Sports Sciences Commons^™

Head Stabilization And Cortical Activation In Contact Sport Athletes During Walking Under Different Visual Task Constraints, Sam Zeff

Doctoral Dissertations

Contact sport participation exposes athletes to repetitive sub-concussive head impacts, which have been shown to elicit cortical neurophysiologic, cognitive, and motor performance alterations that have the potential to disrupt visual perception. Despite the growing concern regarding sub-concussive impacts, our understanding of their implications on motor performance and risk for further injury is limited. A stable head provides a consistent perceptual platform for the visual and vestibular sensory systems, but the effects of contact sport participation on head stability and visual perception remain poorly understood. The goal of this dissertation was to understand whether contact sport participation modifies athletes’ ability to …

Investigating The Transfer Of Learning, Psychological, And Neural Effects In Immersive Virtual Reality, Logan Taylor Markwell

Doctoral Dissertations

Achieving mastery or expertise requires a substantial amount of quality practice. Recent technological developments have introduced a novel approach to practice, virtual reality. Specifically, virtual reality offers a low-cost, customizable opportunity to practice while minimizing the risk of the individual. Given that some types of practice may not lead to the acquisition of a motor skill, or worse, lead to detriments of that skill, understanding the developing science of motor behavior in relation to virtual reality is imperative. The following literature review will begin with a brief historical account of the evolution of virtual reality. Next, some terms of virtual …

Investigating Person-Specific Profiles Of Readiness-To-Exercise: Exploring Associations With Hypothetical Experiential Outcomes And Perceived Relevance, Cory Beaumont

Doctoral Dissertations

Autoregulation is a person-adaptive strategy wherein exercise workloads are adjusted to match one’s readiness (e.g., acute mental, physical, perceptual state). Prior work demonstrated that structural features of readiness profiles (i.e., which factor(s) are most important) differ across individuals. As this work relied on mathematical modeling, research is needed to understand the informational utility of person-specific profiles (PSPs) of readiness. Purpose: Model heterogeneity in PSPs of readiness (Aim 1), explore associations between PSP factor scores and forecasted experiences to hypothetical muscle-strengthening exercise (Aim 2), and explore participants’ perceptions of relevance and utility regarding their PSP (Aim 3). Methods: For …

“In The Skin I’M In…I Represent A Different Version Of What Help Looks Like:” Black Women Sport Psychology Professional’S Experiences In Applied Sport Psychology, Sharon R. Couch

Doctoral Dissertations

Black Feminist Applied Sport Psychology (BFASP) is a culturally inclusive theoretical framework for centering Black women’s experiences in applied sport psychology (Carter et al., 2020; Couch et al., 2022). For the past two decades, (White) Feminist applied sport psychology professionals (FASPPs) described the experiences of Black women as unique but were overlooked in research and participant pools due to the prioritization of White women's and Black male sport experiences. (Carter & Davila, 2017; Carter & Prewitt-White, 2014; Gill, 2020; Hyman et al., 2021). The purpose of this study was to explore the life and work experiences of BASPPs (i.e., faculty, …

Examination And Validation Of The Fundamental Lower Extremity Mobile Testing System, And Identification Of Best Practice To Mount Synthetic Turf To A Force Platform, Sean Quisenberry

Doctoral Dissertations

Annually, over 4 million high school and college athletes participate in competitive sports played on turf surfaces. Since the introduction of synthetic turf in the 1970s, it has become a common alternative to natural grass playing surfaces. However, athletes playing on synthetic turf has been found to have an increased incidence of lower extremity injury compared to natural grass.

Mechanical surface testing has found that synthetic turf exhibits significantly higher rotational and translational tractions compared to natural grass. The cleat-turf interface is often examined using a force platform, an instrument commonly used in a biomechanical laboratory. Mobile surface testing instruments …

The Influence Of Patellofemoral Pain On Muscle Coordination, Segment Coordination, And Segment Coordination Variability In Runners, Carl Jewell

Doctoral Dissertations

Management of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) remains a significant challenge in clinical practice and there is a need to understand the mechanisms for altered gait and muscular function which may lead to poor patient outcomes. The overall aim of the three studies in this dissertation was to determine if runners with current PFPS adapt their gait and muscle activation as a result of long-term, daily pain and/or in response to an acute pain flare and exertion during a moderate intensity 21-minute treadmill run compared to healthy controls. In addition, a resolved, asymptomatic PFPS group was included to investigate potential mechanisms …

The Effects Of Exercise Training On Insulin Supply And Demand In Breast Cancer Survivors, Richard Viskochil

Doctoral Dissertations

Elevated insulin concentrations may influence cancer and cardiometabolic disease onset and prognosis, and lower insulin levels after exercise may contribute to disease prevention and overall health. The effect of exercise training on systemic and tissue-specific insulin supply and demand in breast cancer survivors and adults at risk for cardiometabolic disease is unclear. The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the effects of exercise training on postmeal insulin concentrations in breast cancer survivors, and identify mechanisms responsible for changes to insulin supply and demand following exercise training in breast cancer survivors and adults at risk for cardiometabolic disease. Study 1 …

Influence Of Patient Satisfaction Of Total Knee Replacement Patients On Stair Negotiation And Walking Biomechanics, Strength, And Balance, Kevin Alan Valenzuela

Doctoral Dissertations

Total knee replacement (TKR) patients have shown alterations in lower extremity biomechanics during level ground walking and stair negotiation, strength levels, and balance abilities, however, it is unknown how dissatisfied TKR patients compare to satisfied TKR patients in these activities. Study One examined the lower extremity biomechanics of dissatisfied and satisfied TKR patients during level ground walking. Study Two investigated knee biomechanics during stair ascent and descent activities. Study Three compared isokinetic strength, balance abilities, deep knee flexion abilities, and functional abilities of the dissatisfied patients to the satisfied patients. Study Four performed a logistic regression as a means of …

Post-Concussion Experiences Of Collegiate Student-Athletes, Kaitlin Iris Singer

Doctoral Dissertations

Sports-related concussions are a major public health concern affecting a significant number of collegiate student-athletes. Medical and public health research has addressed every aspect of concussion management processes including concussion education, medical diagnosis, recovery, and returning to sport and classroom. This research has led to several best-practices for concussion management. Since 2010, the NCAA has mandated that its member institutions maintain concussion management policies and procedures. However, the current recommendations, based primarily on medical research, have been found in quantitative studies of the behaviors and practices of athletic trainers, coaches, and student-athletes to be ineffective. To date, no studies have …

Development Of The Running Identity Scale, Matthew Philip Bejar

Doctoral Dissertations

The construct of running identity has been explored in both the sport psychology (e.g., Busanich, McGannon, & Schinke, 2012) and sport sociology literature (e.g., Allen-Collinson & Hockey, 2007). In comparison to other athletes, runners are typically more susceptible to exercise addiction (Coen & Ogles, 1993; Sachs, 1981), eating disorders (Wheeler, Wall, Belcastro, Conger, & Cumming, 1986), and preoccupation with leanness (Allen-Collinson & Hockey, 2007; Busanich et al., 2015). While instruments such as the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS; Brewer, Van Raalte, & Linder, 1993) and the Public-Private Athletic Identity Scale (PPAIS; Webb & Nasco, 2006) measure athletic identity, there are …

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying The Muscle Response To Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage In Chronic Cigarette Smokers, Nina Moore

Doctoral Dissertations

Smoking increases risk for musculoskeletal injury and protracts healing. The underlying mechanisms have not been explored, yet dysregulated inflammatory responses may contribute. To investigate these risks, Study 1 of this dissertation monitored typical responses to muscle damaging eccentric contractions (ECC) in smokers and nonsmokers. Smokers experienced greater muscle fatigue both during and immediately after ECC and greater delayed hyperalgesia, a phenomenon known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), than did non-smokers. DOMS (driven by inflammation) peaks 48h after ECC, when there is a shift from pro- to anti-inflammatory signaling; thus I chose to investigate this time further in smokers. The …

Lower Extremity Biomechanics During Stair Ascent In Healthy And Total Knee Replacement Older Adults, Tyler Whitney Standifird

Doctoral Dissertations

Altered gait following total knee replacement (TKR) may increase risks for failure of joint replacements and subsequent joint replacements in both the replaced and non-replaced limb of TKR patients. Stair climbing is an activity of daily living that is more demanding than level walking and may be more robust at detecting altered gait biomechanics. Study One reviewed biomechanics during stair ambulation following TKR. Study Two compared lower extremity biomechanics during the first three steps of ascent and level walking in healthy adults. Study Three compared lower extremity biomechanics of the replaced and non-replaced limbs of TKR patients and a healthy …

Peace Under Pressure: Portraits Of Christian Leadership In College Basketball Coaches, Charles Henry Wilson Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations

NCAA Division I college basketball coaching is a high-stakes, high-reward profession. This study is based on three premises: (a) there is increasing pressure on college basketball coaches to win immediately and win consistently; (b) coaches are expected to maintain their integrity; (c) the pressure to win immediately and win consistently can influence some coaches to compromise their integrity. Given that context, the purpose of this study was to investigate and illuminate the lived experience of Christian head men’s and women’s basketball coaches at public, NCAA Division I institutions. This study was guided by two guiding research questions: (a) What is …

Association Between Iliotibial Band Syndrome Status And Running Biomechanics In Women, Eric Henri Foch

Doctoral Dissertations

Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is common knee overuse injury that is twice as likely to afflict women compared to men. Etiological factors associated with ITBS include atypical biomechanics during running, as well as iliotibial band flexibility and hip abductor muscle weakness. This dissertation implemented a combination of discrete and continuous analyses to identify lower-extremity and trunk movement patterns that may be associated with ITBS injury status in female runners with current ITBS, previous ITBS, and controls. Three studies were conducted. Study 1 examined discrete joint and segment biomechanics during running, iliotibial band mechanics via musculoskeletal modeling and dynamic simulation, and …

Effects Of Lateral Shoe Wedges And Toe-In Foot Progression Angles On The Biomechanics Of Knee Osteoarthritis During Stationary Cycling, Jacob Kale Gardner

Doctoral Dissertations

Exercise is important for individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA) but certain activities can be painful and discourage participation. Cycling is commonly prescribed for OA but practically no previous literature exists. Due to their altered knee kinematics, OA patients may be at greater risk of OA progression or other knee injuries during cycling. The purpose of Study One was to investigate the effects of lateral wedges on knee joint biomechanics and pain in patients with medial compartment knee OA. The purpose of Study Two was to investigate the effects of toe-in foot progression angles on the same variables. Thirteen OA subjects …

Cyberathletes’ Lived Experience Of Video Game Tournaments, Samuel Joseph Whalen

Doctoral Dissertations

Increased interest in video games has led to the emergence of competitive video game leagues and organizations known as e-Sport (Hutchins, 2008; Wagner, 2006). Much of the research on video games has focused on negative aspects of gamers’ behavior, such as aggression (Ferguson, 2007) and addiction (Kuss & Griffiths, 2012). The majority of studies have examined video game performance from a third-person perspective using video analysis (Reeves, Brown, & Laurier, 2009) or behavioral observation when examining high-level video game play (Jansz & Martens, 2005). Prior to the present study, there had been very little attention devoted to gamers’ experience of …

The Estimation Of Caloric Expenditure Using Three Triaxial Accelerometers, Tyrone Gene Ceaser

Doctoral Dissertations

Accelerometer-based activity monitors are commonly used to measure physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE). Newly designed wrist and hip-worn triaxial accelerometers claim to accurately predict PAEE across a range of activities. Purpose: To determine if the Nike FuelBand (NFB), Fitbit (FB) and ActiGraph GT3X+ (AG) estimate PAEE in various activities. Methods: 21 healthy, college-aged adults wore a NFB on the right wrist, a FB on the left hip, and AG on the right hip, while performing 17 activities. AG data were analyzed using Freedson’s kcal regression equation. PAEE was measured using the Cosmed K4b² (K4). Repeated measures ANOVAs were used …

Adaptations Of Yoga: Christian Interpretations, Eleanor Freyhan Odenheimer

Doctoral Dissertations

The yogic phenomenon in the West is multi-dimensional and threads through areas of history (DeMichelis, 2008), market trends, fitness and exercise, medicine (Guarracino, Lazo, Savino, & Edelstein, 2006); religion and spirituality (DeMichelis, 2008); and health and wellness (Iyengar, 1989). Coakley (2004) called for “more information about the connections among various religious beliefs around the world, ideas of the body, and participation in physical activities and sports” (p. 543). A dearth of literature exists concerning the connections between how Christian beliefs, the dominant religion in the United States (Pew Research Center, 2008), related to the body and physical activity participation inform …

A Description Of The Movement Of The Canine Pelvic Limb In Three Dimensions Using An Inverse Dynamics Method, And A Comparison Of Two Techniques To Surgically Repair A Cranial Cruciate Ligament Deficient Stifle, Jason Headrick

Doctoral Dissertations

The purposes of the dissertation were: 1) to describe three-dimensional (3D) motion of the canine pelvic limb using an inverse dynamics method, and 2) to compare these motion patterns between normal, healthy dogs and those that have had their stifles stabilized by one of two surgical methods approximately five years earlier.

Twenty-five dogs were allocated to three groups; healthy control dogs, dogs that had received the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), and dogs that had received the lateral fabellar suture (LFS) stabilization technique. Both surgical techniques were performed approximately five years prior on stifles with surgically induced cranial cruciate ligament …

“It Was Fight Or Flight...And Flight Was Not An Option”: An Existential Phenomenological Investigation Of Military Service Members’ Experience Of Hand-To-Hand Combat, Peter Richard Jensen

Doctoral Dissertations

Hand-to-hand combat is one of the more psychologically challenging performance environments for those in the military (Grossman, 1995). Even with the technological advances of modern warfare military leaders still believe hand-to-hand combat is an important and relevant challenge for service members (Blanton, 2007; Clark, 2009; Collins, 2007; Wojdakowski, 2007; Wood & Micaelson, 2000). Despite its importance, the hand-to-hand combat experience has, to date, attracted very little research attention. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore military service members’ experiences of hand-to-hand combat. To accomplish this objective, phenomenological interviews were conducted with 17 male military service members. Each participant …

Using Sport To Build Community: Service-Learning With Iraqi Refugees, Ashleigh Morgan Huffman

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the connections between Sport for Development and Peace (SDP), service-learning, and community-university partnerships through the implementation of the Service-Learning: Sport and Community Development (SCD) class. It was my hope that this research would produce a usable model, a framework for other scholars and practitioners interested in developing community-university partnerships. I wanted this project to not only answer the “why” questions for SDP and service-learning, but also the “how” questions – specifically, how to create a reflexive and collaborative partnership that balances the needs of the community and university. I wanted to create …

Physical Activity Assessment In Wheelchair Users, Scott Alexander Conger

Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: To examine the relationship between hand rim propulsion power and energy expenditure during wheelchair locomotion. Methods: Fourteen individuals who used manual wheelchairs were included in this study. Each participant performed five different locomotion activities in a wheelchair with a PowerTap hub built into the rear wheel. The activities included wheeling on a level surface that elicited a low rolling resistance at three different speeds (4.5, 5.5, and 6.5 km∙hr^-1), wheeling on a rubberized 400m track that elicited a higher rolling resistance at one speed (5.5 km∙hr^-1), and wheeling on a sidewalk course that included uphill …

“It Can Start From Anything”: An Existential Phenomenological Investigation Of Athletes’ Experiences Of Psychological Momentum, Greg Young

Doctoral Dissertations

Psychological Momentum (PM) is a commonly recognized phenomenon in sport, yet remains one of the least understood (Taylor & Demick, 1994). Previous research examined PM using archival data (Gayton & Very, 1993; Gilovich, Vallone, & Tversky, 1985; Koehler & Conley, 2003; Silva, Hardy, & Crace, 1988), hypothetical and contrived scenarios (Eisler & Spink, 1998; Miller & Weinberg, 1991; Perreault, Vallerand, Montgomery, & Provencher, 1998; Vallerand, Colavecchio, & Pelletier, 1988), and actual performance (Mack, et al., 2008). More recently, Jones and Harwood (2008) used semi-structured interviews to examine participants’ …

Kenshi’S Experiences Of Kendo: A Phenomenological Investigation, Takahiro Sato

Doctoral Dissertations

The aim of this study was to extend existing literature on the martial arts by examining the experience of kendo (Japanese fencing) participants. In-depth, existential phenomenological interviews were conducted with nine (eight males and one female) currently competitive kendo practitioners (i.e., kenshi), ranging in age from 19 to 40 years. All participants were of Japanese descent but resided in the United States at the time of the interviews. Thematic analysis of the transcripts revealed several prominent aspects of the lives and performance experiences of kenshi. The most important finding was the relatively equal emphasis participants placed on the mastery …

The Effect Of Technique Instruction On Biomechanical Risk Factors Associated With Acl Injury Risk In Female Recreational Athletes, Jeremiah Jackson Tate

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated higher ACL injury rates in female athletes when compared to males involved in the same sport. A recent meta-analysis of ACL injury prevention programs found that technique training was a common component of programs that were successful in reducing ACL injury.

Purpose: The primary purpose was to determine the immediate and long-term effects of technique training aimed at minimizing medial knee displacement during jump-landings in female recreational athletes. The secondary purpose was to determine if any transfer of skill occurred as a result of our technique training.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: A total …

The Effect Of Body Mass Index On Pedometer Accuracy In A Free-Living Environment, Brian Matthew Tyo

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine if the New Lifestyles NL-2000 (NL) and the Digi-Walker SW-200 (DW), waist-mounted devices, yield similar daily step counts as compared to the StepWatch 3 (SW), an ankle-mounted device, worn by adults and children in the free-living environment.

For the first study, fifty-six adults (32.7 + 14.5 y) wore the devices for seven consecutive days. There were 20 normal weight, 18 overweight, and 18 obese participants. The NL and DW undercounted (pedometer error) similarly in the normal weight and overweight groups (-15.4% to -18.2%, respectively). However, the DW undercounted more than the NL …

Women's Softball In Iran: An Autoethnographic Journey, Sarah J Hillyer

Doctoral Dissertations

This autoethnographic dissertation recounts numerous untold stories about my journeys into the Islamic Republic of Iran as a sports consultant and women’s softball coach for Global Sports Partners (GSP). Autoethnography as defined by Ellis & Bochner (2000), is “an autobiographical genre of writing and research that displays multiple layers of consciousness, connecting the personal to the cultural…Autoethnographers vary in their emphasis on the research process (graphy), on culture (ethnos), and on self (auto)” (pp. 739-740). Autoethnographers, writing within a branch of narrative inquiry (Ellis & Bochner, 2000), believe in the power of story and that humans learn through stories lived …

The Effects Of Practice Schedule And Self-Controlled Feedback Manipulations On The Acquisition And Retention Of Motor Skills, Joao Augusto De Camargo Barros

Doctoral Dissertations

In their challenge-point framework (CPF) Guadagnoli and Lee’s (2004) argue that learning is maximized when a person faces an optimal level of challenge during practice. It is suggested that challenge level can be manipulated through the combination of different practice variables. The purpose of this study was to investigate how practice schedule and self-controlled feedback frequency manipulations affect performance and learning of motor skills. Participants (n=96) attempted to learn three versions of a key-pressing task. The task consisted of pressing five computer keys in specified sequences in a goal criterion time. Participants were assigned to either a blocked practice schedule …

The Impact Of Met-Expectation Of Organizational Justice On Attitudinal And Behavioral Outcomes Of Intercollegiate Athletics Coaches, Seungmo Kim

Doctoral Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to examine coaches’ perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice regarding current resource distribution systems in intercollegiate athletics in terms of sport types (high profile sports vs. low profile sports) and gender of players (male participant sports vs. female participant sports) and the impacts of direct or indirect organizational justice on coaches’ attitudinal (job satisfaction and affective organizational commitment toward organization and supervisor) and behavioral (organizational citizenship behavior for organization and supervisor) outcomes through the mediating effects of met expectations, outcome satisfaction, and social exchange relationships (perceived organizational support and leader-member exchange) via a …

Parents’ Perceptions Of Their Children’S And Their Own Sport Experiences, Michael John Diacin

Doctoral Dissertations

Sport participation is a significant aspect in many people’s lives. The experiences they accumulate in sport are shaped by a variety of factors. A combination of personal factors (e.g., demographics), social factors (e.g., socializing sources and the support they provide), and structural factors (e.g., costs and accessible programs) uniquely shape each individual’s experience. Since a variety of factors can shape that experience, it is useful to examine perceptions of the factors were significant in the creation of an individual’s participation opportunities and experiences in sport.

The purpose of this study was threefold: (a) to gain insight into the personal, social, …