Exercise Science Commons^™

Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting To Improve Cardiometabolic Risk: A Comparative Analysis Of Muscle Strengthening Exercise And Treadmill Walking, Grace E. Anderson

Honors College Theses

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of brief bouts of treadmill walking and bodyweight-based muscular strengthening exercises to mitigate the effects of sedentary behavior on blood pressure, blood glucose, cognitive performance, and perceived fatigue. Methods: Healthy young adults (n = 9) completed 3 experimental trials consisting of 4-hour sedentary periods. The trials consisted of an uninterrupted sedentary period (control), treadmill walking every 30 minutes for 5 minutes, and bodyweight-based muscular strengthening exercises every 30 minutes for 5 minutes. Blood glucose was measured at baseline and every 30 minutes thereafter. Blood pressure and fatigue were measured at baseline and every hour thereafter. …

Encouraging Exercise In Pregnancy Through A Video Education Tool: A Pilot Study, Danielle Lewis, Sahana Kukan, Sabrina Kolker

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 17, 2023. Evidence-based guidelines recommend physical activity during pregnancy, however, most pregnant individuals fail to achieve the minimum recommended amount of physical activity. Uncertainty about the safety of physical activity is a common reason why pregnant individuals do not participate in regular physical activity. The purpose of this study was to develop an evidence-based educational video and evaluate its effectiveness at improving pregnant individuals’ attitudes regarding the safety of physical activity during pregnancy. Pregnant individuals attending their first prenatal appointment from an urban academic interprofessional teaching unit in Toronto, …

The Study Of A Generalized Fitness Education Program's Effect On Personality Traits, Garrett Schliep

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This longitudinal study was to measure the influence of a generalized fitness education program on the percentile of individuals’ personality traits in college aged individuals. The personality traits are those determined in the Five Factor Model of Personality. The Five Factor Model of Personality is a beneficial tool used in exercise psychology that refers to a broad domain of personality traits often referred to as the “Big Five”. The findings reject the hypothesis that a fitness education program would shift an individual’s personality a statistically significant amount.

Psychological Determinants Of Physical Activity And The Prediction Of Physical Activity Levels In African American Men, Alvin L. Morton Iii

Doctoral Dissertations

African American (AA) men experience disproportionally higher rates of non-communicable, chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes, and renal failure) than White men. Physical activity (PA) is known to reduce the progression of CVD, type 2 diabetes, and renal failure. National statistics illustrate that AA men are less likely to get sufficient levels of PA to obtain health benefits. Although many factors (e.g., biomedical, socio-cultural) influence participation in PA, the psychological factors at the individual level are essential to beginning and maintaining activity. Therefore, understanding the psychological determinants of PA in AA men and their associations with meeting national guidelines …

Temporal Effects Of Acute Moderate Intensity Physical Activity On Working Memory Performance In Young Adults, Kimberly Loy Seibold

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An ample amount of research suggests that increases in physical activity in young adults could help improve memory and cognitive functions which may aid in academic success (Johnson & Loprinzi, 2019; Perini et al., 2016). A sufficient working memory is critical to learning because it allows us to temporarily store and compare multiple informational items at one time to form a new concept or solve a problem (Cowan, 2013). The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal effects of acute moderate intensity physical activity on working memory in young adults. This study utilized a within-groups (repeated measures) cross-over …

The Relationship Between Nature Connectedness And Physical Activity Patterns In A Sample Of Collegiate Students, Faculty, And Staff, Destinee Waddy

The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin

PURPOSE: A strong relationship exists between physical activity (PA) and nature connectedness (NC); the most physically active individuals may also be the most nature connected. Designing PA programs and modifying college campuses through the lens of biophilia can provide a more logical, evidence-based approach to improve overall health and wellness. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between physical activity and nature connectedness in a sample of collegiate faculty and students. METHODS: Participants completed two previously validated surveys: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Connectedness to Nature Survey. Demographic data (age, race, campus affiliation) were also …

Establishing Safe Thresholds To Improve Exercise Capacity In Collegiate Athletes With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ibd): A Critically Appraised Topic, Emily C. Roberts, Jenny Toonstra, Andrea Cripps

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

CLINICAL SCENARIO
Crohn’s Disease (CD), Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and Indeterminate Colitis (IC) are forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a complex auto-immune disorder of the GI tract. IBD can present several challenges to athletic participation due to unpredictable disease activity and uncontrollable systemic symptoms that severely impact daily activities and limit exercise/sports participation. Limited studies and a lack of standard guidelines for physical activity (PA) and exercise are additional barriers for patients. The limitation of studies and absence of standard guidelines are a particular concern for Athletic Trainers who may encounter collegiate athletes with IBD and must navigate the return-to-play …

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 …

An International Classification Of Functioning, Disability And Health Perspective On Physical Activity Participation Among Children With Cerebral Palsy, Adrenne T. Newell

Honors College Theses

Children with cerebral palsy do not commonly meet the minimum recommended physical activity guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Children with cerebral palsy face many functional limitations which can, in turn, affect participation and activity; therefore, this study aimed to identify the predictors of participation and activity among children with cerebral palsy. The study examined associations among poverty levels, neighborhood support, accommodating services, and familial financial burdens as factors influencing participation. Data were taken from the National Survey of Children’s Health. A chi-square test for the association was executed along with a logistic regression.

Exercise And Bone: Older Adults, Type Ii Diabetes, And Ketogenic Diets, Matthew Casey Scott

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Exercise is a well-appreciated modulator of bone and has other positive implications for overall fitness and health. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the effects of exercise on bone in conjunction with other known modifiers: old age, type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and ketogenic diets. The three studies discussed in this dissertation utilized multiple methods of measuring bone to examine the effect of exercise on bone in individuals with type II diabetes, rodents consuming a ketogenic diet, and older adults participating in a novel resistance training intervention. The first study examined the effects of a 9-month resistance, aerobic, …

Strategies And Characteristics Of Young African American Women Who Maintain Physical Activity, Chloe Jones

Masters Theses

African American (AA) women have a disproportionately higher prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity compared to their gender and racial counterparts. Young AA women experience the largest increases in weight gain between 20-30 years of age, yet are underrepresented in current literature surrounding leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) promotion. Examining young AA women who successfully maintain LTPA participation may provide insight into their methods for doing so. The purpose of this study was to explore strategies used by active young AA women that support their LTPA maintenance, and identify various characteristics of these women.

A multimethod approach (qualitative and quantitative) was …

Is Fitspiration Truly An Inspiration? How Social Media Accounts Dedicated To Fitness And Nutrition Affect Physical Activity Levels And Body Image Among College Students, Anna Bowles

Honors Theses

Fitspiration accounts on social media are established to influence those that view or follow them to live a healthier lifestyle. However, just because these accounts are being viewed does not mean that the individuals are following the advice of these influencers. The purpose of this study is to gather data on how physical activity levels and body image are affected by the use, or knowledge of “fitspiration,” or inspiration on fitness and nutrition, accounts on social media among students at the University of Mississippi. The participants were 361 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 25 at the University …

Effects Of Asthma On Lung Function, Aerobic Fitness, And Physical Activity Levels In Young Adults, Trey Deal

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Asthma is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in the United States. Research has shown that one form of asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, is experienced by the overwhelming majority of individuals with the condition during physical activity, potentially causing fear and avoidance of physical activity in the future. Physical inactivity could have several negative health implications, including lower lung function and aerobic fitness levels. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare lung function, aerobic fitness, and physical activity levels between young adults with asthma to those without asthma. The hypothesis is that there will be a statistically …

Impact Of A Multimodal Exercise Program On Tibial Bone Health In Adolescents With Development Coordination Disorder: An Examination Of Feasibility And Potential Efficacy, Jocelyn L. Tan, Aris Siafarikas, Timo Rantalainen, Nicolas H. Hart, Fleur Mcintyre, Beth Hands, Paola Chivers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020, International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions. All rights reserved. Objectives: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) compromises bone health purportedly due to lower levels of physical activity. The potential of an exercise intervention to improve bone health parameters in adolescents with DCD has not previously been studied. This study thus aimed to determine the impact of a multimodal exercise intervention on bone health in this population at-risk of secondary osteoporosis. Methods: Twenty-eight adolescents (17 male, 11 female) aged between 12-17 years (Mage =14.1) with DCD participated in a twice weekly, 13-week generalised multimodal exercise intervention. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography …

Resedent Study- Reducing Sedentary Behaviour May Slow Cognitive Decline In Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study, Kirsten B. Dillon

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Physical activity (PA) has been shown to slow down dementia. Unfortunately, older adults spend most of their day in sedentary behaviours (SB). Breaking up prolonged bouts of sitting with intermittent bouts of light intensity PA may reduce glycemic variability in the brain; potentially mitigating cognitive decline. This study investigated how interrupting SB with 10 min bouts of light intensity PA 3x a day would affect mild to moderate cognitive impairment progression (primary outcome) in older adults residing in an assisted living facility. Participants (n=25) were assigned in clusters into a two arm 10-week single site pilot randomized controlled trial. Secondary …

Short Term Examination Of Physical Activity And Sleep Quality With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Demani Barak Barnes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may not be meeting the recommended amounts of physical activity (PA) or obtain a sufficient amount of sleep, however, few studies have objectively compared PA, sedentary behavior, and sleep quality between typically developing (TD) youth, and youth with ASD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare levels of PA, sedentary behavior, and sleep quality between youth with ASD and TD youth. Twenty-three children with ASD and 12 TD children wore the Actigraph GT9X accelerometer over seven days and nights to assess activity and sleep. Youth with ASD had significantly greater levels …

Determinants Of Hydration In Children: The Role Of Physical Activity And Parental Dietary Habits, Hyun-Gyu Suh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of these studies was 1) to examine the factors that influence the water intake in children and 2) to identify the optimal time window to assess hydration status that would be equivalent to 24-hour urine sample in children. METHODS: Study 1: Data for 200 parents (age:3-13y, female:62%, BMI:28.4±7.0kg∙m-2) and 200 children (age:7.5±2.9y, female:44%, BMI:17.7±3.9kg∙m-2) were recruited. Subjects recorded their fluid and food consumption on the 2-day diary, and food data were analyzed by using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) program. Physical activity levels were assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). All urine samples …

The Comparison Of Using The Preferred Or Non-Preferred Wrist When Measuring Physical Activity In College Students, Bryce Daniels

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. People who participate in regular physical activity have a decreased risk of chronic diseases and premature death. A dramatic decrease of physical activity occurs from adolescence to young adulthood. With important implications to health, physical activity is an important behavior to measure. However, inconsistencies exist on how to measure physical activity. When using accelerometers, differences between the preferred or non-preferred wrist may result in different estimates of physical activity. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to compare the preferred and non-preferred wrist accelerometry measured physical activity using commonly used research accelerometers during structured daily college activities (Actigraph GT3x-bt …

Physical Activity Monitoring Through A Wearable Technological Device, Alissa Underhill

Scholar Week 2016 - present

PURPOSE: To assess the use of a wearable technological device for the increase in attainment of physical activity (PA) with the goal of preventing Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) through weight loss.

METHODS: Men and women over the age of 40, and at risk for prediabetes, were recruited. The study period was four months in length, with an initial four weeks of baseline PA testing, followed by 12 weeks of lifestyle intervention. Participants averaged 72 days of PA tracking with 46% of participants reaching the maximal number of days (77). RESULTS: Participants (N = 13) were aged …

A Real-Time Wireless Sweat Rate Measurement System For Physical Activity Monitoring, Andrew Brueck, Tashfin Iftekhar, Alicja B. Stannard, Kumar Yelamarthi, Tolga Kaya

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

There has been significant research on the physiology of sweat in the past decade, with one of the main interests being the development of a real-time hydration monitor that utilizes sweat. The contents of sweat have been known for decades; sweat provides significant information on the physiological condition of the human body. However, it is important to know the sweat rate as well, as sweat rate alters the concentration of the sweat constituents, and ultimately affects the accuracy of hydration detection. Towards this goal, a calorimetric based flow-rate detection system was built and tested to determine sweat rate in real …

Calibration Of An Accelerometer For Measurement Of Very Light Intensity Physical Activity In Children, Joseph S. Gorab

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity prevalence is continuing to rise in children in the United States. Decreased physical activity has long been thought to be a cause of this trend. As such, much of the accelerometer study has been focused on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). More recently, time spent in sedentary behavior has received much attention as well. There is an abundance of time spent in light intensity physical activity, and yet comparatively little focus has been placed on it in the field of accelerometer study. The purpose of this study was to generate an accelerometer count cut-point for the ActiGraph GT3X+ …

A Comprehensive Validation Of Activity Trackers For Estimating Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior In Free-Living Settings, Albert R. Mendoza

Doctoral Dissertations

The aim of study one of this dissertation was to compare consumer activity trackers (ATs) with the research-grade ActiGraph™ GT3X-BT accelerometer (AG) in estimating energy expenditure (EE) and steps during orbital shaking at different frequencies. To address this aim, we utilized an electronic orbital shaking protocol (twenty-four, 3-minute trials; 2-hour trials). For all comparisons, the AG served as the reference measure. In the 3-min protocol, we showed that on average, the NL-1000 pedometer (NL) produced the lowest error (-9 steps/3-min) at 0.9 Hz (corresponding to moderate intensity). The magnitude of the error for the NL was 14 steps/3-min at a …

The Influence Of Exercise Empowerment On Life Stress, Tonya M. Parker, Colleen Lewis, Christina Beaudoin

Funded Articles

Background: Psychological stress – when an individual perceives that the environment exceeds their ability to meet the demands placed on them - is common in college students and exercise, and specifically instructional physical activity courses, is frequently cited as a one method of stress reduction. Objective: Determine any relationship between exercise empowerment and perceived life stress for those participating in instructional physical activity courses (IPAC). Methods: All undergraduate students (n = 3388) enrolled in IPAC in 15-week IPAC at a large university were surveyed on perceived life stress (PSS), empowerment in exercise (EES), and specific demographic variables. …

A Simulated Walk In Nature: Testing Predictions From The Attention Restoration Theory, Corey Crossan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Attention Restoration Theory (ART) predicts that top-down processing during everyday activities can cause attentional fatigue and that bottom-up processing that occurs when people experience nature will be restorative (Kaplan, 1995). The present study examined this prediction by exposing participants to three different conditions using a repeated measures design: a control condition during which participants walked on a typical treadmill, a nature/restorative condition during which participants walked on the same treadmill, experiencing a simulated nature walk, and a perturbation condition that included the same simulated nature scene but also required top-down processing during the walk. The findings supported ART predictions. As …

Accuracy Of Energy Expenditure Predictions And Activity Identification In Consumer-Based Activity Monitors, James Andrew Woodman

Masters Theses

INTRODUCTION: Consumer-based physical activity (PA) monitors are increasingly common, and must be validated against criterion measures to determine which models are accurate. Such studies will aid PA intervention research and individual consumers purchasing these devices. METHODS: Thirty participants (mean ±[plus or minus] SD; age, 25.5 ± 3.7 years; BMI, 24.9 ± 2.6 kg/m2[meters squared]) completed a structured PA routine including 11 activities ranging from sedentary behaviors to vigorous intensities. During the routine participants wore an Oxycon portable calorimeter (criterion measure of energy expenditure (EE)), a Basis Peak and Garmin Vivofit on the non-dominant wrist, and three Withings Pulse devices (right …

Mobile Application Use And Healthy Eating Behaviors In Young Adult Women, Callie S. Neumann

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To assess the differential effects of a mobile phone-based application (app) versus phone-based memo use on anthropometric measures, healthy eating, and physical activity behaviors in college-age women. METHODS: Participants (n=43) were randomly enrolled in a mobile app or phone-based memo group during a 6 week study. Participants in the app group were trained on proper usage of the free app, MyNetDiary, and the memo group received directions on how to journal their food and exercise activity on their phone. Participants were asked to complete pre-and post-questionnaires at baseline and at the conclusion of the study. Physical activity and …

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 …

Elementary School Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Role Of Physical Activity In Schools, Amanda Millwood Harrison

Masters Theses

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine and describe elementary school teachers’ perceptions of physical activity among children in an urban, Title I, school in Tennessee. Twelve elementary teachers in Second and Third grade were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. The interview protocol was developed to guide participants from broader concepts regarding physical activity to more focused discussions on the use of physical activity during the school day.

Data presented examines the perceptions of teachers’ overall view of physical activity among children during school hours, the amount of physical activity children engaged in during school hours, the impact …

Physical Activity And Its Effect On Reducing Disease: A Literature Review Of The National Runner's Health Study, Graham William Edson

Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies Publications and Other Works

In 1996, Dr. Paul Williams began The National Runner’s Health Study. The study had over one hundred thousand respondents who were questioned about their physical activity habits (walking or running), diet, weight, height, and use or previous use of tobacco and alcohol. Some of the participants were involved in case studies of several years. Primarily, the study tested the effects of vigorous physical activity and its ability to reduce disease. For close to twenty years, Dr. Williams has continued an impressive amount of research on various topics in the health and exercise field. The study is one of the most …

Measuring Organizational Member Involvement In Physical Activity Coalitions Across The United States, Daniel Benjamin Bornstein

Theses and Dissertations

Physical inactivity has been labeled a global pandemic with enormous economic, social, environmental, and public health consequences. The vast majority of American adults and youth are insufficiently physically active. Increasing population-levels of physical activity (PA) requires broad social and environmental change. PA coalitions provide the structure through which such broad change can be achieved. An extensive literature on health-based coalitions suggests that coalition success is impacted by coalition members. Coalitions are generally comprised of member organizations. Little is known about the characteristics of PA coalitions and less is known about organizational member involvement in PA coalitions. The purpose of this …