Kinesiology Commons^™

An Investigation Of The Effect Of Chewing On Rhythmic Motor Tasks, Brittany S. Samulski

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Chewing gum and walking has traditionally been cited as the quintessentially difficult dual task, but little is known regarding chewing effects on motor control. The aims of this dissertation include describing chewing patterns across adulthood, describing chewing’s influence on secondary motor tasks, and investigate entrainment patterns of chewing and gait per established patterns of coupled oscillators. Three experiments were conducted to describe chewing patterns and to examine the effect chewing has on other motor tasks, particularly walking, in young and old adults. The first experiment used a metronome to manipulate chewing rates and measured associated gait parameters. This experiment established …

Dietary Choline Supplementation Attenuates High-Fat-Diet-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Mice, Amanda L. Brown, Kelsey Conrad, Daniela S. Allende, Anthony D. Gromovsky, Renliang Zhang, Chase K. Neumann, A. Phillip Owens, Michael Tranter, Robert N. Helsley

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. Choline deficiency has been well studied in the context of liver disease; however, less is known about the effects of choline supplementation in HCC. Objective: The objective of this study was to test whether choline supplementation could influence the progression of HCC in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-driven mouse model. Methods: Four-day-old male C57BL/6J mice were treated with the chemical carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, and were randomly assigned at weaning to a cohort fed an HFD (60% kcal fat) or an HFD with supplemental choline (60% kcal fat, …

The Effects Of Resistance Deception On Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, And Perceived Exertion, Broderick L. Dickerson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resistance deception during training is a lightly researched topic and is seen as a modification that can potentially act on central control during exercise. Studies that have observed effects of deception while training have yielded mixed results. The effects of deception on strength, muscular endurance, and perceived exertion and the mechanisms of action that may elicit changes are still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of resistance deception on muscular strength, muscular endurance, and perceived exertion in a trained population. Eight participants finished the study and underwent four trials, one of which was a …

Early And Late Rapid Torque Characteristics And Select Physiological Correlates In Middle-Aged And Older Males, Alex A. Olmos, Matthew T. Stratton, Phuong L. Ha, Benjamin E. Dalton, Trisha Vandusseldorp, Gerald Mangine, Yuri Feito, Micah J. Poisal, Joshua A. Jones, Tyler M. Smith, Garrett Hester

Faculty Articles

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare early and late rapid torque parameters of the plantar flexors (PFs) in middle-aged (MM) and older (OM) males, and determine the effect of normalization to peak torque (PT) and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA).

Methods

Twenty-nine healthy, MM (n = 14; 45 ± 2 yrs) and OM (n = 15; 65 ± 3 yrs) performed rapid, maximal isometric contractions of the PFs. PT, as well as rate of torque development and impulse during the early (0–50 ms; RTD_0-50, IMP_0-50) and late (100–200 ms; RTD_100-200, IMP_{100-200 …}

Efficacy Of A Motivational Video On Heart Rate, Rpe, And Total Work Performed During Stationary Cycling, Hannah Angelella

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Sedentary lifestyles are a very common way of life for 21st century Americans. Lack of enjoyment and motivation are two common factors that deter people from engaging in physical activity and exercise on a regular basis (1). However, it has been found that visual stimulation may help motivate or distract from exertion (2–4). The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of watching a motivational video (Tour de France (MV)) versus a calming video (Bob Ross painting (PV)) while cycling. Ten recreationally active subjects from the University of Lynchburg staff, faculty, and student population partook in a within-subjects …

Postprandial Microvascular Blood Flow In Skeletal Muscle: Similarities And Disparities To The Hyperinsulinaemic-Euglycaemic Clamp, Katherine M. Roberts-Thomson, Andrew C. Betik, Dino Premilovac, Stephen Rattigan, Stephen M. Richards, Renee M. Ross, Ryan D. Russell, Gunveen Kaur, Lewan Parker, Michelle A. Keske

Health & Human Performance Faculty Publications

Skeletal muscle contributes to ~40% of total body mass and has numerous important mechanical and metabolic roles in the body. Skeletal muscle is a major site for glucose disposal following a meal. Consequently, skeletal muscle plays an important role in postprandial blood glucose homeostasis. Over the past number of decades, research has demonstrated that insulin has an important role in vasodilating the vasculature in skeletal muscle in response to an insulin infusion (hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp) or following the ingestion of a meal. This vascular action of insulin is pivotal for glucose disposal in skeletal muscle, as insulin-stimulated vasodilation increases the delivery …

Integrating Survivors Of Stroke Into Cardiac Rehabilitation, Elizabeth Wherley Regan

Theses and Dissertations

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States (U.S.). Impairments after stroke typically result in reduced physical activity which increases the risk for stroke recurrence and the development or worsening of comorbid health conditions. Physical activity and exercise behaviors can reduce cardiovascular risk factors and improve endurance for survivors of stroke. Despite these known significant benefits, survivors of stroke face barriers to participating in regular physical activity due to limited self-efficacy, safety concerns, environmental restrictions and lack of accessible community programs.

Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) is a structured exercise and behavior modification program for people with cardiovascular disease …

Piloting A Smartphone-Based Sedentary Behavior Reduction Intervention For Adults With Overweight Or Obesity: Take A Stand 4 Health, Chelsea Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown a relationship between sedentary behavior as an independent and novel risk factor for high blood pressure. However, most of the evidence comes from cross-sectional and experimental studies, with only a few studies examining whether blood pressure is improved in individuals participating in a behavioral intervention. None of these studies utilized mHealth approaches, which hold potential for behavioral interventions, and none have focused on individuals with hypertension as a part of their target population. Therefore, the purpose of the dissertation was to 1) Examine the efficacy of a smartphone-mediated multi-component sedentary behavior reduction intervention for individuals …

Kinematic Analyses Of Parkour Landings From As High As 2.7 Meters, Boyi Dai, Jacob S. Layer, Taylour J. Hinshaw, Ross F. Cook, Janet S. Dufek

Integrated Health Sciences Faculty Research

During landing tasks, forces and moments are generated by the musculoskeletal system at surface contact to progressively decelerate the velocity of the body (Dufek and Bates, 1990; McNitt-Gray, 1993). When landing after a forward jump, the body’s downward velocity must be decelerated by an upward acceleration, while its forward velocity needs to be decelerated by a backward acceleration. Inappropriate landing patterns can cause excessive loading to the body, resulting in musculoskeletal injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament is commonly injured by abnormal landing patterns during athletic activities (Dai et al., 2015b; Krosshaug et al., 2007). Military training also involves jump-landing tasks …

The Impact Of Aspirin Intake On Lactate Dehydrogenase, Arterial Stiffness, And Oxidative Stress During High-Intensity Exercise: A Pilot Study, Sang-Ho Lee, Elizabeth J. Pekas, Seungyong Lee, Ronald Headid Iii, Song-Young Park

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Aspirin is a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to reduce fever, pain, and inflammation. However, aspirin's anti-inflammatory properties may also prevent increased levels of blood lactate dehydrogenase, vascular arterial stiffness and oxidative stress induced by high-intensity exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 4 weeks of aspirin supplementation on lactate dehydrogenase activity, lactate, arterial stiffness, and antioxidant capacity during high-intensity exercise in Taekwondo athletes. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: aspirin supplementation (n = 10) and placebo-control (n = 10). Blood levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activity and lactate were assessed to examine …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Autonomy-Supportive And Controlling Coaching Styles, Kayla Love

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine how collegiate athletes perceive their coach’s behaviors and if there are differences in the perceived effectiveness of autonomy-supportive and controlling coaching styles.

Method: A cluster analysis was conducted among collegiate athletes (N = 306) from the Midwest portion of the United States. The athletes were given questionnaires to report on perceived autonomy-support and control exhibited by their coach, as well as the perceived effectiveness of their coach in terms of confidence in their coach.

Results: Preliminary analyses found that autonomy support was positively related to confidence in the coach, whereas controlling …

Effects Of Footedness And Stance Asymmetry Confirm An Inter-Leg Metastable Coordination Dynamics Of Standing Posture, Steven J. Harrison, Jeffrey M. Kinsella-Shaw, Dobromir Dotov

Journal Articles

We investigated the patterns of coordination between the left and right legs that support the task of maintaining an upright standing posture. We used cross-wavelet analyses to assess coordination between the centers of pressure under the left and right feet. We recruited participants with a lateralized functional preference for their right leg, and we manipulated whether these participants stood with symmetric/asymmetric stances and whether their eyes were open or closed. Our hypotheses were derived from the Haken-Kelso-Bunz (HKB) model of interlimb coordination dynamics. Consistent with HKB model predictions, we observed (1) coordination taking the form of metastable, transient epochs of …

Loading Rate Has Little Influence On Tendon Fascicle Mechanics, Michael V. Rosario, Thomas J. Roberts

Biology Faculty Publications

Mechanically, tendons behave like springs and store energy by stretching in proportion to applied stress. This relationship is potentially modified by the rate at which stress is applied, a phenomenon known as viscosity. Viscoelasticity, the combined effects of elasticity and viscosity, can affect maximum strain, the amount of stored energy, and the proportion of energy recovered (resilience). Previous studies of tendons have investigated the functional effects of viscoelasticity, but not at the intermediate durations of loading that are known to occur in fast locomotor events. In this study, we isolated tendon fascicles from rat tails and performed force-controlled tensile tests …

The Effects Of Exercise On Mental Health, Xavier A. Pinex

Honors Thesis

Exercise is an extremely important aspect towards positive mental health. Multiple studies have been done previously that show one benefit or another that exercise has towards mental health, but previously there had been no attempt to summarize the findings of these studies. The benefits that exercise has to an individual’s mental health are numerous, but despite this exercise is an underutilized tool in the quest for better mental health. There are many variables that affect the benefits of exercise to an individual’s mental health and it is important to understand all these variables to understand how to properly exercise to …

Hemodynamic Effects Of Graston Technique On Trigger Points In The Upper Trapezius In Patients With Neck Pain, Hannah Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Non-specific neck pain (NS-NP) is defined as neck pain without a specific diagnosis with varying causes such as poor posture, occupational stressors, and muscular trigger points. Individuals often present with poor posture, including forward head and rounded shoulders. In this position, the upper trapezius muscle becomes tight due to sustained muscle activity leading to trigger points as a result of decreased oxygen to the muscle. Graston Technique® (GT) is a form of manual therapy that uses stainless steel instruments to break down tissue adhesions. GT on trigger points has been presumed to increase local blood flow leading to tissue …

Analysis Of The Activation Of Upper Extremity Muscles During Various Chest Press Modalities, Jamison Christian, Sydney Gothart, Harrison Graham, Katelyn Barganier

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

The Design And Development Of A Wrist-Hand Orthosis, Amber Gatto

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with an incomplete C5-C7 spinal cord injury (SCI) lose grasping abilities but wrist function is almost universally retained. Most rehabilitation techniques apply the tenodesis effect, however, current tenodesis wrist-hand orthoses (WHOs) engage only the thumb and index finger, meaning that only 20% of activities of daily living (ADLs) can be completed.

This study tested the feasibility of a student-designed powered WHO by testing the device on healthy subjects to see if they could complete a variety of ADLs. A simulation software was then used to analyze wrist, thumb, and index finger joint angles. Additionally, an Assistive Technology Survey was …

A Modified Lean And Release Technique To Emphasize Response Inhibition And Action Selection In Reactive Balance, David A.E. Bolton, Manhoud Mansour

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Assessment of reactive balance traditionally imposes some type of perturbation to upright stance or gait followed by measurement of the resultant corrective behavior. These measures include muscle responses, limb movements, ground reaction forces, and even direct neurophysiological measures such as electroencephalography. Using this approach, researchers and clinicians can infer some basic principles regarding how the nervous system controls balance to avoid a fall. One limitation with the way in which these assessments are currently used is that they heavily emphasize reflexive actions without any need to revise automatic postural reactions. Such an exclusive focus on these highly stereotypical reactions would …

Sprint Speed And Musculoskeletal Fitness Test Performance In Youth, Brittany Nicole Walleck

Theses and Dissertations

Sprint speed is a common focus of adult strength and conditioning programming and research. However, the links between sprint speed and other tests of musculoskeletal performance have not been extensively studied in youth. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between sprint speed and tests of jumping performance, muscular strength/endurance, agility, and anaerobic capacity in children and adolescents. METHODS: The analysis included 402 boys and 148 girls (ages 7 to 18 years) participating in a baseline musculoskeletal fitness evaluation. Sprint speed was assessed via a 10-yard and 20-yard sprint. Agility and anaerobic capacity were assessed via the pro-agility and 200-yard shuttle run, …

The Unique Demands Of Playing Posture On Youth Violinists And Violists, Liam Carroll

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The high prevalence of performing arts injuries is an acknowledged challenge facing the performing arts medicine community. The injuries seem to affect string players the most among orchestral musicians, specifically violinists and violists. The asymmetrical posture, head and neck displacement, and spinal displacement required by the posture to play violin and viola can lead to discomfort or injury in the performer. Performance related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) can have an adverse impact on the life of a musician, preventing them from performing or making it uncomfortable. While there is a large body of research on PRMDs relating to adult musicians, there …