Exercise Science Commons^™

International Society Of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Nutritional Concerns Of The Female Athlete, Ralf Jäger, Jeffery L. Heileson, Sidney Abou Sawan, Broderick L. Dickerson, Megan Leonard, Richard B. Kreider, Chad M. Kerksick, Stephen M. Cornish, Darren G. Candow, Dean M. Cordingley, Scott C. Forbes, Grant M. Tinsley, Tindaro Bongiovanni, Roberto Cannataro, Bill I. Campbell, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, Jeffrey R. Stout, Douglas S. Kalman, Jose Antonio

Faculty Publications

Position Statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) presents this position based on a critical examination of the literature surrounding the effects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) supplementation on exercise performance, recovery, and brain health. This position stand is intended to provide a scientific foundation for athletes, dietitians, trainers, and other practitioners regarding the effects of supplemental ω-3 PUFA in healthy and athletic populations. The following conclusions represent the official position of the ISSN: Athletes may be at a higher risk for ω-3 PUFA insufficiency. Diets rich in ω-3 PUFA, including supplements, are effective strategies for …

Common Questions And Misconceptions About Energy Drinks: What Does The Scientific Evidence Really Show?, Jose Antonio, Brandi Antonio, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, Darren G. Candow, Guillermo Escalante, Cassandra Evans, Scott Forbes, David Fukuda, Maureen Gibbons, Patrick Harty, Andrew R. Jagim, Douglas S. Kalman, Chad M. Kerksick, Jennifer A. Kurtz, Joseph Lillis, Lonnie Lowery, Gianna F. Mastrofini, Scotty Mills, Michael Nelson, Flavia Pereira, Justin Roberts, Michael Sagner, Jeffrey Stout, Jaime Tartar, Adam Wells

Faculty Publications

Energy drinks are a commonly consumed beverage, and studies suggest a possible performance-enhancing effect. A Google Scholar search using the keywords “energy drinks” and “exercise” yields numerous results, underscoring the voluminous research on this topic. However, there are questions regarding the effectiveness and safety of energy drinks. These questions include, but are not limited to: (1) What are the main active ingredients in energy drinks? (2) Do energy drinks assist in weight management? (3) Do energy drinks enhance aerobic performance? (4) Do energy drinks enhance athletic speed? (5) Do energy drinks improve reaction time? (6) Do energy drinks enhance lean …

Examining Group Components On Exercise Adherence In Older Adults, Brody Polk

Masters Theses

Older adults remain the least active population despite the well-known benefits of regular exercise (Beauchamp et al., 2007; Rúa-Alonso et al., 2023). Researchers examining exercise adherence in older adults have determined two modalities of training—individual and group—with individual training being the preferred mode of exercise for older adults (Beauchamp et al., 2007). However, previous research has failed to evaluate the various components of group exercise before making a comparison with individual exercise to determine which form best predicts older adults’ adherence to exercise (Hawley-Hague et al., 2014). As such, the purpose of the current study was to examine the effects …

Reliability Of Popliteal Artery Flow-Mediated Dilation In The Seated Position, Taskina Akhter, Patrick B. Wilson, J. David Branch, Leryn J. Reynolds

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a noninvasive measure of endothelial function, is commonly measured in the popliteal artery in the supine and upright body positions. However, reliability studies of the measurement in these positions are not well studied. This study aimed to examine the trial-retrial and visit-to-visit reliability of popliteal artery FMD in the seated position. Popliteal artery FMD was measured in 20 healthy adults across two visits in the seated and prone positions to assess visit-to-visit reliability. Two measurements were taken for each body position at each visit to assess trial-retrial reliability. %FMD was calculated as the percent change from baseline …

Impacts Of Physical Inactivity Models On Endothelial Function: A Systematic Review, Joel E. Harden, J. David Branch, Leryn J. Reynolds

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Background

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular disease and cardiac events. Numerous studies demonstrate that a reduction in physical activity/exercise levels are associated with poor endothelial function. Yet, these studies use a plethora of models to mimic reduced activity levels which may have widely different results on endothelial function. It is pertinent to collectively review these articles to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of reduced activity on vascular health, as endothelial function is one of many factors that influences vascular tone.

Objective

The purpose of this systematic review is to examine and synthesize the current literature regarding the …

Exploring The Role Of Bingocize® Workshops In Enhancing Health And Well-Being In Older Adults, Kaitlyn Gray

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

As the population of older adults grows, the need for better health and well-being also grows, making it necessary to implement effective strategies for healthy aging to improve the length and quality of life of older adults (CDC, 2024). This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Bingocize^® Workshop in improving the physical health of older adults. Bingocize^®, a unique program combining bingo with exercise, is designed to increase physical activity. Eleven (11) participants aged 68.55 ± 6.235 attended a ten-week workshop, two times per week focusing on physical exercises tailored to their abilities. The primary objective was …

Gene Expression In Relation To Bone Fractures In Throughbred Racehorses, Anna M. Rauber-Ramos

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Evidence that fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses are outcomes of chronic bone microdamage has led to extensive research into identifying horses at increased risk of fracture. This includes the use of biomarkers and messenger RNA (mRNA) as a measure of bone turnover. Previous research has found expression differences in horses with fractures compared to controls. Utilizing pre-race whole blood samples collected over an 18-month period from Thoroughbred racehorses in Southern California, RNA-sequencing was conducted on horses with bone fractures and race-matched controls to identify differences in gene expression. Focusing on third metacarpal (MC3) and proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fractures, differentially expressed …

Patient Handling Interventions And Their Role In Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Healthcare Workers, Ashley L. Hawke

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prominent among healthcare professionals, especially those who perform manual patient handling tasks. Assistive devices (e.g., slider sheet, gait belt, mechanical lift) have been used for patient handling. However, the effectiveness of these devices in reducing MSD risk factors is varied. Additionally, the relationship between healthcare workers’ acceptability of patient handling devices and organizational policies that facilitate or hinder widespread implementation is not well understood. The goal of my dissertation was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing patient handling devices and their role in mitigating MSD risk among healthcare workers. For Study 1, I conducted a …

Evaluation And Treatment Of Baseball Pitchers: There’S More To Assess Than The Arm, Matthew L. Gauthier, Casey A. Unverzagt, George J. Davies

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Injuries are commonplace in the overhead athlete, with many occurring to the shoulder and elbow. The increasing prevalence of injuries to the shoulder and elbow has been discussed at length in recent years, with increased research focus being placed on arm care for rehabilitation and prevention strategies. Even though the pitching motion is well-established as a whole-body kinetic chain movement, most attention in rehabilitation and prevention efforts is often placed on the upper extremity. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to highlight the impact the lower extremity and trunk have on the upper extremity during the throwing motion, better …

International Society Of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Β-Hydroxy-Β-Methylbutyrate (Hmb), John A. Rathmacher, Lisa M. Pitchford, Jeffrey R. Stout, Jeremy R. Townsend, Ralf Jäger, Richard B. Kreider, Bill I. Campbell, Chad M. Kerksick, Patrick S. Harty, Darren G. Candow, Brandon M. Roberts, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, Douglas S. Kalman, Jose Antonio

Faculty Publications

Position Statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) bases the following position stand on an analysis of the literature regarding the effects of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB). The following 12 points have been approved by the Research Committee of the Society: 1. HMB is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine that is naturally produced in both humans and other animals. Two forms of HMB have been studied: Calcium HMB (HMB-Ca) and a free acid form of HMB (HMB-FA). HMB-FA appears to lead to increased appearance of HMB in the bloodstream when compared to HMB-Ca, though recent results are mixed. 2. …

Menstrual Cycle Phase Effects On Exercise Thermoregulation And Performance In The Heat, Kailei J. Eustis

All Master's Theses

Hormone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle (MC) may influence physiological responses. This study examined whether thermoregulatory measures differ across MC phases, and if these changes impact running performance in the heat. Ten eumenorrheic adults completed two treadmill runs in simulated conditions (wet bulb globe temperature 31.7 ± 1.4°C) during early follicular (EF) and midluteal (ML) phases. First 45min was a constant self-selected light pace followed by a 15min performance test for distance. Core temperature (Tc), mean skin temperature (Ts), heart rate (HR), perceived exertion (RPE), thermal perception (THERM), and comfort perception (COMF) were assessed every 5min. Sweat perception (SP), sweat …

Associations Of Different Types Of Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior With Self-Rated Health In Children And Adolescents: A Systematic Review Of Research From 2010 To 2024, Yahan Liang, Xihe Zhu, Ji-Hye Yang, Fei Wang, Danqing Zhang, Xingyi Yang, Sitong Chen, Yang Liu

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Self-rated health (SRH) is one of the common measures to evaluate individuals’ overall health. Many studies have explored the associations between different types of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and SRH in children and adolescents. These studies report inconsistent findings and sometimes highlight gender differences. This systematic review aims to synthesize findings to provide a comprehensive evaluation of these associations.

Development Of A Personalized Conversational Health Agent To Enhance Physical Activity For Blind And Low-Vision Individuals, Soyoung Choi, Jooyoung Seo, Ashwath Krishnan, Sanchita Kamath, Justin Haegele

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Background: With the advancements in mobile health (mHealth) technologies, sighted individuals can benefit from mobile apps and wearable devices to more easily manage their physical activity (PA) and wellness data through intuitive touch gestures and effective data visualizations. However, for blind and low-vision (BLV) individuals, these conventional interaction methods are often challenging, not only limiting their ability to use these technologies but also potentially diminishing their motivation to adopt them to support health-promoting behaviors. We aimed to develop a health monitoring application called Personalized and Conversational Health Agent (PCHA) that supports BLV individuals with self-monitoring and management of their PA …

Comparative Effectiveness Of High-Intensity Interval Training And Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training On Cardiometabolic Health In Patients With Diabesity: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Sameer Badri Al-Mhanna, Eric Tsz-Chun Poon, Barry A. Franklin, Mark A. Tarnopolsky, John A. Hawley, John M. Jakicic, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Jonathan P. Little, Linda S. Pescatello, Deborah Riebe, Walter R. Thompon, James S. Skinner, Sheri R. Colberg, Jonathan K. Ehrman, George S. Metsios, Helen T. Douda, Norsuhana Omar, Abdullah F. Alghannam, Alexios Batrakoulis

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Objective

To evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiometabolic health-related outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and concurrent overweight/obesity (diabesity).

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Data sources

PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception up to January 31, 2025.

Eligibility criteria for selected studies

RCTs comparing HIIT alone ≥ 2 weeks in duration with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). Participants were adults with diabesity.

Results

A total of 26 RCTs qualified, involving 790 patients (50/50 female/male ratio; age: 59.8 ± 12.9 …

Autistic Young Adults' Experiences And Recommendations For Strength Training, Ashlyn Barry, Justin A. Haegele, Daniel Schaefer, Kristen A. Pickett, Luis Columna

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Strength training can be a beneficial form of physical activity (PA), but little research has examined how autistic individuals experience it or what makes programs accessible and supportive. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to explore autistic young adults’ experiences with strength training, and (2) examine their recommendations for designing programs that meet their needs. Thirteen autistic young adults (ages 22–25) participated in semi-structured interviews about their strength training experiences and preferences for program design. A qualitative descriptive approach with a constructivist lens guided reflexive analysis. Participants described key factors that influenced their participation in strength training, …

Impact Of Aerobic Exercise On Cardiometabolic Health In Patients With Diabesity: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Sameer Badri Al-Mhanna, Barry A. Franklin, John M. Jakicic, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Linda S. Pescatello, Deborah Riebe, Walter R. Thompson, James S. Skinner, Sheri R. Colberg, Jonathan K. Ehrman, George S. Metsios, Norsuhana Omar, Nouf H. Alkhamees, Bodor Bin Sheeha, Abdullah F. Alghannam, Alexios Batrakoulis

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Purpose

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise on cardiometabolic health-related indices in patients with type 2 diabetes and concurrent overweight/obesity (diabesity).

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception to October 2024. The search strategy included the following keywords: diabetes, aerobic exercise, and endurance training. RCTs comparing aerobic exercise training ≥2 weeks in duration to standard treatment were considered eligible. Participants were adults with diabesity.

Results

A total of 1391 middle-aged/older adult patients (55 % females) were included …

The Efficacy Of Physical Activity Or Exercise Among Individuals With Cerebral Palsy: An Umbrella Review Of Systematic Reviews, Majed M. Alhumaid, Faris Yahya I. Asiri, Mohamed A. Said, Justin A. Haegele

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Introduction

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood disability, affecting 1.5-3 per 1000 live births. Physical exercises have been shown to improve muscle and limb outcomes in CP. This systematic review critically appraises existing systematic reviews on the effects of physical activity and exercise on physical, functional, and psychosocial outcomes in individuals with CP compared to those without.

Methods

Using a PICO framework, the question was: In patients with CP, do physical activity and exercise improve muscle- and limb-related outcomes compared to no intervention or usual care? PubMed, Cochrane, ISI Web of Science, and Embase were searched for systematic …

Impact Of High-Intensity Interval Training On Cardiometabolic Health In Patients With Diabesity: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Sameer Badri Al-Mhanna, Barry A. Franklin, Mark A. Tarnopolsky, John A. Hawley, John M. Jakicic, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Jonathan P. Little, Linda S. Pescatello, Deborah Riebe, Walter R. Thompson, James S. Skinner, Sheri R. Colberg, Jonathan K. Ehrman, George S. Metsios, Helen T. Douda, Norsuhana Omar, Abdullah F. Alghannam, Alexios Batrakoulis

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Aims This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiometabolic health-related outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity (diabesity).

Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception up to November 2024. The search strategy encompassed the following keywords: diabetes, obesity, and HIIT. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) recruiting adult participants with diabesity and comparing HIIT per se for ≥ 2 weeks in duration with non-exercise standard treatment were included.

Results A total of 18 RCTs qualified involving 504 patients (52/48 women/men …

Canine Agility On The A-Frame Obstacle, Derek Wheeler

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Agility dogs rely on speed, strength, and precision to safely complete obstacles, such as the A-frame. These athletes can experience injuries in training or competition and the variability in multiple repetitions is undocumented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether canine mass and trained contact behavior affected performance variables, including number of footfalls, obstacle completion time, and velocity between repetitions. Twenty-one actively competing dogs, at the masters level in American Kennel Club agility, were recorded completing two repetitions of the A-frame under standardized conditions. Paw placements were tracked manually frame by frame in XMALab and statistical analyses including …

Hip Strengthening In Female Collegiate Soccer Players: Effects Of Gluteus Medius Strengthening On Biodex Balance Scores, Caitlin Bruni, Morgan Shansky

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of gluteus medius (Gmed) strengthening program on single leg stability in collegiate female soccer players. Given the role of Gmed in stabilizing the hip, improving its strength may reduce lower extremity injury risk. Weakness in Gmed has been linked to conditions such as Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears and Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). This study investigates whether an 8-week strength program improves single-leg stability, measured using the Biodex Balance System. Thirty-three female soccer players (18-23 years) from The University of Akron were recruited, with 22 completing the study. Participants underwent …