Exercise Science Commons^™

Assessment Of Skeletal Muscle Characteristics In Female Collegiate Cheer Athletes, Amy Meyers, Esther Duncan, Blair Besancenez, Claire Gruenke, Petey Mumford

2022 Student Academic Showcase

PURPOSE: To examine training modalities and muscle architecture characteristics between legs in collegiate cheer athletes. METHODS: Thirteen female collegiate cheer athletes (19 ± 1 years, 164.3 ± 6.8 cm, 63.0 ± 10.2 kg) were assessed for anthropometrics, a survey to assess type of training outside of cheer practice, and B mode ultrasound on both legs during a single visit. All ultrasound images were analyzed at 50% of the vastus lateralis for muscle thickness (MT), pennation angle (PA), and fascicle length (FL). RESULTS: Type of exercise training outside of practice counts: endurance (2), resistance (2), mixed (6), and do not train …

Carbonyl Iron Vs Ferrous Sulfate On Blood Iron Markers In Male Division Iii Cross-Country Athletes, Sam Gunter

Student Scholar Showcase

Competitive distance runners are often predisposed to developing iron deficiency. This study aimed to determine if carbonyl iron was more effective at maintaining blood iron markers and minimizing overall fatigue and GI stress than ferrous sulfate. In this randomized, independent groups study, 7 male, division III cross-country athletes were supplemented with either carbonyl iron or ferrous sulfate for 6 weeks. Blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, subjective GI distress, subjective fatigue, and relative exertion of recent training were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 weeks. Results will be analyzed via a detailed analysis of variance to determine significant differences in outcome measures. Statistical …

The Effects Of A Periodized Strength And Conditioning Program On Overhand Throwing Velocity, Underhand Throwing Velocity And Off The Bat Velocity In Diii Collegiate Athletes, Sage Jenkins

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

Overhand throwing velocity, underhand throwing velocity and off the bat velocity are measures that impact performance of softball athletes. The purpose of strength and conditioning programs is to improve athletic performance for athletes. Strength and conditioning coaches can achieve this through programming. One aspect of programming that this study looked at is periodization. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a periodized strength and conditioning program on these performance measurements in NCAA DIII collegiate softball athletes. Sixteen (n=16) NCAA DIII softball athletes were selected based on their participation on the Otterbein softball team. The athletes underwent …

The Validity Of Perceptual Recovery Status On Monitoring Recovery During A High-Intensity Back Squat Session, Nicholas Buoncristiani

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Adaptations to resistance training and subsequent performance can be undermined by inadequate inter-set recovery. This time between sets is often uniformly prescribed based on desired training outcomes; however, there is demonstrative evidence that recovery is highly individualized. Methods typically used to monitor recovery were developed for longitudinal use, making them cost- or time -inefficient within a bout of exercise. If valid, the perceptual recovery status (PRS) scale may be used as an efficient and inexpensive recovery assessment tool to monitor individual recovery as well as appropriately modify rest periods. Purpose: The aim of the current study was to assess the …

Changes In Health Behaviors By Gender During A Global Pandemic, Anthony Costarella

Celebration of Scholarship 2022

As we emerge from Covid-19 pandemic, many people struggle to return to normal, leading us to ask what changes have occurred as a result of the virus and social distancing. We have observed 471 million people suffer with Covid-19, lost 6.08 million lives to the virus, and learned how the virus works as well as how to fight it, yet very little is known about the impact of the virus and its countermeasures on our health habits. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of gender on changes in health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Eight hundred and sixty-six subjects (70.8% …

Do Changes In The Navy Physical Readiness Test Impact Performance?, Alison Colao

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The fitness level of our service members is of utmost importance due to the nature of their occupation. This study investigated whether changes to the Navy’s Physical Readiness Test (PRT) impact performance on the fitness test. Participants were college-aged males between the ages of 18 and 29 (n=20; 21.05±2.01 years; BMI 24.85± 2.74). Participants performed both the New PRT and Old PRT at two separate randomized visits. Protocols included push-ups, curl-ups (old version) or a forearm plank hold (new version), and a 1.5-mile run. At the end of each exercise, the participant’s heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) …

The Validity & Reliability Of The Repetitions In Reserve Based Rating Of Perceived Exertion Scale In Single Joint Exercise, Grant Malone

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Introduction: Intentional regulation and individualization of resistance training schemes are imperative when structuring a resistance training program. Optimal adaptation cannot be expected without proper manipulation of training variables such as load and volume. Load is traditionally prescribed by testing a given exercise’s repetition maximum and basing intensity from that load. This method of intensity regulation may be limited, considering it fails to recognize the day-to-day undulation of individual performance which can be impacted by several variables. A flexible method of regulating load and volume would be of use for those undergoing a resistance training program. The repetitions in reserve-based rating …

Impact Of A Family History Of Hypertension And Physical Activity On Left Ventricular Mass, Evan L. Matthews, Kerry N. Callaghan, Peter A. Hosick, Michael S. Brian

Research Data

A positive family history of hypertension (FHH) (+FHH) is associated with elevated left ventricular mass (LVM). Regular physical activity (PA) may eliminate differences in LVM between +FHH and negative family history of hypertension (-FHH) adults. PURPOSE: To determine if a +FHH is associated with a greater LVM compared to a -FHH group within a sample of young, mostly active healthy adults with and without statistically controlling for PA. METHODS: Healthy young (18-32yrs) participants self-reported FHH status and habitual moderate and vigorous PA frequency. Participants then underwent an echocardiogram. RESULTS: Of the 61 participants, 32 (M=11, W=21; non-active=8) reported -FHH and …

Self Reported Cardiovascular Health And Health Behaviors In Women Veterans, Seth Byland

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe self-reported cardiovascular health (CVH) and health behaviors in women veterans (WV). A cardiovascular score will be adapted from the existing American Heart Association CVH score. This score will be used to describe CVH in WV.

Methods: Data was collected from WV using an anonymous online survey. This survey asked questions about CVH, CVH behavior, and military specific questions. CVH scoring was determined by asking 6 questions that scored individuals for a total score from 0 to 12, with 12 being most ideal for CVH health. Scores were tallied and mean scores …

Trend Analysis Of Physical Activity Measurement Research Using Text Mining In Big Data Analytics, Seungbak Lee, Minsoo Kang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Measurements of physical activity taken in a valid and reliable way are essential in characterizing the relationship between physical activity and health outcomes. Given the steadily growing interest in the physical activity measurement and the lack of research to identify current trends, this study investigated the research trend of physical activity measurement by applying four text data mining techniques (i.e., future signal, keyword network analysis, keyword trend, and keyword association rule). A total of 54,670 publications from 1982 to 2021 were collected from PubMed. As a result, the current study 1) confirmed two weak signal topics (i.e., “validity of physical …

Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Factors As Predictors Of Exercise Habits, Self-Efficacy, Social Support, And Affect, Alex C. Garn

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Objective: The study investigated contemporary reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) personality factors as predictors of short-term changes in young adults’ exercise-related outcomes. Specifically, we explore RST factors as predictors of short-term changes in young adults’ reports of their exercise habits, exercise self-efficacy, exercise affect, and elicitation of exercise social support.

Design: Participants (N=406) completed surveys related to RST including four aspects of behavioral approach system, behavioral inhibition system, and fight-flight-freeze system as well as exercise habits, self-efficacy, affect, and social support at the beginning of one semester and took the same exercise survey six-weeks later.

Main Outcomes: Changes in …

The Effects Of Wearable Health Technology On Cancer Survivors’ Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, And Weight: A Meta-Analysis, Daphne Blount, Rui Zhang, Anne Blaes, Zan Gao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Wearable health technology (WHT) has been suggested as a health intervention in preventing or reducing health risk factors in clinical populations. Cancer survivors exhibit risk factors prior to cancer diagnosis and acquire comorbidities as a result of their treatment. These conditions may increase likelihood of cancer recurrence and reduce quality of life by inhibiting survivors’ physiological function and predisposing them to other maladies. Several studies have suggested WHTs as an intervention in mitigating these risks. However, there lacks a comprehensive review of the current evidence to determine the efficacy of WHT interventions. Thus, a literature search of WHT studies within …

Rasch Analysis Of The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale Among 9th- And 10th-Grade Students, Jane Shimon, Yong Gao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Rasch Model analysis was used to evaluate construct validity and reliability of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) in an adolescent population. A total of 349 9th and 10th graders (180 male; 169 female), aged 13 to 15 years (M = 14.13 SD = .793), completed the 18-item PACES scale at the conclusion of physical education classes. Responses to PACES items were analyzed using Rasch partial credit model. Of the 18 PACES items, five were identified as misfit items and were removed. The remaining 13 good-fit items (difficulty level ranged from -0.81 for Item #10 to 0.66 logits for Item …

International Approach Of Physical Activity And Health: Accomplishment And Challenges, Yuanlong Liu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

No abstract provided.

Path Associations Between Preservice Physical Educators’ Beliefs About Epistemology And Their Value And Self-Efficacy For Sport Education And Teaching Games For Understanding, Ken R. Lodewyk

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Teachers’ beliefs about epistemology – that is, their personal broad mental representations about the nature of reality, knowledge, and how people know and learn – have been associated with the many educational outcomes both in the classroom and in physical education. Little is known about whether these beliefs predict physical educators’ value (i.e., interest, importance, like, and usefulness) and self-efficacy (i.e., confidence in performing) for using constructivist teaching models such as sport education and teaching games for understanding. As a result, this study examined path associations from beliefs about epistemology (epistemic worldviews and epistemological beliefs) to value and self-efficacy for …

Psychophysiological Biomarkers Of Concussion Recovery, Adam Todd Harrison

Theses and Dissertations

Each ach year a growing number of individuals report lingering deficits months-years following concussion. Persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) can negatively impact day-today activities and if left untreated may manifest in severe neurological sequelae resulting in long-term cognitive impairment or advanced neurological degeneration (i.e., CTE). Current clinical diagnostic and prognostic assessments (e.g., symptom reports and neurocognitive testing) lack the sensitivity to quantify neurological function. Accordingly, there is a critical need to identify objective biomarkers specific to PPCS to improve an individual’s quality of life and prevent severe long-term neurological dysfunction.

Psychophysiological measurements (e.g., EEG derived event-related potentials, heart rate variability, and …

Molecular Architecture Of Cardiometabolic Responses To Regular Exercise, Jacob L. Barber

Theses and Dissertations

Background: To investigate the molecular mechanisms, determinants, and predictors of cardiometabolic responses to regular exercise, this dissertation had two primary aims: 1) Examine the molecular architecture of cardiometabolic responses to exercise training (unsupervised approach) and 2) Identify molecular signatures of responsiveness to regular exercise within clinically relevant lipoprotein traits (supervised approach).

Methodology: Multi-omics data (17,945 muscle transcripts, 4,979 proteins, 411 metabolites) from participants (n=647) who completed 20 weeks of endurance training as part of the HERITAGE Family Study was collected before and after training. We employed an unsupervised machine learning approach (Aim 1) to identify patterns of molecular responses to …

The Effects Of Exercise Training On Cholesterol Efflux Capacity In The Heritage Family Study, Joshua Adam Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) has been associated with cardiovascular disease risk independent of HDL-C levels. However, the effect of regular exercise on CEC is not yet fully understood. Therefore, we examined the effects of exercise training on CEC in the HERITAGE Family Study. In HERITAGE, subjects participated in an endurance training program that consisted of exercise on a cycle ergometer three times per week for 20 weeks. Global and non-ABCA1 CEC were measured at baseline and post-training in 542 subjects via a cell- based radiolabeled CEC assay. Neither global nor non-ABCA1 CEC significantly changed with training in the whole cohort. …

Response To A Water Bolus In Long Term Oral Contraceptive Users, Whitley C. Atkins, Brendon P. Mcdermott, Abigail T. Colburn, Stavros A. Kavouras

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of our study was to determine the responses to an acute water bolus in long-term oral contraception (OCP) users. Seventeen female volunteers (27 ± 5 y, 64.1 ± 13.7 kg, 39.6 ± 5.9 kg/LBM) provided consent and enrolled in our study. All were long-term OCP users and participated in two trials, one during the active pill (High Hormone, HH) dose of their prescribed OCP and one during the sham pill (Low Hormone, LH) dose. Participants reported to the laboratory euhydrated, were fed breakfast, remained seated for 60 min and were provided a bolus of room temperature water in …

The Effect Of Task And Environment Constraints On Aquatic Locomotor Behavior: Qualitative Data Analysis, Ernani Xavier Filho, Edison J. Manoel

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Many constraints (environmental, organismic, and task) act on all patterns of motor coordination, although their effects on swimming is less well understood. To this end, we carried out the current study with fifty-six participants, ages ranging from six to twelve years. The experimental tasks were created from the original task in which changes in task speed and environmental context were manipulated. Four aspects in the results were notable: a) a main trend was one of performance with the same developmental status among the tasks; b) when behaviour changed, this occurred due to environmental constraints, leading to more rudimentary patterns of …

A Qualitative Report Of The Perceptions Of The Covid-19 Pandemic From Collegiate Student-Athletes, Dylan C. Rowe, Zachary K. Winkelmann Phd, Lat, Atc, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, Michelle Angelique Arent Rd, Mph, Cscs, Cissn, Alexa Jenny Chandler, Nancy A. Uriegas, Toni Torres-Mcgehee Phd, Lat, Atc

Faculty Publications

Context

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an abrupt disruption in access to services and personnel for collegiate student-athletes in the spring and summer of 2020. We sought to identify the effects of this unprecedented change by examining the psychological well-being, changes to normal routines, and return-to-play considerations of current student-athletes in order to guide support for both current and future student-athletes who may face similar situations. Methods

We utilized a phenomenological approach to interview a purposeful sample of eighteen collegiate student-athletes (7 males, 11 females; mean age = 20 years) from across the United States. The participants were interviewed using …

In This Issue (13:4), Stephen J. Langendorfer Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Greetings, IJARE readers and welcome to the fourth issue of Volume 13. I admit being quite excited about this issue. It is jam-packed with outstanding papers from six different countries that deserve your readership and attention.

Employment With The Northwest Territories Aquatics Program: A Significant Life Event?, Sebastien Denize, Audrey R. Giles

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

For over 60 years, the Northwest Territories Aquatics Program (NWTAP) has employed university students from southern Canada with little to no exposure to northern Canada to run seasonal swimming pools and waterfronts in isolated northern communities. In this article, we examine the impact that working for this program had on nine former employees’ lives and whether or not working for the NWTAP could be categorized as a significant life experience. We used thematic analysis of the data from retrospective semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires and identified four themes: (1) employment by the NWTAP enhanced the employees’ self-confidence, independence, and self-efficacy; …

Content, Construct, And Criterion Validity, Reliability, And Objectivity For Aquatic Readiness Assessment For Brazilian Children, Nadia C. Valentini, Keila R G Pereira, Glauber C. Nobre

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The Aquatic Readiness Assessment (ARA) is an assessment instrument for measuring children's aquatic readiness. The objective of the study was to translate the English version into Portuguese and to investigate the content, construct, and criterion validity as well as the reliability and rater objectivity of the ARA for Brazilian children. Twenty-three professionals and 464 children, newborn to 13 years-old participated in the study. We found strong content (94% to 100% of judges’ agreement) and criterion validity, internal consistency (α from .96 to .97), and inter-rater objectivity (ICC from .81 to .98), and test-retest reliability (ICC from .94 to .98). Appropriate …

Ability Of Lifeguards To Detect Submerged Manikins In Public Swimming Pool Environments, Élie Vignac, Pascal Lebihain, Brice Guignard, Natacha Heutte, Loic Le Minor, Bastien Soulé

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

To prevent drownings in public swimming pools (PSP), French legislation requires constant surveillance by state-certified lifeguards. While previous research showed that surveillance was not always effective, this article focuses on efficiency of surveillance when it is effective. We evaluated the ability of 4 volunteer professional lifeguards to detect a submerged manikin under controlled conditions. One hundred and eight (108) tests were carried out in 2 PSP. Four variables were controlled (i.e., distance, depth, surveillance station, attendance). Our results showed that rapid drowning detection was not exclusively linked to the individual detection capabilities of a lifeguard, but rather it emerged from …

Effective Lifeguard Scanning: A Review, Stephen J. Langendorfer Ph.D., Francesco (Frank) A. Pia Ph.D., Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The purpose of this scientific review was to address the question of what evidence-based visual surveillance/scanning skills exist in the peer-reviewed scholarly literature. It is well known that lifeguards spend a majority of their on-duty time surveying bathers and swimmers in the water. Lifeguards need to quickly distinguish among swimmers in distress and drowning persons from other bathers in order to rapidly come to their aid to prevent drowning. To be able to accomplish this task, Signal Detection Theory reveals that lifeguards need specific and extensive training in identifying the behavioral patterns associated with drowning persons and swimmers in distress. …

Lifeguard Performance Skills: A Systematic Review, Paulo Santiago, Filipe Maia, Sandra Santiago, Daniel Duarte, Pedro Teques

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and lifeguards’ action can be regarded as a significant contribution to change that reality. In this regard, the purpose of this systematic review was to identify factors associated with lifeguards’ performance. After extensive research on PsycArticles, PsicBooks, PsycInfo, SportDiscus, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and SportDiscus databases, containing the keywords “lifeguard” AND “performance”, “lifeguard” AND “skills” and “lifeguard” AND “drowning”, we obtained 429 research articles. After eliminating duplicates, excluding those that had no relevance to the study, and screening against set criteria, a total of five articles were fully reviewed. …

The Faith, Activity, And Nutrition (Fan) Dissemination And Implementation Study: Changes In And Maintenance Of Organizational Practices Over 24 Months In A Statewide Initiative, Sarah Wilcox Phd, Kelsey R. Day, Ruth P. Saunders, Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman, Andrew T. Kaczynski, Jessica Stucker, Caroline G. Dunn, John Bernhart Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background

Few studies have examined the impact of ecological health promotion interventions on organizational practices over time, especially in faith-based settings. This statewide dissemination and implementation study examined change in organizational practices and their predictors across a 24-month period, as well as maintenance of change.

Methods

Using a pre-post quasi-experimental design, church coordinators from 92 United Methodist Churches in South Carolina (42% predominantly African American congregations) completed surveys at baseline, and immediate, 12-, and 24-months post-training regarding physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) organizational practices consistent with the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program (opportunities, policies, pastor support, messages) …

Low-Cost Prosthetic Feet For Underserved Populations: A Comparison Of Gait Analysis And Mechanical Stiffness, Kaleigh Renninger, Brevin Banks, Dustin A. Bruening

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2022

• Lower limb loss is an ongoing cause of disability throughout the world.
• Despite advancements in prosthetic technologies, there are numerous underserved populations in need of effective low-cost prosthetic foot options.

The Effects Of Exercise On Inflammatory Biomarkers Over A 36-H Fast, Austin F. Duersch, Bruce W. Bailey, Landon S. Deru, Jacob Coleman, Hunter Chamberlain, Spencer Cleverly

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2022

Diet-induced chronic inflammation has become a popular point of discussion over recent years in lifestyle medicine as studies have uncovered the effects that inflammation markers have on chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Each time we eat, an immune response is stimulated resulting in increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers.1,2 Interventions to help lower inflammation could help promote longevity and decrease risk of chronic diseases. This study assessed the impact of an acute 36h fast with and without exercise at the beginning on inflammatory biomarkers IL-6, C-peptide, GIP, MCP-1, and TNF-alpha.