Sports Sciences Commons^™

Gait Variability And Energy Cost Of Overground Walking In Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study, Emerson Sebastião, Rachel E. Bollaert, Elizabeth A. Hubbard, Robert W. Motl

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: This study examined the associations between gait variability based on common spatiotemporal parameters and energetic cost of walking in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Design: Eighty-six persons with multiple sclerosis underwent the 6-min walk while wearing a portable metabolic unit. The cost of walking was generated by dividing the net steady-state VO₂ (milliliter per kilogram per minute) by walking speed during the 6-min walk. Participants further completed two trials of walking on the GAITRite mat at a self-selected pace for measuring spatiotemporal parameters. Variability of step length, step time, stride length, swing time, stance time, stride velocity, and single- …

Risk Factors Associated With Low Back Pain In Golfers: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jo Armour Smith, Andrew Hawkins, Marybeth Grant-Beuttler, Richard Beuttler, Szu-Ping Lee

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Context:

Low back pain is common in golfers. The risk factors for golf-related low back pain are unclear but may include individual demographic, anthropometric, and practice factors as well as movement characteristics of the golf swing.

Objective:

The aims of this systematic review were to summarize and synthesize evidence for factors associated with low back pain in recreational and professional golfers.

Data Sources:

A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus electronic databases through September 2017.

Study Selection:

Studies were included if they quantified demographic, anthropometric, biomechanical, or practice variables in individuals with and without golf-related …

Associations Of Functional Connectivity And Walking Performance In Multiple Sclerosis, Rachel E. Bollaert, Kyle Poe, Elizabeth A. Hubbard, Robert W. Motl, Lara A. Pilutti, Curtis L. Johnson, Bradley P. Sutton

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) often demonstrate impaired walking performance, and neuroimaging methods such as resting state functional connectivity. (RSFC) may support a link between central nervous system damage and disruptions in walking.

Objectives

This study examined associations between RSFC in cortical networks and walking performance in persons with MS.

Methods

29 persons with MS underwent 3-T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and we computed RSFC among 68 Gy matter regions of interest in the brain. Participants completed the Timed 25-foot Walk as a measure of walking performance. We examined associations using partial Pearson product-moment correlation analyses (r …

Supplemental Training And Injury Prevention In The Sport Of Ultra-Running, Jessica M. Heidebrink

Senior Honors Theses

By definition, ultra-marathon running is a sport that covers any distance above the 26.2-mile marathon distance in a single race. The mountains of Virginia host many ultra-marathon races that attract endurance runners from all over the nation to participate. Training is an essential component of running an ultra. Although there is not one specific way to train for an ultra, there is research that correlates the success of the top ultra-runners and their training preferences regarding supplemental training and injury prevention. To gain a more complete understanding of how to prepare for a successful ultra-marathon, an online survey was created …

Developing A Footswitch Device To Assess The Likelihood Of Falls In At-Risk Populations, Arash Mohammadzadeh Gonabadi

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Falls are one of the major cause of injuries, reduced functioning and even mortality in older adults. Most of the falls occur during walking, so considering the mechanics of gait during walking can provide insight to identify the risk of fall in this population. A component of walking mechanics associated with falling in the elderly is gait variability (i.e. the inherent natural fluctuations between strides). Healthy states are associated with an optimal level of movement variability reflecting the adaptability of the underlying control system, while pathological gait can be either too regular, or periodic, or too random and disordered. In …

Kinetic And Kinematic Analysis Of Male Collegiate Basketball Players With Patella Tendinosis, Dacia Heckendorf, Luke Hammer, Matthew Jeppson, Nicole Jones, Katherine Porter

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Patellar tendinopathy (PT) occurs in approximately 40% of elite jumping athletes. Players will typically play through the pain; however, if the condition is not successfully treated some are forced to retire from sport. Research has shown that there are no signs of chemical inflammation in the tendon, but rather the presence of a degenerative tendon with collagen disorientation and disorganization.

Physical Activity And Annual Medical Outlay In U.S. Colorectal, Breast And Prostate Cancer Survivors, Alice F. Yan, Yang Wang, Alexander V. Ng

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Multiple chronic conditions in cancer survivors are highly prevalent and may increase health care costs for both patients and the health care system. Studies of cancer survivors reveal positive effects of physical activity (PA) on reducing risk of cancer recurrence, other chronic conditions, and secondary cancer. Few nationally representative studies have examined how physical activity levels have affected survivors' annual economic burden in the United States.

Leisure-time physical activity data from the National Health Interview Survey was linked to health care expenditure data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2008–2012). We calculated per-person annual total medical expenditures for identified …

Mechanisms For The Increased Fatigability Of The Lower Limb In People With Type 2 Diabetes, Jonathon Senefeld, Steven B. Magill, April L. Harkins, Alison R. Harmer, Sandra K. Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Fatiguing exercise is the basis of exercise training and a cornerstone of management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), however, little is known about the fatigability of limb muscles and the involved mechanisms in people with T2D. The purpose was to compare fatigability of knee extensor muscles between people with T2D and controls without diabetes and determine the neural and muscular mechanisms for a dynamic fatiguing task. Seventeen people with T2D (10 men, 7 women: 59.6{plus minus}9.0 years) and 21 age-, BMI- and physical activity-matched controls (11 men, 10 women: 59.5{plus minus}9.6 years) performed 120 high-velocity concentric contractions (1 contraction/3 …

Six-Minute Walk Test Performance In Persons With Multiple Sclerosis While Using Passive Or Powered Ankle-Foot Orthoses, Morgan K. Boes, Rachel E. Bollaert, Richard M. Kesler, Yvonne C. Learmonth, Mazharul Islam, Matthew N. Petrucci, Robert W. Motl, Elizabeth T. Hsiao-Wecksler

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To determine whether a powered ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) that provides dorsiflexor and plantar flexor assistance at the ankle can improve walking endurance of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design

Short-term intervention.

Setting

University research laboratory.

Participants

Participants (N=16) with a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of MS and daily use of a prescribed custom unilateral passive AFO.

Interventions

Three 6-minute walk tests (6MWTs), 1 per footwear condition: shoes (no AFO), prescribed passive AFO, and portable powered AFO (PPAFO). Assistive devices were worn on the impaired limb.

Main Outcome Measures

Distance walked and metabolic cost of transport were recorded during each 6MWT and …

Validation Of The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire Classification Coding System Using Accelerometry In Multiple Sclerosis, Robert W. Motl, Rachel E. Bollaert, Brian M. Sandroff

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: There have been recent efforts toward creating a health contribution score (HCS) from the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) that reflects public-health guidelines for levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The HCS yields categories of insufficiently active (less substantial or low benefits), moderately active (some benefits), and active (substantial benefits). The present study examined the validity of the GLTEQ HCS and its categories as reflecting levels of MVPA in multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: The sample included 684 persons with MS. Participants wore an accelerometer on an elastic belt around the waist above the nondominant hip during the waking hours …

Girls In The Boat: Sex Differences In Rowing Performance And Participation, Kevin G. Keenan, Jonathon Senefeld, Sandra K. Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Men outperform women in many athletic endeavors due to physiological and anatomical differences (e.g. larger and faster muscle); however, the observed sex differences in elite athletic performance are typically larger than expected, and may reflect sex-related differences in opportunity or incentives. As collegiate rowing in the United States has been largely incentivized for women over the last 20 years, but not men, the purpose of this study was to examine sex differences in elite rowing performance over that timeframe. Finishing times from grand finale races for collegiate championship on-water performances (n = 480) and junior indoor performances (n = 1,280) …

Analytical Cpg Model Driven By Limb Velocity Input Generates Accurate Temporal Locomotor Dynamics, Sergiy Yakovenko, Anton Sobinov, Valeriya Gritsenko

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The ability of vertebrates to generate rhythm within their spinal neural networks is essential for walking, running, and other rhythmic behaviors. The central pattern generator (CPG) network responsible for these behaviors is well-characterized with experimental and theoretical studies, and it can be formulated as a nonlinear dynam- ical system. The underlying mechanism responsible for locomotor behavior can be expressed as the process of leaky integration with resetting states generating appropriate phases for changing body velocity. The low-dimensional input to the CPG model generates the bilateral pattern of swing and stance modulation for each limb and is consistent with the desired …

Comparison Of Four Fitbit And Jawbone Activity Monitors With A Research-Grade Actigraph Accelerometer For Estimating Physical Activity And Energy Expenditure, Mary T. Imboden, Michael B. Nelson, Leonard A. Kaminsky, Alexander Hk Montoye

Faculty Publications - Department of Kinesiology

Background/aim Consumer-based physical activity (PA) monitors have become popular tools to track PA behaviours. Currently, little is known about the validity of the measurements provided by consumer monitors. We aimed to compare measures of steps, energy expenditure (EE) and active minutes of four consumer monitors with one research-grade accelerometer within a semistructured protocol.

Methods Thirty men and women (18–80 years old) wore Fitbit One (worn at the waist), Fitbit Zip (waist), Fitbit Flex (wrist), Jawbone UP24 (wrist) and one waist-worn research-grade accelerometer (ActiGraph) while participating in an 80 min protocol. A validated EE prediction equation and active minute cut-points were …

Physical Therapy And The Integration Of Dry Needling, Katie Montgomery

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research paper analyzes how the field of Physical Therapy has grown and evolved in the United States over the last sixty years. It also explores the education process of becoming a therapist, the responsibilities it entails, and the different treatment interventions therapist can use by taking a deeper look at the integration of dry needling techniques into the field of Physical Therapy.

Dry needling is defined and different techniques being utilized in the field currently are explained. Also discussed are locations where physical therapists are legally allowed to perform dry needling in the United States, the certification process, precautions …

Active And Inactive Leg Hemodynamics During Sequential Single-Leg Interval Cycling, Nicole Gordon, Chris R. Abbiss, Mohammed Ihsan, Andrew J. Maiorana, Jeremiah J. Peiffer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction Leg order during sequential single-leg cycling (i.e., exercising both legs independently within a single session) may affect local muscular responses potentially influencing adaptations. This study examined the cardiovascular and skeletal muscle hemodynamic responses during double-leg and sequential single-leg cycling. Methods Ten young healthy adults (28 ± 6 yr) completed six 1-min double-leg intervals interspersed with 1 min of passive recovery and, on a separate occasion, 12 (six with one leg followed by six with the other leg) 1-min single-leg intervals interspersed with 1 min of passive recovery. Oxygen consumption, heart rate, blood pressure, muscle oxygenation, muscle blood volume, and …

The Effect Of Asymmetry On Pregnancy-Related Pain In The Postpartum Period, Krista G. Meder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nearly 50% of women experience back pain and other lower extremity pain during pregnancy, with many reporting lasting pain postpartum. Pregnant women experience changes to their pelvis and lower extremities that do not always return to pre-pregnancy baseline. Not much is known of the lingering effects of pregnancy related asymmetry and its relationship to pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess asymmetries of the pelvis and lower extremities to determine whether malalignment is related to areas of pain at the low back, hip, thigh, knee, leg, and foot/ankle. Methods: Seventeen postpartum women and seven nulliparous controls were …

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 …

Baseline Postural Control Measures: An Indicator For Increased Injury Frequency Following Sports Related Concussion, Emily Belson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: An increase in acute lower extremity (LE) injuries have been observed in athletes following sports-related concussion.^{1, 2, 3} It has been suggested that lingering postural control deficits as a result of concussive injury, may play a role in the increased prevalence of injury.¹ PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between baseline postural control metrics (Root Mean Square; Peak Excursion Velocity; Sample Entropy) and acute LE injury frequency in NCAA Division I student athletes (SA) with a previous history of concussion. METHODS: Eighty-four NCAA Division I SA were selected from a single university, 42 SA with a previous history …

Virtual Reality As A Training Tool To Treat Physical Inactivity In Children, Adam W. Kiefer, David Pincus, Michael J. Richardson, Gregory D. Myer

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Lack of adequate physical activity in children is an epidemic that can result in obesity and other poor health outcomes across the lifespan. Physical activity interventions focused on motor skill competence continue to be developed, but some interventions, such as neuromuscular training (NMT), may be limited in how early they can be implemented due to dependence on the child’s level of cognitive and perceptual-motor development. Early implementation of motor-rich activities that support motor skill development in children is critical for the development of healthy levels of physical activity that carry through into adulthood. Virtual reality (VR) training may be beneficial …

Effects Of Leg Girth And Leg Strength On Division I Track Athletes Race Performance, Benjamin Clay Dixon

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

Thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science, Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts by Benjamin Clay Dixon on December 7, 2017.

The Role Of Balance And Neck Strength In Youth Concussion, Chris Koch, Jenny Neudorfer, Peter Heuberger, Tel Winegar, Calvin Lee, Jarrett Fegel

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Concussion: A concussion is a trauma-induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness; this can include a direct blow to the head or a blow to the body resulting in the head and brain moving quickly back and forth (1).

Current Screen: Current concussion screen consists of: symptom checklist, cognitive assessment known as Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT), and Balance Errors Scoring System (BESS) (2).

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine an assessment to screen an individual’s risk of sustaining a sport-related concussion.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized the SCAT 4, BESS, Four …

Contraction Intensity And Sex Differences In Knee-Extensor Fatigability, Paul Ansdell, Kevin Thomas, Glyn Howatson, Sandra K. Hunter, Stuart Goodall

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Females are less fatigable than males during isometric contractions across various muscles and intensities. However, sex differences in knee-extensor fatigability remain relatively unexplored. Purpose: To determine the sex difference in performance fatigability for intermittent, isometric contractions of the knee-extensor muscles. Methods: Eighteen participants (10 males, 8 females) performed intermittent, isometric, knee-extensor contractions at 30% of their maximal voluntary force (MVC) for 30 min and in a separate session at 50% MVC until task-failure. During both fatiguing protocols a MVC was performed every 60 s and electromyography (EMG) was recorded during all contractions. Results: At task completion males had a larger …

Physiological Response To Firefighting Activities Of Various Work Cycles Using Extended Duration And Prototype Scba, Richard M. Kesler, Ipek Ensari, Rachel E. Bollaert, Robert W. Motl, Elizabeth T. Hsiao-Wecksler, Karl S. Rosengren, Bo Fernhall, Denise L. Smith, Gavin P. Horn

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) protects the respiratory system during firefighting but increases the physiological burden. Extended duration SCBA (>30 min) have increased air supply, potentially increasing the duration of firefighting work cycles. To examine the effects of SCBA configuration and work cycle (length and rest), 30 firefighters completed seven trials using different SCBA and one or two bouts of simulated firefighting following work cycles common in the United States. Heart rate, core temperature, oxygen consumption, work output and self-reported perceptions were recorded during all activities. Varying SCBA resulted in few differences in these parameters. However, during a second …

Physical Activity Modulates Corticospinal Excitability Of The Lower Limb In Young And Old Adults, Hamidollah Hassanlouei, Christopher W. Sundberg, Ashleigh E. Smith, Andrew Kuplic, Sandra K. Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Aging is associated with reduced neuromuscular function, which may be due in part to altered corticospinal excitability. Regular physical activity (PA) may ameliorate these age-related declines, but the influence of PA on corticospinal excitability is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of age, sex, and PA on corticospinal excitability by comparing the stimulus-response curves of motor evoked potentials (MEP) in 28 young (22.4 ± 2.2 yr; 14 women and 14 men) and 50 old adults (70.2 ± 6.1 yr; 22 women and 28 men) who varied in activity levels. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to …

Sex Differences In Spatial Accuracy Relate To The Neural Activation Of Antagonistic Muscles In Young Adults, Agostina Casamento-Moran, Sandra K. Hunter, Yen-Ting Chen, Min-Hyuk Kwon, Emily J. Fox, Basma Yacoubi, Evangelos A. Christou

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Sex is an important physiological variable of behavior, but its effect on motor control remains poorly understood. Some evidence suggests that women exhibit greater variability during constant contractions and poorer accuracy during goal-directed tasks. However, it remains unclear whether motor output variability or altered muscle activation impairs accuracy in women. Here, we examine sex differences in endpoint accuracy during ankle goal-directed movements and the activity of the antagonistic muscles. Ten women (23.1 ± 5.1 years) and 10 men (23 ± 3.7 years) aimed to match a target (9° in 180 ms) with ankle dorsiflexion. Participants performed 50 trials and we …

Reliability And Validity Of A Biomechanically Based Analysis Method For The Tennis Serve, Natalie L. Myers, W. Ben Kibler, Leah Lamborn, Belinda J. Smith, Tony English, Cale A. Jacobs, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: An observational tennis serve analysis (OTSA) tool was developed using previously established body positions from three-dimensional kinematic motion analysis studies. These positions, defined as nodes, have been associated with efficient force production and minimal joint loading. However, the tool has yet to be examined scientifically.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine the inter-observer reliability for each node between two health care professionals (HCPs) that developed the OTSA, and secondarily to investigate the validity of the OTSA.

Methods: Two separate studies were performed to meet these objectives. An inter-observer reliability study preceded the …

Efficacy Of Electromyography And The Dead Bug Exercise, Taylor M. Scavo, Rachel C. Cooklin, Erika N. Faria, Madeline L. Johnson, Eric Sternlicht

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The Dead Bug exercise is performed in physical therapy clinics to restore lumbar spine stability and core strength in patients with lower back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using electromyography (EMG) feedback to enhance proper mechanics during the Dead Bug exercise. Sixteen healthy, college age students volunteered as subjects for the study. Subjects performed the Dead Bug (Fig. 1a.) with and without visual EMG cues and were given instructions on how to execute the exercise. Data was recorded using a BTS FREEEMG Analyzer and signal processed and data analyzed using the BTS …

Early Versus Delayed Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair, Abigail Chang, Jessica Dennis

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Objective: To determine how the timing of rehabilitation, early versus delayed, affects clinical results and tendon healing rates after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Design: Systematic literature review. Methods: Searches were done in PubMed, utilizing the terms arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, rehabilitation, early, and delayed. In PubMed the following filters and terms were used: published in the last 10 years, humans, randomized controlled trial, free full-text articles, and English. Results: The Keener et al study was included because it evaluated clinical results and tendon healing rates after arthroscopic repair using two distinct rehabilitation protocols, early versus delayed …

Comparison Of Land And Aquatic Loaded Countermovement Jump Landings In Female Ncaa Division I Collegiate Athletes, Samantha L. Nielson

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

The purpose of this study was to investigate alterations in lower extremity kinematics during the landing phase of a countermovement jump when performed in different environments and under multiple external loads. Twenty-four NCAA Divison I collegiate female athletes performed 12 countermovement jumps on land and 12 jumps in water, submerged to the xiphoid process, for a total of 24 jumps. Within each environmental condition, four loading conditions of three jumps each were performed using a weighted vest: Unloaded, 10%, 20%, or 30% of body mass. The hip, knee, and ankle angles were measured as the smallest angles between the major …

The Effect Of Three Different Ankle Braces On Vertical Jump Performance In Female College Volleyball Players, Ashley M. Jefferson

Undergraduate Theses

Background/Purpose: Ankle braces are often used to stabilize the ankle joint of an athlete to reduce the risk of initial injury while participating in athletic activity or to protect the joint from re-injury when returning to play. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of application of three different braces on vertical jump performance in collegiate female volleyball players. A secondary aim was to compare participant preference and satisfaction on selected characteristics of each of the three different braces.

Subjects: 31 female varsity/club college volleyball players >18 years of age.

Materials/Methods: Health History Assessment and a dynamic …