Sports Sciences Commons^™

The Acute Effect Of A Single Dose Of Berberine On Blood Glucose Response Following A Standardized Meal And 2-Mile Walk Performance In Healthy Adults, Victor Emmanuel Obaro

Master's Theses

It is clear that exercise improves overall health status, and it is possible that berberine (BR) may work through some similar mechanisms to improve health status as well.  Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the acute effects of a single dose of BR on health status following a standardized meal and a 2 mile walk treadmill protocol with outcomes including blood glucose (BG), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and a two-mile walk time trial performance. Methods: This study used a cross-over design where 14 healthy, young adults were given berberine (BBR) …

The Difference In Social Media Coverage For Male And Female Athletes, Amanda Thomas

Communications and Digital Media Theses

Pulling back the curtain on the reality women athletes face when it comes to their social media coverage. Sports have been male-dominated since the start, but over the years women have become more and more involved in sports as they have their own teams and even sports. However, this issue lies with the overall support and coverage they are receiving from well-known Sports coverage networks. For this study, I looked at social media posts from ESPN, FOX Sports, and NBC Sports focused on the sports of Basketball, Baseball/Softball, and Tennis. In doing this study, I analyzed how many posts men …

Evaluating The Discus Throw As An Ancient Greek Combat Training Tool Through Modern Performance Metrics, Daniel R. Porter

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This study’s purpose was to explore the correlations between peak velocity in a rotational throw with a medicine ball, peak force (PF) and rate of force development (RFD) in an isometric mid-thigh pull, time to failure in a plank test, and peak velocity in a sword thrust task, which was also tested for reliability. Twenty-seven recreationally trained male participants between the ages of 18-35 completed the study. The sword thrust task was significantly correlated with the medicine ball throw (p = 0.012, r = 0.475, r² = 0.226, 95% CI [0.724, 0.116]) and PF (p = 0.045, r …

Examining Pain Catastrophizing, Mental Toughness, Self-Efficacy, And Perceived Pain In The Performance Of Female Athletes During Their Menstrual Cycle, Carissa R. Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pain is a universal unpleasant or negative experience influenced by physiological, psychological, and environmental factors. Disruption in the neural pathways of pain can affect athletic performance and lead to injury risks. Both negative attributes, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, and positive attributes, such as mental toughness and self-efficacy, contribute to pain perception and catastrophic thinking. The menstrual cycle also plays a critical role in pain catastrophizing, as hormonal fluctuations across different phases may hinder pain perception and performance in female athletes. However, research lacks the inclusion of how these factors impact female athletes. Using a non-experimental quantitative analysis, this …

Physiological, Cognitive, Behavioral, And Perceptual Contributors To Falls Risk Across Middle And Older Adulthood, Jacquelyn Moxey

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Falls are multifactorial events influenced by physiological, cognitive, behavioral, and perceptual factors. Although falls prevention research has traditionally focused on older adults and objectively measured physical impairments, less is known about how cognitive performance, physical activity, and perceptions of ability collectively contribute to falls risk vulnerability across middle and older adulthood. This dissertation examined these relationships through three complementary studies.

Study 1 examined associations between cognitive screening performance and physiological falls risk in 315 community-dwelling older adults. Lower global cognitive performance was associated with greater physiological falls risk. Performance on items reflecting attention and visuospatial/executive function demonstrated the strongest domain-level …

Interpretable Case-Control Inference Through Log-Linear General Location Models, Zacharia Stuart

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

This dissertation analyzes one of the few publicly available NFL injury datasets to study field type and non-contact lower-limb injuries. Field type is studied jointly with other risk factors to understand how these factors interact to affect injury risk. The data were gathered through a case-control sampling scheme, which limits direct inference on absolute injury probabilities. While not the most common approach for case-control data, this dissertation models the retrospective distribution directly through Log-Linear General Location Models (Log-Linear GLOMs). Through a log-linear structure placed on a log-odds-ratio reparameterization, the model provides directly interpretable marginal and interaction contributions to injury log-odds …

Exercise Therapy For Mood Disorders In Retiring/Former Athletes, Christian Antos

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the potential integration of exercise therapy and psychotherapy as a treatment approach for mood-related difficulties experienced by former elite athletes during the transition out of competitive sport. Retirement from athletics is often associated with significant biopsychosocial challenges, including disruptions in identity, healthy routines, social support, and emotional well-being. Existing literature suggests that exercise may serve as an effective adjunctive intervention for improving mood and overall psychological functioning, though limited research has explored its application among retiring athletes within psychotherapeutic contexts. This literature review synthesized current research related to athletic retirement, neurobiological mechanisms associated with physical activity, and …

Addressing Mental Health Issues And The Effectiveness Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Mindfulness-Based Interventions Among Athletes, Shelby Jones-Stachnik

Dissertations

This literature review identifies mental health concerns among competitive athletes and evaluates psychological interventions to address these challenges. Specifically, the review explores the mental health concerns experienced by athletes engaged in high-level sport. It examines whether cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based interventions are effective approaches for improving psychological outcomes in this population. A systematic review of peer-reviewed research was conducted, and findings were synthesized to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based interventions. The review included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and meta-analyses examining psychological interventions in athletic populations. Findings across the literature indicate that both cognitive behavioral …

The Effects Of Asymmetric Cervical Muscle Fatigue On Cervical Proprioception, Stepping, And Standing Postural Sway, Maryam Homafar

LSU Master's Theses

Background: The cervical spine contributes critically to proprioception and postural control through its dense mechanoreceptor population. The acute effects of asymmetrical cervical muscle fatigue on proprioception, gait, and balance remain understudied, especially considering its widespread occurrence in multiple populations.

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of asymmetrical cervical muscle fatigue on cervical proprioception, stepping ability, and standing postural sway in healthy young adults.

Methods: Eighteen of 25 healthy participants, who met the inclusion criterion of baseline cervical joint position error (CJPE) below 4.5° for left and right rotational directions, completed pre-fatigue and post-fatigue assessments with eyes closed, including CJPE test, …

Harnessing Mechanobiology Of Resident Stem Cells To Refine Cell Based Therapeutics, Dakota R. Kamm

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are resident cells residing with many adult tissues such as adipose tissue and bone marrow that have the potency for multiple lineage differentiation as well as the capacity to secrete a litany of beneficial factors to maintain homeostasis and promote tissue repair. Since 1995, MSCs have been used therapeutically to treat a variety of conditions from osteoarthritis to heart disease to muscle pathologies. Great leaps have been made in improving MSC-based therapies through optimization of culture methods and select enrichment of cellular subpopulations. More recently, the physical microenvironment of tissue in vivo and culture conditions in …

Examining Demographic And Contextual Differences In Stress-Related Sport Interference Among U.S. Collegiate Sport Participants, Heather Tran

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Collegiate athletes experience a range of stressors that may interfere with sport performance; however less is known about how stress-related sport interference varies across demographic groups and contexts. Guided by the transactional model of stress and coping, this study examined differences in stress-related sport interference by gender, race/ethnicity, and year in school, as well as across situational contexts (training, competition, and life outside of sport). Data were drawn from a secondary dataset of 288 collegiate sport participants who completed the Sport Interference Checklist (SIC). Independent samples t-test and analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to examined demographic differences, and a …

Application Of Occupational Therapy Task-Oriented For Chronic Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Case Study, Gia Nghi Vu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Stroke remains the leading cause of long-term disability, with persistent upper extremity (UE) impairment limiting engagement in daily tasks, reducing quality of life and contributing to learned non-use in the chronic stage among stroke survivors. The Occupational Therapy Task Oriented (OTTO) approach is proposed to optimize occupational performance through the use of meaningful, functional and highly individualized tasks that enable clients to fulfill their valued roles and participate in desired daily activities. The purpose of this capstone project was to advance clinical skills by applying the OTTO approach to examine its effect on occupational performance and UE motor function in …

Effects Of A Basketball Match On Heart Rate Variability In Collegiate Intramural Players, Unobatsha Mbaiwa

Master's Theses

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a standard non-invasive physiological marker used to asses the autonomic nervous system (ANS) function and cardiovascular adaptability. HRV reflects the natural variations in time between successive heartbeats (R-R intervals), which come as a result of the interaction between sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS (Shaffer & Ginsberg, 2017). Higher HRV compared to an individual's baseline is normally considered an indicator of greater parasympathetic (rest/digest) influence and more effective physiological recovery, whereas lower HRV relative to baseline is associated with sympathetic (fight/flight) dominance, fatigue, and increased physiological strain. Since the standardized HRV measurement criteria were …

Care Without Barriers: Dei And Cultural Competency In Athletic Training Education Programs, Sydney Hotz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

In the field of athletic training, cultural competency is a topic that is highly under-researched. Athletic trainers (ATs) are healthcare professionals who provide care in a variety of settings, including secondary schools, where their patient population often includes student-athletes experiencing adverse social determinants of health and barriers to healthcare access. Only since 2022 has the governing body of athletic training education mandated that programs include cultural competency and DEI education in their programs, and to this day does not require programs to report adherence and methods of implementation. A quantitative, cross-sectional analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between cultural …

Ticking Time Bomb: The Economic Ramifications Of Mlb's Pitch Clock, Katie Ciuffreda

Business and Economics Honors Papers

In recent years, Major League Baseball has been challenged with declining engagement and attendance, particularly with younger audiences, with the long duration of games most commonly cited as the reason for disinterest. In response to this, MLB implemented a pitch clock that worked its way through the minor league system until it was introduced to the majors for the 2023 season. The goal for the clock was to reduce game times by increasing pace of play. While early evidence shows that the clock has been successful in that regard, its impact on player performance remains to be explored. This study …

A Retrospective Look At Self-Reported Mental Health Prevalence In Division Iii Student-Athletes, Jacob F. Neri

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Mental health concerns among collegiate athletes have gained increased attention, but there has been limited research focus on Division III student-athletes. This study aimed to examine the self-reported prevalence of anxiety, depression, anger, stalking/harassment, abuse/assault, alcohol/substance abuse, self-harm, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt to identify contributing factors amongst this population. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted looking at data collected from the student-athlete mental health history & well-being questionnaire that was administered as part of their pre-participation exam (PPE) prior to the beginning of each academic year. A total of 554 Division III student-athletes were included in the study. Results …

A Case Comparison Of Vo₂Max And Lower Extremity Injury In Collegiate Wrestlers, Kole J. Kendall

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

A CASE COMPARISON OF VO₂MAX AND LOWER EXTREMITY INJURY IN COLLEGIATE WRESTLERS

Kole Jacob Kendall

Otterbein University

Westerville, OH

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between preseason aerobic capacity (VO₂max) and lower extremity injury prevalence in Division III collegiate wrestlers. In this two-participant case comparison, Participant 2 sustained a lower extremity injury and demonstrated the lower VO₂max value (37.5 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹), whereas Participant 1 remained uninjured and demonstrated the higher VO₂max value (40.8 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). Although statistical analysis was not feasible because of the limited sample size, this pattern suggests a possible association between lower aerobic capacity …

Investigating The Prevalence Of Eating Disorder Risk And Body Image Dissatisfaction Among Division Iii Track And Field Athletes, Ravyn S. Goodson

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Context: Eating disorder (ED) risk, and body image dissatisfaction (BID) are increasingly recognized concerns in collegiate athletes due to sport-specific and sociocultural pressures. However, limited research has looked at these factors within NCAA Division III track and field athletes.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of eating disorder risk and body image dissatisfaction among division III track and field athletes and explore differences based on gender and event group Design A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design

Setting: NCAA division III athletic program within the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), during the 2025-2026 competitive season.

Participants: A total of 32 NCAA Division III track …

The Prevalence Of Stress Fractures In Relation To Red-S Syndrome Among Various Sports In Collegiate Female Athletes, Lilianna G. Couch, Marilou D. Shreve

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: RED-S is a risk factor for bone stress injuries in female athletes. Athletes that compete in sports that involve repetitive movements of impact are prone to stress injuries. The treatment of stress fractures requires addressing all potential causes of the injury to accelerate healing and prevent reinjury. Since RED-S is a well-established risk factor for stress injuries, early detection of RED-S is crucial to prevent long term negative health consequences in athletes including the development of stress fractures. It is also confirmed that certain sports have a higher prevalence of reported stress fractures in female athletes such as cross …

The Prevalence Of Amenorrhea In Relation To Red-S Syndrome Among Various Sports In Collegiate Female Athletes, Ruby S. Holland, Marilou D. Shreve

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: RED-S is a common risk factor for amenorrhea in female athletes. Athletes that compete in high-intensity sports or without adequate caloric intake, are at risk for low energy expenditure which may disrupt hormonal balance. As development of RED-S is a well-established risk factor for amenorrhea, early detection and correction is crucial to prevent long term health consequences.

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore if there is a correlation between RED-S score and amenorrhea in female athletes.

Methods: An online survey was distributed to approximately 220 female athletes at the University of Arkansas using Qualtrics. The 69-question …

The Impact Of Palm Cooling On The Physiological And Cognitive Function Of Aerobically Trained Individuals, Katherine L. Tibbs

Honors Theses

Background: Cooling strategies have been shown to combat the harmful effects that an increase in body temperature can potentially cause, and palm cooling in particular has been adopted due to its effectiveness in mitigating muscle fatigue during exercise. While there is clear support that this improves muscular strength and endurance, there is a lack of research on the impact palm cooling has on the mental aspect of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cognitive and physiological effects of palm cooling on aerobic exercise performance. Methods: Ten aerobically trained participants between the ages of 18-35 were …

Relationship Between Disordered Eating Behaviors And Sport In Female Collegiate Athletes, Elizabeth Files

General Human Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Disordered eating behaviors and body image concerns remain prevalent among collegiate athletes, yet the role of sport type and sport-related environmental factors, such as uniforms, is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sport type, uniform perception, and disordered eating behaviors among female collegiate athletes at the University of Arkansas. A quantitative, non-experimental design was used, with 36 athletes completing an anonymous Qualtrics survey incorporating demographic questions, uniform perception items, and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short Form (EDE-QS).

Descriptive analyses indicated a predominantly young (ages 18–21), White, and underclassman sample. Chi-square analyses …

Seasonal Body Composition And Neuromuscular Changes In High School Wrestlers: Medicine Balls For Fatigue Testing, Courtney Mccall Condie Carroll

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This study examines the effects a single wrestling season has on high school athletes’ body composition, muscle quality, membrane capacitance, and neuromuscular performance, and whether instrumented medicine balls are sensitive enough to serve as a field test for chronic fatigue. Twenty-five high school wrestlers (males=18, females=7) were recruited and assessed pre-season (Pre), mid-season (Mid), and end-of-season (Post). Outcome measures included body mass, fat-free mass, fat mass (via bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy), echo intensity (EI, via B-mode ultrasound) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps brachii (BB), and countermovement rotational and backward-overhead throws with medicine balls instrumented with accelerometers.  Repeated measures ANOVA …

Effects Of A Passive Assistive Hamstring Device On Overground Running Kinematics And Hamstring Activation., Quinn Castner

All Theses

Hamstring strain injuries are among the most common and recurring injuries in sports, occurring most often during the terminal swing phase of gait. Despite progress in rehabilitation, the incidence of injury has only increased, suggesting a need for a novel intervention. We designed a passive, assistive, wearable device with two specific criteria in mind: to offload the hamstrings during running, and do so without hindering normal kinematic patterns. The device consists of an adjustable elastic band anchored proximally at the waist and distally just above the ankle joint center. It stretches and shortens with the hamstrings, providing passive hip extension …

Development Of Low-Cost Triaxial Force Sensor For Measurement Of Human-Exoskeleton Interaction Forces, Hamdan Khan Sarvathullah

All Theses

Contemporary research suggests that shear force is a major contributor to discomfort and pressure injury. However, the variation of shear forces during human-exoskeleton interaction dynamics is a highly unexplored field. The high cost of commercial triaxial force sensors may be a major factor in the notable lack of research in this field. Therefore, in this paper, we present a low-cost, 3D-printed triaxial force sensor designed specifically to measure the triaxial interaction forces between an exoskeleton and its user. The triaxial force sensor uses Carbon-Black/Silicone Rubber (CB/SR) strings to measure shear forces, whereas the normal force is measured with a Force …

Prevalence Of Low Energy (Lea) Risk In Division Iii Female Distance Athletes, Ciara Murphy

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Context 

Low energy availability (LEA) occurs when energy intake is insufficient to support normal physiological functions after exercise (Loucks, 2011). Prolonged LEA can negatively affect metabolic functions, reproductive health, and bone density, and contribute to the development of the female athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) (Papageorgiou, 2017).

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of LEA among Division III female distance athletes.

Design

Cross-sectional study

Setting

Online questionnaire administered through Qualtrics

Participants 

A total of 12 Division III female distance athletes (ages 18-23).

Intervention

Anonymous, electronic questionnaire assessing symptoms associated with low …

Success Or Setback: A Literature Review Of The Association Between Youth Athlete Sport Specialization And Injury Incidence From Adolescence To Adulthood., Kelis Adams

Honors College Theses

For a multitude of reasons, in the United States, present day society is a persistent witness and contributor to the adultification and professionalization of children alongside the activities they engage in. Single-sport specialization in youth sports is one of our most clear and poignant instances of the existence of this subcurrent. But, in recent years, following the uptick in single-sport specialization among youth athletes there has also been a marked increase in sports medicine professionals cautioning athletes and their families of premature commitment to a sole sport due to concerns of physical health risks. As sport typically involves forceful and …

Marching Health From Music To Injury: The Implications Of Marching Band Athletic Training Accessibility, Madelyn Liebhardt

Honors Projects

The following study explores the importance and need of athletic trainers (ATs) in marching band settings. Athletic Training is an essential backbone to many sports programs worldwide. Athletic Trainers are commonly seen as active staff members for many high school, collegiate, professional teams as well as in clinical office sites. Athletic Trainers are also staffed in non-traditional settings such as corporate settings, performing arts, military branches. Marching bands are categorized under non-traditional sports settings and ATs are becoming more highly preferred in this area. This study follows the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Falcon Marching Band (FMB) during the 2025 …

A Treatise On Tool Development: The Arthroscope’S Cultural, Technological, And Metascientific Translation, Montgomery F. Waterer

Honors Theses

The arthroscope was a revolutionary development in the fields of medicine, engineering, and ethics. There are many valuable lessons to be learned from the story of its development and translation that are relevant to the future of medicine and society. Beginning with a brief description of the tool’s design, this paper will examine a period within the history of the arthroscope. This window contains multiple innovators and ends with the life and work of Dr. Robert Jackson. In examining the relevant historical facts of its development, this paper will then briefly address the importance of sports medicine in the development …

Examining Moderators In The Relationship Between Injury/Injury Anxiety And Eating Disturbances In College Women Athletes, Lydia M. Reichley

Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Injury and injury-related anxiety are common in collegiate athletes and may contribute to maladaptive psychological and behavioral outcomes, including eating disturbances. This study examined the relationship between injury/injury anxiety and eating disturbances, and whether athletic identity, injury self-efficacy, and body shame moderated this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used with 57 female collegiate and club athletes from Bellarmine University (M age = 19.98 + 1.37). Participants completed an online survey including the Sport Injury Anxiety Scale (SIAS), Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), Athletic Injury Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (AISEQ), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), and the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBC; …