Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Firefighter Trainee Fitness, Reasons For Academy Release, And Predictive Capabilities Of Fitness Tests, Robert G. Lockie, Fernando Montes, Robin (Rob) Marc Orr, J. Jay Dawes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Firefighter trainees need a level of fitness to be admitted to and complete a training academy. Fitness could indicate a trainee’s likelihood of graduation. PURPOSE: Determine fitness differences between trainees who graduated (GRAD) or were released due to a) injury (RELI), b) skills test performance failures (RELP), or c) resignation (RELR); and whether fitness predicted graduation or academy release. METHODS: Data from an occupational physical ability test (OPAT) for 686 trainees were analyzed, including: Illinois agility test; push-ups; pull-ups; leg tucks; estimated maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O_2max) from the multistage fitness test; backwards overhead 4.54-kg medicine ball …

The Effects Of Acute Beetroot Juice Ingestion On Exercise And Cognitive Performance In Female Athletes, Isabella G. Lincoln, Courtney Merrill, Katherine M. Price, Sean T. Karl, Ryan T. Kenney, Alyssa A. Riley, Chandler F. Riley, Maya A. Hammer, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice can enhance intense exercise performance which is attributed to enhanced skeletal muscle contractility. However, limited data exist in females and it is unknown whether dietary nitrate has an ergogenic effect in this population. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential effects of acute nitrate ingestion on a battery of exercise performance and cognitive tests before and after fatiguing intermittent running exercise. METHODS: Fifteen female team-sport athletes were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to consume nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR; 12 mmol of nitrate) and nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (PL; 0.10 mmol of nitrate) 2.5 h prior to …

Differences In Arterial Occlusion Pressure Using Two Different Cuff Inflation Protocols, Ryan B. Lacey, Chase Blazzard, Hannah Hart, Nicole Kasper, Daniela Lopez, Shay Richards, Pat R. Vehrs Facsm

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The occlusion pressure used during blood flow restriction during exercise is based on the arterial occlusion pressure (AOP). Although previous studies have measured AOP using two different cuff inflation protocols, no studies have compared the AOP measured using both protocols. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the superficial femoral artery AOP when measured using two different cuff inflation protocols. METHODS: Ultrasound (GE LOGIQ) was used to detect blood flow through the superficial femoral artery of both legs in 20 males and 20 females. An inflatable cuff was placed on the upper thigh. The superficial femoral artery was …

Bone Mineral Density In Weight-Bearing And Aquatic Athletes, Elizabeth Krauss, Kayla Stuckenberg, Hawley C. Almstedt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a measure of mineral deposit within the bone that can be used as an early-adulthood predictor for onset of osteoporosis. Type of exercise induces a stress-response which builds BMD. PURPOSE: Non-weight-bearing-athletes were compared to weight-bearing-athletes and controls to identify differences in bone health among groups. The participants were compared longitudinally to measure change in BMD overtime. This study was modeled after work by Taaffe et al. (1995) which concluded that female athletes who do not engage in weight-bearing-activities had lower BMD. METHODS: Height, weight, and calcium intake was collected for female students (20.0±1.3 years); 23 …

Altered Cortical Activation Patterns In The Motor Cortex Post Acl Reconstruction Compared To Healthy Control, Ryan Kim, Lana Kayali, Abi Rae Stine, Yong Woo An Facsm

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), patients often experience persistent knee dysfunction, such as knee strength deficit, possibly correlated with altered cortical activation in the brain. However, it remains unclear if ACLR patients exhibit different cortical activation patterns in the primary motor cortex (M1) during strength tasks, when compared to healthy control. PURPOSE: To examine electrocortical activation patterns in the M1 during submaximal isometric contraction of the quadriceps between an ACLR patient and a healthy control. METHODS: Both ACLR (female, 21yrs,180.34cm, 77.11kg) and control (female, 39yrs, 160.02cm, 61.23kg) performed isometric extension of the reconstructed or matched knees at …

The Physiological Profile Of A Blind Female Solo Ultra-Endurance Cyclist – A Novel Case Study, Jordyn M. Keddy, Scott N. Drum

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Ultra-endurance mountain biking (MTB) greater than 2,450 miles in 51 days with over 150,000 feet of elevation gain is a significant physiological and fear-inducing journey for anyone. This case study showcases the psychophysiology of a blind solo (i.e., single bike) rider (BSR) with history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) who achieved an unparalleled ride of the Tour Divide MTB route with 2 male guides (MG). PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this project was to observe the interplay between fatigue (acute training load, ATL), fitness (chronic training load, CTL), and form (training stress balance, TSB) as part of a performance management …

Higher Alpha/Theta Ratio May Indicate Decreased Brain Function In Older Adults During Cspfp10 Compared To Young Adults, Yangmi Kang, Mary A. Berg, Sang-Rok Lee, Jim Kroger, Yong Woo An

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Declined physical ability and brain function observed in elder can affect daily living activities and negatively influence the quality of life (QOL). While the extensive research has explored the changes in cortical activity related to motor control in elder, less is known about how the brain functions during a physical function test. PURPOSE: To examine the electrocortical activation in the older adults’ brain during the Continuous Scale Physical Function Performance-10 (CSPFP-10) compared to young adults. METHODS: Twenty five older adults (OLD; 75.40±7.32 yrs, 70.33±18.23 kg, 162.87±7.55 cm) and twenty five young (YOUNG; 19.88±1.72 yrs, 66.52±14.22 kg, 167.50±10.22 cm) …

The Effects Of Alternate-Day Fasting On Physical Activity, Gage E. Jensen

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Alternate Day Modified Fasting (ADMF) is an intermittent fasting approach that combines days of normal caloric consumption with days of low caloric consumption (~25% of daily requirements).While research has demonstrated the effects of ADMF on weight loss and metabolic health, research focused on the physical activity of participants has not been thoroughly evaluated. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent that intermittent fasting can alter habitual physical activity patterns. METHODS: Forty two participants (male/female) completed 3 days of baseline testing followed by a two week treatment period where they followed a modified alternate-day fasting …

Creatine Supplementation Improves Performance Without Deleterious Cardiovascular Parameters In Trained Females, Citlaly Jauregui, Steven B. Machek, Katia Azevedo, Warleyson Azevedo, Jeffrey Willardson, Marco Machado

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Creatine monohydrate supplementation is broadly substantiated to elicit both favorable ergogenic and health-associated advantages amidst vast demographics. Nevertheless, its impacts on human cardiovascular outcomes are hitherto undescribed in generally healthy populations. Furthermore, females are largely underrepresented in the ergogenic creatine literature and their potentially differential cardiovascular responses are unknown. PURPOSE: to determine whether young, healthy females would glean discernible hypertrophy and enhanced performance, commensurate to favorable post-resistance training cardiovascular parameters and relative to placebo-matched controls across a four week training timeline. METHODS: Twenty-eight resistance trained women (25.5±6.1 years) were randomly assigned to supplement creatine monohydrate (CRE; 5g creatine monohydrate …

Effect Of A University Physical Activity Challenge On Levels Of Anxiety, Depression, Stress, And Perceived Dependency Of Wearing A Physical Activity Tracker, Emily M. Jackson, Sarah M. Camhi, Stephanie L. Cooper

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Many studies have researched the benefits of physical activity (PA) and well-being, leading many universities to promote PA on campus. There is limited research on how university-based PA promotion impacts mental health, as well as the impact of wearing a physical activity tracker (PAT) and its potential to create dependency on wearing the device. PURPOSE: To understand the effects of a 4-week campus-wide PA challenge on levels of anxiety, depression, and stress in college students, and the potential dependency effects of wearing a PAT. METHODS: For the duration of the 4-week challenge, 44 undergraduate and 6 graduate students …

Impact Of Mask-Wearing During High-Intensity Interval Training On Exercise Hemodynamics, Luke Heikka, Payton Price, Malia Nowlen, Ryan Guenette, Ruthie Larson, Adarius West, Justin Emelife, Sara Burton, Sofia Harman, Tony Acevedo, Zachary Zeigler

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

As the guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic regressed, allowing the re-opening of health centers, many established regulations required mask-wearing during exercise to limit transmission of the virus. Current literature suggests that the impact of a mask during exercise has minimal effects on exercise hemodynamics. However, limited data exists measuring blood pressure, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance during high-intensity exercise. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of mask-wearing on exercise hemodynamics. METHODS: Nine total participants aged 18-30 yr were recruited for this experimental cross-over study. This within subject design involved six randomized conditions; …

Sled-Pull Training Protocol Increases Critical Speed In Female Collegiate Soccer Players, Andrew J. Hartz, John A. Brasher, Jenevieve L. Roper, Robert V. Musci

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Critical speed (CS) is the speed one can sustain while maintaining blood lactate, phosphocreatine, and oxygen uptake levels. “Distance capacity beyond CS” (D’) is the reserve an athlete can draw from to run faster than their CS. By increasing CS and D’, athletes can sustain a faster threshold pace (CS) and have a greater sprint capacity (D’). Unlike distance traveled and speed, which do not reflect the metabolic strain of an exercise, CS and D’ assess the relative intensity of an activity to provide individualized inter- and intra-competition insight. PURPOSE: This investigation evaluated CS and D’ among men and women …

Impact Of Latin Ballroom Dancing On Gait Biomechanics, Grace Hanks, Tyler Standifird

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Past research has focused on biomechanical changes, kinematic differences, and injury rates among dancers compared to healthy non-dancers. This research has shown that there are differences biomechanically between dancers and healthy non-dancers which indicates that various forms of dance training has both potential short- and long-term effects on an individual (Yihong et al, 2018, Prochazkova et al, 2014, Tepla et al, 2014, Turner et al 2018). The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of Latin ballroom dance training on gait. Methods: 24 participants, (12 Latin dancers, 12 recreationally active non-dancers; 12 males,12 females) between the …

Peripheral And Cerebral Arterial Hemodynamic And Mechanical Responses To A Maximal Oxygen Consumption Exercise Test In Males And Females, Octavia Gosnell, Zaria Opara, Michael Diaz, Lavleen Sandhu, Gabriel Hernandez, Louise Kelly, Jie Liu, Allan Knox

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Variations in physiological responses to exercise between males and females have been identified by previous investigations. Maximal oxygen consumption tests (VO_2max) are widely used for exercise prescription within the professional and recreational capacity, in addition to providing insight of overall cardiovascular and pulmonary health. However, the specific response of multiple components of the arterial network have yet to be established and compared within males and females. PURPOSE: To determine the hemodynamic and mechanical responses of the brachial artery (BA), the common carotid artery (CCA), and the internal carotid artery (ICA) to VO_2max. METHODS: College-aged …

Bilateral Tibial Stress Fracture In An Inexperienced Athlete, Kevin Gilbert, Jennifer Tram Md, Kenneth Vitale Md, Fascm

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: An abrupt increase in duration, intensity, or frequency of physical activity without adequate periods of rest can make patients susceptible to stress fractures, which are typically unilateral and located in the posteromedial tibia diaphysis. METHODS: We present a unique case report of a bilateral proximal epiphysis stress fracture. RESULTS: Here we present a young female patient presenting with bilateral tibia stress fractures after running in a half marathon that she had not trained for. Initial radiographs did not reveal any acute abnormalities, but subsequent MRI demonstrated incomplete stress fractures of the bilateral medial tibial epiphysis. Conservative management including …

Peripheral Heating With Negative Pressure Increases Arterial Blood Flow, Brigitte Fuller, Matthew Fahey, Kevin Paul Eusoof, Paige Straus, Michael Buono Facsm, Jeff Moore

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Over half (53%) of adults in the United States have some form of diabetes. Traditional treatments have been inadequate in stopping this epidemic suggesting the need for novel therapies. Peripheral heating with negative pressure has previously been shown to reduce blood glucose. The mechanisms behind this effect are unknown but may be related to changes in blood flow to the treated extremity. PURPOSE: To examine changes in flow rate (time averaged mean velocity (TAMV)), vessel cross-sectional area (CSA), and blood flow in the popliteal artery before and during peripheral heating with negative pressure applied to the feet. METHODS: …

The Relationship Between Concussion History And Sex On Lower Extremity Biomechanics During A Cutting Task, Warren O. Forbes, Jason M. Avedesian, Janet S. Dufek

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Athletes with a history of sports related concussion (SRC) have been shown to exhibit lower extremity (LE) mechanics during high impact landing tasks that are conducive to increased injury risk. The underlying cause, and extent of this phenomena is currently unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between SRC history and sex on LE biomechanics during a land-and-cut task. METHODS: College athletes with a history of SRC and a control group of healthy athletes matched by sport, position, sex, and age were recruited for this study. Both groups were comprised of 9 males …

The Effect Of Resistance Training On Bone Mineral Density And Muscular Strength In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jodi F. Engelhardt, Stephanie S. Wang, Alvaro Leal Gomez, Monica C. Orosa, Areum K. Jensen

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and atypical behaviors. Children with ASD appear to have lower muscular function and low bone mineral density (BMD). Recent studies have indicated that adolescents with ASD develop obesity and bone fracture incidence at a higher rate compared to typically developing children (TDC). However, it is unclear if such weakened musculoskeletal function is a consequence of the neurological disorder state in ASD or if it is due to the limited opportunity for physical activity and exercise in the ASD population. PURPOSE: To identify the effect of progressive …

Academic Stress And Motivation For Physical Activity In College Students, Gustavo Donis-Castro, Sarah Dunn

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: Stress and the college experience go hand in hand. Stress has been shown to negatively impact a college student’s life and their confidence. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the influence that academic stress in college students has on one's motivation to participate in physical activity (PA). METHODS: An Institutional Review Board approved Qualtrics, cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the fall 2021 term. This study utilized the 13-item Perceived Stress Inventory (PSI), and 9-item Self-Efficacy for Exercise (SEE), based on studies by Avdija, A. S. (2018) and Resnick, et al. (2000) respectively. Questions …

Anomalous Rib And Nonunion Of A First Rib Fracture Causing Thoracic Outlet Syndrome In A Football Player, Anthony Diomino, Dale Bongbong, Kenneth Vitale Md, Facsm

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

HISTORY: An 18-year-old male right hand dominant football player with past medical history of complete right ACL tear presents with chronic right neck and shoulder pain for two years after a shoulder press exercise. Four months later, he fell from a fence with his right arm outstretched. One year after the initial event, during football training, he sustained a shoulder injury with a pop under his shoulder blade.

PHYSICAL EXAM: There is asymmetry of the trapezius muscles with obvious indentation of the right anterior supraclavicular region compared to the left. There is also subluxation of the right ulnar nerve at …

The Effects Of Elevation Gain On The Pack Hike Test: Implications For Interagency Hotshot Crews, Justin Demoss, Kevin Valenzuela, Kurt A. Escobar, Evan E. Schick

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

It is unknown if administering a graded load carriage task, which more closely mirrors the occupational circumstances wildland firefighters are exposed to, improves the validity of the Pack Hike Test and its’ ability to differentiate between the fitness profiles amongst Interagency Hotshots (IHC) and type 2 crews. PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to examine the performance differences and HR responses between IHC and type 2 crews when completing a maximal effort graded load carriage task. METHODS: This study compared performance outcome measures amongst two classes of hand crews, Type 1 (IHC; n=12) and Type 2 …

The Effects Of A Heel Lift On Squat Biomechanics, Lexy Clark, Miranda Moeslein, Donovyn Murray, Jared W. Coburn, Kevin Choe

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The barbell squat is an effective exercise for improving lower extremity function. During the descent of a squat, the hip and knee joints flex while the ankle joint dorsiflexes. The hip and knee joints then extend and the ankle joint plantarflexes when standing up. During the squat, some athletes use shoes with an elevated heel or other means of heel elevation to achieve lower squat depth. Research has suggested that use of heel elevation may improve range of motion (ROM) of the lower extremity joints and improve stability of the movement during deep squats, especially with an external load. PURPOSE …

The Correlations Of Lumbar Spine Trabecular Bone Score With Bone Mineral Density And Body Composition In Postmenopausal Women, Braulio Cazarez, Carolina Garcia, Maurice Cruz, Auguste Torres, Zhaojing Chen

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

It is well known that postmenopausal women are more predisposed to osteopenia and osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency. Although bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a major determinant of bone strength, many other factors contribute to the risk of fractures. Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) is a novel method to estimate the trabecular microarchitecture using the lumbar spine DXA image, which can potentially evaluate bone health at an earlier stage (Silva et al. 2014). PURPOSE: To examine the relationships between the lumbar spine TBS with BMD and body composition in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Twenty-three female …

How Does Diet Quality Predict The Performance Of Rotc Cadets On The Acft, Grant Calhoun, Sofia Harman, Annika C. Grams, Ruth Larson, Payton Price, Sara Thomasson, Kaitlyn Wabakken, Katelynn Brock, Zachary Zeigler, Anthony Acevedo

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is a newly developed test assessing U.S. Army soldiers' combat readiness. The Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) is a questionnaire established by the USDA that quantifies overall diet quality. The HEI-2015 uses a scale of 0 to 100 with higher scores aligning more with the recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The HEI-2015 is comprised of 13 subcategories: Total Fruits [TF], Whole Fruits [WF], Total Vegetables [TV], Greens and Beans [GB], Whole Grains [WG], Dairy [D], Total Protein foods [TP], Seafood and Plant Proteins [SPP], Fatty Acids [FA], Refined Grains [RG], Sodium [S], …

Unilateral Load Carriage In Golf Increases Frontal Plane Moment Demand At The Knee, Guanrong Cai, Jordan Cannon, Yunsheng Zou, George Salem

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Golf equipment transportation (GET) is a regular task in the sport of golf, a popular activity with more than 66 million participants globally. Unilateral GET is commonly practiced by junior and collegiate golfers, and professional caddies, who incur large walking distances daily, especially during competition. Therefore, the influence of GET on knee mechanics during gait has important implications for performance and injury risks. Furthermore, frontal-plane lower extremity (LE) demands including knee abductor moment during activities may alter knee mechanics and contribute to pain and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Purpose: To compare the frontal-plane knee moments of two different GET methods …

Interaction Between Age And Fatigue On Antagonist Muscle Coactivation During An Acute Post-Fatigue Recovery Phase, Elizabeth Cafferty, Sara Harper, Brennan J. Thompson

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: This study investigated the age-related changes in antagonist muscle coactivation of the biceps femoris (BF) during an acute recovery period following a leg extensor fatiguing protocol. METHODS: Twenty-three young (mean±SD: age=25.1±3.0 years) and twenty-three old men (age=71.5±3.9 years) participated. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from the BF muscles for antagonist muscle coactivation. Testing involved participants performing leg extension isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) and isokinetic MVCs at 240°·s-1 at baseline (Pre) and again after the fatigue protocol at 0 (Post0), 7 (Post7), 15 (Post15), and 30 (Post30) minutes post fatigue. Root mean square (RMS) values were computed …

10-Year Weight Change And Biological Aging In A Random Sample Of 3,059 U.S. Adults, Joshua Brockbank, Larry A. Tucker

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Telomeres play a key role in the protection of chromosomes. A good index of biological aging is the length of telomeres. Telomeres gradually shorten over time. Hence, they are strongly related to chronological age. Lifestyle is also an important factor influencing telomere length. PURPOSE: This investigation was designed to study the relationship between 10-yr weight change and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in a large sample of 3,059 randomly selected U.S. adults, 35-70 years old. METHODS: NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data were used with a cross-sectional design to determine the relationship between percent weight change and LTL. Percent …

Impacts Of A Novel Non-Stimulant-Based Ergogenic Supplement Blend On Maximal Oxygen Uptake And Time To Fatigue: A Pilot Study, Michiel P. Breen, Jason M. Cholewa, Steven B. Machek

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

CrossFit athletes are frequently subjected to high-intensity training sessions that demand commensurately robust muscular and cardiovascular endurance capacities. Despite the propensity of research investigating the role of aerobically-associated ergogenic aids, few have elucidated their combination in highly trained athletic populations. PURPOSE: to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of a novel supplement comprising several empirically-supported ingredients and their potential ability to impact the aerobic performance in experienced CrossFit athletes. METHODS: Six experienced CrossFit athletes (3M/3F; aged 41±13y; training 5±1 times/week) ingested 2.0mL daily of a novel supplement proprietary formulation (Flow, Cerus, Vero Bleach, FL) containing Beetroot (Beta Vulgaris), Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera), Arjuna …

Snapping Triceps Syndrome: A Rare Cause Of Medial Elbow Pain, Dale Bongbong, Kevin Gilbert Ms, Kenneth Vitale Md, Fascm, Jennifer Tram Md

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: Snapping medial triceps is a relatively rare cause of medial elbow pain that occurs when the tricep tendon dislocates over the medial or lateral epicondyle. Physical exams usually demonstrate intermittent medial elbow pain with extreme elbow flexion or extension, however dynamic diagnostic studies allow for direct visualization of the dislocating tricep. This case report adds to the sparse literature on snapping medial triceps. METHODS: We report a rare occurrence of snapping medial triceps in a young female who initially presented with pain at the posteromedial right elbow with extreme flexion and extension. Intermittent snapping of the medial elbow was …

Vigorous Physical Activity And The Length Of Telomeres Across Levels Of Bmi In 4,458 U.S. Adults, Christina M. Blackmon, Larry A. Tucker

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Telomere length is an index of cellular aging. Longer telomeres are predictive of longer life. Healthy lifestyles are associated with longer telomeres. PURPOSE: This study focused on the relationship between time spent in vigorous physical activity (PA) and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in 4,458 randomly selected U.S. adults, 20-69 years old. METHODS: The association was studied using data collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and a cross-sectional design. Vigorous physical activity was indexed by calculating total time spent jogging or running per week (Jog/Run/Wk). Weekly jog/run time was calculated by multiplying days of jog/run …