Exercise Science Commons^™

The Effect Of Energy-Matched Exercise Intensity On Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor And Motor Learning, Jessica F. Baird

Theses and Dissertations

Brain plasticity is important to motor learning, and is a critical component of motor rehabilitation. Exercise prior to motor training may facilitate plasticity by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, many studies that have investigated exercise-enhanced plasticity have assessed motor skill performance on tasks involving single finger button presses or small movements of a joystick, results that may not relate to more complex, real-world movements. Additionally, while high-intensity exercise has been shown to benefit motor learning, the effects of low-intensity exercise have yet to be fully investigated. A bout of low-intensity exercise, when completed at an energy expenditure that is …

Patterns Of Participation And Performance In Youth Baseball Players, Amanda Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

Baseball is a popular sport to play in the United States, with approximately 13-17 million athletes participating across all levels of competition. Youth (9-12 years) and adolescent (13-18 years) players comprise the majority of this population playing at the club and high school levels, yet less than 10% of research studies include athletes <18 years old. Despite increased awareness of the risks surrounding sports participation, youth and adolescent baseball players continue to report overuse injuries at alarming rates.

The lack of high-quality research describing athletic performance and injury risk factors, such as sport specialization, in young athlete populations poses a significant knowledge gap in the literature. The current investigation sought to establish the incidence of upper extremity (UE) injuries while examining population-specific risk factors in …

The Nutrition Assistance Landscape In Afterschool Programs: Understanding The Gap Between Research, Policy, And Practice, Falon Elizabet Tilley

Theses and Dissertations

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) aims to increase children’s access to healthful foods in out-of-home care. Approximately half of the 10.2 million children enrolled in afterschool programs (ASPs) are eligible for nutrition assistance through programs like CACFP. Despite awareness of its potential impact on the nutritional status of millions of children, CACFP is underutilized among ASPs and notably understudied in comparison to other federal nutrition assistance programs.

This dissertation addresses key gaps in CACFP research and provides a deeper understanding of the nutrition assistance landscape in afterschool programs by (1) assessing the type of afterschool snacks served …

The Regulation Of Glycoprotein130 Dependent Inflammatory Cytokines One Basal And Mechanical Stimuli Induced Protein Synthesis In Myotubes And Skeletal Muscles, Song Gao

Theses and Dissertations

Maintaining skeletal muscle mass has a well-documented role in health and quality of life. Two members of IL-6 family of cytokines, IL-6 and LIF, and have a paradoxical role in skeletal muscle mass regulation: short term elevation of IL-6 and LIF plays a key role in mechanical stimuli induced muscle growth and muscle hypertrophy, while the long term elevated IL-6 and LIF regulate muscle wasting during cancer cachexia by disrupting muscle protein turnover regulation. The regulation of muscle protein synthesis is an important determinant of mechanical stimuli induced muscle hypertrophy and muscle wasting during cancer cachexia. IL-6 family of cytokines …

Muscle Inflammatory Signaling Regulates Eccentric Contraction-Induced Protein Synthesis During Cancer Cachexia, Justin Perry Hardee

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer-related cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome that involves the unintentional loss of skeletal muscle mass that cannot be reversed by standard nutritional intervention. Skeletal muscle mass depletion directly impacts patient survival and life quality, and therefore treatments that preserve muscle mass and function may have significant implications for cancer patient treatment and survival. Systemic and muscle inflammation has been implicated in the regulation of skeletal muscle homeostasis, and the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and muscle gp130 receptor signaling have established roles in cancer-induced muscle wasting. Resistance exercise is a nonpharmacological treatment that can improve physical function and metabolic health in …

The Effects Of Experimental Anterior Knee Pain On Bilateral Ground Reaction Forces During Running, Emily Rachel Cronk

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the independent effects of anterior knee pain (AKP) on bilateral ground reaction force (GRF) during running, with a focus on GRF applied to the uninvolved leg, which, prior to this study, had never been evaluated. Twelve volunteers completed three data collection sessions, that corresponded to one of three conditions (control, sham, and pain), in a counterbalanced order. For each session, subjects ran for five minutes. For the pain and sham sessions, respectively, hypertonic and isotonic saline were infused into the infrapatellar fat pad of the right leg during the running, while no …

The Differences In Time To Stability, Foot Muscle Size, And Toe Flexor Strength Between Cheerleaders And Gymnasts, Kelsey Renee Garner

Theses and Dissertations

Context: There has been recent speculation that the intrinsic muscles of the foot may play a larger role in lower extremity control and injury than previously believed. Multiple studies have shown that certain intrinsic muscles increase in size and strength after transitioning to minimalist shoe running, theoretically decreasing injury risk. There are currently no studies that examine the effect that training barefoot has in other athletic populations. Objective: Our purpose was to compare the intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle size and strength in gymnasts (who predominantly train barefoot) and cheerleaders (who predominantly train shod). Another purpose was to measure time …

Validity And Reliability Of A Photographic Method Of Assessing Body Composition, Elizabeth Z. Macdonald

Theses and Dissertations

The LeanScreenTM app uses photographs and touchscreen technology of an iPad or iPhone to estimate body composition using the Department of Defense (DoD) prediction equations that use cirumference measurements of the neck, abdomen, waist, and hips. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the LeanScreenTM app in 148 weight-stable adults (82 men, 66 women) who were normal weight, overweight, or obese as defined by body mass index. The percent body fat (%BF) of each subject was estimated during one visit using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometery (DXA) as the criterion measure, and three field methods: the …

Association Between Expanded Normal Weight Obesity And Insulin Resistance Among U.S. Adults In The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, Keilah Elizabeth Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to expand the evaluation of Normal Weight Obesity (NWO) and its association with insulin resistance using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. A cross-sectional study including 5,983 subjects was conducted. Body fat percentage was assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Expanded Normal Weight Obesity (eNWO) categories (pairings of BMI and body fat percentage classifications) were determined by standard cut-points for BMI and the gender specific median for body fat percentage. Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were used to index insulin resistance. Mean ± SE values were as follows: BMI: 27.9 ± …

Neural Activation In Blood-Flow-Restricted Versus Non-Blood-Flow-Restricted Exercise: An Fmri Study, Tiffany Dawn Devries

Theses and Dissertations

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to track neural activation in the brain during functional activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate brain neural responses to blood flow restricted (BFR) versus control handgrip exercise. Using a randomized crossover design, 25 subjects (12 males, 13 females) completed handgrip exercises during two conditions: BFR vs. control. To familiarize participants with the exercise conditions, one week prior to MRI scanning participants completed each exercise condition once on separate days, with 72 hours between days. The following week fMRI scans were performed at the same time of day, separated by …

The Acute Effects Of Aerobic Exercise With Blood Flow Restriction Cuffs On Arterial Compliance In Males And Females, Maria M. Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

RESULTS: Significant condition*gender interactions found in in SBP (p<.05), PR (p<.01), SVR (p<.01), SpO2 (p<.05), PWV carotid to femoral (p<.03), and PWV femoral to distal (p<.02). Significant condition*time interactions were found in SBP (p<.01), DBP (p<.01), MAP (p<.01), SV (p<.01), CO (p<.01), SVR (p<.01), TVI (p<.01), HR (p<.01), and SAE (p<.01). Significant condition main effects were found in SBP (p<.02), DBP (p<.03), PR (p<.03), SV (p<.01), CO (p=.01), SVR (p<.01), TVI (p<.01), HR (p<.01), and SAE (p<.03) as well as a condition trend in PWV femoral to distal (p=.06). Significant time main effects were found in SBP (p<.01), MAP (p<.04), PP (p<.01), PR (p<.01), CO (p<.01), SVR (p<.01), TVI (p<.01), HR (p<.01), SpO2 (p<.01), LAE (p<.03), and PWV femoral to distal (p<.01).

CONCLUSION: The 60 min session at a moderate aerobic intensity might have the potential to improve arterial elasticity more than a 20 min BFR session.

The Effect Of Whole Body Vibration On Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage And Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness, Ryan Darin Magoffin

Theses and Dissertations

Current scientific evidence suggests that when whole body vibration (WBV) is used as a warm-up prior to performing eccentric exercise, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is mitigated and strength loss recovers faster. These benefits were observed primarily in nonresistance-trained individuals. The aim of this study was to determine if WBV could mitigate soreness and expedite strength recovery for resistance-trained individuals when used as a warm-up prior to eccentric exercise. Thirty resistance-trained males completed 300 maximal eccentric contractions of the quadriceps after warming up with (WBV) or without (CON) WBV. Both CON and WBV experienced significant isometric (27.8% and 30.5%, respectively) and …

Acute Changes In Running Mechanics Across Footwear With Various Heel-To-Toe Height Differences, Daniel C. Moody

Theses and Dissertations

There are many different types of footwear available for runners in today's market. Many of these shoes claim to improve a runner's efficiency by altering their stride mechanics. Minimalist footwear claims to aid runners in running more on their forefeet whereas more traditional footwear provides more cushioning specifically for a heel-first landing. The purpose of this research was to determine if runners who were accustomed to running in traditional footwear would acutely alter their running biomechanics when they ran barefoot or in various types of minimalist footwear. Twelve subjects, who were accustomed to running in traditional 12 mm heel/toe differential …

Movement Competency's Relationship To Health Related Quality Of Life In Older Adults, Shaun M. Fulton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between movement competency and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in adults aged 55 to 75 years. Seventy-eight, male (40) and female (38), subjects completed the study. Their mean (SD) age, height, and mass were 64.9 (5.8) years and 63.6 (4.9) years, 1.8 (.08) m and 1.7 (.07) m, 82.6 (11.8) kg and 70.3 (17.9) kg, for male and female, respectively. Subjects completed several tests in 3 categories: movement competency (Functional Movement Screen^TM [FMS] [all 7 tests], sitting-rising test [SRT]); physical activity level (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly …

Neural Response To Food Cues After Moderate And Vigorous Exercise In Women: A Randomized Crossover Trial, Jillesa Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of different intensities of acute exercise on attention allocation to visual food cues, postexercise energy intake, and subjective measures of hunger in women. METHODS: This crossover study utilized treatment conditions that were randomized and counter-balanced. Fifty-two adult women, 18-29 years, were compared under three separate conditions: no exercise, 45 min of moderate-intensity exercise at 3.9 METs and 22.5 min of vigorous-intensity exercise at 7.8 METs. To measure attention allocation to visual food cues, participants were shown a passive viewing task consisting of a continual stream of pictures of food (high and low calorie) and …

The Effects Of Exercise On Sleep Parameters Among Older Women, Charity B. Breneman

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep is a modifiable behavior that commonly fluctuates from night to night within the same individual and varies across the lifespan. Over the years, sleep research has identified physical activity (PA)/exercise as a non-pharmacological approach to improving sleep. The overall goal of this dissertation was to investigate the acute effect of exercise on sleep outcomes as well as examine the relationship between night-to-night fluctuations in sleep parameters with exercise training among healthy older women.

Two studies, both utilizing a longitudinal study design, were conducted to 1) understand how acute exercise affects both behavioral and physiological sleep outcomes during the corresponding …

Exploratory Analysis Of Ptsd Severity And Objective Measures Of Physical Activity Among Combat Veterans, Danny O. Sauceda

Theses and Dissertations

Strong levels of motivation, relatedness and self-determination support the likeliness of participating in habitual exercise. Compared to nationwide estimates, research has demonstrated fitness and performance is significantly lower among those suffering from PTSD. Meeting established recommended daily levels of physical activity (PA) for individuals with PTSD is critical for their physical and mental health status over a lifetime and factors supporting or hindering adherence to habitual exercise are lacking. Furthermore, regular PA among combat Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a viable and substantial treatment option to improve physical health status and cognitive well-being. The purpose of this exploratory …

Exploring Children’S Physical Activity Levels Through Structure And Measurement, Jessica L. Chandler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was twofold: 1) to establish best practices for wrist-based accelerometry for 5-11 year old children and 2) to explore the contribution of activity structure to children’s physical activity (PA) levels.

The purpose of study 1 aimed to determine differences in counts/5second epoch produced by the dominant and non-dominant wrist during seated, sedentary activities in 5-11 year old children and ultimately create a cutpoint threshold to distinguish seated sedentary behavior from light physical activity. 167 children, ages 5-11 years, performed up to 8 sedentary activities for 5 minutes while wearing ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers on both wrists. …

Role Of Altered Gut Microbiota In Tumor Development, Mucus Production And Inflammation In Apc Min/+ Mouse Model, Kamaljeet Kaur

Theses and Dissertations

The microbiome forms an integral part of the gut microenvironment. Once ignored, the topic has gained momentum in research during the past decade, where studies have strongly suggested the association of microbiota with health and a misbalance thereof, to many disease conditions ranging from inflammation and colitis to diabetes, obesity and colon cancer. The Human Microbiome Project (HMP, NIH common fund - 2008) has used a variety of high throughput analyses in order to study gut microbiota in health. The consortium has so far been able to isolate and characterize more than 1,300 reference bacterial strains from the human body. …

Blockade Of Tgf-Ss Signaling Through The Activin Type Iib Receptor With The Small Molecule, Sgi-1252, Jordan David Fuqua

Theses and Dissertations

Antagonism of the activin receptor signaling pathway represents a promising potential therapy for the muscular dystrophies and other muscle wasting disorders (i.e., cachexia or sarcopenia). Previous research has shown that antagonism of activin signaling promotes muscle growth, attenuates muscle wasting, and restores function in both wild type and diseased animals. Our laboratory has recently developed a novel small molecule (SGI-1252) that inhibits activin downstream (i.e., Smad2/3 phosphorylation) signaling. Purpose: In this study we determined how eight weeks of orally administered SGI-1252 affected TGF-ß signaling, whole body mass, individual limb muscle mass, and muscle fiber cross sectional area (CSA). Methods: Wild-type …

The Effect Of Foot Strengthening Exercise On Dynamic Function Of The Medial Longitudinal Arch In Runners: A Preliminary Report, Jarom Bridges

Theses and Dissertations

Therapeutic exercise has previously been shown to alter the static height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA). It is still unknown, however, if these effects carry over into dynamic activities. PURPOSE: To determine if an 8-week foot strengthening exercise program increases static arch height and reduces vertical deformation of the MLA during mid-stance in running.METHODS: Thirty-four recreational runners (17 males, 17 females) have completed this ongoing study (age 24.06 ± 3.61 years, body mass 68.63 ± 12.95 kg, and height 173.34 ± 9.54 cm). To date, 22 subjects have been assigned to the control group (8 weeks of normal running) …

The Effect Of Aerobic Exercise Versus Inactivity On Nitric Oxide Concentration And Synthesis In An Elderly Population, Samantha Burton

Theses and Dissertations

CONTEXT: Nitric Oxide (NO) is an endothelial-derived vasoactive molecule that causes an increase in blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissue. A reduction in NO bioavailability has been found to occur in adults over the age of 60 and can be reversed pharmacologically by improving NO synthase (NOS) activity. Reversing these age-related changes with alternative interventions, such as aerobic exercise, has shown some promising results. OBJECTIVE: To quantify blood NO-bioavailability (as measured by blood nitrite levels) in a population of aerobically trained elderly men and compare these data to a group of age-matched, inactive individuals. In addition, we measured the …

Strength Training And Body Composition In Middle-Age Women, Rachelle Burrup

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between strength training and body composition before and after controlling for several covariates. A cross-sectional study including 257 female subjects was conducted. METHODS: Subjects' level of involvement in strength training was determined via questionnaire. Body composition was assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Diet was assessed using 7-d weighed food records. RESULTS: Strong linear relationships between subjects' level of involvement in strength training and body composition were identified. For each additional day of strength training reported per week, body fat was 1.32 percentage points lower (F = 14.8, …

Lower Extremity Neuromechanics During A Forward-Side Jump Following Functional Fatigue In Patients With Ankle Instability, Hyun Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Ankle instability (AI) and fatigue impair neuromuscular control as well as dynamic joint stability of the lower extremity. No one has comprehensively examined the effects of AI and fatigue on neuromechanics of the lower extremity during a functional activity. Deficits associated with AI and fatigue could be additive in increasing the risk for injury in patients with AI. PURPOSE: To examine the interaction of AI and fatigue on lower extremity muscle activity, kinematic, and kinetic patterns during a forward-side jump. METHODS: 25 AI (23.3 ± 1.9 yrs, 176.5 ± 10.5 cm, 70.9 ± 11.4 kg), and 25 matched control subjects …

Will Ultrasound Performed With The Rich-Mar Autosound™ Be As Effective At Increasing Tissue Temperature As Ultrasound Performed With A Traditional Machine?, Heather Diane Black

Theses and Dissertations

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized crossover experiment. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the Rich-Mar AutoSound™ would be as effective as traditional ultrasound at increasing the temperature of the triceps surae muscle during a 10-min, 1 MHz, 1.0 W/cm2 ultrasound treatment. BACKGROUND: The AutoSound™ is a hands-free ultrasound device that is strapped on the body and left for the duration of the ultrasound treatment. It requires no clinician during the actual ultrasound treatment, thus freeing the clinician to perform other tasks and reducing clinician error during treatments. METHODS: 16 healthy subjects (6 males, 10 females, age = 22 ± 1.6 yrs, height = 173.2 …

Patient And Provider Perceptions Of Weight Gain, Physical Activity, And Nutrition In Pregnancy, Kara M. Whitaker

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The high percentage of women who enter pregnancy overweight or obese and gain excessive weight during pregnancy is a growing public health problem. Health care providers are recommended to counsel women on weight gain, physical activity (PA), and nutrition during pregnancy. However, little is known about patient or provider perceptions of these topics. Purpose: Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study examined women’s and health care providers’ perceptions of weight gain, PA, and nutrition in pregnancy. This study also examined the role of the health care provider in optimizing pregnancy weight gain. Methods: Pregnant women between …

Healthy Eating And Physical Activity Environmental And Policy Assessment – Measurement Issues And Implications, Rahma Jamea Yousef Ajja

Theses and Dissertations

Current research has suggested that supportive healthy eating and physical activity (HEPA) policy and practice environments play a significant role in shaping the physical activity levels and eating habits of youth. Subsequently, a wide array of audit tools assessing policy and practice environment characteristics across settings that care for youth were developed. However, the extent that available audit tools accurately reflect the policy environment characteristics of the settings that care for the youth population remains unknown. Therefore, this dissertation encompasses four studies. The purpose of the first study was to examine the measurement properties of audit tools currently in use …

The Recovery Of Gut Barrier Function With Selenium Rich Diet In Acute Dss-Induced Colitis, Sarah Depaepe

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Acute Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis is an inflammatory ailment limited to the colon. It works to destroy the morphology and gut barrier goblet and epithelial cells that aid in providing homeostasis. Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is known to play a role in reducing inflammation in areas elsewhere in the body. The current study is focused on how Se alters gut barrier permeability and functionality related to the recovery of tight junction regulation and mucin secretion. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were randomly placed into control (normal water) and 2% DSS water …

Correlations Between White Matter Integrity, Structural Connectivity, And Upper And Lower Extremity Motor Function In Individuals With Chronic Stroke, Denise M. Peters

Theses and Dissertations

Great variability is seen in the clinical manifestation of and recovery from stroke. Structural abnormalities often extend beyond the infarction site, indirectly affecting nonlesioned areas which can further contribute to motor deficits. Advances in neuroimaging have enabled the examination of white matter integrity and anatomical connectivity within the brain. Evidence is limited, however, regarding the relationship between the structural integrity and connectivity of primary and secondary motor tracts/brain regions and chronic upper and (especially) lower extremity motor impairments post-stroke. Therefore, the current study examined the relationship between upper/lower extremity motor impairments and structural integrity (Aim 1) and connectivity (Aim 2) …

Factors Influencing Level Of Implementation Of Physical Activity Interventions In Youth-Serving Organizations, Yuen Yan Lau

Theses and Dissertations

In the past decade, numerous interventions have been developed and tested to increase physical activity in children and adolescents. Among these interventions, those that reported higher levels of program implementation appear to have better program outcomes. However, relatively little is known about the specific factors that contributed to successful implementation in youth physical activity interventions. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to identify a set of core factors that are most important in explaining implementation of physical activity interventions in youth-serving settings. Three studies, an expert panel study and two prospective observational studies, were conducted to address the purpose …