Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Identifying The Relationship Between Post-Concussion Mental Health And Athletic Status: Is It The Same For All Demographics?, Mary Lorraine Zsolway, Jamie Shoop

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether athletic status was linked to fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression post-concussion, as well as to explore whether the impact of athletic status on mental health varied by demographics (i.e. age, sex, race, insurance status). The results of this study may assist in identifying at-risk individuals early to help prioritize those who may benefit from early referral to mental health resources.

Introduction: Mental health concerns post-concussion are relatively common, with roughly 1 in 3 individuals experiencing these symptoms. It has been previously shown that youth who participate in …

What Is The Prevalence Of General Anxiety Disorder And Depression Symptoms In Semi-Elite Australian Football Players: A Cross-Sectional Study, Anthony Henderson, Sarah A. Harris, Troy Kirkham, Jonathon Charlesworth, Myles C. Murphy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in semi-elite Australian footballers is unknown. The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and depressive symptoms in semi-elite Australian Football players. Our secondary objective was to explore the association between demographic and football-specific factors with GAD and depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional epidemiological study including 369 semi-elite Western Australian Football League (WAFL) players from the Men and Women’s 2022 season (n = 337 men, 91%) was conducted. Symptoms of depression were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale (PHQ-9) and symptoms of GAD with …

Understanding Athletes’ Experience When Transitioning To Life Beyond Sport, Mary L. Dell'arciprete, M Lauren Dell'arciprete

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

Discontinuation may be by choice or may be due to an injury; however most collegiate athletes’ sports engagement ends due to graduation causing them to shift their role in an occupation that played a crucial role in their self-identity. Athletes of all levels are challenged in their transition beyond sport and in the adjustment to the various role changes that occur. A significant life event, such as the end of one’s athletic engagement, can cause a loss of identity, purpose, and mental health decline. Former athletes may experience occupational disruption, a temporary inability to adequately engage in meaningful tasks due …

Knowledge, Beliefs, And Practicies Of Ncaa Coaches And Sports Dietitians On Low Energy Availability, Laurel Card, Amy Banaszek

Undergraduate and Master's Projects

Low energy availability in athletes, or Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), is chronic under-fueling while consistently overtraining. RED-S is not an eating disorder, but can impact training performance and reproductive health, compromise bone health, impact cognitive health and mental illness, and decrease cardiac health. Body weight alone is not an indication of RED-S, and both men and women are susceptible.

Generalized Joint Hypermobility And Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Biomechanics In Female Athletes, Christopher F. Geiser

Dissertations (1934 -)

Generalized Joint Hypermobility (GJH), in lay terms being “double-jointed”, affects 5 to 43 percent of the general population. In severe forms, GJH impacts systems across the body, with cardiovascular, ocular, and musculoskeletal effects that can be quite debilitating. Most of the literature examining GJH is in this severely impacted group of people. However less severe forms of GJH are present in the athlete population in the same proportions, and athletes with GJH are more likely to be injured while participating in activities. They also experience greater time-loss injuries while participating in athletic activities. The movement biomechanics of those with severe …

Food Sensitives In Athletes: Whey More Common Than You May Expect?, Eve M. Clarkson Miss, Brittanie L. Lockard, Ben Garza, Julianne Damico, Terah Ege

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Food sensitives, which differ from food allergies, are caused by digestive problems to foods that may lead to symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, headache, joint pain, and sleep disturbances, among other issues. It is estimated that food sensitivities affect 15-20% of the US population. These are IgG antibody-mediated responses that may develop from a variety of causes such as enzymatic defects in the digestive system. Research suggests that IgG-based tests produce clinically meaningful results that aid in the development of a targeted elimination diet. In a non-athletic sample with food sensitivities, our lab previously reported that 70% of …

The Effects Of Dynamic® Taping On Vertical Jumps In Adolescent Volleyball Players With Low Medial Longitudinal Arch, Dilek Hande Esen, Nihan Kafa, Nevin Atalay Guzel, Cengiz Akarcesme

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Taping has long been used by health professionals to provide mechanical support for the musculoskeletal system. However, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate the effect of Dynamic® taping. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Dynamic® taping on vertical jump and medial longitudinal arch height in adolescent volleyball players with navicular drop. Material and Methods: 23 female athletes participated in the study (mean age of 15.22 ± 1.54 years). The medial longitudinal arch height was evaluated with the navicular drop test. Vertical jumping was measured with the VERT® device (Mayfonk Athletic, USA). On the first …

How Does The Ergogenic Benefits, Consumption, And Overall Perspective Of Caffeine Differ Between Athletes In Different Sports?, Steven Laflamme

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Caffeine has been a very popular ergogenic aid that has been widely used by athletes at all levels of sports performance (Pickering & Grgic, 2019). The effects of caffeine have shown performance-enhancing symptoms among athletes along with multiple cognitive benefits such as reaction time and overall mood during exercise. According to McArdle, Katch, and Katch (2015), caffeine acts as a stimulant for the central nervous system. It acts as a blocker for adenosine receptors and allows for more neuron firing in the brain as well as increased blood flow from the heart to other body systems. In interest of caffeine’s …

Promoting Well-Being Among Intercollegiate Student-Athletes: A Gratitude Intervention Using Positive Psychology, Laura Kruger

Dissertations and Theses

Intercollegiate student-athletes face rising stress and pressures which challenge their well-being and mental health, and sometimes with alarming concerns. Over the years, supportive services and resources specifically available to student-athletes have not evolved at the same pace as student-athlete needs. Also, barriers and stigmas hinder student-athletes from readily accessing supportive mental health services. The high stress of student-athletes can contribute to the development of negative mental health symptoms and impairs positive well-being. Evidence supports how outreach initiatives help student-athletes. Positive psychology, including gratitude as a positive psychological state, has shown benefits to well-being. This experimental study design researched if the …

Return To Recreational Sports Participation Following Rotator Cuff Repair In Adults Over 40 Years Of Age: Outcomes And Return To Play Analysis, John Hayden Sonnier, Gregory Connors, Michael P. Campbell, Matthew Sabitsky, Ryan W. Paul, Hayden E. Sando, William D. Emper, Steven B. Cohen, Michael G. Ciccotti, Fotios P. Tjoumakaris, Kevin B. Freedman

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Background: Despite the high prevalence of rotator cuff (RTC) tears in older adults, there is limited literature evaluating the return to recreational sport after repair. The purpose of this study was (1) to assess the patient-reported outcomes and return to sport rates following rotator cuff repair in patients aged more than 40 years with minimum 2-year follow-up; (2) to compare baseline, preoperative and postoperative outcomes, and level of play following repair of self-reported athletes with nonathletes; and (3) to compare return to sport rates in overhead athletes compared to nonoverhead athletes. Methods: Patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between January …

Markers Of Neuroinflammatory And Degenerative Processes In Professional Athletes With Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome, Brooke Conway Kleven

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: The clinical criteria for Traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (ccTES) were developed to improve the diagnosis of Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This study aimed to determine whether there was an association between a clinical diagnosis of Traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) and changes in serum biomarkers, balance, neuroimaging, and cognition among athletes in the Professional Athletes Brain Health Study (PABHS).Methods: Of the cohort, 130 professional fighters met age or retirement criteria and went to a consensus conference, with 52 fighters (40%) meeting the criteria for TES. A generalized linear model with generalized estimating equations was utilized to assess the odds of disease …

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 …

The Validity Of A Smartphone App (Myrecovery©) To Serve As Proxy For Activity Level In Athletes, Nicole K. Bryant, Alan Getgood, Trevor Birmingham, Ryan Degen, Kevin Willits, Robert Litchfield, J. Robert Giffin

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Background: When investigating the effectiveness of interventions to prevent recurrence of sports injuries, measuring exposure time (the time an athlete is at risk of injury) is crucial. The most accurate method of measuring exposure time involves hiring personnel to stand field side during practices and games to record minutes at risk. However, this does not capture other activities in which the athlete may take part that are not part of their formal sport that may put them at risk of re-injury. Another means to collect this data is to ask the athlete to self-report exposure. However, self-report diaries are often …

Caring For Pregnant And Postpartum Athletes: Athletic Trainers, Strength Coaches, And Athletic Coaches, Aly Matejka, Stephanie Born

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

OBJECTIVE
A survey was created to assess the experience, education, and self-perceived competence of treating and/or training pregnant and postpartum athletes among athletic trainers, strength coaches, and coaches.

Athlete Self-Efficacy Scale: Development And Psychometric Properties, Çalık Veli Koçak

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: It is important that psychological structures have an impact on athlete performance, such as self-efficacy can be measured consistently. The aim of this study is to develop a measurement tool with psychometric properties that can measure the self-efficacy beliefs of athletes. Material and methods: The participants of the study consisted of 325 athletes (age 21.6 ± 4.2) who actively pursue sports in various sports branches in Turkey. In the validity and reliability analysis of the scale, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes were used. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient value of the total scale is .88. Results: The validity and reliability …

Prevalence Of Food Insecurity In The General College Population And Student-Athletes: A Review Of The Literature, Elizabeth L. Abbey, Melissa Brown, Christine Karpinski

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this review is to examine the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among the general college student population with a focus on student-athletes and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on FI in these groups. Recent Findings: FI is estimated to be more prevalent in college students than in the general population, although ranges vary widely. Less is known about FI among college student-athletes. Data on changes in FI prevalence pre-pandemic and during is mixed. Summary: Colleges and universities should invest in interventions to address FI on their campuses, and further research on FI among …

Unexpected And Usual Breaks' Impact On Body Composition In College Athletes, Aston Dommel

All ETDs from UAB

Body composition is an important factor that determines athletic performance. At the elite level, margins of victory are narrow, with small changes in performance making the difference between victory and defeat. Changes in body composition affect performance, in both improvements and decrements. Athletes regularly experience breaks from structured activity and resources caused by expected circumstances (school breaks, off-season) and unexpected circumstances (injury, COVID-19). Due to differences in diet, physical activity, and other factors, breaks may cause changes in body composition that can hinder or help the athlete upon return to structured resources. Currently, there is a plethora of cross-sectional research …

Putative Concussion Biomarkers Identified In Adolescent Male Athletes Using Targeted Plasma Proteomics, Michael R. Miller, Michael Robinson, Lisa Fischer, Alicia Dibattista, Maitray A. Patel, Mark Daley, Robert Bartha, Gregory A. Dekaban, Ravi S. Menon, J. Kevin Shoemaker, Eleftherios P. Diamandis, Ioannis Prassas, Douglas D. Fraser

Medical Biophysics Publications

Sport concussions can be difficult to diagnose and if missed, they can expose athletes to greater injury risk and long-lasting neurological disabilities. Discovery of objective biomarkers to aid concussion diagnosis is critical to protecting athlete brain health. To this end, we performed targeted proteomics on plasma obtained from adolescent athletes suffering a sports concussion. A total of 11 concussed male athletes were enrolled at our academic Sport Medicine Concussion Clinic, as well as 24 sex-, age- and activity-matched healthy control subjects. Clinical evaluation was performed and blood was drawn within 72 h of injury. Proximity extension assays were performed for …

Macronutrient Intake: A Multi-Sport Study Of Female Division I Collegiate Athletes, Ffion Price

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Macronutrients play a critical role within collegiate athletes’ performance and health, with carbohydrates providing most of the energy needs for most athletes. There is little research examining the macronutrient intake of healthy collegiate female athletes across sports. The aim of the present study was to compare macronutrient intakes of female collegiate athletes within different sports and compare their intakes to recommendations. Methods: An observational study was conducted to determine whether a sample of female collegiate athletes (n=26) consumed the IOC nutritional recommendations. Sports included within the study were soccer, basketball, volleyball, and cross-country. Athletes were asked to complete a …

Examining Eating Attitudes And Behaviors In Collegiate Athletes, The Association Between Orthorexia Nervosa And Eating Disorders, Nancy A. Uriegas, Zachary K. Winkelmann, Kelly Pritchett, Toni M. Torres-Mcgehee

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

Purpose: Orthorexia nervosa (Orthorexia) is an eating attitude and behavior associated with a fixation on healthy eating, while eating disorders (EDs) are clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorders associated with marked disturbances in eating that may cause impairment to psychosocial and physical health. The purpose of this study was to examine risk for Orthorexia and EDs in student-athletes across sex and sport type and determine the association between the two.

Methods: Student-athletes (n = 1,090; age: 19.6 ± 1.4 years; females = 756; males = 334) completed a survey including demographics, the ORTO-15 test (values), the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26; >20 …

Mindfulness-Based Practices For The Impaired Performance Athlete, Mackenzie L. Campbell

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Mindfulness-based programs are becoming commonly considered for the improvement of athlete's mental and physical state. However, their usage in improving performance in impaired athletes is limited and not fully understood. The purpose of this thesis was to review the standing literature on the topic of the application of mindfulness to improving athletic performance in wellbeing-impaired athletes. Seventy-three articles were included as references for this paper describing functional mechanisms, clinical significance and anecdotal evidence that points to the effectiveness of mindfulness in sport for the treatment of pain, injury recovery, prevention of injury, and chronic illness. Ultimately, this review supports the …

The Long-Term Behavioral Effects Of Concussions And Post-Concussion Syndrome, Hannah Belleville

Honors College

The focus of this thesis is to examine the effects of concussions on college athletes, specifically their social activity and behavioral changes. Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) that occur after receiving a blow to the head or a whiplash injury that causes an altered state of consciousness, including but not limited to, being unconscious. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reports that in the past five years college athletes have suffered 10,500 concussions. Unlike professional athletes, who have the luxury of being able to rest until fully healed, college student athletes have the demands of academics often rushing …

The Effect Of A Text-Message Based Hydration Education Intervention On Hydration Knowledge And Behavior Of Division I Female Collegiate Soccer Players, Milaena Ferrarese

Theses and Dissertations

There is increasing evidence of athletes entering their training sessions in an already dehydrated state. It is crucial for athletes to properly replenish fluid and electrolytes lost via sweat in order to optimize their training and recovery. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a text-message based hydration education intervention on the knowledge and hydration status of division I female collegiate soccer players.A total of 14 participants completed baseline testing, which included hydration knowledge and behavior questionnaires, and pre- and post-practice weights to calculate % weight change (%WC). The participants also provided a baseline urine sample …

Return To Play Criteria Following Operative Management Of Acromioclavicular Joint Separation: A Systematic Review, Richard J. Gawel, Taylor D'Amore, Md, Peters Otlans, Md, Somnath Rao, Steven B. Cohen, Md, Michael G. Ciccotti, Md

Phase 1

Introduction: Acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation is a leading cause of shoulder injury among athletes. High grade injuries may require operative fixation, and comprehensive return to play guidelines have not yet been established. The purpose of this investigation is to summarize return to play criteria following operative management of AC joint separation.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed to evaluate clinical evidence regarding return to play following operative management of isolated AC joint separation. Studies satisfying inclusion criteria were analyzed for return to play timeline and other factors used to guide return to play following surgery.

Results: Sixty-three …

The Effects Of Concussion On Quantity Of Sleep And Quality Of Sleep, Taren Asheton Bone

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study observed how a concussion's effects change the quantity and quality of sleep in collegiate athletes. There is a lack of research pertaining to this topic, explicitly involving collegiate athletes and the changes in sleep outcomes during concussion recovery from a concussion. The study design is a convenient cohort in the field involving athletes from two local universities. Participants wore a Readiband™ device for seven to ten days or throughout their concussion recovery. There were differences in total minutes in bed and calculated minutes in bed between concussed and non-concussed participants. This study indicates that concussion affects the quantity …

Long-Term Disability Following A Hamstring Injury, Savannah Mclain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: Injuries to the hamstring complex are one of the most commonly seen lower extremity injuries in athletic populations. It is currently unknown how psychological or sociological factors affect an athlete after the recovery process has ended and if these factors play a role in re-injury rates relating to the hamstring. It is also unknown if athlete confidence level changes while in a fatigued state after an athlete returns to play from a hamstring injury. METHODS: Twenty-six physically active adults with and without a previous hamstring injury were recruited for this study. Participants completed a Qualtrics survey that …

Athletics As A Life Curriculum: Lessons Learned Through Different Aspects Of Athletics, Thomas J. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For my dissertation, I decided to write a memoir to have the opportunity to go through the self-reflection process and learn more about my inner self. I wanted to learn how the life experiences I write about have affected me as a student-athlete, coach, teacher, parent, and how they have shaped me into who I am today. I took instances from my life in athletics that I believe are significant in the development of my overall being. Educational scholars such as William Pinar (1995, 2004), John Dewey (1916/2019, 1933), Frederic Gros (2011), Immanuel Kant (1908/2015), Nel Noddings (2005), and Paulo …

A Survey To Evaluate The Association Of Covid-19 Restrictions On Perceived Mood And Coping In Australian Community Level Athletes, Caitlin Fox-Harding, Sarah A. Harris, Shane L. Rogers, Shayne Vial, Philipp Beranek, Mitchell Turner, Travis Cruickshank

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Australian community level athletes faced unprecedented changes to their training andcompetition options as the global COVID-19 pandemic took a stronghold. This disruptionwas predicted to have a negative impact on emotional well-being as communitiesbraced through periods of social isolation and physical distancing requirements. Thisstudy provides an Australian perspective on the emotional well-being of communitylevel athletes and the extent to which they coped during the COVID-19 pandemic.Emotional well-being and coping were measured using the Brief Emotional ExperienceScale and the 28-item Brief Cope Scale. Both instruments were administered alongwith other questions pertaining to participant demographics and training status via anonline survey between April …

High School Student-Athlete Sleep Habits Using Activity Monitoring, Corey Thomas Ungaro

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Sleep research is an area of scientific inquiry that impacts all individuals due to sleep's effects on health, well-being, and performance. Healthy sleep habits have been shown to improve academic and athletic performance in collegiate student-athletes. Surprisingly, no sleep research has been conducted on high school student-athletes during a semester. High school student-athletes can benefit from understanding their sleep habits and how sleep can affect the development of the adolescent brain and improve performance giving athletes the potential for a competitive advantage. This retrospective analysis aims to examine the sleep habits of student-athletes while balancing their academic and athletic responsibilities …

Effects Of Variations In Resistance Training Frequency On Strength Development In Well-Trained Populations And Implications For In-Season Athlete Training: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Matthew Cuthbert, G. Gregory Haff, Shawn M. Arent, Nicholas Ripley, John J. Mcmahon, Martin Evans, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: In-season competition and tournaments for team sports can be both long and congested, with some sports competing up to three times per week. During these periods of time, athletes need to prepare technically, tactically and physically for the next fixture and the short duration between fixtures means that, in some cases, physical preparation ceases, or training focus moves to recovery as opposed to progressing adaptations. Objective: The aim of this review was to investigate the effect of training frequency on muscular strength to determine if a potential method to accommodate in-season resistance training, during busy training schedules, could be …