Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Salivary Microrna As A Concussion Biomarker And The Implications For Athletic Trainers' Practices, Thomas Richard Campbell

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Many concussions are sustained globally each year; however, research suggests that a large number may go undiagnosed due to a reliance on subjective information from patients and limitations of current objective measures. Recently, efforts have been focused on identifying clinical biomarkers of concussions, including salivary microRNA (miRNA), to improve healthcare professionals’ concussion management practices. Even if salivary miRNA were shown to be a valid and reliable measure for managing concussions, healthcare professionals, such as athletic trainers (ATs), must be familiar with the tool and have positive attitudes toward the implementation into clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was …

An Examination Of Athletic Directors' Perceptions Of The Utilization Of Athletic Trainers In The Secondary School Setting, Stephanie H. Clines

Health Services Research Dissertations

Many secondary school athletes are lacking appropriate medical care during sport participation. Athletic trainers (ATs) are qualified healthcare professionals that can fill this need. Barriers to hiring ATs within this setting have been identified, however important information from administrators is lacking on why secondary schools choose to utilize ATs. Understanding this decision making process has the potential to guide future strategies to increase the number of secondary schools that employ ATs and improve retention of athletic training positions within the secondary school setting.

Our objective was to explore athletic directors’ perceptions of the roles and services provided by ATs working …

Effects Of Knee Sleeves On Knee Mechanics During Squats At Variable Depths, Alexandria A. Trypuc

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The squat is a functional, compound and multi-joint exercise that targets several muscles of the lower body and is widely used in both athletics and many exercise programs. This exercise has been the subject of many studies, comparing different squat variations and examining how external gear, such as squat suits and knee wraps impact the exercise. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of wearing neoprene knee sleeves on lower extremity kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activations during weighted back squats. Fifteen resistance trained men and women, aged 28±5 years, from the local fitness community and university campus …

Educational Practices And Attainment Of Competency In The Professional Preparation Of An Athletic Trainer, Julie M. Cavallario

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The professional education of athletic trainers will continue to evolve as the needs of the profession, and the healthcare system, change. In current educational practices the educational preparation of an athletic trainer can take place at the undergraduate or post-baccalaureate level. Additionally, there are no universally applicable outcome measures for comparison of student performance in the clinical education portion of existing curriculums.

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the existing education practices, especially relevant to clinical education, currently in place for athletic training (AT) at the professional level. The purpose of the literature review was to historically examine, …

Plantar Pressure Distribution Differences In Physically Active Individuals With And Without Functional Ankle Instability During A Side Cut, J'Nai Pittman

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Context: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is a popular condition in the physically active population. There is a surplus of evidence to demonstrate how FAI decreases proprioception, balance, and overall athletic performance. However, to date there is no evidence that demonstrates how F AI correlates to alterations in plantar pressure distribution differences in a physically active population while completing athletic tasks. Objective: To assess differences in plantar pressure distributions while completing a side cut in individuals with and without FAI. Design: Observational case-control. Setting: Outdoor field turf and research laboratory. Participants: Fifty ankles from physically active individuals (FAI: age= 21.47±3.02 yrs; …

Evidence-Based Practice In Clinical Athletic Training Education, Dorice A. Hankemeier

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) concepts are becoming more prevalent in the educational curricula of nursing, medicine, physical therapy, and athletic training. The infusion of EBP in the clinical education experience of students has been slow especially in athletic training. The aim of Project I was to investigate approved clinical instructors (ACIs) experience and implementation of EBP with students through emergent design qualitative interviews. Project II was designed to develop and establish the reliability of the Evidence-Based Concepts Assessment (EBCA) to assess athletic trainers' perceived importance, attitudes & beliefs, knowledge, confidence, accessibility, and barriers of EBP. Project III investigated the importance, knowledge, …

The Correlation Between Visual Observations And Inclinometric Measurements For Special Tests Related To Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Erin Quada

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is generally described as an insidious onset with pain increasing during running, jumping, ascending and descending stairs as well as sitting with the knees flexed for an extended period of time. Clinicians often use special tests in injury evaluations and range of motion assessments, usually making a visual observation of that status of the patient. The purpose of this study was to examine how interval measurements utilized in flexibility and range of motion assessments correlate with visual observations of special tests (active knee extension test, Thomas test, Ober's test, rectus femoris flexibility, and Craig's test). The …

Neuromechanical Analysis Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Risk Factors In Female Collegiate Soccer Athletes, Nelson Cortes

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) acts in an essential role to prevent anterior tibial displacement when experiencing jump-landing forces that are applied to the lower extremity; more than 100,000 injuries per year in the United States in sport activities that often require landing, deceleration-acceleration, cutting and pivoting actions have been reported. The aim of this study was to examine the nature of any lower limb coupling differences between a drop-jump and a side-step cutting actions, assess kinematic and kinetic differences between three tasks, and evaluate the effects of two landing techniques in biomechanical risk factors while performing two unanticipated tasks. …

The Effects Of An Anterior Cruciate Ligament Prevention Program And Retention Period On Lower Extremity Biomechanics, Ryan S. Mccann

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Researchers have attempted to determine the effects of strength, flexibility, agility, and plyometric training, as well as expert feedback on biomechanical risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Currently, the literature lacks information regarding athletes' ability to retain adaptations made during programs designed to reduce biomechanical risk factors for ACL injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 10-week strength and agility program on lower extremity kinetics and kinematics of collegiate athletes immediately following training and after a 11-week retention period. Ten NCAA Division I female soccer players free of lower extremity injury, volunteered …

The Effects Of Isolated Hamstring Fatigue On Jump Landing In Healthy Recreational Athletes, Kristen Anne Phillips

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The musculature of the lower extremity provides dynamic stability during daily and athletic tasks. In landing tasks, the lower extremity absorbs forces and reduces excessive stresses and motions that are placed upon the body. Neuromuscular fatigue has been linked to an increase in injury and altered kinematics during jump landing tasks. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of hamstring fatigue on knee and hip kinematics pre and post hamstrings fatigue while landing from a box drop of 30cm height, during the stop-jump phase. The study aimed to quantify the kinematic data of the hip and knee …

An Assessment Of An Education Intervention On Youth Sports Coaches Knowledge Of Concussions, Heidi Elizabeth Brigham

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Research has shown that sport related concussions are occurring at high rates across the United States. Research has also shown that there are many misconceptions among youth sports coaches regarding concussions. Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an educational intervention on the knowledge of concussion recognition, management and prevention for youth sports coaches. A secondary purpose was to compare various relationships between demographic characteristics and the concussion knowledge assessment scores. A twenty-one question multiple choice assessment and 16 option symptom recognition checklist was utilized to assess concussion knowledge prior to and following an educational …

The Effect Of Instruction Of Jump-Landing Motion Patterns And Impact Forces, Mary Elizabeth Joos

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The use of visual instruction could be a valuable tool in prevention strategies for anterior cruciate ligament injuries, especially in large group settings, through the alterations of jump-landing motion patterns and impact forces. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of two visual modeling cues in altering jump-landing motion patterns, as measured by the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), and impact forces, vertical ground reaction force (PVGRF) and peak posterior ground reaction force (PPGRF). Seventy-three physically active individuals (age= 20.89 ± 1.72 years; height = 172 ± 9.87 cm; mass= 68.43 ± 15.97 kg) were baseline tested …

An Assessment Of High School Coaches Knowledge Of Sport-Related Concussion, Erin M. O'Donoghue

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Sport-related concussion is a common occurrence in high-risk sports and can occur during participation in all sports. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge base high school athletic coaches possess about concussion signs and symptoms in regards to recognition, management, and prevention of this condition. A 25 question demographic questionnaire was used to gather background information and a 24 question multiple-choice assessment was used to determine knowledge of recognition, management, and prevention of sport-related concussion. A panel of eight experts in the fields of sport-related concussion and/or survey research reviewed and modified the survey instrument, which were …

The Effects Of Ankle Taping And Spatting On The Reaction Times Of The Supporting Musculature Of The Ankle Before And After Exercise In Healthy And Functionally Unstable Ankles, Jennifer I. Mckenzie

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Ankle taping is a common practice in the athletic training room, but there is minimal evidence to support its effectiveness in enhancing muscle activation. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ankle taping on muscle activation following sudden inversion in functionally unstable and healthy ankles before and after exercise. Fourteen recreational athletes with a unilateral functionally unstable ankle volunteered to participate. Surface EMG electrodes were placed on the peroneals and anterior tibialis muscles of both extremities. Each subject received four treatment conditions; ankle taping, ankle taping with spatting, spatting, and no tape in a randomly assigned, …