Exercise Science Commons^™

A Comparison Of Two Gluteus Maximus Emg Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Positions, Bret Contreras, Andrew D. Vigotsky, Chris Beardsley, John B. Cronin

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background. The purpose of this study was to compare the peak electromyography (EMG) of the most commonly-used position in the literature, the prone bent-leg (90°) hip extension against manual resistance applied to the distal thigh (PRONE), to a novel position, the standing glute squeeze (SQUEEZE). Methods. Surface EMG electrodes were placed on the upper and lower gluteus maximus of thirteen recreationally active females (age = 28.9 years; height = 164 cm; body mass = 58.2 kg), before three maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) trials for each position were obtained in a randomized, counterbalanced fashion. Results. No statistically significant (p …

Healthy Eating And Physical Activity Environmental And Policy Assessment – Measurement Issues And Implications, Rahma Jamea Yousef Ajja

Theses and Dissertations

Current research has suggested that supportive healthy eating and physical activity (HEPA) policy and practice environments play a significant role in shaping the physical activity levels and eating habits of youth. Subsequently, a wide array of audit tools assessing policy and practice environment characteristics across settings that care for youth were developed. However, the extent that available audit tools accurately reflect the policy environment characteristics of the settings that care for the youth population remains unknown. Therefore, this dissertation encompasses four studies. The purpose of the first study was to examine the measurement properties of audit tools currently in use …

The Recovery Of Gut Barrier Function With Selenium Rich Diet In Acute Dss-Induced Colitis, Sarah Depaepe

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Acute Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis is an inflammatory ailment limited to the colon. It works to destroy the morphology and gut barrier goblet and epithelial cells that aid in providing homeostasis. Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is known to play a role in reducing inflammation in areas elsewhere in the body. The current study is focused on how Se alters gut barrier permeability and functionality related to the recovery of tight junction regulation and mucin secretion. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were randomly placed into control (normal water) and 2% DSS water …

Correlations Between White Matter Integrity, Structural Connectivity, And Upper And Lower Extremity Motor Function In Individuals With Chronic Stroke, Denise M. Peters

Theses and Dissertations

Great variability is seen in the clinical manifestation of and recovery from stroke. Structural abnormalities often extend beyond the infarction site, indirectly affecting nonlesioned areas which can further contribute to motor deficits. Advances in neuroimaging have enabled the examination of white matter integrity and anatomical connectivity within the brain. Evidence is limited, however, regarding the relationship between the structural integrity and connectivity of primary and secondary motor tracts/brain regions and chronic upper and (especially) lower extremity motor impairments post-stroke. Therefore, the current study examined the relationship between upper/lower extremity motor impairments and structural integrity (Aim 1) and connectivity (Aim 2) …

Effects Of Upper Body Hiit Training On Recreationally Trained Wheelchair Athletes, Tayler Elizondo

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

The Acute Effects Of Aerobic Exercise Durations On Arterial Compliance In Recreationally Active Males, Joe Angel Lopez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to 1) examine the acute effects of different aerobic exercise durations on large (LAC) and small (SAC) arterial compliance, 2) examine the acute effects of different aerobic exercise durations on central pulse wave velocity (cPWV), peripheral pulse wave velocity (pPWV), Aortic Index (AIx), and 3) to examine the acute effects of aerobic exercise durations on hemodynamics.

METHODS: Eighteen male subjects (age= 23.4±2.0) performed a maximal aerobic stress test (Bruce protocol) in order to estimate VO2max. Participants were required to meet in the lab fasted for at least 8 hours for three …

The Acute Effects Of Different Warm-Up Techniques Of Power Output, Agility, And Flexibility In Athletes, Kristopher Manuel Nava

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Purpose: The purpose of this study is: 1) To determine which warm-up technique (general warm-up (GW), dynamic warm-up (DW), weighted vest warm-up using body weight percentage [VW], and elastic exercise band training system warm-up [EEBTSW]) will provide the best and longest effect on athletes’ performance regarding power output, agility, and flexibility. 2) To compare if there are any differences in power output, agility, and flexibility when using different resistance protocols (VW and EEBTSW) as warm-up techniques. 3) To determine which warm-up will benefit the athletes’ performance. 4) To compare the hemodynamic responses to different warm-up techniques.

Methods: Thirty-one male (age= …

Body Image Self-Discrepancies And Compulsive Exercise: Exploring The Role Of Approach And Avoidance Motivational Selves, Kristin A. Chandler

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

According to Brewer, Davis, Kalmbach, Kaptein, Katzman and Kirsch (1997), problematic exercise occurs in approximately 80% of anorexia nervosa patients and 55% of bulimia nervosa patients. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of unhealthy exercise is necessary for its assessment as well as eating disorder prevention and intervention. One term used to describe unhealthy exercise is compulsive exercise. Although compulsive exercise has been regarded as problematic in the development, treatment, and outcome of eating disorders, little research has investigated the risk factors for this behavior. Given the influence of body image disturbances on disordered eating and the relationship between compulsive exercise and …

Attenuation Of Indirect Markers Of Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage By Curcumin, Yoko Tanabe, Seiji Maeda, Nobuhiko Akazawa, Asako Zempo-Miyaki, Youngju Choi, Song-Gyu Ra, Atsushi Imaizumi, Yoshihiko Otsuka, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Polyphenolic curcumin is known to have potent anti-inflammatory effects; thus the present study investigated the hypothesis that curcumin ingestion would attenuate muscle damage after eccentric exercise. Methods: Fourteen untrained young men (24 ± 1 years) performed 50 maximal isokinetic (120°/s) eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors of one arm on an isokinetic dynamometer and the same exercise with the other arm 4 weeks later. They took 150 mg of curcumin (theracurmin) or placebo (starch) orally before and 12 h after each eccentric exercise bout in a randomised, crossover design. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque of the elbow flexors, range …

Acute Effects Of Dynamic Stretching On Flexibility And Agonist-Antagonist Muscle Activity, Lance T. Beisley

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"Flexibility is an important determinant of health and important in sport performance. ADS and SPST are the methods most often used in training flexibility for sport. Although ADS appears to dominate SPST in measures of power and agility, the mechanisms are unclear. The purpose of this study was to delineate the effects of ADS on AROM and agonist-antagonist mean and peak EMG. The ADS protocol involved three sets of ten repetitions of leg kicks while in the supine position with the pelvis and contralateral limb fixed in extension. Participants moved the leg at the hip in a kicking motion to …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Strength Training In Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis Or Parkinson Disease, Travis M. Cruickshank, Alvaro R. Reyes, Melanie R. Ziman

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Strength training has, in recent years, been shown to be beneficial for people with Parkinson disease and multiple sclerosis. Consensus regarding its utility for these disorders nevertheless remains contentious among healthcare professionals. Greater clarity is required, especially in regards to the type and magnitude of effects as well as the response differences to strength training between individuals with Parkinson disease or multiple sclerosis. This study examines the effects, magnitude of those effects, and response differences to strength training between patients with Parkinson disease or multiple sclerosis. A comprehensive search of electronic databases including Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane …

Gender Differences In Social Support During Injury Rehabilitation, Chelsey Ann Bruns

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Athletic injury can be a stress-inducing event that could have negative consequences on the psychological health of the athlete (Anderson & Williams, 1988; Gould, Udry, Bridges, & Beck, 1997). Injuries not only challenge the athlete physically, but also mentally challenge their ability to cope and overcome. A growing amount of research has indicated social support as a key factor in the rehabilitation process for an injured athlete (Yang, Peek, Lowe, Heiden, & Foster, 2010). Athletic injury causes an emotional disruption, and social support could influence the athlete’s reaction to the injury and his or her ability to cope with rehabilitation …

The Acute Effects Of Multiple Resisted Sled-Pull Loads On Subsequent Sprint-Running Performances, Carl Stephen Crouse

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Sled-pulling is a commonly implemented form of training for various sports. However, few studies have used sled-pulling as a means of acutely enhancing sprintrunning performances. The purpose of this study was to investigate how various sledpulling resistance loads (95% and 110% of body mass) effect subsequent, unloaded, sprint-running performances, possibly with aid from the effect known as Post-Activation Potentiation (PAP). PAP is a physiological phenomenon which increases the rate of force development of skeletal muscle which may result in the enhancement of power (speed-strength) dominant activities such as sprint-running and jumping.

Participants were a mix of males (n = 11; …

Altitude Exposure At 1800 M Increases Haemoglobin Mass In Distance Runners, Laura A. Gravican-Lewis, Iona Halliday, Chris R. Abbiss, Philo U. Saunders, Christopher P.J. Gore

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The influence of low natural altitudes (< 2000 m) on erythropoietic adaptation is currently unclear, with current recommendations indicating that such low altitudes may be insufficient to stimulate significant increases in haemoglobin mass (Hb_mass). As such, the purpose of this study was to determine the influence of 3 weeks of live high, train high exposure (LHTH) at low natural altitude (i.e. 1800 m) on Hb_mass, red blood cell count and iron profile. A total of 16 elite or well-trained runners were assigned into either a LHTH (n = 8) or CONTROL (n = 8) group. Venous blood samples were drawn prior to, at 2 weeks and at 3 weeks following exposure. Hb_mass was measured in duplicate prior to exposure and at 2 …

Lean Body Mass Associated With Upper Body Strength In Healthy Older Adults While Higher Body Fat Limits Lower Extremity Performance And Endurance, Karen Charlton, Marijka Batterham, Kelly Langford, Jenna Lateo, Erin Brock, Karen Walton, Philipa Lyons-Wall, Katie Eisenhauer, Nick Green, Cameron Mclean

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Impaired strength adversely influences an older person’s ability to perform activities of daily living. A cross-sectional study of 117 independently living men and women (age = 73.4 ± 9.4 year; body mass index (BMI) = 27.6 ± 4.8 kg/m2) aimed to assess the association between body composition and: (1) upper body strength (handgrip strength, HGS); (2) lower extremity performance (timed up and go (TUG) and sit to stand test (STS)); and (3) endurance (6-minute walk (SMWT). Body composition (% fat; lean body mass (LBM)) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance. Habitual physical activity was measured using the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical …

The Effect Of Fluid Periodization On Athletic Performance Outcomes In American Football Players, Christopher W. Morris

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

For decades strength and conditioning professionals have been seeking optimal training volumes and intensities to yield maximum performance outcomes without the onset of injury. Unfortunately, current studies apply experimental training techniques without considering the individuals’ response to the imposed training load. Due to the vast genetic variability and extraneous environmental factors that affect one’s ability to recover, results from such studies are controversial and inconclusive. Athlete monitoring systems offer an objective assessment that is purported to evaluate an individual’s physiological readiness to adapt to an overload stimulus and thus allow for daily manipulations in training loads (i.e., fluid periodization). However, …

Effect Of Load Carriage On Tactical Performance, Justin M. Thomas

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) operators are specially trained personnel that are required to carry equipment to perform high risk tasks. Given the need to carry this equipment, it is important to understand the potentially deleterious effect that the additional load may have on tactical performance. Furthermore, it is important to identify physical fitness characteristics that are associated with the potential decrement in performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of load carriage on tactical performance and identify fitness characteristics associated with any decrement in performance. Twelve male operators performed a simulated tactical test (STT) …

The Effects Of Spinal Manipulative Therapy On Isokinetic Strength And Postactivation Potentiation, Grant D. Sanders

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is a therapeutic procedure employed by various healthcare practitioners for alleviating acute and chronic musculoskeletal complaints. This form of treatment is also delivered to enhance the performance and augment the rehabilitation of athletes. However, despite research findings alleging the strength-modulating effects of SMT alongside numerous professional athletes’ positive anecdotal claims concerning its results, the physiological processes to explain its effects remain largely unexplained. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to investigate the effects of SMT in a college-aged sample population with two experiments.

The first study examined the effect of SMT targeting the lumbosacral region …

A Preliminary Investigation Into The Relationship Between Functional Movement Screen Scores And Athletic Physical Performance In Female Team Sport Athletes, R.G. Lockie, A.B. Schultz, Samuel J. Callaghan, C.A. Jordan, T.M. Luczo, M.D. Jeffriess

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

There is little research investigating relationships between the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and athletic performance in female athletes. This study analyzed the relationships between FMS (deep squat; hurdle step [HS]; in-line lunge [ILL]; shoulder mobility; active straight-leg raise [ASLR]; trunk stability push-up; rotary stability) scores, and performance tests (bilateral and unilateral sit-and-reach [flexibility]; 20-m sprint [linear speed]; 505 with turns from each leg; modified T-test with movement to left and right [change-of-direction speed]; bilateral and unilateral vertical and standing broad jumps; lateral jumps [leg power]). Nine healthy female recreational team sport athletes (age = 22.67 ± 5.12 years; height = …

Outcomes Of The Rope Skipping 'Star' Programme For Schoolchildren, Amy S. Ha, Angus Bernett, Raymond Sum, Nikola Medic, Johan Y.Y. Ng

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Physical activity in children and adolescents is on a decline trend. To this end, we conducted a matched-pair randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of a 4-week STAR (School-based; Train-the-trainer; Accessibility of resources; Recreational) skipping programme. 1,386 schoolchildren from 20 primary and secondary schools were recruited. Schools were randomized into the experimental or wait-list control group. Participants self-reported their health-related quality of life using the KIDSCREEN-27. Accelerometers were used to measure the time a subgroup of participants (n = 480) spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during school hours on five consecutive days. Measures were taken at pre- and post-test. …