Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Metabolic Foundations Of Exercise-Induced Cardiac Growth., Kyle Fulghum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regular aerobic exercise promotes physiological cardiac growth, which is an adaptive response thought to enable the heart to meet higher physical demands. Cardiac growth involves coordination of catabolic and anabolic activities to support ATP generation, macromolecule biosynthesis, and myocyte hypertrophy. Although previous studies suggest that exercise-induced reductions in cardiac glycolysis are critical for physiological myocyte hypertrophy, it remains unclear how exercise influences the many interlinked pathways of metabolism that support adaptive remodeling of the heart. In this thesis project, we tested the general hypothesis that aerobic exercise promotes physiological cardiac growth by coordinating myocardial metabolism to promote glucose-supported anabolic pathway …

Defining The Impact Of Clinically Modeled Hindlimb Stretching, Exercise, & Inactivity On Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury., Greta Cesarz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating, life altering event that affects approximately 282,000 Americans. The most obvious side effect of SCI is paralysis due to damage to the spinal cord that disrupts ascending and descending pathways as well as central pattern generating circuitry. In addition to paralysis, patients suffer from other debilitating side effects including altered cardiovascular function, autonomic dysreflexia, neuropathic pain, spasticity, and contractures. In contrast to humans, rodents display spontaneous locomotor recovery following incomplete SCI due to in-cage activity/training. Previously, our laboratory has studied the effect of lack of in-cage training by utilizing custom designed rodent wheelchairs. …

Zebrafish As A Model To Understand The Impact Of Inactivity And Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation On Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Elisabeth Kilroy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Skeletal muscle plasticity is imperative for functional adaptation to changing demands in activity. Although a great deal is known about the structural and functional plasticity of healthy skeletal muscle, far less is known about plasticity in diseased muscle. Here, we combined the power of the zebrafish model with the adaptability of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to study the basic mechanisms of plasticity in the zebrafish model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Four NMES paradigms, defined by their frequency, delay, and voltage, were designed to emulate the repetition and load schemes of human resistance training programs. Additionally, two inactivity paradigms were …

The Effects Of Two Modes Of High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise On Postprandial Metabolism, David J. Buckley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see if exercise in the form of Tabata or Sprinting would lower postprandial lipemia and glycemia. Tabata was composed of body-weight exercises. Both Tabata and Sprinting consisted of 5 rounds with each round lasting 4 minutes and included movements performed for 20 seconds followed by 10sec of rest. Following the completion of each round, participants received a 60 second break. Both exercise sessions were isocaloric and lasted 25min. Thirty minutes following exercise, participants were given a 75g-oral glucose solution and a high-fat meal two hours following exercise. The postprandial assessment lasted 6 hours. …

Characterization Of The Effect Of Exercise Dose And Integrative Nonpharmacological Therapies In The Treatment Of Chronic Pain, Anna M. Polaski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic pain includes debilitating conditions affecting large populations of people throughout the world. These diseases are further complicated by comorbid psychological disorders which make chronic pain conditions difficult to treat. Nonpharmacological treatment options have more recently become an important mainstay of effective therapies and are currently being used to supplement or replace traditional pharmacological treatment methods. Exercise-based therapies in particular are of interest due to their demonstrated success in reducing pain symptoms as well as improving psychological outcomes. Dose is an important factor in being able to effectively prescribe treatments in the context of specific exercise interventions and specific pain …

Metabolic Regulation Of Myocardial Adaptation To Exercise., Andrew Alan Gibb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While the benefits of exercise affect several organs, a significant adaptive response occurs within the heart. Exercise promotes cardiac growth, increases angiogenesis, and enhances cardiac function and these adaptations are associated with a cardioprotective phenotype. Additionally, extensive evidence shows that exercise dynamically regulates myocardial metabolism. This can be attributed to both changes in hormonal stimulation, increases in bioenergetic demand, and the bioavailability of circulating substrates. However, it is unclear whether these changes in metabolism contribute to physiologic cardiac growth. We reason that exercise-induced changes in metabolism are required to balance the catabolic and anabolic reactions needed for growth. Specifically, we …

Biomechanical Testing Of An Exercise For Strengthening The Proximal Femur., Alyssa Osbourne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Based on the principles of cutting edge bone remodeling research, a unique therapeutic exercise device was designed specifically to improve bone quality at the most critical location of the proximal femur prone to fracture: the superior-lateral femoral neck where the fracture first initiates during a fall. The exercise/device is intended to work by inducing enough strain in the bone to stimulate the body’s natural bone remodeling mechanisms to increase bone density in the proximal femur and consequently prevent a fracture from arising if a fall to the side does occur.

In order to test the proposed exercise, experiments simulating the …

Difference In Quality Of Life Between Group And Individual Exercise In A Faith-Based Sample, Everett Jackson Amburn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is limited data on the quality of life of individuals who exercise in a group versus individuals who exercise alone. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the quality life between adults who attend an exercise class and those who exercise alone. Using the WHOQOL-BREF, 27 adult females were surveyed in Central California at two Church of Latter Day Saints locations. Ten females were enrolled in a group exercise class while 17 were individual exercisers. The data was analyzed using a t-test for independent samples to determine if there is a …

Spinal Cord Injury Induced Cardiac Decline And The Limitations Of Exercise., Kathryn Michele Deveau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a general consensus that the level and the severity of spinal cord injury (SCI) impacts chronic cardiac abnormalities such that high thoracic and cervical SCI are the most severely affected. Furthermore, the extreme degree of immobility/inactivity experienced by the persons with SCI has implications on cardiac decline. Yet it has been difficult to separate the relative contributions of the decentralized autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the immediate and profound inactivity to chronic cardiac abnormalities. As such, this body of work sought to characterize a contusion SCI that results in persistent CV dysfunction. Echocardiography, Dobutamine stress echocardiography and pressure …

Goal Orientation, Motivational Climate, And Exercise As Predictors Of Eating Disorder Risk Factors Among College Students, Carly Wahl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College is a transition period in a young adult’s life in which eating disorder symptomology is especially prevalent. Additionally, motivation-based factors such as goal orientation and motivational climate can influence these eating disorder-like behaviors, especially in a physical activity setting. The present study aimed to examine how goal orientation, motivational climate, and exercise could be used to predict a college students’ eating disorder symptomology. Participants included 276 college-aged males and females from a university in the southeastern United States. These participants had experience using the university recreation activity center and were recruited from a required healthful living course. Each participant …

Optimism Bias In Fitness, Katrielle Marx

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The people of the United States of America have been concerned with the population’s overweight and obesity rate for a while. The purpose of this study was to find out if optimism bias had an influence on fitness. Optimism bias is overestimating the likelihood of positive events and underestimate the likelihood of negative events happening in one’s life. This study created a fitness optimism scale and used a set of fitness assessments and exercise questions to correlate with the fitness optimism bias. There were 105 students who participated in this study, 82 females and 23 males with a mean age …

Physical Activity Initiatives: Implications For Physical Activity Promotion, Allison Lea Nooe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Exercise is Medicine (EiM) initiative and the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) are structured to promote an increase of physical activity at the population level. The primary vision of the EiM initiative is the assessment and prescription of exercise in a primary care clinical setting. The NPAP is a document presenting evidenced-based strategies and tactics across 8 different societal sectors that create opportunity for increased physical activity. Both initiatives offer valuable strategies in promoting physical activity among American citizens. However, little empirical research on these initiatives has been evaluated. Study I is entitled,Perceptions of the Exercise is Medicine®Initiative in …

Physiological And Perceptual Responses To Alternate Modes Of Exercise At Self Selected Or Prescribed Intensity Between Overweight And Non-Overweight Individuals, James Riley Galloway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To investigate the influence of body weight, exercise modality, and pace on physiological and perceptual responses during walking. Also, to determine if the relationship between physiological and perceptual responses was altered by modality, pace, or weight status. Methods: Aerobically untrained males (n=80, 22.85 ± 3.61 years) and females (n=80, 21.18 ± 1.52 years) classified as either overweight or non-overweight participated. Individuals completed two sessions separated by 72 hours. Session 1 included familiarization, whole body DXA scan, treadmill test to exhaustion, and a 70 foot walk test to determine self selected walking speed. For session 2, participants were randomly assigned …

Primary Care Providers' Provision Of Therapeutic Lifestyle Change Counseling For Patients With Cardiovascular Risk, Tristen Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is important to the U.S. healthcare system, as it constitutes a high prevalence of deaths and costs the system billions each year. In lieu of this, research directed at preventative measures is important, especially those related to therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC). TLC represents a host of healthy behaviors, such as physical activity and healthy nutrition, that have shown to provide benefits in both preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. While public experts have advocated for physicians to recommend not only TLC for patients at cardiovascular risk but also to help …

Effect Of Incorporating The Fitbit Fitness Tracking Technology Into A Prescribed Exercise Intervention Program To Improve Long-Term Function In Obese Individuals One Year Following Total Knee Arthroplasty., Webb A. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Physical Activity Intervention Targeted At Middle-Aged Males: A Mixed Methods Research Study, Sheryl L. Chatfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Determinants Of Physical Activity In Rural Women, Ages 20-44 Years, Dziyana Nazaruk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite multiple health benefits of exercise, it is reported that only 14.7% of American women engage in the recommended amount of physical activity. Whereas the potential negative consequences of not exercising are well documented, there is a scarcity of literature that investigates the determinants of physical activity in rural women. The purpose of this concurrent transformative mixed method study was to explore the determinants of physical activity in rural women ages 20-44 years. Specific quantitative research questions addressed the relationship between the determinants of physical activity on intra- and interpersonal levels, as well as the current physical activity status of …

Exercise Participation During Weight Loss On A High Protein – Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan In Females Aged 15-25 Years, Margaret Mobley-Meulman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Obese adults have an increased risk for serious health conditions including high blood pressure and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and certain cancers (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Participation in exercise can help control weight, strengthen muscles and bones, and reduce the incidence of cardiac events, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancers, osteoporotic fractures, gallbladder disease, obesity, depression, anxiety, and delay mortality …

The Impact Of Dietary And Exercise Habits On College Students' Life Satisfaction, Megan L. Marsh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A majority of college students do not maintain healthy lifestyle practices. Few college students achieve recommendations for adequate nutrition and instead typically consume diets high in fat, sodium, and sugar and low in fruits and vegetables. In addition, few college students meet current physical activity recommendations, and 40-50% do not exercise at all. Life satisfaction is associated with low levels of stress, academic achievement, goal progression, and personal growth initiative, all of which contribute to success in college as well as the transition from college into the working world. Exercise, fruit and vegetable intake, and avoidance of fat intake are …

An Exploratory Study Of Physiologic Responses To A Passive Exercise Intervention In Mechanically-Ventilated Critically Ill Adults, Christina M. Amidei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Muscle weakness is the most common and persistent problem after a critical illness. Early mobilization of the critically ill patient, beginning with passive exercise and progressing to ambulation, may mitigate muscle effects of the critical illness. However, mobilization may produce adverse effects, especially early in the illness when risk for physiologic deterioration is common. If safe, introducing a mobility intervention early in the illness may facilitate ventilator weaning, shorten intensive care unit and hospitals stays, and improve functional status and quality of life for mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. The aim of this study was assess the cardiopulmonary and inflammatory …

Athlete And Coach Knowledge, Attitudes, And Perceptions Of Sickle Cell Trait And National Collegiate Athletic Association Mandated Testing: Recommendations For Intervention, Raymona Holloway Lawrence

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with Sickle Cell Trait have died suddenly after extreme exertion during military training, athletic practice or games (Kerle & Nishimura, 1996; Harrelson, Fincher & Robinson, 1995; Howe & Bowden, 2007). One of those deaths, Dale Lloyd, a football player at Rice University, prompted a change in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Sports Medicine Handbook Guideline 3c: The Student Athlete with Sickle Cell Trait. Effective August 2010, the NCAA Division I Proposal No. 2009-75-B mandated sickle cell trait testing in all Division I athletes unless documented results of a prior test are provided to the institution or the student-athlete …