Sports Sciences Commons^™

Causal Discovery In Radiographic Markers Of Knee Osteoarthritis And Prediction For Knee Osteoarthritis Severity With Attention-Long Short-Term Memory, Yanfei Wang, Lei You, Jacqueline Chyr, Lan Lan, Weiling Zhao, Yujia Zhou, Hua Xu, Philip Noble, Xiaobo Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The goal of this study is to build a prognostic model to predict the severity of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to identify long-term disease progression risk factors for early intervention and treatment. We designed a long short-term memory (LSTM) model with an attention mechanism to predict Kellgren/Lawrence (KL) grade for knee osteoarthritis patients. The attention scores reveal a time-associated impact of different variables on KL grades. We also employed a fast causal inference (FCI) algorithm to estimate the causal relation of key variables, which will aid in clinical interpretability. Based on the clinical information of current visits, we accurately …

Methodological Considerations For The Determination Of The Critical Resistance For The Deadlift, Alexander C. Moss

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This study determined if plate movement during conventional deadlifting affects critical resistance (CR) estimates derived from the linear work limit (W_lim) versus repetitions relationship. Eleven subjects completed 1-repetition maximum (1RM) deadlift testing followed by 8 visits, to determine the number of repetitions to failure at 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% 1RM for both reset (RS) and touch-and-go (TG) methods, respectively. The CR was calculated as slope of the line of total work completed (repetitions × load [in kilograms]) versus total repetitions for each of four intensities (50-80% 1RM). The number of repetitions to failure were determined at CR …

Effects Of Relative Inertial Load On Performance Measures And Quadriceps Electromyography During Flywheel Resistance Training Squats, Jason Todd Brantley Jr.

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Flywheel resistance training (FRT) has become an increasingly popular modality for exercising due to its unique application of providing external resistance. Little is known about how changes in relative inertial loads affects performance and electromyography (EMG) activity. The purpose of this study was to examine how performance metrics and quadriceps EMG activity are affected by relative inertial load during FRT-based squats. Fifteen resistance trained individuals completed five sets of five repetitions of squats with varying relative inertial loads in random order. Peak Eccentric Power (PEP), Peak Concentric Power (PCP), average force, total work, and repetition time were measured. Surface level …

Application Of High Performance Training Strategies To Enhance Occupational Readiness In Law Enforcement Cadets, Gabriel Jose Martinez

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Law enforcement requires cadets to achieve a requisite level of physical fitness to prepare for occupational demands. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of academy exercise programs to optimize physical fitness and occupational physical ability through high performance training strategies more typically utilized in elite athletic populations. Furthermore, there is a paucity of research identifying physical fitness correlates of occupational performance. Collectively, this information will provide academies and practitioners with critical information to develop evidence-based training programs. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to: Aim 1) Examine the effectiveness of integrating autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise (APRE) and …

Interdisciplinary Sport Research Can Better Predict Competition Performance, Identify Individual Differences, And Quantify Task Representation, Ben Piggott, Sean Müller, Paola Chivers, Ashley Cripps, Gerard Hoyne

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Sport performance consists of interacting individual, task and environmental constraints, but research has used a monodisciplinary, rather than an interdisciplinary approach to understand performance. This study used Australian football (AF) as the exemplar sport to investigate the value of an interdisciplinary approach to understand sport performance. Through this, it was also possible to quantify individual differences and representative task design. Fifty-nine semi-professional Australian footballers participated. Based upon accessibility, combinations of these players completed physiological (3 × 1 km trial) and perceptual-cognitive-motor (small-sided game, SSG) tests, with coach rating of psychological skill (mental toughness coach, MTC). Univariate monodisciplinary models indicated that …

College Athletes And Alcohol Use: The Need For Effective Prevention/Intervention Programs, Paige M. Craig

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The literature review investigates the relationship between alcohol and college athletes. College athletes are a high-risk drinking group; alcohol use amongst collegiate athletes is a major concern due to the consequences associated with use. It is important to review student-athlete behavior and influences that contribute to alcohol use in order to design a program that effectively prevents use and intervenes use when it occurs. Results from original articles were used to support the need for effective prevention/intervention programs for this population based on the severity and frequency of use, negative effects of alcohol, and lack of effective prevention/intervention programs. Coaches, …

Person-Centered Physical Training Programs For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: Stimulating Motivation And Participation As Essential Components Of Program Development, Monica Bolaños-Boudreau

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of two individuals with intellectual disabilities who participated in a person-centered physical training program that identified factors of motivation and influences on self-determined physical choices. The findings of this study revealed five factors that seemed to motivate participants to exercise; (a) enjoyable activities, (b) personalized program, (c) exercises that promoted health and positive self-images, (d) exercise routines that were familiar and safe, and (e) an exercise partnership with the trainer. Considering these factors of motivation, community leaders, administrators, and practitioners may promote self-determination and ultimately, impact participation by individuals with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, …

Gait Entrainment In Coupled Oscillator Systems: Clarifying The Role Of Energy Optimization In Human Walking, Ryan T. Schroeder

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Empirical evidence suggests that parameters of human gait (e.g. step frequency, step length) tend to minimize energy expenditure. However, it is unclear if individuals can adapt to dynamic environments in real time, i.e. continuously optimize energy expenditure, and to what extent. Two coupled oscillator systems were used to test the learned interactions of individuals within dynamic environments: (1) experienced farmworkers carrying oscillating loads on a flexible bamboo pole and (2) individuals walking on a treadmill while strapped to a mechatronics oscillator system providing periodic forces to the body. Reductionist trajectory optimization models predicted energy-minimizing gait interactions within the coupled oscillator …

Improving Sprint Performance In Road Cycling: The Forward Standing Sprint Position, Paul Franciscus Johannes Merkes

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The majority of road cycling races finish with a sprint and as such sprints are a key determinant of success. Surprisingly, the scientific literature on this specific topic is scarce, with limited to few studies describing the characteristics of road cycling sprinters and the demands of road sprinting. Cyclists’ sprinting velocity, which is mostly influenced by power output and aerodynamic drag (CdA) is critical to performance outcomes. However, to date, there is very limited research specifically examining how to maximise road sprint velocity. Thus, the overall objective of the four studies outlined in this thesis was to manipulate CdA, physiology, …

Effects Of High-Intensity Position-Specific Drills On Physical And Technical-Skill Performance In Young Soccer Players, Cao Cuong Le

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Soccer is the most widely played sport in the world, and physical preparation for soccer players has been extensively researched over the years. As the average intensity of a soccer match is close to 80-90% of maximal heart rate (HRmax), it is necessary to train at or above this intensity. Thus, high-intensity interval running and small-sided games are often used to improve aerobic capacity and repeated sprint ability (RSA). However, neither of these approaches consider positional variations in the frequency and type of specific technical skills required in real match situations. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate …

Mechanisms Underpinning An Improvement In Dynamic Muscle Force Production Following A High-Intensity Warm-Up, Cody J. Wilson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The present research explored the mechanisms underpinning the enhancement of voluntary knee extensor torque after (1) extensive task-specific practice, and then (2) brief, intense warm-up exercise (conditioning activity; CA) as part of a complete warm-up routine. The same warm-up was completed in two Experiments (detailed below). In Experiment 1, voluntary (180⁰·s-1; T180) and electrically-evoked (isometric) knee extensor torques and electromyogram (EMG) and muscle temperature (Tm) data were recorded before and after (1) extensive task-specific practice where peak voluntary knee extensor performance was achieved, and (2) two isokinetic CAs matched for total concentric contraction time (CA60: 5 repetitions at 60⁰·s-1 vs. …

Exercise Training As Adjunct Therapy For Substance Use Disorder, Emily Lynn Roessel

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Exercise training for clients at out-patient drug rehabilitation centers likely helps with coping skills. However, a better examination of the mechanisms producing changes may help identify effective interventions. PURPOSE: To test the effect of a vigorous exercise prescription on drug abstinence in voluntary rehabilitation patients. METHODS: 25 surveyed participants in a male drug treatment program underwent a 12-week minimum training program. The program included moderate-rigorous exercise and psychotherapy. Three days per week all subjects participated in EP for 90 minutes. Subjects also participated in ABIT 3 days per week where each session lasted 2 hours. Subjects also participated in ESM …

Exercise And Nutrition Induced Weight Loss For Prostate Cancer Patients, Rebekah Louise Wilson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis encompasses six main chapters - two reviews and four experimental chapters, in addition to a general introduction and discussion.

Review 1 (Chapter 2) is a discussion of the negative impact of obesity on prostate cancer prognosis and common prostate cancer treatments.

Review 2 (Chapter 3) is an evaluation of the current literature examining prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and how exercise and nutrition interventions can be used to induce fat loss, while preserving or improving lean mass.

Study 1 (Chapter 4) is an examination of the efficacy of a weight loss program in altering body …

Nutrition, Body Composition And Physical Activity In Malignant Pleural Disease: Associations With Patient Outcomes And Response To An Exercise Intervention, Emily Jeffery

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background: Patients with malignant pleural disease (MPD) have advanced cancer and high symptom burden. Goals of patient care are to optimise health-related quality-of-life (HR-QoL) and participation in daily physical activities. Supportive care interventions such as nutrition and exercise could offer benefit to patients. However, there is a lack of information on the prevalence of low muscle mass (i.e., pre-sarcopenia), malnutrition, inactivity and poor physical functioning in patients with MPD. Additionally, little is known about the factors associated with development of pre-sarcopenia and malnutrition or their associations with patient outcomes.

Purpose: The objectives were to: 1) characterise physical activity levels and …

Injury Surveillance In Community Cricket And The Exploration Of Insurance Claims Systems, Geordie Mcleod

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The aims of this industry funded PhD thesis were 1) To understand the injury causes, trends and burden in community cricket and 2) To examine the Cricket Australia National Club Risk Protection Program (NCRPP) insurance scheme for suitability as an injury surveillance tool for community cricket.

This thesis sought to identify and understand the injury profile of community cricketers through existing literature and injury datasets, being, Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU) hospital data, Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and NCRPP insurance claims data. This thesis also undertook a novel assessment of data validity and completeness from various sources, against industry standards …