Exercise Science Commons^™

Levels Of Confidence In Schmieding Center In-Home Caregiving Training, Morena L. Valdizon

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

The Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education offers a unique approach and program designed to teach their students how to care for an older adult in the home. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the in-home assistant course on the participant’s confidence levels. It was hypothesized that the confidence levels of the students that enrolled in the in-home assistant training course would increase with the completion of the 40-hour course and that demographic factors such as gender, age, and economic background would impact the levels of confidence. This study was conducted by the …

Effects Of Diet-Induced Obesity On Extracellular Matrix Remodeling During Skeletal Muscle Regeneration, Michelle A. Tedrowe

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Skeletal muscle has the ability to regenerate from damage; however, recent studies have reported a negative effect of obesity on skeletal muscle regenerative capacity. The extracellular matrix (ECM) contributes to skeletal muscle structure acting as a scaffold for skeletal muscle. Additionally, skeletal muscle serves as a reservoir for proteins and growth factors that promote regeneration. Optimal skeletal muscle regeneration includes inflammation, ECM remodeling, and myofiber growth. Disruption to any of these processes can negatively affect skeletal muscle regeneration. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine how diet-induced obesity (DIO) affects ECM remodeling during skeletal muscle regeneration. METHODS: Fifty-six …

Determining The Appropriate Timing Of Administration For Baseline Computerized Neurocognitive Testing (Cnt) Following Maximal Exertion, Samantha Mohler

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Computerized neurocognitive testing is part of the recommended multi-faceted approach to SRC assessment. Prior research has suggested that maximal exertion negatively effects CNT test scores. Purpose: To identify the appropriate timing of the administration of CNT following maximal exertion in healthy college-aged student athletes. Study Design: Prospective, random cross-over, repeated measures design. Methods: Week one participants fill out intake forms and then complete a baseline ImPACT test. The following three weeks, individuals were administered a VO2 max cycle ergometer test. Following the test participants will rest for <5 (immediate), 15, or 30 minutes before re-taking ImPACT. Results: Immediately following maximal exertion, negative composite scores, relative to baseline, were …

Independent Effect Of Heat Stress During Exercise On Arterial Stiffness, Cash Arcement

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Context: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in the United States, accounting for about 1 in every 3 deaths annually. While studies have shown that arterial stiffness, a leading precursor to CVD, improves with passive heat stress not much is known about the independent effect of heat stress during exercise on arterial stiffness. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the independent effect of heat stress during exercise on arterial stiffness. Design: Participants visited the lab three times; one familiarization and two experimental trials. Experimental trials were randomized and counter-balanced. Setting: All trials …

Examining Different Exercise Types On Falls Efficacy In Older Adults, Hadley Lewis

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Context: Around 30% of older adults over the age of 65 fall once a year. These falls can result in hospitalization and permanent injury. Falls efficacy, or the confidence level that one will not fall, has been shown to have a direct correlation to the fear of falling and falls. It has been found that 29-92% of older adults who have fallen have a fear of falling and 12-65% of older adults who have not fallen experience a fear of falling. This fear of falling acts as a hindrance on older adult’s ability to complete daily activities and leads …

Describing The Prevalence And Awareness Of Sport-Related Concussion In University Intramural And Club Sport Participants, Makenzie L. Brown

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Concussion injuries are growing in number among athletes across the nation. The majority of concussion research to date focuses on collegiate and high school athletes. University athletes make up a small percentage of the student body population compared to the large number of students that participate in club and intramural sports. These students participate in the same sports, assume the same risks, and may experience the same adverse effects of concussion, often without appropriate medical oversight.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if concussion is a problem among intramural and club sport participants, if these participants …

Effect Of Hydration Status On Post-Synaptic Cutaneous Vasodilatory And Sudomotor Responses, Ashley Six

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

"Purpose: Previous research shows dehydration decreases sweating and skin blood flow during heat stress but it is unknown whether these decrements are from pre-synaptic (i.e. central nervous system) or post-synaptic (i.e. sweat gland/blood vessel) alterations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dehydration affects post-synaptic sweating and skin blood flow responses. We hypothesized that dehydration will negatively affect post-synaptic sweating and both endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilation. Methods: 12 males (age= 25 ± 3 y, height = 178.4 ± 5.1 cm, body mass = 75.9 ± 10.9 kg) participated. 24 h before each trial, subjects were passively heated for …

Hydration Biomarkers: Creating A User-Friendly Hydration Assessment Technique, Jenna Burchfield

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Despite the necessity of euhydration, an optimal, user-friendly, accurate hydration assessment technique fails to exist for the general population. The primary reason for this study is to validate a new hydration assessment technique, which utilizes no equipment or technical expertise to administer. We hypothesize that the number of urine voids over 24-hrs will correlate to hydration status. We used an observational research design in the field, recruiting fifty healthy individuals (n=24 females) 18-39 years old from the Northwest Arkansas area. Age 22±4 years, body mass 75.01±17 kg, height 168.6±22.6 cm, body fat 20.4±9 %. Individuals abstained from caffeine and alcohol …

The Relationship Between Muscular Strength And Cognition In Older Adults, Ashton R. Pohlman

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Little is known about the correlation between resistance training, muscular strength, and cognition. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between muscular strength and cognition in older adults. Data were collected for this cross sectional study at Butterfield Trail Village, a retirement community in Northwest Arkansas. Thirty participants, at least 65 years of age, without severe mental impairment were evaluated. Of the 30 participants, 23 females were included in the data analysis. The Stroop Color Test, Trail Making Test, and Dual Task Walking Test difference were used to measure executive cognition. Handgrip dynamometry was used as a measure of strength …

Validation Of The Tendo Weightlifting Analyzer As A Method To Assess Muscular Power, Emily Janssen

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Power is a strong indicator of physical fitness and functional status of older adults. The Tendo Weightlifting Analyzer is a safe, cost-effective method to measure power. The goal was to validate the Tendo as a measure of muscular power during a chair stand task. It was hypothesized that the Tendo would be a valid measure. This study was a cross-sectional, correlational study with the subjects serving as their own control. All testing took place in the Human Performance Lab at the University of Arkansas. A total of 59 college-aged students from 18 to 30 years of age volunteered. Subjects were …

The Relationship Between Muscular Power And Functional Fitness Among Older Adults, Corinne A. Parkins

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of the study was to determine whether functional fitness is a good predictor of average and peak muscular power among adults over the age of 65. The 30-second chair stand and 8-foot-up-and-go test were used to define functional fitness and were administered to 57 older adults. Muscular power output was measured using the Tendo Weightlifting Analyzer during 5 chair stands. Relative average and peak power were used in the analyses. An independent t-test was run on all variables to distinguish differences between men and women, and multiple regression analyses were performed to detect the relationship between the two …

Comparison Of Sweat Rates And Sweat Electrolyte Concentrations In Collegiate Male And Female Athletes With And Without A History Of Cramping, Brittany Cherie Willard

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the two main theories of muscle cramping by comparing sweat rate and sweat-electrolyte concentrations of athletes with a reported history of exercise associated muscle cramping (EAMC) to those with minimal cramping history to provide a potential link between sodium deficiency/sweat rate and EAMCs. The methodological consistency of analyses between two separate processes was also evaluated.

How Functional Fitness Relates To Muscular Power Among Older Adults, Jessica Mae Moix

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The current study examined the relationship between functional fitness measures and muscular power among older adults. A 30-second chair stand test, 10-meter habitual walking test, and an 8-foot up-and-go test were all used as measures of functional fitness and muscular power was measured by Tendo analysis. The purpose of this study was to determine what aspects of functional fitness were associated with muscular power while then provide evidence that functional fitness can predict muscular power among older adults. Fifty-seven participants over 65 years old completed both the functional fitness and muscular power measures. Three separate correlations between functional fitness measures …