Kinesiology Commons^™

The Heritage Family Study: A Review Of The Effects Of Exercise Training On Cardiometabolic Health, With Insights Into Molecular Transducers, Mark A. Sarzynski Ph.D., Faha, Facsm, Treva K. Rice, Jean-Pierre Després, Louis Pérusse, Angelo Tremblay, Philip R. Stanforth, André Tchernof, Jacob L. Barber, Francesco Falciani, Clary Clish, James S. Skinner, D. C. Rao, Claude Bouchard

Faculty Publications

The aim of the HERITAGE Family Study was to investigate individual differences in response to a standardized endurance exercise program, the role of familial aggregation, and the genetics of response levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors. Here we summarize the findings and their potential implications for cardiometabolic health and cardiorespiratory fitness. It begins with overviews of background and planning, recruitment, testing and exercise program protocol, quality control measures, and other relevant organizational issues. A summary of findings is then provided on cardiorespiratory fitness, exercise hemodynamics, insulin and glucose metabolism, lipid and lipoprotein profiles, adiposity and …

Effects Of Branched Chain Amino Acid Supplementation On Post-Exercise Muscle Recovery And Muscle Growth, Kyla N. Marquez

Honors Projects

BCAA supplements are composed of three main essential amino acids, including leucine, isoleucine, and valine. The concept of BCAA supplementation comes from the fact that essential amino acids cannot be made by the body and must be derived from food and diet, as amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and muscle. Thus, by increasing intake of these essential amino acids, BCAAs are believed to reduce the effects of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) by increasing availability of these important compounds. However, BCAAs are not approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as the FDA does not regulate dietary …

The Effect Of One Night Of Sleep Fragmentation On Aerobic Exercise Performance, Tara L. Thompson

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Purpose: People can experience sleep fragmentation for many reasons. The negative effect this has on a person’s daytime function and sleepiness has already been studied extensively, yet there is little on the effect it has on a person’s aerobic athletic performance. Many athletes experience frequent wake-ups in the middle of the night, due to nerves and other factors, which could potentially affect their performance.

Methods: For each of the eight subjects, testing began with a VO2max test and a familiarization trial. Following this, subject’s then participated in two experimental trials, where they were randomly assigned either a night of sleep …

Examining The Effects Of Oral Contraceptive Use On Thermoregulation, Whitley C. Atkins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of combined (estradiol and progestin) monophasic oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use on thermoregulation. Further, we sought to evaluate OCP use on acute rehydration post-exercise in the heat using recommended rehydration guidelines. Methods: Twelve healthy, aerobically trained (VO2peak = 47.8 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min), long term female oral contraceptive users completed a familiarization trial and two experimental days separated by ≥ 7 days. The two experimental trials were identical except for the hormone dosing phase. One trial was completed during the third week of active pill dosing (ACT) and one during …

Predictors Of Peak Elbow Valgus Torque In Collegiate Baseball Pitchers, Adam Richard Nebel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Context: The incidence of UCL tears in baseball is at an all-time high. ATs are in the position to identify those at risk and potentially prevent injury to the UCL. In baseball, research has associated elbow valgus torque as a potential predictor of injury risk. However, markerless analysis has not assessed possible predictors of injury to the UCL in baseball players. Objective: Identify the kinematic factors that influence peak elbow valgus torque through the sequence of a fastball pitch. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Field study performed in university’s pitching development center. Participants: Division 1 collegiate baseball pitchers (N=21; 17RHP, 4LHP; …

The Role Of Dynamic Gaze Fixations In Human Postural Control, Grace Balsam

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: The human postural control system, which controls balance, is constantly taking in sensory input to help maintain balance while allowing one to pay attention to their daily activities. Using visual search tasks, we will be able to understand information relevant to how changes in visual input affects one’s postural control representative of a more real-life scenario. Purpose: With the help eye tracking technology, this study assesses changes in postural control during various visual conditions. Postural control will be measured during such tasks to analyze how it compares to a simple, quiet balancing task. Following Bonnet and Baudry’s …

Self-Rated Function And Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (Doms) Responses To 6-Week Supplementation With Waters With Anti-Inflammatory Capabilities (Wac), Kristin Garner

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: Researchers have examined the effects of sedentary lifestyles on diminished health outcomes and are pleading individuals to take on a more active lifestyle to prevent these. However, initial efforts to exercise are often dampened by delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle fatigue. This can greatly reduce exercise adherence, making it difficult for individuals to overcome this temporary discomfort. Background: Research has extensively evaluated nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and fruits as anti-inflammatory supplementation to treat DOMS. Berry-derived essences are more highly concentrated in anti-inflammatory substances than regular fruit juices, but there is minimal research on their effects on exercise …

Direction Of Attentional Focus In Prosthetic Training: Current Practice And Potential For Improving Motor Learning In Individuals With Lower Limb Loss, Alexander Bonczyk, Maria Katrina Tillada Dimapilis, Sarah Partridge, Samantha Ruiz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: Adopting an external focus of attention has been shown to benefit motor performance and learning. However, the potential of optimizing attentional focus for improving prosthetic motor skills in lower limb prosthesis (LLP) users has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the frequency and direction of attentional focus embedded in the verbal instructions in a clinical prosthetic training setting.

Methods: Twenty-one adult LLP users (8 female, 13 male; 85% at K3 level; mean age=50.5) were recruited from prosthetic clinics in the Southern Nevada region. Verbal interactions between LLP users and their prosthetists (mean experience=10 years, range=4-21 years) during …

Effects Of A Remote Exercise Intervention On Aerobic Endurance In Individuals With Down Syndrome, Andrew Murata, Elena Wolf, Jonathan Crimm, Benjamin Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: Down syndrome (Ds) or Trisomy 21 is a common genetic birth condition, and those with Ds typically display decreased cardiorespiratory fitness compared to those without Ds, potentially leading to an increased risk for cardiovascular conditions and mortality. Low cardiorespiratory fitness is partially caused by low physical activity levels in this population. The COVID-19 pandemic caused community-based activity programs to shut down, as individuals with Ds are at increased risk for COVID-19 hospitalization and death. Thus, it was vital to explore alternatives of in-person exercise during the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a …

The Relationship Of Strength, Mobility, And Performance Variables On Throwing Speed In Baseball Catchers, Caleigh D. Hall

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Baseball is a popular sport worldwide and has thus garnered significant research focus, predominately of pitchers and hitters. However, research involving catchers is scant despite their major influence and consistent presence throughout a game. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of lower body strength and mobility and performance with throwing speed in baseball catchers. We hypothesized that strength and mobility would have a positive relationship with ball speed, peak power generated while rising out of the squat position would be positively related to ball speed, shorter ascent time would be inversely related to ball speed, …

Investigation Of Swimming Physiology And Swimming Kinematics While Wearing Different Triathlon Wetsuit Styles At Submaximal Front Crawl Swimming In Recreational Population, Boram Lim

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Triathlon wetsuits are commonly used due to the potential benefits in swimming performance and thermoregulation. Triathletes may select different wetsuit styles depending on many factors such as temperature regulation, swimming technique, body type, and training purpose. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence for how different wetsuit styles affect physiological responses and swimming kinematics during submaximal swimming intensity. Therefore, this studyaimed to investigate the physiological responses and swimming kinematics during submaximal intensity front crawl swimming while wearing different wetsuit styles. Fourteen participants (n=6 male, n=8 female; all recreational triathletes or swimmers) completed a swimming graded exercise test (GXT) wearing …

Time-Of-Day And Chronotype Dependent Effects Of Exercise On Migraine Load In People With Chronic Migraines: A Cross-Over Randomized Clinical Trial, Elias M. Malek

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Migraines are the most common cause of chronic pain. Effective, non-pharmacological strategies to reduce migraine load are needed. Exercise is an effective strategy, but it is unclear how exercise timing and temporal preference (chronotype) factors modulate the laudatory effects of exercise. Purpose: Determine the effects of; 1) time-of-day of exercise, and 2) exercise synchrony with one’s chronotype, on migraine load. Methods: Participants were 13 sedentary individuals with 8+ migraines/month (age = 30 ± 11 yrs, 167 ± 6 cm, 86 ± 28 kg). Participants were categorized into morning-/evening-types based on the Morning/Eveningness Questionnaire and instructed to complete 1 month of …

Attentional Focus And The Development Of Skilled Performance, Harjiv Singh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A central question in the development of skilled movement is: how a performer should focus their attention while preparing for the execution of a motor skill? Considerable evidence has shown that directing attention towards an intended movement effect (i.e., external focus) results in performance benefits relative to focusing on body movements (i.e., internal focus). While most of the previous research has emphasized the effects of internal versus external foci, evidence also suggests that external foci located at greater distances from the body (distal foci) are more effective than external foci located in greater proximity to the body (proximal foci) and …

Predicting The Progression Of Diabetes Mellitus Using Dynamic Plantar Pressure Parameters, Mathew Sunil Varre

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the common complications of type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Changes in the intrinsic plantar tissue coupled with repetitive mechanical loads and loss of sensation may lead to foot related complications (skin break down, ulcerations, and amputations) in persons with neuropathy if left untreated. The purpose of this dissertation was to stratify individuals with pre-diabetes, diabetes with and without neuropathy using dynamic plantar pressure parameters during walking, using machine learning algorithms.Methods: Plantar pressure data was collected from one hundred participants during walking with pressure measuring insoles fixed between the feet and thin socks. Simultaneously high-definition …

Diurnal Regulation Of Exercise-Induced Myocardial Signaling And Transcription, Charli Aguilar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Exercise is well known for its many benefits on the body and most notably the heart. Recent emphasis, and significant resources, have been dedicated to elucidating the molecular mechanisms through which exercise exerts its pluripotent beneficial effects on health and the prevention of disease. A continuous evolution in this field has sought to modulate and optimize exercise in various ways to maximize the benefits. In recent years, a growing appreciation for the impact of circadian rhythms has gained traction and their influence on many essential biological functions have been integrated into exercise physiology (i.e. - chrono-exercise), as well as …

The Effect Of Attachment Design And Aligner Material On The Efficiency Of Maxillary Canine Distalization In Premolar Extraction Cases, Najem Anbari

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Clear Aligner Therapy (CAT) is regarded as a popular esthetic alternative to conventional orthodontic treatment with fixed labial appliances. The mechanism of action, force delivery and limitation of this treatment modality remain largely unknown despite its popularity, the high demand and the relatively long evolutionary track of clear aligners. There are only few studies that addressed the elements that influence the efficiency of clear aligners, namely, the attachment design and aligner materials. It is widely believed that clear aligners are not suitable for extraction cases due to their lack of control over the root movement.

Objectives: This in vitro …

The Validity Of The Vmaxpro During Countermovement Jump And Back Squat Performance, Hunter Haynes

Master's Theses

Background: Advances in technology have resulted in an increase in the utilization of velocity-based training in the strength and conditioning field while utilization of inertia measurement units (IMUs) shows promise. Methods: Recreationally trained participants (N=25, 28.3 ± 2.9 years) were recruited to determine the validity of the VmaxPro device for measuring performance variables in the back squat and countermovement jump (CMJ) against a gold standard force plate. Squat variables assessed included mean concentric velocity (MCV), mean concentric power (MCP), depth, and duration while CMJ variables assessed included MCV, MCP, depth, duration, and jump height. Squat variables were assessed across 3 …

Content Analysis Of Public Instagram Posts About Pelvic Floor Disorders And Pelvic Floor Muscle Training In Pregnancy, Lauren R. Rudin, Molly E. Waring

Honors Scholar Theses

Objective: To analyze the content of public Instagram posts and describe the discussion of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT)/pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) in pregnancy. Methods: Public Instagram accounts based in the U.S. with posts within the past 7 days focused on pregnancy were included. We analyzed English posts related to pelvic floor health, PFDs or PFMT. We categorized accounts by user type, health-related expertise, business endorsement, and influencer status. We categorized posts by content (informative, recommendation, sharing experience, meme, advertisement), context (informative, preventive, interventive), and terminology (scientific, lay). We used chi-squared tests to compare …

The Progress Of Power: A Narrative Review Of The Practical Progression Of Running Power Assessment And Application, Andrew David Fields

Masters Theses

Power has revolutionized endurance athletics. Power is a function of the amount of force produced in a certain amount of time. Utilized correctly, it can be an effective metric of effort during endurance activities. Cycling saw the first fruits of this metric in the 1980s and 1990s with Tour de France athletes and has continued to provide immense benefits to cyclists. Power when applied to running, however, has seen a much slower progression toward effective use. Various attempts in the 1970s and 80s to use calculations to express running power as a function of multiple different kinematic variables proved futile. …

Postprandial Hemodynamics In Hispanics With And Without A Family History Of Type 2 Diabetes, Gabriel Alejandro Figueroa

Theses and Dissertations

Hispanics of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) have the highest rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the country, conditions often associated with cardiovascular disease and increased mortality. This study investigated the physiological factors affecting postprandial hemodynamic responses differently between FH+ and FH- groups. Thirty-one healthy Hispanic individuals volunteered in this study. Overall, FH+ individuals had higher pressures at rest compared to FH-, However, these differences were not statistically significant. When controlling for blood chemistries such as blood glucose, cholesterol, lipoproteins, and triglycerides, family history appears to have no effect on fasted or postprandial hemodynamics and pulse wave …