Sports Sciences Commons^™

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 …

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; …

Examining Muscle Synergy Deficits In Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy, Nicholas K. Odani, Chethan N. Reddy, Daniel C. Mcpherson, Kayla D. Seymore, Lori A. Michener

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Neuromuscular deficits observed through electromyography (EMG) of individual muscles are common in rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy. However, given that muscles act in coordination, muscle synergy analyses can identify altered neuromuscular patterns that can inform specific interventions to address these deficits.

PURPOSE: Characterize shoulder muscle synergies in RC tendinopathy.

METHODS: 54 individuals with RC tendinopathy (32M, 29.4 ± 8.9 yr) and 54 healthy controls (matched for age, sex, height, weight, and hand dominance) completed four velocity-controlled shoulder elevation tasks with seven repetitions of scaption, flexion, forward reaching, and contralateral reaching. During each task, muscle activity was collected from the …

Circus-Specific Extension Of The 6th International Consensus Statement On Concussion In Sport, David Munro, Stephanie Greenspan, Joanna Nicholas, Melanie I. Stuckey

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While sport-related concussion (SRC) is a known risk in circus arts, no published guidelines exist to guide post-concussion return to circus, contributing to inadequate management in this population. The Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) published the 6th international consensus statement in 2023, providing updated guidance and assessment tools for the management of SRC. Sport and dance organisations have adapted these recommendations for their specific settings. The aim of this extension statement was to extend the CISG guideline to the circus arts training and performance context. Development included a review of literature, creation of the initial drafts by the working group, …

Strength And Conditioning Society (Scs) 7th Annual Meeting, Murcia, Spain, 2024, Pedro E. Alcaraz, Konstantinos Spyrou, Anthony J. Blazevich, Tomás T. Freitas, Elena Marín-Cascales, Aarón Manzanares Serrano

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

On behalf of the Strength and Conditioning Society (SCS), we are pleased to present the abstracts submitted for the SCS 7th Annual Meeting. The event was held at the Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM) headquarters in Murcia, Spain, on 9–11 October 2024, and comprised several invited sessions by international and national speakers on a variety of topics related to biochemistry and exercise physiology, strength and conditioning practices and their application to health, injury prevention, and sports performance. These included strength training in high-performance sports, sport science and training–competition load management in elite environments, biochemistry and exercise physiology and prescription, nutrition …

Circulating Lipid Mediators Modulate Skeletal Muscle Repair, Logan Moore, Kamal Awad, Marco Brotto

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Skeletal muscle injuries account for the majority of sports related trauma. However, skeletal muscle has a unique quality in its’ innate ability to repair and regenerate. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to detail the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle through analysis of lipid mediator (LM) signaling in the circulation. METHODS: Wild-type (C57BL/6) mice were blindly randomized into 4 groups: Baseline-Control, 4-Day post injection, 7-Day, and 1-month (n=12). Skeletal muscle damage was initiated through an intra-muscular injection of 50 μL of 1.2% Barium Chloride (BaCl₂) in the tibialis anterior (TA). The contralateral limb served as …

Effects Of Exercise On Cognitive Performance, Autumn Bailey

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research project “Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Performance” will be conducted with the purpose of determining the relationship between exercise and cognitive performance. The relationship between injury and cognitive performance will also be investigated. In order to investigate these relationships 60 participants who are current students at the University of Akron will be asked to complete three cognitive assessments, one while at rest, one while riding an exercise bike, and one following the completion of exercise. The results of these three assessments will be compared to determine the relationship between cognitive performance in all three states. Participants will include …

Exploring Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears: Causes, Reconstruction, And Outcomes, Holly L. Bollinger

Honors College Theses

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a critical structure in knee stability, and its injury can significantly impair athletic performance and daily functionality. The ACL plays a vital role in stabilizing the knee joint, preventing excessive forward movement of the tibia relative to the femur and aiding in rotational control. ACL tears are commonly associated with sports and physical activities that involve sudden stops, pivots, or changes in direction. These injuries can lead to knee instability, impaired function, and long-term complications. Despite the prevalence of ACL tears, there remains a lack of consensus on the multifactorial causes, optimal reconstruction techniques, …

Psychological Impacts In Exercise Riders And Professional Jockeys Following Injury, Kelley M. Renner

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

One of the most well-known equestrian sports, horse racing, is not only a cornerstone of Kentucky’s economy, but also a vital part of its culture, with professional jockeys playing an essential role in the local communities and traditions that define the state. Despite its popularity and financial impact, mental health challenges within the sport have continually been shrouded in silence and ignored in research (Ball et al., 2007). Equally concerning is the high injury prevalence, and psychological impact of these injuries (e.g., psychological distress, depression, anxiety, loss of identity, and self-esteem (King et al., 2022; Losty et al., 2019; McConn-Palfreyman …

The Interplay Between Injury And Body Composition With Performance In Police Recruits, Vanessa Sutton

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The occupational demands of policing are challenging and potentially hazardous, with substantial rates of musculoskeletal injuries occurring during recruit training. Academy injury prevalence can be as high as one in five recruits. Injuries impact performance, result in lost training, and impose financial burdens on police agencies. However, limited research has explored pre-injury body composition or musculoskeletal characteristics in relation to police recruit performance. This thesis investigates injuries, body composition and musculoskeletal characteristics in physical performance and injury risk among law enforcement recruits.

Study One quantified prevalence and severity of pre-academy injuries and association with performance. Among 121 recruits, nearly half …

Scs 6th Annual Meeting—Eevfa—11th International Congress Of Biochemistry And Physiology Of Exercise, Athens, Greece, 2023, Pedro E. Alcaraz, Elena Marín-Cascales, Anthony J. Blazevich, Tomás T. Freitas, Olyvia Donti, Konstantinos Spyrou, Gregory C. Bogdanis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

On behalf of the Strength and Conditioning Society (SCS) and the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Exercise Physiology (EEVFA), we are pleased to present the abstracts of the SCS 6th Annual Meeting and EEVFA—11th International Congress of Biochemistry and Physiology of Exercise. The event was held at the Hellenic Olympic Committee headquarters in Athens, Greece, on 19–22 October 2023, and comprised several invited sessions from international and national speakers on a variety of topics related to biochemistry and exercise physiology, strength and conditioning practices and their application to health, injury prevention and sports performance. These included strength training in high-performance …

Bilateral Acromioclavicular Sprains, Elizabeth Moreno, Melissa D. Long

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

CASE HISTORY: The patient is a 20-year-old linebacker who sustained two AC sprains in the span of nine days. The patient sustained his right AC sprain by tackling with a lowered shoulder. After he was cleared to play from his first injury, he sustained his second AC sprain nine days after. Interestingly, the second shoulder injury occurred by tackling the same opponent with a lowered shoulder. PHYSICAL EXAM: The athletic training staff assessed the right shoulder immediately after injury and tested his shoulder strength. After examination the athletic training staff came to the conclusion that it was an AC sprain, …

Effect Of Covid-19 On Performance And Recovery Of Division I Women’S Basketball Players: A Case Study, Julie K. Nolan, Christopher Taber, Samah Senbel, Mehul S. Raval, N.S. Artan, Tolga Kaya

Athletic Training Faculty Publications

This report aimed to examine the effects of COVID-19 on athletic performance and recovery in women’s basketball players. Twelve participants were included in this case report, with four serving as the test group and eight serving as the control group. All participants wore a Polar GPS unit and a Whoop Strap. The Polar unit was worn during games and practices and used to collect metrics of physical workload. The Whoop strap was worn during daily activities, including periods of sleep, to collect metrics of sleep and recovery. Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics (mean difference ± standard deviations), and T-tests …

The Role Of Age As A Risk Factor For Pickleball-Related Injuries, Ches Jones, Bart Hammig

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pickleball is a popular sport that includes players from many different demographics. The popularity has resulted in not only increases in participation but also in activity related injuries. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors along with potential mechanisms for injuries related to pickleball and identify effective countermeasures. Methods included the identification of pickleball related injuries from a US National Emergency Room database (NEISS). A narrative section of the database was used to identify and categorize potential mechanisms of injury. Results indicated that the types and mechanisms of injury relate to three specific age groups: younger, middle …

Injury In Starting And Replacement Players From Five Professional Men’S Rugby Unions, Simon P. Roberts, Keith A. Stokes, Sean Williams, Stephen W. West, Simon Kemp, Matt Cross, Isabel S. Moore, Charlotte L. Bitchell, Prabhat Mathema, Ken Quarrie, Warren Mcdonald, Lauren Fortington, Eduardo R. Rubio Del Castillo, Clint Readhead, Nicola Sewry, Éanna Falvey, Ross Tucker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the incidence, severity, and burden of injury in starting and replacement players from professional men’s teams of five rugby unions. Methods: Match injuries of greater than 24 h time-loss (including data on the severity, match quarter, event, body region) and player minutes of match exposure data were collated for all starting and replacement players in the men’s English Premiership, Welsh Pro14 (both 2016/17–2018/19 seasons), and Australian, New Zealand, and South African Super Rugby (all 2016–2018 seasons) teams. Injury incidences and mean injury burden (incidence × days missed) were calculated, and rate …

Recovery From Sport-Induced Muscle Damage In Relation To Match-Intervals In Major Events, Kazunori Nosaka, Trevor C. Chen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Muscle damage could affect the next match performance in sports when the time to recover from a previous match is shorter. We examined the interval between matches in nine team sports (e.g., soccer, rugby, field hockey, basketball, volleyball, baseball) and two racket sports (badminton, tennis) in World Cups held in 2022-2023, 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and Gland Slam in 2023. We then performed narrative review using three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) to get information about muscle damage and recovery in the 11 sports, and discussed whether the intervals in the events would be enough for athletes. We found …

The Kneeling Isometric Plantar Flexor Test: Preliminary Reliability And Feasibility In Professional Youth Football, John J. Mcmahon, Nicholas J. Ripley, Paul Comfort, Francisco J. Robles-Palazón, Jack T. Fahey, Andrew J. Badby, Christopher Bramah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Calf injuries are common in professional football; thus, the establishment of reliable and time-efficient methods of measuring the peak force capabilities of the plantar flexors with equipment that is accessible to football practitioners is valuable. In this study, we determined the preliminary reliability and feasibility of a new test, termed the kneeling isometric plantar flexion test (KIPFT), for footballers. Twenty-one male youth footballers (age = 17.8 ± 1.1 years, height = 182 ± 5 cm, weight = 77.6 ± 5.9 kg) from English League One football clubs completed three trials of the KIPFT on a wireless force plate at the …

Which Position In American Football Is More Likely To Get You Benched Due To Lei? An Analysis Of Nfl Players Injured In The Years 2016-2020., Robert A. De La Torre, Abdullah Sahyouni, Kinan Sawar, Gautham Pavar, Cristian J. Diaz Alvarenga, Shravan Morisetty, Bohdan Matsko, Justin Bennie, Niyaz Uddin, Olvia Pakula

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: Which position in American Football is more likely to get you benched due to LEI? An Analysis of NFL Players injured in the years 2016-2020.

Authors: Robert de la Torre, Abdullah Sahyouni, Kinan Sawar, Gautham Pavar, Cris J. Diaz Alvarenga, Shravan Morisetty, Justin Bennie, Bohdan Matsko, Niyaz Uddin, Olivia Pakula

Introduction:

In American Football, there are twenty-four different positional roles that a player may assume. Some positions are unique to offense, such as quarterback and wide receiver. Others are unique to defense, such as cornerback or linebacker. There are also unique positions such as kicker or punter. All of …

Injury Risk And Location Comparison Of Full-Time Swat Operators And Part-Time Swat Operators, Kaylee Fredella

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams deal with high-risk situations with unpredictable movement patterns that put them at a risk for injuries. SWAT teams fall into two distinct categories full-time (FT) and part-time (PT). FT SWAT teams are in big cities, and they are SWAT operators their whole shift. While PT teams are in smaller cities or more rural counties, and they spend half their time as SWAT operators and the other as patrol officers. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in pain and injury locations and average length of injury time between PT and FT …

Psychological Readiness In Injured Student-Athletes When Returning To Sport, Samantha J. Burelle

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The physical component of recovery is pertinent to success in sport performance, yet there has been an increase in awareness of psychological symptoms and psychological distress experienced by injured athletes. Thus, the psychological aspect of injuries and return to sport (RTS) process cannot be ignored. Psychological readiness (PR) is described by Podlog et al. (2015), Donald (2019), and Podlog et al. (2022) as a dynamic psychological process including factors of realistic expectation, confidence, motivation, and focus. PR addresses the psychological component necessary for a successful RTS. Measurement tools have been developed to assess PR, yet not all factors of PR …

An Examination Of Kinanthropometric And Physical Injury Risk Factors In Elite Australian Football, Callum J. Mccaskie

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Kinanthropometric assessment is an integral part of understanding an athlete’s physical profile and readiness for competition. This typically includes a variety of different assessments which serve to quantify body shape, proportion, and composition in a bid to understand human physiology. Common assessments include stature, body mass, limb ratios, body circumferences, body mass index, skinfold testing, body composition testing, and musculoskeletal morphological evaluations. Specifically, kinanthropometric evaluations have involved the characterisation of athletes according to sport, sex, competition level and playing position. While this has provided researchers and practitioners with greater insight into athletic phenotypes, more purposeful kinanthropometric assessments which focus on …

Genetic Variants Within Noggin, Col1a1, Col5a1, And Igf2 Are Associated With Musculoskeletal Injuries In Elite Male Australian Football League Players: A Preliminary Study, Ysabel Jacob, Ryan S. Anderton, Jodie L. Cochrane Wilkie, Brent Rogalski, Simon M. Laws, Anthony Jones, Tania Spiteri, Dana Hince, Nicolas H. Hart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction:

Australian Football is a dynamic team sport that requires many athletic traits to succeed. Due to this combination of traits, as well as technical skill and physicality, there are many types of injuries that could occur. Injuries are not only a hindrance to the individual player, but to the team as a whole. Many strength and conditioning personnel strive to minimise injuries to players to accomplish team success.

Purpose:

To investigate whether selected polymorphisms have an association with injury occurrence in elite male Australian Football players.

Methods:

Using DNA obtained from 46 elite male players, we investigated the associations …

The Relationship Between Concussion History And Lower Extremity Biomechanics During A Land And Cut Task, Nghi Gia Vu, Warren Forbes, Jason M. Avedesian, Janet S. Dufek

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

In high impact landing tasks, athletes with a history of sports related concussion (SRC) have been found to demonstrate lower extremity (LE) biomechanics that are associated with elevated injury risk. However, the exact relationships between SRC history and LE biomechanics are inconclusive. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between SRC history and LE biomechanics during a cutting task. METHODS: A cohort of athletes with a history of SRC (n=20) and a control group of healthy athletes (n=20) were recruited for this study. The control group were matched by age, sex, and sport. Athletes …

The Relationship Between Concussion History And Sex On Lower Extremity Biomechanics During A Cutting Task, Warren O. Forbes, Jason M. Avedesian, Janet S. Dufek

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Athletes with a history of sports related concussion (SRC) have been shown to exhibit lower extremity (LE) mechanics during high impact landing tasks that are conducive to increased injury risk. The underlying cause, and extent of this phenomena is currently unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between SRC history and sex on LE biomechanics during a land-and-cut task. METHODS: College athletes with a history of SRC and a control group of healthy athletes matched by sport, position, sex, and age were recruited for this study. Both groups were comprised of 9 males …

Hamstrings Force-Length Relationships And Their Implications For Angle-Specific Joint Torques: A Narrative Review, Eleftherios Kellis, Anthony J. Blazevich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Temporal biomechanical and physiological responses to physical activity vary between individual hamstrings components as well as between exercises, suggesting that hamstring muscles operate differently, and over different lengths, between tasks. Nevertheless, the force-length properties of these muscles have not been thoroughly investigated. The present review examines the factors influencing the hamstrings’ force-length properties and relates them to in vivo function. A search in four databases was performed for studies that examined relations between muscle length and force, torque, activation, or moment arm of hamstring muscles. Evidence was collated in relation to force-length relationships at a sarcomere/fiber level and then moment …

The Relationship Between Sport Specialization And Coping Mechanisms In Adolescent Athletes, Sara Kusner, Laura Harris

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE
(1) To describe the coping mechanisms of adolescent athletes as emotion-focused, problem-focused, or avoidant-focused coping before and after injury or illness, and (2) to compare the perceived adolescent coping mechanisms across sport specialization levels (i.e., low, moderate, or high).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT
Demographic information was reported for the entire sample. A one-way ANOVA was conducted for each dependent variable (i.e., coping strategy) by sport specialization. For the secondary analysis the independent variable time and the dependent variable coping mechanism (i.e., task, emotion, and avoidance) were analyzed by paired t-tests. Hedge’s g effect size was calculated for any significant comparisons …

Gender Differences In The Achilles Tendon Load During The Fencing Lunge, Jonathan Kenneth Sinclair, Lindsay Bottoms

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Recent epidemiological analyses in fencing have shown that injuries and pain linked specifically to fencing training/competition were evident in 92.8% of fencers. Specifically the prevalence of Achilles tendon pathology has increased substantially in recent years, and males have been identified as being at greater risk of Achilles tendon injury compared to their female counterparts. This study aimed to examine gender differences in Achilles tendon loading during the fencing lunge. Material/Methods: Achilles tendon load was obtained from eight male and eight female club level epee fencers using a 3D motion capture system and force platform information as they completed simulated …

The Prevalence Of Red-S Among College Athletes, Johnny Nguyen

Graduate Research Showcase

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S) is a phenomenon established by the International Olympic Committee to expand on the previously known condition as the female athlete triad, to include male athletes. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports is a physiological functioning impairment due to athletes with low energy availability. Low energy occurs when athletes expend more energy (calorie burn with activity) than they consume (daily caloric intake) for an extended period. Leading to alter or impaired physiological function. College is a period where individuals gain their independence. Collegiate student-athletes are learning to juggle multiple aspects of their life. Along with excelling …

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, …

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 …