Sports Sciences Commons^™

Relationship Between Nordic Hamstring Strength And Maximal Voluntary Eccentric, Concentric And Isometric Knee Flexion Torque, Satoru Nishida, Masatoshi Nakamura, Ryosuke Kiyono, Shigeru Sato, Koki Yasaka, Riku Yoshida, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Nordic hamstring exercise is performed to prevent knee flexor muscle strain injuries and used to assess their injury risks. However, what exactly Nordic hamstring strength indicates is not clear. We investigated the relationship between Nordic hamstring strength and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque of the knee flexors measured by an isokinetic dynamometer. Sixteen healthy young men who had not experienced hamstring strain injuries participated in the study. In Nordic hamstring, each participant was instructed to lean forward as far as possible in 3 s (approximately 30/s), and force at the ankle joint of the dominant leg was measured during the …

Increases In Integrin-Ilk-Rictor-Akt Proteins, Muscle Mass, And Strength After Eccentric Cycling Training, Georgios Mavropalias, Yu-Fu Wu, Marni D. Boppart, Anthony J. Blazevich, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Recently, it has been suggested that a cellular pathway composed of integrin, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR (RICTOR), and Akt may facilitate long-term structural and functional adaptations associated with exercise, independent of the mTORC1 pathway. Therefore, we examined changes in integrin-ILK-RICTOR-Akt protein in vastus lateralis (VL) before and after 8 wk of eccentric cycling training (ECC), which was expected to increase muscle function and VL cross-sectional area (CSA).

Methods: Eleven men (23 ± 4 yr) completed 24 sessions of ECC with progressive increases in intensity and duration, resulting in a twofold increase in work from the first …

Blood Flow Restriction Training After Patellar Instability (Brains Trial), Benjamin D. Brightwell, Austin V. Stone, Xiaojuan Li, Peter A. Hardy, Katherine L. Thompson, Brian W. Noehren, Cale A. Jacobs

Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Patellar instability is a common and understudied condition that disproportionally affects athletes and military personnel. The rate of post-traumatic osteoarthritis that develops following a patellar dislocation can be up to 50% of individuals 5–15 years after injury. Conservative treatment is the standard of care for patellar instability however, there are no evidence-informed rehabilitation guidelines in the scientific literature. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of blood-flow restriction training (BFRT) for patellar instability. Our hypotheses are that this strategy will improve patient-reported outcomes and accelerate restoration of symmetric strength and knee biomechanics necessary to safely return …

Gut Microbiome And Metabolome Variations In Self-Identified Muscle Builders Who Report Using Protein Supplements, Lauri O. Byerley, Karyn M. Gallivan, Courtney J. Christopher, Christopher M. Taylor, Meng Luo, Scot E. Dowd, Gregory M. Davis, Hector F. Castro, Shawn R. Campagna, Kristin S. Ondrak

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Muscle builders frequently consume protein supplements, but little is known about their effect on the gut microbiota. This study compared the gut microbiome and metabolome of selfidentified muscle builders who did or did not report consuming a protein supplement. Twenty-two participants (14 males and 8 females) consumed a protein supplement (PS), and seventeen participants (12 males and 5 females) did not (No PS). Participants provided a fecal sample and completed a 24-h food recall (ASA24). The PS group consumed significantly more protein (118 ± 12 g No PS vs. 169 ± 18 g PS, p = 0.02). Fecal metabolome and …

Epidemiology Of Ncaa Track And Field Injuries From 2010 To 2014, Chris Hopkins, Joel Williams, Mitchell J. Rauh, Lu Zhang

Open Access Fund Publications

Background:

Track and field (T&F) athletes compete in a variety of events that require different skills and training characteristics. Descriptive epidemiology studies often fail to describe event-specific injury patterns.

Purpose:

To describe the epidemiology of injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) T&F by sex, setting (practice vs competition), and time of season (indoor vs outdoor) and to compare injury patterns by events within the sport.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

Data were obtained from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program for all indoor and outdoor T&F injuries during the academic years 2009-2010 to 2013-2014. Injury rates, injury rate ratios, …

Development Of Special Motor Training Of Young Gymnasts, Khojiakbar Akhtamkulovich Karimov

Eurasian Journal of Sport Science

Purpose: Improving the special motor training of young gymnasts based on the analysis of the results of special motor training of gymnasts at the stage of initial training.

Methods: The article widely uses the analysis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical observation, pedagogical experiment, testing, methods of mathematical statistics and video surveillance based on the improvement of special motor training of young gymnasts.

Results: During the analysis of data on the preparation of young gymnasts for special actions, the complex developed by gymnasts 5-7 years old when developing training for special actions was scientifically substantiated, and its effectiveness was determined …

Instrumental Method For Monitoring Speed-Strength Preparedness In Sports, Olga Viktorovna Goncharova

Eurasian Journal of Sport Science

Purpose: The purpose of the work is to develop a measuring complex for monitoring of athletes’ speed-strength preparedness.

Methods: The following research methods were used in this work: educational literature analysis, pedagogical testing, pedagogical observation, pedagogical experiment, methods of mathematical statistics.

Results: The necessity of taking into account the nature of the relationship between the level of physical, particular, speed-strength preparedness and dynamometric measuring device indicators. Summing up, we can state the followings: according to the testing and pedagogical observations’ results, a correlation analysis was carried out; a quantitative assessment of the relationship between the level of physical preparedness and …

Eyes Save Lives Water Safety Program For Parents And Caregivers: Program Design And Pilot Evaluation From Southern California, Rachel Love-Smith, William A. Koon, Lauren Tabios, Scott M. Bartell

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Despite expert consensus and evidence-based preventative strategies against drowning, limited formal study exists on translating recommendations into practical and effective interventions. This paper describes the design of an education-based drowning prevention intervention and reports results from a pilot evaluation of the program’s effect on self-reported water-safe behaviors, attitudes, self-efficacy, and knowledge. Parents and caregivers attending children’s swim lessons in July and August 2018 participated in a brief water-safety education program. A pre-post-test design evaluated "Theory of Planned Behavior" indicators to assess for changes. We found significant increases in scores related to water safety knowledge, attitudes on maintaining arms reach distance …

Features Of Improving The Special Strength Training Of Highly Qualified Handball Players In Sports Training, Olga Viktorovna Goncharova, Alisher Odilovich Abdalimov

Eurasian Journal of Sport Science

Purpose: The paper presents the program of special strength training of highly qualified handball players developed by us. The experimental data obtained in the work confirm the effectiveness of its use in the educational and training process.

Methods: analysis of educational and methodological literature, pedagogical testing, pedagogical observation, pedagogical experiment, methods of mathematical statistics.

Results: The program of special strength training of highly qualified handball players developed by us, after being introduced into the training process, has shown its effectiveness mainly in the development of speed and strength qualities of athletes, as well as explosive strength and reactive ability of …

A Muscle Cell-Macrophage Axis Involving Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 Facilitates Extracellular Matrix Remodeling With Mechanical Loading, Bailey D. Peck, Kevin A. Murach, R. Grace Walton, Alexander J. Simmons, Douglas E. Long, Kate Kosmac, Cory M. Dungan, Philip A. Kern, Marcas M. Bamman, Charlotte A. Peterson

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in skeletal muscle plays an integral role in tissue development, structural support, and force transmission. For successful adaptation to mechanical loading, remodeling processes must occur. In a large cohort of older adults, transcriptomics revealed that genes involved in ECM remodeling, including matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), were the most upregulated following 14 weeks of progressive resistance exercise training (PRT). Using single-cell RNA-seq, we identified macrophages as a source of Mmp14 in muscle following a hypertrophic exercise stimulus in mice. In vitro contractile activity in myotubes revealed that the gene encoding cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor ( …

Reactive Oxygen Species (Ros) And Antioxidants As Immunomodulators In Exercise: Implications For Heme Oxygenase And Bilirubin, David Travis Thomas, Nicholas R. Delcimmuto, Kyle D. Flack, David E. Stec, Terry D. Hinds Jr.

Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition Faculty Publications

Exercise is commonly prescribed as a lifestyle treatment for chronic metabolic diseases as it functions as an insulin sensitizer, cardio-protectant, and essential lifestyle tool for effective weight maintenance. Exercise boosts the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent transient oxidative damage, which also upregulates counterbalancing endogenous antioxidants to protect from ROS-induced damage and inflammation. Exercise elevates heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and biliverdin reductase A (BVRA) expression as built-in protective mechanisms, which produce the most potent antioxidant, bilirubin. Together, these mitigate inflammation and adiposity. Moderately raising plasma bilirubin protects in two ways: (1) via its antioxidant capacity to reduce ROS and …

Theoretical Analysis Of Motor Activity In Assessing The Mass Sports Movement Of Schoolchildren, Khasan Nematullayevich Utashev

Eurasian Journal of Sport Science

Purpose: The purpose of the study consists in the theoretical study of the results of their research by studying and analyzing the general state of involvement of school-age students in mass sports events.

Methods: The children’s need for mass sports and the level of their interest in sports were determined by conducting pedagogical and psychological questionnaires. Measures have been developed to develop mass sports movement in schools and proposals have been developed. Also, in the course of the study, the analysis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical observation, questionnaires, mathematical statistics were widely used.

Results: Walking accounted for 60% of …

Combined Driving: Task-Specific Position Impacts Grip Strength Of Equestrian Athletes, Michaela M. Keener, Kimberly I. Tumlin, Nicholas R. Heebner

Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Loss of hand strength is a predictor of mortality in aging populations. Despite reliance on the hands to participate in equestrian driving activity, no existing studies focus on associations of hand strength to athletic performance. Therefore, this study 1) established baseline handgrip of equestrian combined drivers in standing and task-specific positions, 2) determined endurance of task-specific handgrip, 3) compared handgrip strength to normative data, and 4) evaluated associations of handgrip and equestrian-specific variables.

METHODS: There were 51 combined drivers (9 males, 42 females) ages 21-78 who completed a survey, standing handgrip, and grip strength and endurance in a task-specific …

Relationship Between Estimated Vo2max And Handgrip Strength In Healthy Young Nigerian Adults, Oluwatobiloba Ajepe, Nnamdi Mgbemena, Udoka Okafor, Oluwatosin Ehuwa, Chukwuebuka Okeke, Oladuni Osundiya, Jeremiah Oyedemi, Chidinma Ezeugwa

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between estimated oxygen consumption (VO₂max) and handgrip strength (HGS) among healthy young Nigerian adults. Methods: This was a cross sectional study, which involved 400 volunteers (171 males; 229 females) aged between 18–40years. Participants’ HGS was assessed using a CAMRY EH-101 hand dynamometer while VO₂max was estimated using a standard formula that includes measurement of resting heart rate. Demographic data was summarized using percentages, mean and standard deviation. Physical activity level of the participants was assessed using long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Independent t-test was used to compare …

Female Mentors And Gender Dynamics In Athletic Training, Lindsey N. Biggs, Connor A. Burton, Lindsey E. Eberman

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Female athletic trainers face barriers in accessing female mentors due to the small numbers of same-gender leaders in athletic training. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of clinically practicing female athletic trainers with mentorship. Method: Twenty-three (23) athletic trainers who identified as female and had at least 3 years of clinical experience. Interviews occurred using a semi-structured interview script. All teleconference interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A 3-person research team analyzed the data and coded it into domains and categories based on the consensual qualitative research process. Credibility was established with multiple …

Correlation Between Pitching Velocity And Plyometric Output, Landon Childers

Graduate Research Showcase

Baseball pitchers are constantly trying to find an edge to operate at peak performance. With many training techniques available intended to enhance performance, plyometrics should be strongly considered as this specific technique mirrors the explosive and ballistic nature of baseball. Plyometrics are defined as powerful muscular contractions after a rapid stretch or dynamic loading of the same muscle group. The purpose of this study was to provide further validation of using plyometrics to increase velocity in a baseball player’s pitch. In this study, a plyometrics exercise (vertical jump) was measured along with pitching velocity in 2 different sessions, separated by …

Shifting The Focus Of Mental Health Onto Graduate Students, Rosanna Jaramillo

Graduate Research Showcase

The transition from undergraduate to graduate school has the potential to increase demands among students surrounding coursework as well as fiscal responsibilities. The increased demand has the potential to alter the student’s physical activity which can negatively affect mental health. Physical exercise has the potential to reduce depression as well as negative mood symptoms, such as stress. Exercising also allows for boosting energy, improvement of sleep quality, and relaxation quality. The purpose of this research study was to examine the mental health of the graduate participants prior and after a two-week exercise regimen. The presented study focused on a two-week …

Lower Extremity Joint Stiffness During Running In Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lauren A. Luginsland Ms, Justin A. Haegele Phd, Hunter J. Bennett Phd

College of Education & Professional Studies (Darden) Posters

During late adolescence, children undergo rapid skeletal growth changes leaving the child more vulnerable to injury during physical activity. This is consistent for autistic youth, who reportedly enjoy individual activities, such as running, more than team-based sports [1-3]. Inadequate joint stiffness is one of several factors that may influence injury risk [4]. The purpose of this study was to examine lower extremity joint stiffness in autistic and non-autistic matched controls at self-selected and matched running speeds.

Twenty-two persons with a confirmed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and seventeen age, sex, and body mass index controls (CON) were enrolled into the …

Science And Hurling: A Review, Kieran Collins, Thomas Reilly, Shane Malone, John Keane, Dominic Doran

Articles

Hurling is one of the world’s fastest field sports. Since the last review of science and Gaelic sports in 2008, there has been an increase in sports science provisions across elite and sub-elite cohorts, resulting in increased hurling-specific literature equating to an additional 111 research investigations into the game across all sports science disciplines. The present review aims to provide an updated analysis of the current research on the game and propose recommendations for future research. Overall, intermittent aerobic fitness remains an important physical quality during competition, with a focus on games-based training methodologies within the literature. Within the current …

The Between-Competition Running Demands Of Elite Hurling Match-Play, Brendan Egan, Damian Young, Kieran Collins, Shane Malone, Giuseppe Coratella

Articles

The current study aimed to investigate the differences in running demands between the National Hurling League (NHL) and the Championship, and within playing positions. GPS (10 Hz, STATSports Apex GNSS) were used to analyse the running demands during 34 games (2017–2020 seasons) of the Championship and the NHL. The running demands (total-, relative-, high-speed- [>17 km·h−1] and sprint [≥22 km·h−1] distance, number and length of sprints, and peak speed) were compared between competitions. Greater total- [ES = 0.32], relative- [ES = 0.26], and sprint-distance [ES = 0.41], and number of sprints [ES = 1.29] were completed in the Championship. …

Vestibular Rehabilitation As An Early Intervention In Athletes Who Are Post-Concussion: A Systematic Review, Gabrielle Babula, Edward Warunek, Grace Nikolski, Katherine Cure

Student Research Poster Presentations 2022

Background: Sports-related concussions (SRC) are a common injury sustained by many athletes of all different age groups and sports. The current standard treatment is rest followed by aerobic activity. Little has been researched on the effects of vestibular rehabilitation for concussion treatment, especially in physical therapy practice.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to research the effects of early intervention of vestibular rehabilitation and an athlete’s time to return to play compared to rest alone.

Methods: Two searches were conducted (August 2021 & January 2022). Databases looked at were CINAHL complete, MEDLINE, PubMed, Wiley online database, and one …

Progression Through Return-To-Sport And Return-To-Academics Guidelines For Concussion Management And Recovery In Collegiate Student Athletes: Findings From The Ivy League–Big Ten Epidemiology Of Concussion Study, Douglas J. Wiebe, Abigail C. Bretzin, Bernadette A. D'Alonzo, Ivy League–Big Ten Epidemiology Of Concussion Study Investigators, Arthur C. Maerlender

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Objective To examine the progression of collegiate student athletes through five stages of a return-to- activity protocol following sport-related concussion (SRC).

Methods In a multisite prospective cohort study, we identified the frequency of initial 24–48 hours physical and cognitive rest, and the sequence of (1) symptom resolution and return to (2) exertion activity, (3) limited sport, (4) full sport and (5) full academics. In resulting profiles we estimated the likelihood of return to full sport ≤14 days or prolonged >28 days and tested for variability based on timing of the stages.

Results Among 1715 athletes with SRC (31.6% females), 67.9% …

Head Impact Exposure In Youth And Collegiate American Football, Grace B. Choi, Eric P. Smith, Stefan M. Duma, Steven Rowson, Eamon Campolettano, Mireille E. Kelley, Derek A. Jones, Joel D. Stitzel, Jillian E. Urban, Amaris Genemaras, Jonathan G. Beckwith, Richard M. Greenwald, Arthur C. Maerlender, Joseph J. Crisco

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

The relationship between head impact and subsequent brain injury for American football players is not well defined, especially for youth. The objective of this study is to quantify and assess Head Impact Exposure (HIE) metrics among youth and collegiate football players. This multiseason study enrolled 639 unique athletes (354 collegiate; 285 youth, ages 9–14), recording 476,209 head impacts (367,337 collegiate; 108,872 youth) over 971 sessions (480 collegiate; 491 youth). Youth players experienced 43 and 65% fewer impacts per competition and practice, respectively, and lower impact magnitudes compared to collegiate players (95th percentile peak linear acceleration (PLA, g) competition: 45.6 vs …

Constructing Neural Network Models From Brain Data Reveals Representational Transformations Linked To Adaptive Behavior, Takuya Ito, Guangyu Robert Yang, Patryk Laurent, Douglas H. Schultz, Michael W. Cole

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

The human ability to adaptively implement a wide variety of tasks is thought to emerge from the dynamic transformation of cognitive information. We hypothesized that these transformations are implemented via conjunctive activations in “conjunction hubs”—brain regions that selectively integrate sensory, cognitive, and motor activations. We used recent advances in using functional connectivity to map the flow of activity between brain regions to construct a task-performing neural network model from fMRI data during a cognitive control task. We verified the importance of conjunction hubs in cognitive computations by simulating neural activity flow over this empirically-estimated functional connectivity model. These empiricallyspecified simulations …

Affective Flexibility As A Developmental Building Block Of Cognitive Reappraisal: An Fmri Study, Jordan E. Pierce, Eisha Haque, Maital Neta

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Cognitive reappraisal is a form of emotion regulation that involves reinterpreting the meaning of a stimulus, often to downregulate one’s negative affect. Reappraisal typically recruits distributed regions of prefrontal and parietal cortex to generate new appraisals and downregulate the emotional response in the amygdala. In the current study, we compared reappraisal ability in an fMRI task with affective flexibility in a sample of children and adolescents (ages 6–17, N = 76). Affective flexibility was defined as variability in valence interpretations of ambiguous (surprised) facial expressions from a second behavioral task. Results demonstrated that age and affective flexibility predicted reappraisal ability, …

Deconstructing Stereotypes: Stature, Match-Playing Time, And Performance In Elite Women's World Cup Soccer, Ciara N. Manning, Yasuki Sekiguchi, Courteney L. Benjamin, Mckenna R. Spaulding, Erin E. Dierickx, Jayson M. Spaulding, Dayshia M. Davenport, Jillian Picard-Busky, George T. Chiampas, George P. Nassis, Douglas J. Casa

PTHMS Undergraduate Publications

Recruiting companies recommend elite female soccer players be ≥165 cm (5'5″) in stature. This study investigated if stature limits match-playing time and performance in elite World Cup soccer among players, positions, and countries. We hypothesized stature would not affect match-playing time or performance. Descriptive data were collected on 552 players from 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Odds ratios determined likelihood of starting for players ≥165 cm. ANOVAs compared playing time between stature groups, among positions, and between countries. Performance factors including assists, goals, attempts, corners, shots blocked, and defending blocks were reported. Independent t-tests compared differences between players (≥165 cm, …

Analysis Of Pelvic Alignment Patterns Utilizing The Postural Restoration Institution Approach, Marisa Mills

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Background: Low back pain is a common problem that can include injury to the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) with 15-30% of cases arising from LBP. Treatment for SIJ includes muscle energy. A newer approach from Postural Restoration Institution (PRI) centered around pelvic patterns alignment has also been used. There’s limited research found describing the prevalence of pelvic patterns within populations with PRI method.

Purpose: To examine prevalence of pelvic patterns and investigate a relationship of low back pain. Furthermore, to explore the specific patterns closely and the ability to re-align pelvic patterns by utilizing PRI repositioning exercises.

Study Design: Cross …

Comparison Of Landing Biomechanics Between Different Competitive Levels Of Irish Dance, Jade Shields

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Abstract

Objectives: To determine differences in lower limb landing biomechanics and lower extremity function scale scores between champion levels, in young female Irish dancers.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: McDade-Cara School of Irish Dance

Participants: 12 Open Champion (OC) level female Irish dancers (11.9 ± 3.37 years) and 9 Preliminary Champion (PC) Irish dancers (13.5 ± 3.37 years) performed the landing error scoring system test (LESS), and completed the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) and a descriptive data questionnaire

Main outcome measures: LESS scoring sheet and LEFS PRO

Results: No significant differences found between OC and PC levels on …

The Relationship Between The Population's Perception Of Herniated Intervertebral Disks And Their Known Physical Presentation, Jonah D. Gant

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The second most common lumbosacral diagnosis in the United States is a herniation or prolapse of the intervertebral disc. Individuals with herniated discs can have a wide variety of clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to severe spinal cord compression and pain. Studies suggest that an individual’s pre-existing perception of a condition is likely to influence their course of recovery. Currently, perceptions the general public holds regarding the consequences of disc herniation is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess current views regarding disc herniations in the general population with their reported prevalence and clinical outcome. This was …

Physical Activity As A Predictor Of Obesity In Autistic Children, Cody A. Mullins

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Research has found autistic children to be 40% more likely to be obese compared to their non-autistic peers. Reduced physical activity (PA) is thought to be a contributing factor to the increased prevalence of obesity in autistic children. This was one of the first studies to investigate the PA behaviors of autistic children during an adapted physical education (APE) class using accelerometry. The purpose of this study was to examine the PA of autistic children and determine the relationship between PA and obesity. Participants were recruited from a school for students with disabilities who participate in a once-weekly APE class …