Sports Sciences Commons^™

Co-Creating An Intervention To Prevent Injuries In Police Force Recruits: A Concept Mapping Study Of Police Force Recruits, Police Force Staff, Health Professionals, And Research Experts, Myles Murphy, Andrea B. Mosler, Garth Allen, Alex Donaldson, Clare L. Ardern, Carolyn A. Emery, Martin Hägglund, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joanne L. Kemp, Debra Langridge, Tiffany Mcalinden, Thomas Mirco, Sophia Nimphius, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Kiera Staley, Vanessa Sutton, Evert Verhagen, Andrea M. Bruder

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Police force recruits have a high musculoskeletal injury burden, which results in a substantial economic burden and can lead to attrition. The objective of this study was to identify and prioritise the strategies perceived as important and feasible to reduce the prevalence, incidence, and burden of injury in police force recruits. Design: Mixed-methods concept mapping study. Methods: Forty-eight participants were recruited from four broad groups: police force recruits/officers; police force staff; health professionals; and research experts. Participants brainstormed statements in response to a prompt (“To prevent injury and/or reduce the impact of injury on law enforcement recruit training, I …

Effects Of Resisted Movement Training On Change-Of-Direction Speed In Recreationally Active And Trained Individuals: A Systematic Review With Network Meta-Analysis And Meta-Regression, Mingyang Zhang, Urs Granacher, Ruixiang Yan, Hallvard Nygaard Falch, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Kai Xu, Xing Zhang, Jinming Li, Shubo Xu, Yulin Luo, Duanying Li, Jian Sun

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The ability to change directions quickly is critical for performance and injury prevention in multidirectional sports, yet the influence of resisted movement training (R-MT) on change-of-direction (COD) speed remains uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effectiveness of various R-MT methods on COD speed in individuals ranging from recreational to international level and to determine the relationship between test angle and COD adaptations. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar from inception to August 2025. Random-effects pairwise meta-analyses and a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) synthesized effects of vertically resisted plyometric and …

Do Flywheel Exercises Provide Eccentric-Overload Training?, Darjan Spudić, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Interests in eccentric resistance exercises have been increasing in both research and practice. However, implementing eccentric resistance exercise training is often challenging due to the mechanical limitations of traditional training equipment. To address this, flywheel (FW) devices emerged as a practical alternative. FW devices are commonly considered to provide eccentric-overload training, in which the load is greater in eccentric than concentric phase. However, this is not always the case. In this article, we summarize the mechanical and physiological factors influencing the effectiveness of FW devices in achieving eccentric overload. Then, we discuss a significant limitation of FW resistance exercise in …

Eccentric Exercise: Muscle Damage To The New Normal, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Adding A Weight To Constrain The Trunk Increases Knee Joint Kinetics During Sidestep Cutting In Female Athletes, Daniel Kadlec, J. Jordan, Jacqueline Alderson, Sophia Nimphius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sidestep cutting exposes the knee to high multiplanar loads that both challenge tissue capacity and provide an opportunity to develop resilience through progressive exposure. This study investigated task constraints applied at the trunk and preparatory step and changes in lower-body joint kinetics associated with ACL injury risk during sidestepping in female athletes. Twenty-one trained female athletes performed six sidestep conditions: pre-planned and unplanned sidesteps, each with and without trunk (holding ~ 5–7.5% body mass at chest level) and preparatory-step (ducking under an adjustable rope at eye height) constraints. Relative joint power at the hip, knee, and ankle was analysed using …

Acute Effects Of Accentuated Eccentric Loading On Mean Concentric Velocity During Resistance Training: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jiahao Yang, Tsuyoshi Nagatani, Paul Comfort, Kristina L. Kendall, G. Gregory Haff

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) may acutely enhance the concentric (CON) barbell velocity after the additional eccentric (ECC) load is removed, however there are inconsistent results regarding the effectiveness of this practice within the scientific literature. Objective: The aims of the present study were to: (1) examine the acute effects of applying AEL, only on the first repetition of a set, on mean barbell velocity during the CON phase of the first 3 repetitions of the set and (2) investigate the influence of the magnitude of ECC load, loading differential and exercise selection on the acute effects of AEL. Methods: …

Sarcomerogenesis: Evidence, Context And Key Stimuli—Response To The Commentary By Power Et Al., Anthony J. Blazevich, Walter Herzog, João Pedro Nunes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Testing-Parameter Variability On Force Production In The Isometric Single-Leg Long-Lever Bridge: Implications For Training And Testing Rigor In Sporting Environments, Adam E. Sundh, Nicholas J. Ripley, A. J. Lamb, Conor J. Cantwell, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of knee angle variability on force production outcomes during the single-leg isometric long-lever bridge, thus providing monitoring guidelines for testing rigor with direct implications for feasibility across a variety of high-performance sporting environments. Methods: Thirty men (age: 19.4 ± 1.3 years; height: 179.8 ± 6.3 cm; body mass: 80.4 ± 10.3 kg) and 14 women (age: 20.0 ± 1.3 years; height: 166.9 ± 7.2 cm; body mass: 64.4 ± 7.4 kg) all of whom were Division 3 athletes with no recent injury history volunteered to participate in the study. …

Identification Of Current Ai Usage In The Fields Of Exercise-Related Professions And The Requirement Of Ai Experience As A Hiring Criterion: A Preliminary Study, Michelle Stehman, Matthew Hankinson

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing within exercise-related professions, raising the question of whether college curricula for these professions should include AI education. This study aimed to evaluate current AI usage and to discover the priority of AI skills for hiring managers among exercise-related professionals. Section one of the questionnaire included questions about current use of AI within exercise-related professions (N = 65), and section two was specific to hiring managers and their position on AI skills as a hiring requirement (n = 32 completed this section). The main outcome of this study was that 32% of exercise-related professionals …

The Investigation Of Ground Reaction Forces To Validate Progression Of Plyometric Exercise: A Pilot Study, Bradley Bechard, Brett Walker, Peter Leno

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose. Current approaches lack research toward rehabilitation of the lower extremity following injury regarding progression and the effects of ground reaction forces (GRFs) along the kinematic chain. A typical physical therapy protocol demonstrated the patients initially performing non-weight bearing, or open chain exercises followed by walking and running activities. This initial pilot study entertained the need for a more “seamless” progression of exercises to bridge the gap of GRFs when rehabilitating a weight bearing joint from walking-to-running in healthy individuals. Methods. 10 plyometric exercises were chosen for the study following careful review of evidence-based literature and researched protocols for strength …

Exploring The Backgrounds, Experiences, Motivations, And Development Of School-Based Wheelchair Sport Coaches, Deborah Shapiro, Scott Douglas, Jp Barfield, Laurie A. Malone

Journal of Coach Development

Coaching in adapted sport is a complex and demanding practice that requires both specialized technical expertise and a deep understanding of disability. This study explored the motivations, backgrounds, and developmental pathways of interscholastic school-based wheelchair sport coaches. We examined how coaches are introduced to wheelchair sport coaching, their initial and ongoing development, and their perspectives on effective coaching and training practices. A total of 17 coaches (10 men, 7 women) with 1 to 17 years of experience in wheelchair sports coaching from 7 interscholastic wheelchair sports teams participated in one 60-minute mini focus group discussion and responded to a set …

Association Between Athletic Trainers And Frequency Of Pediatric Orthopedic Visits, Abaigeal Field, James M. Mensch, Courtney Meyer, Susan W. Yeargin

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Context: There is sparse research on the relationship between athletic trainer (AT) employment and the number of athletes presenting to orthopedic clinics with sports-related injuries. The purpose of this study is to determine if athletic training services are associated with the frequency of first-time orthopedic office visits for sports-related injuries.

Methods: A retrospective chart review collected injuries between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020 from the electronic health records system for a hospital network in the Southeast United States with 6 orthopedic clinics and included 48 high schools hosting 20 sports with at least 1 AT per school. Patients …

Building On A Strong Foundation: Celebrating Our Past And Looking Toward The Future, Zachary K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

No abstract

The Correlation Between Ankle Proprioception And Lower Extremity Muscle Reactions In Response To Simulated Ankle Sprains, Erin Carroll, Justin Stanek, Abby Salvadore

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Context: Neurological structures of the somatosensory system provide proprioceptive and neuromuscular input regarding joint positioning to the brain. Lower extremity motor control relies on local proprioceptive input to the central nervous system and neuromuscular control of individual joints to produce coordinated, global responses to external events. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between ankle proprioception and lower extremity muscle reaction time in response to an unexpected ankle inversion perturbation.

Methods: Twenty healthy college-aged volunteers were recruited to participate by word of mouth. Absolute and exact errors for passive joint position sense (PJPS) were assessed using a …

Relationships Between Lower Body Anthropometrics And Vertical Force-Velocity Profiles In Collegiate American Football Players, Nicholus Adam Despot

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study examined the relationships between lower-body anthropometric characteristics and vertical force-velocity profiles in collegiate American football players. Although the use of force-velocity profiling has increased significantly in recent years, there has been limited research on the association between structural features and key mechanical outputs. A sample of 16 NAIA football players was used to examine how skeletal breadths, girths, and derived ratios relate to key force-velocity metrics. Anthropometric variables were collected using ISAK standards, while force-velocity profiles were obtained through a series of loaded squat jumps on a force platform. Mean propulsive force, velocity and power were used to …

The Effects Of Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation On The Inspiratory Muscle Metaboreflex In Young Healthy Adults, Sabrina Ehrenfort, Riley Dienna, Ben Kerns, Hannah Lyons, Rachel Phillips

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Increased work of breathing (Wb) triggers the inspiratory muscle metaboreflex, which elevates systemic blood pressure in response to diaphragmatic fatigue. To counteract this, dietary nitrate could act as a source of nitric oxide, which is known to improve muscle power and efficiency (Jones et al., 2018). This study examines the hypothesis that acute nitrate supplementation would attenuate this response. Utilizing the KH2 device from PowerBreathe, 20 healthy participants (mean age: 21.1 ± 2.5 years; range: 18–30 years) underwent a resistive breathing task (RBT) for a total of three minutes at 60% of their maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). All 20 participants …

Utilization Of An Open-Access Markerless Motion Analysis Software For A Biomechanics Movement Analysis Project., Tamra L. Llewellyn, Michael J. Nolan

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

The movement analysis project (MAP) is a common assignment in many undergraduate biomechanics courses. The purpose of this article is to introduce kinesiology educators to an open-source, AI-enabled, markerless software for motion capture, OpenCap, which can be used in MAP and research. This tool is currently being used in an in-person, upper-level, undergraduate biomechanics course where students are required to have taken Anatomy & Physiology. There is very little time, money, or expertise needed to implement this resource. Using 2 iPads on tripods and the OpenCap app and web-based interface, movements can be quickly converted to skeleton visualization and joint …

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 …

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 …

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) …