Kinesiology Commons^™

Testing As Teaching: A Model For Fitness Assessment Practice And Service-Learning In Exercise Physiology Laboratory Education, Marc Apkarian

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

This resource is intended to provide a model for fitness assessment practice to promote student learning in an undergraduate exercise physiology laboratory course. The goal is for students to gain practical experience in fitness assessment procedures, both through skills practice and service-learning opportunities. The inclusion of an assignment requiring a specified number of assessments to be completed within the term requires additional student practice opportunities. Instruction, demonstration, and initial practice of tests associated with health-related physical fitness components must occur early in the course, so as to permit sufficient opportunities, in class or outside of class, over the remainder of …

An Evaluation Of Sports Nutrition Knowledge And Influencing Factors In Ncaa Division Iii Athletes, Kerrie Berends, Michael J. Wierenga, Madeline Frens

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Introduction:This study evaluated the sports nutrition knowledge of NCAA Division III (DIII) athletes, examining the influence of demographic and sport-specific factors. Nutrition is a critical component of athletic performance, recovery, and overall health, yet prior research indicatescollegiate athletes often lack adequate nutrition knowledge.

Methods: A total of 412 athletes, representing 17 different sports across endurance, power, and skill categories, completed the validated Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ). The sample included freshmen through fifth-year seniorathletes, predominantlyCaucasian (85%).

Results: The average A-NSKQ score was 17.1 out of 35 (48.9%), indicating suboptimal knowledge. Significant differences were found across …

What Women Intercollegiate Coaches Say: Decision-Making Factors When Navigating Career Choices, Courtney Boucher, Nicole M. Lavoi

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

To address misconceptions about the lack of women in sport coaching, factors influencing intercollegiate women coaches' career decisions, including their choices to leave positions, apply for new ones, and accept or deny job offers were explored. Utilizing a multi-level analysis underpinned by critical feminist theory, a comprehensive understanding of the systemic and structural barriers women coaches faced, as well as the strategies they employed to navigate their careers were illuminated. Key findings revealed that unequal pay, lack of administrative support, insufficient resources, and pervasive gender biases significantly impacted women's career choices. The importance of supportive workplace environments, flexible working conditions, …

The Caitlin Clark Effect: Illuminating Women’S Sport History, Shelley Lucas

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The Caitlin Clark Effect is a term that describes the impact of the University of Iowa basketball player on the popularity of women’s basketball, which occurred in conjunction with Clark’s record-breaking performances in 2023 and 2024, as well as the Iowa team’s successes in the NCAA championship tournament. While the Caitlin Clark Effect is associated with intense media attention, ticket sales, and viewership, it also illuminates significant and lesser-known aspects of women’s sport history, specifically media coverage, the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), and the state of Iowa’s unique basketball heritage and ‘6-on-6’ basketball rules. The purpose of …

Benefits, Challenges, And Strategies For Increasing Women Coaches In Elite Sport: The Trail To Gold (T2g) Initiative In U.S. Cross-Country Skiing, Anika Anna Angriman, Lynda B. Ransdell, Shelley Lucas, Nicole Lavoi

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Despite tremendous growth in sport participation of girls and women following Title IX in 1972, women’s participation as sport coaches did not follow the same trajectory. In fact, women remain significantly underrepresented in sport coaching. Research highlights ongoing barriers within the sport industry's patriarchal structure, and although strategies have been proposed to improve women’s representation, the lack of progress over the past two decades indicates limited effectiveness. A better approach is essential to address this issue across individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal levels. The purpose of this study is to interview participants within the U.S. cross-country skiing program, Trail to …

Improper Fitting Personal Protective Clothing And Subsequent Countermeasures For Physical Conditioning In Female Firefighters: A Narrative Review, Katie Sell, Mark Abel, J. Jay Dawes, Megan Thompson, Annette Zapp, Ofra Pottorf, Lilly Bernardi, James Prendergast

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The purpose of this paper was to 1) use an explorative literature overview to identify issues related to ill-fitting clothing and occupational gear for female firefighters, and 2) use an inductive approach to develop generalizable recommendations for exercise professionals to utilize by identifying significant themes in published peer reviewed articles related to movement and injury risk. Research, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches, has shown that the majority of current personal protective clothing (PPC) and operational gear was developed to fit a limited array of male physiques. Consequently, the improper fit of PPC and gear has presented numerous concerns that, …

Impact Of A Light Volleyball Intervention Among Older Chinese Adult Women, Ka-Man Carman Leung, Paul Lee, Wing Sze Alice Lai, Yanan Zhao, Lynda Ransdell

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Modified sports offer a strategic approach to promoting health in older adults. Light volleyball, which uses a larger, lighter ball than traditional volleyball, is more accessible for this population. This study investigated the effects of a 16-week light volleyball program on the functional fitness of older adults in Hong Kong. A total of 275 participants aged 60 years or older were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups: a light volleyball intervention group, a Tai Chi group, and a control group. Functional fitness was assessed at the pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up. Results revealed that the light volleyball group exhibited …

Longitudinal Analysis Of Subsequent Musculoskeletal Injuries And Predictive Value Of Index Injuries In Collegiate Women's Field Hockey, Blake O'Neil, Paul Mentele, Xavier Smith, Katherine Pohlgeers, Ernest Rimer, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(5): 182-192, 2025. This study investigates the longitudinal patterns of musculoskeletal injuries in an NCAA field hockey team, emphasizing the predictive value of index injuries on subsequent injury rates. Analyzing a dataset from a women’s collegiate field hockey team, this research monitored 810 injuries across 124 athletes from 2008 to 2024. The study categorized injuries as local, nonlocal, and recurrent, employing a negative binomial regression to assess the impact of index injuries on the total number of career injuries. Results indicated that ankle sprains, hamstring strains, and back strains significantly predicted the total number of …

Pull Or Play? The Interpretation Of A Novel, Ai-Powered On-Field Decision Support Tool., Lynne Becker, Dafne Badilla, Osho Yonzon, Xiaoyu Wu, Roland Rocafort, Erik Viogan Phd, Devansh Manocha

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

The document titled "Pull or Play? The interpretation of a novel, AI-powered on-field decision support tool" explores the development and application of the Injury Impact Severity Score (IISS)™ for assessing traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), particularly in sports settings. It addresses the limitations of current assessment tools like the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and proposes a more objective approach using patient-reported data and machine learning algorithms.

Key points include:

• Background: TBIs are a significant health concern with under-reported cases and a lack of effective research. Current assessment tools like the GCS have limitations in accuracy and speed, especially in dynamic …

Mission Success: Mastering Muscle Function Through Humanoid Analysis, Amber M. Chelette

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Knowledge of muscle function and human movement are essential skills of all kinesiology students. In the humanoid activity, teams are challenged to determine whether a muscle is essential to the successful development of a humanoid being sent to Mars. This activity provides a significant learning experience regarding muscle anatomy, function, and movement analysis. The humanoid activity is intended for use in a face-to-face upper-level kinesiology anatomy or movement analysis course and best implemented with class sizes of 20-30 students. The total time commitment is approximately 45 minutes.

Cerebrovascular Compliance During Progressive Hypotension In Patients With Autonomic Failure., Leena N Shoemaker, Aleena Sajid, Ronald Schondorf, J Kevin Shoemaker

Kinesiology Publications

The compliant nature of cerebral blood vessels may represent an important mechanical protection for sustained cerebral perfusion during reductions in arterial blood pressure (ABP). However, whether the rise in cerebrovascular compliance (Ci) with falling ABP persists and exhibits a threshold effect remains unknown. Therefore, we analyzed Ci changes during graded head-up tilt (HUT) in individuals with autonomic failure (AF), a group that tolerates graded and progressive reductions in ABP. Finger ABP and middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) were recorded from five AF patients (61 ± 22 years) at supine rest and during graded-HUT. Tilt gradients increased incrementally between 30, …

Observing The Relationship Between Additional Measures Of Handgrip Strength And The 6-Minute Push Test In Ambulatory Young Adults, Eric Naugle, Megan Nelson, Ryan Mcgrath, Matthew Kilgas, Lukus Klawitter

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(5): 170-181, 2025. Manual wheelchair users have been shown to have low functional capacity and limited ability to perform activities of daily living. Conventional protocols for assessing physical attributes such as muscle function in this population have unique boundaries such as expensive testing equipment and procedures not specific to wheelchair propulsion. The measurement of muscle function using electronic handgrip dynamometry has shown promise in assessing additional characteristics beyond strength capacity alone. This study aimed to determine the correlations of electronic handgrip dynamometry derived strength, time to peak force generation, fatigability (22.40±10.12%), isometric control, and asymmetry …

The Effects Of Anchor Scheme On Performance Fatigability, Neuromuscular Responses, And Perceived Factors That Contributed To Task Termination During Fatiguing Tasks, Dolores G. Ortega, Robert W. Smith, Jocelyn E. Arnett, Tyler J. Neltner, Trevor D. Roberts, Justin S. Pioske, Richard J. Schmidt, Terry J. Housh

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sustained, isometric forearm flexion tasks anchored to a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) versus torque on the composite, inter-, and intra-individual patterns of responses for torque and neuromuscular parameters, as well as the perceived factors that contributed to task termination. Methods: Ten men (mean ± SD: age = 20.9 ± 2.2 yrs.; height = 180.0 ± 5.1 cm; body mass = 81.3 ± 10.0 kg) performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) before and after sustained, isometric forearm flexion tasks anchored to RPE = 6 (RPE6_FT) and …

The Functional Fitness Of The Community Dwelling Older Adults In Shan Dong Of Mainland China In Comparison With The Population In Hong Kong, Zongtao Li, Yu Teng, Huigang Wang, Hao Liu, Lei Zhao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: To compare the functional fitness (FF) of the community dwelling older adults in Shan Dong (SD) of mainland China with their peers in Hong Kong (HK). Methods: 1887 older adults living in SD were measured with Senior Fitness Test (SFT) One sample T test was used to determine the age grooup difference in each FF component between the population of SD and HK. Results: Compared with their HK peers, SD older adults showed higher performance in the task of 30s arm curl, but lower abilities in 30s chair stand, back scratch, chair sit & reach, and 8 ft …

Students' Perceived Value And Emotions In Turkish Physical Education: Testing Moderation By Gender And Sports Involvement, Mehmet Ceylan, Kelly L. Simonton

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Physical Education (PE) has been recognized as a key element in developing student enjoyment for physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits. Student emotions may dictate learning and motivation, but less is known regarding the perceptions of value and control that shape these emotions. Specifically, within certain K-12 PE national curriculums and cultures, the goals and objectives of PE, along with its emphasis on physical activity and sport, may influence the emotional response of students and their perceived value of PE. If students feel a lack of value, negative emotions, and marginalized by the content then it is unlikely their experiences …

Gps External Load Metric Data And Game Performance In Ncaa Division I Women’S Lacrosse Athletes: A Longitudinal Study, Rachel M. Lifson, Xavier Smith, Ernest Rimer, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 130-146, 2025. This study investigates the relationship between GPS-derived external load metrics and game performance (win/loss) in NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse athletes. Utilizing data from three seasons (2022-2024), the study analyzed 1,687 observations from 54 players to identify key performance indicators correlating with game outcomes. GPS metrics including Total Distance (TD), High-Speed Distance (HSD), Very High-Speed Efforts (VHSE), Total Player Load (TPL), High Inertial Movement Analysis (High IMAs), and Total Acceleration Load (TAL) were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression results indicate that VHSE is the most significant predictor of game success, with VHSE showing …

A Comparison Of External Loads In Division Iii Men's Lacrosse Between High Competition Matches And Low Competition Matches, Patrick M. Moore, Thomas G. Bowman, Yasmine I. Jones, Price Blair, Sean M. Collins

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 158-169, 2025. Lacrosse is an open-field, invasion sport with limited knowledge of the physiological demands of gameplay at the Division III level. This study aimed to investigate the external loads of Division III men’s lacrosse players during NCAA season games. Comparisons were made between the external loads placed on the athletes in high competition versus those placed on the athletes in low competition matches. High competition matches were defined as matches against teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament whereas low competition matches included teams that did not meet high competition requirements. The dependent …

Comparison Of Virtual Vs. Traditional Cycling Exercise On Perceived Duration And Exercise Enjoyment: A Pilot Study, Kyle W. Reason, Lauren G. Killen, T. Scott Lyons, Jean A. Helm Allen, Matt Green

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(2): 147-157, 2025. Participating in regular physical activity has been shown to increases one’s quality of life. Individuals may choose not to participate in regular physical activity because of a perceived lack of time and enjoyment. With the potential of these barriers to decrease exercise adherence, the purpose of this study was to compare perceived exercise duration and enjoyment between a virtually interactive stationary bike and a clamped workload on a standard non-interactive stationary bike. Thirteen active participants completed a VO₂ peak test and four counterbalanced trials (two 20-min, two 40-min) with one trial …

Resistance Training Versus Cardiovascular Training: Which Is Better For Fat Loss?: A Brief Narrative Review., Jason M. Curtis, Jose Antonio, Cassandra Evans

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity has risen from 30.5% to 41.9% from 2000-2017. Those who are considered severely obese increased from 4.7% to 9.2% over that same period. There are numerous fitness-center approaches to induce weight-loss or reduction of body fat. These interventions are often categorized into two general categories: Resistance training (using weighted resistance in anaerobic strength training) and cardiovascular training (aerobic training). While both fitness groups have been shown to be effective, there is a debate about which method is most effective for eliciting changes in body composition, primarily fat loss.

Methods: Google Scholar and Pubmed were scoured for …

Measures Of Joint Kinematic Reliability During Repeated Softball Pitching, Erin Pletcher, Mita Lovalakar, Takashi Nagai, Chris Connaboy

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Three-dimensional motion analysis is often used to evaluate improvements or decrements in movement patterns in athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of joint flexion/extension angles of the pitching elbow and bilateral knees and hips in softball pitchers. Methods: Fourteen softball pitchers (17.9 ± 2.3 years) were tested in one session consisting of four sets of five consecutive fastballs and a second session of two sets of five fastballs. The magnitude of systematic bias and within-subject variation was calculated between pitches. An iterative intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) process was used to determine intra- and inter-session …