Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Relationship Between Gluteus Maximus Activation And Running Economy In Recreational Distance Runners, Carlos Hernandez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Within the running community, there are strategies that a trainer will utilize to improve the performance of an athlete. One of these strategies suggests that an increase in activation of the Gluteus Maximus (GM) muscle will result in an increase in the efficiency of runners. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between GM activation and running economy (RE).

Methods: Three female and seven male recreational runners (27±8 yrs) from California Polytechnic State University, Humboldt and the local community. A Pearson product-correlation was used to determine the strength of the relationship between Gluteus Maximus activation and …

The Effects Of A Carbohydrate Hydrogel Beverage On Gastrointestinal Symptoms And Running Performance In Comparison To Conventional Carbohydrate Beverages, Nicholas Minichiello

Masters Theses, 2020-current

PURPOSE: The utilization of hydrogel technology allows carbohydrate beverages to form a gel in the acidic environment of the stomach, potentially enhancing gastric emptying. However, few studies have researched the effects of these beverages on gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance and exercise performance; there is minimal data in a variety of exercise conditions and/or beverage ingestion rates. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of a 80 g/h of maltodextrin-fructose hydrogel (MF-H) beverage versus conventional carbohydrate sources on GI symptoms and running performance. METHODS: eight distance runners (26 ± 5 y; VO_2max = 65 ± 7 ml/kg/min) …

Pacing Variability And Performance In A 100 Mile Ultra Marathon, Brendan Gilpatrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between pacing variability and performance during a 100 mile trail race with significant changes in elevation. Changes in pace throughout an endurance event of this length could lead to insight into the relationship of early pacing on overall performance and placing among finishers. Due to variables like changes in terrain or weather it could prove difficult to construct a way to analyze data from these races. Race data from a loop style course with significant elevation change was used to determine if 1). There were significant changes in pace per …

Effect Of Blood Flow Restriction Training On Functional And Self-Reported Outcomes In Female Runners With Patellofemoral Pain, Lauren Nicole Erickson

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is the leading cause of lower extremity injury in female runners, significantly limiting running ability and becoming chronic in nearly 50% of the cases. This condition, which presents as pain around (peripatellar) or behind (retropatellar) the patella, is associated with significant weakness of the quadriceps and gluteal musculature, as well as altered movements mechanics. The challenge for clinicians is designing an effective treatment program to reduce pain and improve function without causing symptoms to flare. Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is a relatively new training method within rehabilitation that involves placing a pressurized cuff to the …

The Process And Effects Of Ultrarunning, Ellis Ulery

Honors Projects

This project uses an in-depth research study and personal account to determine what it takes to run a 12-hour running event, the appeal of ultrarunning, and what can be learned through the experience. The project explains the efforts behind the specific preparation for this ultramarathon, the final distance of 47.3 miles ran in 12 hours, the evaluation of the enhanced mental state achieved while running, an explanation of the final results through the Central Governor Theory, and the dissection of the study Pursuing pleasure or virtue: The differential and overlapping well-being benefits of hedonic and eudaimonic motives that suggests why …

The Effects Of Increasing Running Speed On Vgrf And Asymmetry, Kaela M. Hierholzer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biomechanical and physiological parameters related to running performance are usually studied separately. However, evaluating both aspects together could be beneficial in improving athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to observe the change in peak vGRF and asymmetry as speed increases, while observing physiological responses during a O_2maxtest. Data from athlete monitoring of 12 cross-country and triathlon athletes were analyzed. The athlete monitoring protocol included three unweighted countermovement jumps and a O_2maxtest performed by the athletes. The athletes had an average O_2maxof 53.4 ± 7.7 mL/kg/min, while their average vGRF asymmetry throughout the …

Cadence As An Indicator Of The Walk-To-Run Transition, Colleen Chase

Masters Theses

Humans naturally select a point at which to transition from walking to running when gradually increasing locomotor speed. This point is known as the walk-to-run transition (WRT). The WRT is traditionally expressed in terms of speed and is known to occur within a close range of 2.1 m/s, which is an accepted heuristic (i.e., empirically based, rounded) threshold value. Very little research exists defining the WRT in terms of cadence (steps/min) despite the fact that spatial temporal aspects of gait underlying the WRT include this parameter. Preliminary evidence suggests that the WRT may be associated with a cadence of 140 …

An Investigation Into The Technical And Running Performance Metrics Of Gaelic Football Training Andmatch-Play To Inform The Design Of A Novel Tactical Periodisation Training Model, Shane Mangan

Theses

Background: Carefully planned and implemented training programmes are essential for optimal sports performance. In depth knowledge of both the technical, tactical and physical demands of the sport are critical to informing these training programmes. Gaelic football, an amateur intermittent field sport, is one of the most popular sports in Ireland. Limited previous research has attempted to extensively analyse and interpret key findings from the literature to formulate practical recommendations for Gaelic football training and match preparation. The purpose of this research is to objectively analyse Gaelic football performance at the elite and sub-elite levels and to use this data to …

Performance Profile For Tabata Intermittent Training On Treadmill, Nathan Tamayo

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study investigated the effect of supramaximal intensities on number of Tabata bouts performed by recreationally trained males. Eleven relatively trained men (mean age = 22.27 ± 1.74 years, height = 1.72 ± 0.07m, mass = 78.74 ± 15.77kg) were assigned the four intensities in a counterbalanced order. Subjects completed a warm up which was then followed by consecutive 20-second bouts of treadmill running with 10 second bouts of rest until fatigue given each intensity (110%,130%,150%,170% of VO_2max). Given that ideal number of Tabata bouts is ~8 with an intensity of 170% VO_2max, results suggested that …

The Influence Of Patellofemoral Pain On Muscle Coordination, Segment Coordination, And Segment Coordination Variability In Runners, Carl Jewell

Doctoral Dissertations

Management of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) remains a significant challenge in clinical practice and there is a need to understand the mechanisms for altered gait and muscular function which may lead to poor patient outcomes. The overall aim of the three studies in this dissertation was to determine if runners with current PFPS adapt their gait and muscle activation as a result of long-term, daily pain and/or in response to an acute pain flare and exertion during a moderate intensity 21-minute treadmill run compared to healthy controls. In addition, a resolved, asymptomatic PFPS group was included to investigate potential mechanisms …

The Effect Of Foot Strike In Female Runners, Courtney Dockry

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine if heel and forefoot striking influence on the amount and type of injuries in recreational female distance runners between the ages of 18 and 25. In addition, shoe type and training intensity were analyzed in relation to injury. METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted anonymously utilizing The University of Akron’s Qualtrics survey tool. The survey was adopted based on Goss and Gross (2012). The survey was sent via email to members of the Zips Running Club, as well as other runners who fit the criteria to participate …

The Acute And Chronic Effects Of Highly Cushioned Shoes On Loading Characteristics In Recreational Runners, Jessica Corkin

All NMU Master's Theses

Recently, highly cushioned shoes (HCS) entered the running market, and manufacturers suggested extra cushioning potentially reduced injury rates through superior shock absorption, implying less impact upon foot strike versus other shoes. Hence, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 4-week HCS intervention on running-related impact forces in adult recreational runners. We hypothesized HCS would result in altered force attenuation compared to standard cushioned shoes (SCS) at baseline. After 4-weeks, we speculated differences would not be attenuated. Twenty-nine healthy runners (18-60 yrs of age) who had never worn HCS were randomized to either an intervention (INV) …

A Survey-Based Study Of The Changes To Self-Efficacy, Trust In Coaching, Goal Orientation, And State Anxiety That Occur During A Marathon Training Taper, Erica A. Witoslawski

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Throughout a sport season, athletes’ physiological systems are constantly broken down and strengthened due to repeated practices and competitions. However, not just the physiological benefits of tapering impact performance. The purpose of this study was to extend the current literature that has found connections between self-efficacy, trust in coaching, state anxiety, goal orientation, and sport performance by assessing these variables during a marathon training taper period. The study analyzed included 29 subjects who were enrolled in a general-education health and fitness course focusing on marathon training through a series of surveys electronically administered 3 times (baseline, pre-taper, and post-taper) throughout …

The Effects Of Incline And Resistance On Metabolic Cost And Muscle Activation In Elliptical Exercise, Megan K. Alfi

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Elliptical trainers are machines that were designed to mimic the motion of running while reducing the ground reaction forces and joint loading on the lower body. As a result, endurance runners commonly use it as a cross-training modality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ramp incline and resistance in elliptical exercise on metabolic cost and lower limb muscle activation patterns. A secondary purpose was to compare the metabolic cost and muscle activation patterns of elliptical exercise to running. Methods: Gross metabolic cost and muscle activation for eight muscles of the leg were measured during elliptical …

Serum Ferritin's Relationship To Training Reduction Among College Distance Runners, Taylor John Thompson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Iron deficiency (ID), measured as serum ferritin (SF), has been found in 31% and 57% of elite male and female athletes respectively. In distance runners, ID has been found to affect up to 41% of men and 82% of women. There are significant health consequences of ID such as decreased bone mineral density, altered thyroid function, immune suppression, and fatigue. Purpose: To determine if there is a relationship between ID and training reductions due to injury, illness, and fatigue in collegiate distance runners. Hypothesis: Because ID affects bone health, fatigue, thyroid, and immune function, it is …

Gait Changes During Exhaustive Running, Nathaniel I. Smith

Masters Theses

Runners adopt altered gait patterns as they fatigue which may increase energy expenditure and susceptibility to certain overuse injuries. Previous investigations have described changes in muscle performance and kinematic gait variables resulting from running fatigue. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize changes in joint moment patterns that develop as runners fatigue in order to better understand the kinetic bases for kinematic fatigue effects. It was hypothesized that when fatigued, runners would demonstrate increases in stance time, peak stance phase knee flexion angle, peak knee extension moment, peak swing phase hip flexion moment, and hip extension and plantarflexion angular …

The Effects Of A Hip Flexor Stretching Program On Running Kinematics In Individuals With Limited Passive Hip Extension, Jeff H. Mettler

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

INTRODUCTION: Tightness of the hip flexor muscle group may contribute to altered sagittal plane kinematics of the lumbo-pelvic-hip (LPH) complex during dynamic movements. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of a three-week home-based stretching program on passive hip extension (PHE), as well as on active hip extension (AHE), anterior pelvic tilt (APT), and lumbar spine extension (LSE) when running. METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects with limited PHE underwent a 3D gait analysis both prior (PRE) and following (POST) a three-week static hip flexor stretching program. RESULTS: Following the stretching program, peak PHE increased significantly (P < 0.001), while no significant improvements were reported in AHE, APT, or LSE. In addition, no relationship was found between the change in PHE with either the change in AHE, APT, or LSE. Finally, a high relationship was observed between AHE and APT during running (r = 0.83, p < 0.001), and low relationships were observed between APT and LSE (r = -0.41, p = 0.08) and AHE and LSE (r = -0.34, p = 0.15). CONCLUSION: A three-week static stretching program of the hip flexor musculature resulted in an increase in PHE, but the sagittal plane kinematics of the LPH complex during running remained unchanged. The correlations observed between AHE, APT, and LSE suggest there is a kinematic relationship between the hip, pelvis, and spine.

Does Footfall Pattern In Forefoot Runners Change Over A Prolonged Run?, Carl W. Jewell

Masters Theses

There has been much debate on the benefits of a forefoot versus rearfoot strike pattern in distance running in terms of performance and injury prevalence. Shock attenuation occurs more prominently in soft tissues at impact in forefoot runners compared to the passive skeletal loading in rearfoot runners. Recent studies indicate that a forefoot strike pattern may not be maintainable over long distance efforts. Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that habitual forefoot runners could not maintain their strike pattern throughout a prolonged, intensive run.

Fourteen forefoot runners ran to voluntary exhaustion on an instrumented force treadmill (average run duration: 15.4±2.2 …

Kinetic Asymmetries During Submaximal And Maximal Speed Running, Devon H. Frayne

Masters Theses

An important issue for sports scientists, coaches and athletes is an understanding of the factors within a running stride that can enhance or limit maximal running speed. Previous research has identified many sprint-related parameters as potential kinetic limiters of maximal Center of Mass velocity (Chapman and Caldwell, 1983b; Weyand et al., 2001). Bilateral asymmetry is present for many of these parameters during running; however the degree to which such asymmetries change as running speed increases is unknown. It was hypothesized that asymmetries in key sprinting parameters would be larger at maximal speed than all other tested speeds. Kinematics and kinetics …

Stride Length-Speed Relationship During Body Weight Supported Running, Carmen Chona

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine if body weight support influences the stride length-speed relationship. Additionally, the purpose was to determine if impact characteristics of running are influenced by body weight support and speed. Subjects (n=10; 6 female, 4 male) volunteered to participate in this study. All subjects were injury free and were comfortable running on a treadmill for 30 minutes. Subjects ran on a lower body positive (LBPP, Alter-G, G-Trainer) treadmill for 4 conditions of body weight (100, 40, 30 and 20% of body weight) and 4 running speeds (100, 110, 120 and 130% of the preferred …

Is There A Relationship Between Hip Structure, Hip Muscle Strength, And Lower Extremity Frontal Plane Kinematics During Treadmill Running?, Michael William Robinson Baggaley

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

INTRODUCTION: Excessive hip adduction (HADD) has been associated with a number of lower extremity overuse injuries, and it has been suggested that it may be the result of reduced strength of the hip abduction musculature. Hip structure has been postulated to influence both hip abduction (HABD) strength and HADD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hip structure, HABD strength, and frontal plane kinematics during running. METHODS: Peak isometric HABD strength, lower extremity kinematics, femoral neck-shaft angle (NSA), and pelvis width-femur length (pw-fl) ratio were recorded for 25 female subjects. Pearson correlations (P < .05) were performed between variables. RESULTS: A fair relationship was observed between femoral NSA and HABD strength (r = …

Kinematic And Spatiotemporal Analysis Between Sprint Drills And Maximal Sprinting, Julianne Cappadona

PTHMS Undergraduate Publications

Purpose: To determine if any kinematic differences exist between two common sprint drills (A- and B-drills) and maximal sprinting. Methods: 12 collegiate sprinters (19.17±1.11 y/o) granted informed consent were filmed performing two 40-meter sprints, A-skips, and B-skips. Three-dimensional motion analysis tracked the coordinates of 24 reflective markers and resulting joint kinematics were computed. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that sprinting yielded a significantly lower maximum hip flexion (p=0.015) but a significantly higher minimum ankle angular velocity (p=0.012) and step rate (p=0.000) value than A-drills. When compared to B-drills, sprinting values were significantly lower in maximum hip flexion (p=0.047), minimum knee flexion …

Foot Volume Change During Long Distance Running In Healthy Adults, Meghan Boni, Istvan Takacs, Rebecca Wilson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and purpose: Healthy adults frequently engage in running as a means of cardiovascular exercise. Larger running shoes are often chosen based on common beliefs that feet swell during running, yet many continue to encounter foot injuries, such as blisters, as a result of this activity. Previous research has analyzed the changes in foot volume during short bouts of activity. However, there has been limited research on the effect of long distance running on foot volume, which is where many of these injuries are seen. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long distance running, defined …

Effect Of Pseudoephedrine On 800-Meter Run Times Of Ncaa Division I Women Athletes, Caroline Berry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pseudoephedrine is an over-the-counter drug commonly used as a decongestant, but also thought to have ergogenic effects. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has prohibited large doses (> 150 μg∙ml^-1) of pseudoephedrine, while the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) does not include it on the banned substance list. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of body weight dosing of pseudoephedrine on 800-m run times of NCAA female runners. Fifteen NCAA female track runners volunteered to participate in the randomized, double blind, crossover design. In trials that were a week apart, participants were given both 2.5 …

The Effect Of Strength Training On 3km Performance In Recreational Female Endurance Runners, Cherina M. Rice

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a strength training program, as an additive to endurance training, would cause significant improvements in 3km run time in a group of recreational female endurance runners when compared to endurance training only. Subjects were 16 active women, randomly assigned to either a running only group (control group, n=9) or a combined strength and endurance training group (experimental group, n=7). The ten-week training program for both groups consisted of an endurance running program three times per week, which included steady-state endurance running, tempo runs and interval training. The experimental group however, participated …