Sports Sciences Commons^™

Does An Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture Become A Patient's Achilles Heel In The Long-Term?, Michaela Cm Khan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

It is unknown if deficits in the involved limb following acute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) persist in the long-term, or differ between patients treated operatively or non-operatively. This study investigated 43 patients 15±1 years post-AATR from a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compared operative and non-operative treatment. Structural characteristics in the Achilles tendon and surrounding musculature were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. We also performed physical examinations and evaluated performance-based and patient-reported outcomes. Overall, there were substantial differences between the involved and uninvolved limbs in most outcomes. Some outcomes improved over time from the initial RCT to the final …

Evaluation Of The Psychometric And Measurement Properties Of The Scat5 And Child Scat5, Michael Robinson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Concussions are one of the most complex conditions to manage in sport medicine due to the individualized clinical presentation caused by the complex neurometabolic cascade that occurs. The identification, assessment and management of concussion requires clinicians to employ a multifaceted approach including the subjective disclosure of symptoms by patents. In order to aid in this, symptom checklists are commonly used as they provide a standardized method for collecting the severity of concussion symptoms. One of the most common symptom checklists is the 5^th Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5) symptom evaluation which is available in an adult and pediatric version. …

Biofeedback Use In Sport, Kendra Nelson Ferguson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The general purpose of this dissertation was to examine the effects of biofeedback training on sport performance. This dissertation was divided into three studies. Study 1 qualitatively explored athletes’ perspectives of biofeedback post-intervention. Five varsity athletes were provided with a five-session biofeedback intervention training respiration rate, heart rate variability, and skin conductance. Following the intervention, an interview was conducted. Athletes perceived biofeedback to enhance self-regulation skills both in sport and academics, contributing to perceptions of superior performance.

To further examine perspectives of biofeedback training, Study 2 qualitatively explored mental performance consultants’ use of biofeedback and their perceptions of the tool. …

Dance As A Protective Measure Against The Cognitive And Physical Declines Associated With Aging: A Proposed Study, Sarah M. Schwanz, Jeffrey Holmes, Jessica Grahn

Western Research Forum

Background:

Dance is considered a multimodal activity in that it requires both physical and cognitive engagement. Combining physical activity with music may have a synergistic effect, enabling dance to enhance physical and cognitive functions more than music and physical activity alone. The positive changes attributed to dance training such as improved visuospatial and motor ability, high coordination, greater balance, and increased cognitive ability may also benefit individuals as they age.

Methods:

This proposed study will examine whether dance training has the potential to protect against age-related cognitive and physical decline by assessing the cognitive and physical domains that show decline …

Where On Ice? Algorithmically Deconstructing Nhl Shot Locations As A Method For Player Classification, Devan Becker, Douglas G. Woolford, Charmaine B. Dean

Western Research Forum

Where do hockey players shoot from? How does this vary from player to player? We present the results of a study that uses data-driven statistical methods to investigate these questions. The locations of shots by National Hockey League (NHL) players from 2011 to 2017 are analyzed using a combination of an image recognition algorithm and spatial statistical methodology. An unsupervised classifier is applied to output from a spatial point process model in order to determine which shot locations best characterize a given player. We define the number of regions a priori, but the image recognition algorithm chooses the shape …