Motor Control Commons^™

Effect Of Aquastretch On Range Of Motion At Knee Joint In Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients, Raja Devinder Kochar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The success of the Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) depends upon its functional outcomes of increase in reduction in pain, and gait ambulation and performing functional activities of daily living. Compromised range of motion, pain and weakness can reduce their ability to perform activities of daily living. Aquatic Physical Therapy may offer an alternative intervention to traditional Physical Therapy Rehabilitation and many studies have shown improvements in range of motion, swelling, pain reduction, stiffness and quality of life after TKA. AquaStretch, a relatively new form of aquatic therapy, claims to restore the functional mobility which is lost restrictions caused due to …

Examining Activity Levels And Motor Proficiency: A Comparison Of Children Who Are Overweight And At A Healthy Weight To Their Parents And Peers, Aaron Copeland, Maresa Madsen, Riley Phelps, Brandon Richards

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine relationships and differences between motor proficiency, activity level, and parental activity level in children who are at a healthy weight and children who are overweight or obese.

Methods: Forty-four children (26 children at a healthy weight and 18 children who were overweight or obese) between the ages of 8-16 (BMI: 14.3-43.6 kg/m2) and 36 parents (BMI: 18.1-44.7) participated in this study. Children and parents wore StepWatch activity monitors (SAM) to measure activity levels over a 72 hour period. Tests reflecting several determinants of motor performance were also administered to …

Effects Of Environment On Children's Motor Scores, Eligibility Status, And Administration Times, Derrick Mittelstadt, Abigail Parker, Kirsten Pickett, Heather Temkin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Best practices for assessing developmental skills in young children focus on naturalistic observation in everyday settings, but the effects of environment on test scores, eligibility status and administration time have not been explored. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition (PDMS-2) was administered to 34 children aged 18 to 59 months in natural and pull-out settings. PDMS-2 total, gross, and fine motor quotient (TMQ, GMQ, and FMQ) scores were significantly lower in the natural environment (p’s≤.014). Based on our results, more children would qualify for services when tested in natural environments using TMQ and GMQ scores. It also took significantly longer …

The Effect Of Acute Exercise-Induced Fatigue On Pistol Shooting Performance In Police Officers, Melissa Jean Brown

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Duties of police officers include apprehending suspects, which may involve foot pursuit and firing a weapon at a suspect. Previous studies in biathletes and soldiers suggest that shooting performance is compromised when fatigue is present. Purpose: To investigate the effects of exercise-induced fatigue on shooting performance in police officers. Methods: Nine police officers fired five rapid-fire shots at three targets each with a fifteen second rest period in between each trail. Officers then exercised on a cycle ergometer to 85% maximum heart rate or voluntary fatigue. The pretest shooting was repeated post-exercise. Distances of 4 shots from the center of …

Effects Of A Simulated Tennis Match On Lymphocyte Subset Measurements, Holly Kell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research has shown that maximal exercise has a significant effect on cells of the immune system. Specifically, lymphocyte count increases during exercise and decreases to a value lower than baseline following an acute exhaustive bout of exercise. The overall lymphocyte response is well characterized, however, the ability of exercise to affect lymphocyte subfractions is unknown to our knowledge. The purpose of this study was to assess and evaluate the affects of a simulated tennis match across two sessions on lymphocyte subsets.

Initial measurements such as age, height, weight, skinfold analysis, and heart rate were recorded for each player, as well …

The Effects Of Two Different Fatigue Protocols On Lower Extremity Kinematics And Kinetics During An Unanticipated Running Stop-Jump, David L. Quammen

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Altered neuromuscular control strategies and biomechanical movement risk factors are most likely to contribute to the increased incidence of non-contact ACL injury for female athletes. Neuromuscular control strategies and movement patterns are further altered when the effects of fatigue are present. The purpose of this study was to determine neuromechanical differences between two fatigue protocols [Slow Linear Oxidative Fatigue Protocol (SLO-FP) and Functional Agility Short-Term Fatigue Protocol (FASTFP)] when performing a running stop-jump task (RS). A sample of convenience of fifteen Division I female soccer players (age= 19.2 ± 0.8 years; height= 1.67 ± 0.05 m; mass= 61.7 ± 8.1 …

The Effects Of Two Types Of Fatigue On An Unanticipated Side-Step Cutting Task As Measured By Kinematic And Kinetic Variables, Shawn E. Lucci

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Fatigue has been shown to alter the neuromechanics of lower extremity. To date, no study has examined the effects of two types of fatigue on kinetics and kinematics. To determine neuromechanical differences between two fatigue protocols [Slow Linear Oxidative Fatigue Protocol (SLO-FP) and Functional Agility Short-Term Fatigue Protocol (FAST-FP)] when performing an unanticipated sidestep cutting task. Fifteen female collegiate soccer players (age=19.2±0.8 years; height=l.67±0.05m; mass=61.7±8.lkg) participated in this study. Participants were free of lower extremity injury at time of participation, and performed five successful trials of a sidestep cutting (SS) task pre and post fatigue protocols. For the SLO-FP, a …

Locus Of Control And The Age Difference In Free Recall From Episodic Memory, Paul Amrhein, Judith K. Bond, Derek Hamilton

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The authors investigated the relation of locus of control (LOC) to age differences in free-recall memory performance. Older and younger participants completed P. C. Duttweiler's (1984) Internal Control Index (ICI) and subsequently performed free-recall memory tasks. Compared with the younger participants, the older participants exhibited poorer recall with more intrusions and uncorrected repetition errors as well as reduced categorical clustering. For the older participants with less internal LOC, recall proportion and item-pair associative recall clustering were lower than for the older participants with more internal LOC. By contrast, the younger participants did not exhibit any LOC effects in their recall …

Do Vision And Audition Influence Bimanual Timing Coordination For In-Phase And Anti-Phase Patterns In A Linear Slide Task?, Elizabeth U. Grillo, Quincy Almeida, Timothy D. Lee, Katherine Verdolini Abbott

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Trunk Rotation Movement In Tennis Backhand, Hsin-Chen Fanchiang

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the effects of gender, strike technique, power level, and trial factors on tennis athletes performing backhand strokes with the incoming ball launched by a serving-stand. Five male and five female college tennis athletes volunteered as subjects. Each subject had 25 data points including joint centers of right and left sides for the 5th metatarsal, lateral malleolus, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists and MP joints, chin, forehead, seven points on the racket (handle, head, neck, upper right and left rims, and lower right and left rims), and the ball were recorded by two video cameras (60Hz). Each of …

Mental Imagery And Basketball: A Comparison Of Cognitive-Specific And Flow Imagery, Evan Welo

Psychology Honors Projects

Flow is a psychological state that is associated with optimal performance. Sports such as basketball are conducive to an individual experiencing flow because they have rules that structure and focus attention. Past research indicates that sports related mental imagery practice improves athletic performance; however few studies to date have systematically included the characteristics of flow in their sports mental imagery interventions. The present study compared the efficacy of a ―flow‖ and a standard basketball mental imagery intervention at improving performance on a basketball-shooting task. No significant differences were found between groups, but both reported increases in flow experiences.

The Effect Of Concurrent Cell Phone Use And Walking On Gait Characteristics, Jennifer Marie Aldridge

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined the effects that cell phone use has on gait and situation awareness. Subjects (n=18; 24.67±3.60 yrs) completed three five-minute treadmill walking conditions (self-selected speed): (1) CONTROL (walking only), (2) TALK (walking and talking), and (3) TEXT (walking and texting). The number of detected lights presented in the visual field was recorded, as were kinematic data of the feet. Using a one-way repeated measure ANOVA it was determined light detection (F _(2,17) =39.777, p<0.001) and TC_min (F_(2,17) =8.574, p=0.001) were different between conditions. Specifically, light detection decreased during TEXT (2.6±2.2 lights) versus TALK (5.8±0.05 lights, p<0.001) or CONTROL (5.9±0.05 lights, p<0.001); TC_min decreased …

The Effect Of Random, Blocked, And Transition Practice Schedules On Children's Performance Of A Barrier Knockdown Test, Gregory C. Snider

Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to examine whether a transition schedule of contextual interference facilitated learning in retention and transfer equal to or better than random and blocked schedules among children. The author selected participants from the central coast of California and from youth activity leagues. The author selected children between the ages of 10 to 13 with a mean age of 11.5. There were a total of 36 subjects, half male and half female. Unfortunately, due to computer error, only data from 15 subjects were saved and available for analysis. Researchers randomly assigned participants to one of three …

The Effects Of Alterations To Upper Limb Inertial Properties On Vertical Point-To-Point Movement, Adrian K. Hongo

Master's Theses

Purpose: Several studies have examined intralimb coordination between the shoulder and elbow joints during target-oriented movements. These studies have observed consistent patterns in coordination despite changes in movement variables such as speed, direction, and inertia. Researchers used intersegmental dynamics to quantitatively analyze these patterns between shoulder and elbow joints while systematically changing values of these movement variables. Some studies have examined central nervous system adaptations to inertial changes at the elbow and entire arm during a movement, but none have examined inertial changes to the upper limb. Methods: Five male and five female participants aged 27 to 39 years (mean …

Effects Of An Angled Starting Block On Sprint Start Kinematics, Nathaniel A. Brown

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of an angled proto-type starting block on sprint start kinematics. The angled starting block rotates the foot medially at a 16 degree angle, which emulates the 16 degree angle of the ankle on the medial axis of the foot. This 16 degree should allow for the athlete to apply more force against the block, resulting in a higher velocity at take-off and a faster block clearance time. In the present study, six female collegiate sprinters were filmed and analyzed using the angled starting block and a standard starting block. …

Examination Of Clinical And Laboratory Measures Of Postural Stability During Static And Dynamic Testing Between Stable And Unstable Ankles, Jason C. Mitchell

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to (1) examine the relationship between clinical and laboratory balance testing, (2) to examine the effect of functional ankle instability (FAI) on scored dynamic and static clinical balance tests, (3) to examine the effect of functional ankle instability (FAI) on a timed dynamic clinical balance test, (4) to examine the effect of FAI on a dynamic laboratory balance test, and (5) to examine the effect of FAI on a static laboratory balance test. Each subject performed four balance tests; (1) Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) Test, (2) Agility Hop test, (3) Laboratory Static Balance …

Disaggregating The Relative Influence Of Genetic, Environmental And Individual Factors On Ldl And Hdl Cholesterols And Bmi For A Sample Of African American (Aa) Mothers And Daughters, C. Jayne Brahler, Jewel Harden, Michelle Mchone, Matthew Soules, Eric Evans, Ann Alyanak, Fred Diakpieng, Paul M. Vanderburgh

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

There are many reports about the associations between blood lipids, body mass index (BMI) and dietary cholesterol intakes both within the individual and between related individuals. The purpose of this descriptive research project was to investigate the relationships between LDL and HDL cholesterols, body mass index and dietary cholesterol intakes for a sample of African American (AA) mothers and their daughters and to attempt to separate the contribution of genetic versus environmental factors. Mother and daughter participants (n =42 and 66, respectively) were 12-14-hours fasted when blood samples were drawn, heights and weights measured, and 24 hour food recalls completed.

Physiological Determinants Of Rowing Performance, Chun-Jung Huang

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to examine ten male rowers and seven female rowers on a number of physiological variables to determine which may account for variation in 2000m rowing performance. Male rowers' mean (±SD) age, body weight, and height were 17.4±0.7 years, 75.2± 11.2 kg, and 181.4±6.1 cm, and female rowers' mean (±SD) age, body weight, and height were 17.3±0.6 years, 72.4±14.9 kg, and 168.3±6.7 cm respectively. The participants were tested on 2000m rowing ergometer, vertical jump, inverted row, leg press, and back hyperextension. Height, vertical jump, inverted row, and leg press correlated with 2000m rowing performance time …

Muscle Vibration's Effect On The Threshold Frequency Of An Electrically Induced Muscle Cramp, Joshua D. Williamson

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of muscle vibration on the threshold frequency of an electrically-induced muscle cramp of the flexor hallucis brevis. Design and setting: This study used a 2 x 2 factorial design study. The independent variables consisted of treatment ( control and vibration) and time (pretest and post-test). The dependent variable was the threshold frequency of an electrically induced muscle cramp. Subjects: 16 healthy individuals, aged 21.6 ± 8.0 years, free from any lower extremity neurological, muscular, or vascular pathology were used in this study. Methods: Subjects reported on three consecutive days …

Qtc Is Associated With Obesity And Physical Activity Level For African American Females, C. Jayne Brahler

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular or ischemic disease mortality. Obesity as a cause for acquired LQTS in otherwise healthy individuals is rapidly gaining the attention of the scientific community. African American people have a higher incidence of obesity compared to Caucasians, yet race-specific information is not available for their prevalence of LQTS. Chronic physical activity can help reduce the incidence of obesity, yet little is known about the effects of chronic physical activity on acquired LQTS. Subjects in this study were a volunteer sample of African American mothers (21-53 yr, n = 44) and …

Self Defense Instruction And Its Impact On Physical Self-Efficacy Of Female Cadets At The United States Military Academy, Jason Matthew Winkle

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of self defense instruction of female cadets at the United States Military Academy on their physical self-efficacy. All95 female cadets enrolled in PE115 during the fall of2002 were surveyed on the first and last day of class to determine their levels of perceived physical ability (PPA) and physical self-presentation confidence (PSPC). Both the PP A and the PSPC are subscales ofthe Physical Self-Efficacy Scale (PSE). Completed data were collected from 80 (84 percent) ofthe subjects. Statistical data analysis included descriptive statistics and a 2x2 multivariate analysis of variance (MANOV A). …

The Effect Of Local Muscle Fatigue On The Threshold Frequency Of An Electrically Induced Cramp, Marcus B. Stone

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: Muscle fatigue has been implicated as a factor in the cause of exercise associated muscle cramping. In an electrically induced muscle cramp, threshold frequency (TF) is the frequency of stimulation at which the cramp originates. Therefore, the TF of a fatigued muscle should shift from a previously established baseline. Objective: To determine the effect of local muscle fatigue on TF of electrically induced muscle cramp. Design: A 2 X 2 repeated measures design was used for this study. The independent variables were test (pre- and post-) and condition (control and fatigue). The dependent variable was TF of an electrically …

Focal Temperature Change Facilitates The Peak-To-Peak Soleus Hoffmann Reflex And Muscle Response, Bentley Andrew Krause

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Cryotherapy is a widely used rehabilitative modality in sports medicine. Cooling joint tissues has been observed to facilitate active exercise following injury. Mechanisms effecting motoneuron recruitment during and following cryotherapy are presumed to be both local and central in nature. Focal cooling facilitates motoncuron pool recruitment and may alter the excitability of motoncurons. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if changes in focal temperature alter the characteristics of the maximum peak-to-peak Hoffmann reflex (Hmax) and muscle response (Mmax). Design and setting: A 4x5 factorial design with repeated measures on time was used in this study. Hmax and …

Motor Control Of Human Gait: A Dynamic Systems Perspective, Gary P. Austin

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Fundamentally, gait permits humans to move intentionally and independently from place to place and to interact with the environment. Human gait, as ordinary as it may seem, is a wonderful illustration of the complex, yet precise action emerging from the interplay of the organism and the environment. As a result of this precision, the locomotor system functions safely and efficiently regardless of the ever-varying environmental conditions. Successful movement ultimately depends on the control, coordination, and integration of the many resources offered by the locomotor system and the environment.

The Comparison Of Gait Characteristics Between Older Adults Who Do Tai-Chi Chuan And Older Adults Who Do Not Do Tai-Chi Chuan, Shu-Ya Chen

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Tai-Chi Chuan (TCC) is a traditional Chinese exercise which has become popular in the Western world recently. The reported health benefits of TCC exercise include increased lower extremity muscle strength, improved balance, improved cardiopulmonary function, reduced tension, and improved overall wellness. However, no study has demonstrated the effects of TCC exercise on walking performance. The purpose of this study is to determine whether TCC exercise has an effect on normal speed walking of older adults. Twenty-four older healthy women over 55 were recruited in this study, 12 subjects practiced TCC exercise at least two times per week and the others …

Head Stabilisation During Running In Place Of Children With Varying Motor Proficiency Levels, Craig Atkins

Theses : Honours

Understanding head motion in children may contribute to development of effective strategies to improve coordination of children. The purpose of this study was to investigate head motion in children during stationary running. Twelve healthy 8-year-old children participated in this study and underwent a running proficiency test based on the Test for Gross Motor Proficiency (TGMO). Subjects were then videotaped while running for one minute "on the spot". Reflective markers were digitised for analysis of head motion relative to the external environment, and relative to the trunk. Resultant and component head angular velocities were calculated for each subject over five consecutive …

Head Motion In Overarm Throwing For Children With Varying Levels Of Motor Proficiency, Kevin J. Netto

Theses : Honours

The overarm throw has been classified as a fundamental motor skill that is the basis for a number of more complex sporting skills. There are a number of developmental stages over which a child progresses to the mature form of the skill. Control of the overarm throw, especially towards a target is very dependent on visual and vestibular information for successful execution. The quality of the information is, in tum, dependant on the head movement of the performer during the execution of the skill. It has been reported that head angular velocities above 350 degrees/second result in a degradation of …

Analysis Of Serotonin And Postural Instability In Parkinson’S Disease, Sandra Kuniyoshi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Postural instability is one of the most debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and the best clinical prognostic indicator of progressive disease. Significant differences in neuropathology, neurochemistry, response to L-dopa therapy and stereotactic surgery as well as prognosis have been identified in subtypes when patients with predominant postural instability and gait difficulty (PIGD)/Type B were differentiated from those with predominant symptoms of tremor and rigidity/Type A. Postural instability is resistant to the therapeutic effects of L-dopa, despite its continued efficacy on other Parkinson’s symptomatology, implicating the nondopaminergic mechanism of postural instability in Parkinson’s disease. Patients with significant postural instability and gait …

Correlation Between Hamstring Spasticity And Range Of Motion And Selected Gait Parameters In Pediatric Clients With Spastic Diplegia, Erin Mccain Glace

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Spasticity is often considered the primary limitation to function in children with spastic cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between hamstring spasticity and a functional activity, specifically gait. The gait parameters chosen were step length, stride length and velocity. A secondary purpose was to study the relationship between hamstring contracture and the same gait parameters. Reliability data were calculated for tone and ROM measurements. Eleven subjects (8 male and 3 female) between the ages of three years and fifteen years with a primary diagnosis of spastic diplegia were recruited for this study.

Hamstring spasticity …

Reliability Of Assessment Of Postural Control In The Sitting Position In The Hemiplegic Subjects By Use Of A Functional Reach Task, Karen Dreher Carter

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

No single standardized and reliable method exists for measuring postural control in sitting in the stroke patient population. Postural control in sitting is often a portion of the total physical therapy assessment of the hemiplegic patient. The purpose of this research was to investigate the reliability of a functional reach test as a measure of postural control in sitting in the adult hemiplegic population. The measurement method was performed on 23 adult hemiplegic subjects, ages 62-88 years (mean= 73.6 + 7.9 years). Two physical therapists scored the subjects on the functional reach task. once the functional reach measure was obtained …