sway was recorded by applying a pressure distribution measuring plate. Brain …

Teacher Implementation Profiles: A Response To Top-Down Mandate Of Movement Integration, Zack Beddoes, Jeanne Barcelona, Darla Castelli

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This study examined teacher implementation practices to meet a state mandate requiring 135 minutes of student physical activity (PA) weekly. Teachers were required to implement a video-based movement integration (MI) program. Using an embedded mixed-methods design, provider characteristics of 42 teachers and the organizational capacity of six schools were developed from interviews, surveys, observations, and artifacts. Data analysis revealed three teacher profiles (a) Dynamic Experientialists, (b) Coachable Constructivists, and (c) Cautious Behaviorists, and three school profiles (a) Whole Child Approach, (b) Grade Level Champions, and (c) Back to Basics. Findings suggest that school, teacher, …

Development Of A New Individual Interest Questionnaire In Physical Education, Minting Zhang, Bo Shen, Jin Bo

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Recognizing the close interconnection between implicit-affective control and cognitive-rational aspects of individual interest, we designed this study to develop a new instrument - the Individual Interest Questionnaire in Physical Education (IIQ-PE). In study 1 (N=132), an exploratory factor analysis supported a model consisting of a single unified factor. In study 2 (N=117), Confirmatory Factor Analyses corroborated the construct validity of the IIQ-PE. Also, when examining multi-group invariance across the two study samples, no significant differences were found, suggesting that this factor structure held consistently. In study 3 (N=121), a path model further demonstrated that the individual interest significantly predicted learning …

Repetitive Subconcussive Head Impacts In Sports And Their Impact On Brain Anatomy And Function: A Systematic Review, Lukas Hack, Bhagyashree Singh, Ferdinand Binkofski, Ingo Helmich

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

Repetitive subconcussive head impacts occur regularly in sports. However, the exact relationship between their biomechanical properties and their consequences on brain structure and function has not been clarified yet. We therefore reviewed prospective cohort studies that objectively reported the biomechanical characteristics of repetitive subconcussive head impacts and their impact on brain anatomy and function. Only studies with a pre- to post-measurement design were included. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Structural white matter alterations, such as reduced fractional anisotropy and an increase in mean diffusivity values, seem to be evident in athletes exposed to repetitive subconcussive head impacts exceeding 10 …

Exploring How Factors Affecting Exercise Adherence May Inform Strategies To Increase Adherence In General And Depressed Populations: A Literature Review, Henry D. Link

University Honors Theses

Background: Exercise is associated with numerous physical and mental health benefits; however, many people struggle to exercise a sufficient amount and thus do not reap the benefits. Exercise is recognized as an effective treatment for depression with few risks. Professionals must understand the factors affecting exercise adherence to assist individuals of different backgrounds with adhering to exercise over the long term and to avoid common pitfalls that could hinder an individual’s progress.

Objective: This literature review aimed to identify factors affecting exercise adherence and to explore how those factors could inform strategies to increase exercise adherence among depressed …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald: Ways Of The Future, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period April 8 - May 5, 2024.

• Anderson, Alexandria. Letter from the Editor – Science, Technology & Business
• Anderson, Alexandria. Women in STEM Make Advances
• Novoselia, Mariia. Turnover on Fountain Square: Local Businesses Share Concerns & Success Stories
• SOKY Rentals Offers New Apartments
• Walk2Campus: Where Home Meets Community
• Bush, Camden. Can a Baseball Team Reduce Their Goals to a Math Problem?
• Hawkins, Kaylee. Student Business Owners Share Experiences – Gatara Townsend, Andrew Garrett, Brittiny Sadler
• Ivory, Larkin. Bikewalk BG, WKU CHHS Offer Chances for Healthy Lifestyle – Health & Human Services

The Effect Of Mindfulness Training On Muscular Endurance Exercise Performance, Mindfulness, And Mental Toughness, Donte Mcgee

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

INTRODUCTION: Mindfulness training is a method of mental training becoming increasingly popular and has been positively associated with mental toughness, which may be valuable in highly fatiguing and stressful activities, like endurance exercise. Mindfulness training has resulted in increased endurance performance, but limited literature exists on a similar modality, muscular endurance exercise. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of an acute bout of mindfulness meditation on muscular endurance performance, mindfulness, and mental toughness. METHODS: Participants (n=24) completed two sessions, a week apart, of three planks until fatigue, with one-minute rest intervals. Immediately following each plank, RPE …

Concussions In Paralympic Sports: A Systematic Review, B. Singh, R. Gemmerich, T. Ziegler, I. Helmich

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

› Introduction: The Paralympic movement has grown rapidly over the last few years. As participation in Para sports increases, so do its sport-related injuries. A particular injury constitutes sport-related concussions (SRC). However, the data regarding its epidemiology in Para sports has been inadequately researched. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the occurrence of SRC in Para sports. › Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. › Results: 13 articles were included in this review. Wheelchair Basketball, Sledge Hockey, Blind Football, Para Swimming, Para Judo, and Para Skiing are most commonly affected by SRC. Sledge hockey reported …

Gym Sexual Harassment And Bystander Intervention: An Application Of The Reasoned Action Approach, Eric Schisler

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objective. The purpose of this study was to modify and validate an instrument to examine factors associated with being an active bystander when witnessing sexual harassment at a gym or fitness center. Using Fishbein and Ajzen’s Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), this study aimed to better understand the influence of a person’s attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) on their intention to be an active bystander when witness to someone being sexually harassed at the gym in the next 30 days. Methodology. This study utilized an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, with phase one taking place between June and …

Ua12/2/2 Talisman: Pulse, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2024 Talisman:

• Hunter, Leah. Pulse
• Muscutt, Carson. High on Bluegrass – Jordan Riehm
• Meyers, Jeffrey. Science of Movement – Exercise Science
• Murray, Debra. Pasture to Plate – Agriculture
• Murray, Debra. Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
• Coffee, Bobbi. Passion, Pain, Curiosity – Innovation Campus
• Story, Miriam. Drafts of a Postcard (October 2023)
• Johnston, Katelyn. Beyond Sound – Deaf
• Hunter, Leah. One Good Week – Madison Weis
• Alali, Cecilia. Crafted Cadence – Speech Team
• Blankenship, Alisa. Loving You
• Sandlin, Ellie. Here After – Death
• Booth, Pandora. Rooted in Rhythm – Step Shows
• Booth, Pandora. Horoscopes
• Pulse Playlist

Attitude And Attitudinal Structures Toward Physical Education And Their Influences On Physical Activity Behavior, Yubing Wang, Yaogang Han, Pan Li, Binn Zhang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine middle and high school students’ cognitive and affective attitude and their cognitive-affective attitudinal structures toward physical education (PE). The effects of cognitive and affective attitude and attitudinal structures on physical activity (PA) in PE and outside of school were also examined. Methods: 1773 Chinese middle and high-school students participated in this study. SEM, Chi-square test, ANOVAs, and Contingency tables were adopted to address the research questions. Results: The results showed that most students (>90%) were holding positive cognitive and affective attitude toward PE. Students’ affective attitude significantly influences their PA …

Attitudes And Self-Efficacy Of Swimming Coaches Towards The Inclusion Of Swimmers With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Eleftheria Kasagianni, Dimitrios Kokaridas, Panagiotis Varsamis, Vasilis Tsimaras

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes and self-efficacy of swimming coaches regarding the inclusion of swimmers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The sample consisted of 150 Greek swimming coaches with an average age of 29.58 years. Each participant completed the Swimming Coaches Attitudes towards Inclusion Questionnaire for perceptions assessment and the Biddle and Goudas (1997) self-efficacy questionnaire. The statistical analysis used SPSS 27 to calculate Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson product-moment correlations, independent t-tests, and ANOVA. The findings of the study showed that the swimming coaches expressed positive attitudes and a high percentage of perceived self-efficacy towards the …

In This Issue 14:3, Stephen J. Langendorfer Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

In This Issue 14:3