Sports Sciences Commons^™

An Investigation Of Youth Swimming Skills And Method Of Instruction, Carol C. Irwin, Jennifer R. Pharr, Todd E. Layne, Richard L. Irwin

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning is a leading cause of death for US children. Teaching youth to swim in a formal setting from certified instructors is a consistent drowning prevention recommendation. Purposes for this investigation was to examine type of swimming instruction and ability to swim and compare to attitudes toward swimming among US youth. Methods were similar to previous USA Swimming studies in 2008 and 2010. YMCA associations in five cities were used to recruit adolescent survey respondents (n=600) aged 12-18 years. Results showed African American youth had the lowest rate of formal swimming instruction (29%) compared to White (32%) and Hispanic (42%) …

An Examination Of The Severity Of Aquatic Incidents, Lyndsey K. Lanagan-Leitzel

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Lanagan-Leitzel (2012) found that lifeguards do not consistently report incidents when free-viewing aquatic scenes and miss some incidents that should be considered critical. This could have been because they did not know what incidents were critical to monitor or because they were busy monitoring other incidents. In the current study, lifeguards and non-lifeguards were presented with video clips of isolated incidents and rated the severity of each on a scale of 0 – 7. The lifeguards reported greater mean and maximum incident severity than non-lifeguards. Further analyses of lifeguard responses revealed that severity ratings were only moderately correlated to the …

Triennial Scientific Review: Assisting Drowning Victims: Effective Water Rescue Equipment For Lay-Responders, Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The original question addressed in the scientific review was What is the most effective piece of rescue equipment for a lay responder to throw to a person in trouble in water? and the modified question was rephrased as What are the most effective types of aquatic rescue equipment for a layperson/bystander to use to rescue a drowning person? To thoroughly analyze the main question, the following sub-questions were examined: What are the most accurate and buoyant types of devices? What specific equipment is best for quick rescues? What specific equipment can be grasped most easily by drowning victims? This …

Association Between Perceived Physical Activity And Cognitive Function In Older Adults, Paul D. Loprinzi, Emily Frith

Faculty and Student Publications

© The Author(s) 2018. There is irrefutable evidence that regular participation in physical activity is favorably associated with numerous positive health outcomes, including cognitive function. Emerging work suggests that perceived physical activity, independent of actual physical activity behavior, is inversely associated with mortality risk. In this study, we evaluate whether perceived physical activity, independent of actual physical activity, is associated with cognitive function, a robust indicator of mortality risk. Data from the cross-sectional 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were employed (N = 2352; 60+ years of age). Actual physical activity was assessed via a validated survey. Perceived physical …

Volleyball Overhead Swing Volume And Injury Frequency Over The Course Of A Season, Heather Wolfe, Katherine Poole, Alejandro G. Villasante Tezanos, Robert A. English, Timothy L. Uhl

Statistics Faculty Publications

Background: Overuse injuries are common in volleyball; however, few studies exist that quantify the workload of a volleyball athlete in a season. The relationship between workload and shoulder injury has not been extensively studied in women's collegiate volleyball athletes.

Hypothesis/Purpose: This study aims to quantify shoulder workloads by counting overhead swings during practice and matches. The purpose of the current study is to provide a complete depiction of typical overhead swings, serves, and hits, which occur in both practices and matches. The primary hypothesis was that significantly more swings will occur in practices compared to matches. The secondary hypothesis was …

Solution-Focused Therapy Changes Neurophysiological Activation In Collegiate Athletes: An Intervention Study, Kyler T. Shumway

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Neurophysiological research has begun to uncover how therapy produces change in the brain. To examine this phenomenon, many studies have controlled for specific symptoms to identify where therapy has the greatest effect (Linden, 2006). In athletic performance, anxiety represents a significant struggle for college athletes (Mabweazara, Leach, & Andrews, 2017). The present study intended to examine the impact of brief therapy on brain activation and competition anxiety in college athletes. A sample of collegiate athletes (n = 17) participated in a pre-post intervention study. Pre- and post-intervention measures included electroencephalogram (EEG), galvanic skin response (GSR), self-report anxiety measures (SAS-2, GAD-7), …

The Relationship Between Pitching Volume And Arm Soreness In Collegiate Baseball Pitchers, Angel L. Lazu, Shawn D. Love, Timothy A. Butterfield, Robert A. English, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Excessive baseball pitch volume has been associated with increased risk of injury in adolescents. However, many collegiate athletes report non-time loss injuries over the course of the season. It is unknown how pitch volume throughout a collegiate baseball season affects arm soreness.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between pitch volume and self-reported arm soreness. A secondary purpose was to determine the relationship between change in pitch volume and change in arm soreness over the course of the season for collegiate baseball pitchers.

Study Design: Prospective Cohort.

Methods: Seven collegiate baseball …

The Effect Of Fibular Reposition Taping On Postural Control In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability: A Critically Appraised Topic, Bradley C. Jackson, Robert T. Medina, Stephanie H. Clines, Julie M. Cavallario, Mathew H. Hoch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Clinical Scenario: History of acute ankle sprains can result in chronic ankle instability (CAI). Arthrokinematic changes resulting from CAI may restrict range of motion and contribute to postural control deficits. Mulligan or fibular reposition taping (FRT) has been suggested as a means to realign fibular positional faults and may be an effective way to improve postural control and balance in patients with CAI. Clinical Question: Is there evidence to suggest that FRT will improve postural control for patients with CAI in the affected limb compared with no taping? Summary of Key Findings: Three of the 4 included studies found no …

Revised Scientific Review: Minimum Age For Swim Lessons, Stephen J. Langendorfer Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The question addressed in the original scientific review (2009) was rephrased as Does sufficient scientific evidence exist to support setting a minimum age for swimming lessons? for this triennial review. Addressing the research question is significant because strong differences of opinion about the appropriate age(s) for initiating learn-to-swim lessons have existed among the pediatric medical profession, aquatic professionals and agencies, and proprietary programs and swim schools for over four decades. The question has implications for the appropriate purposes, pedagogies, and outcomes associated with swimming experiences for infants and young children that will be addressed in a subsequent review. The revised …

Risk Factors For Boating Incidents In Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada, Catherine Tr Glass, Audrey R. Giles

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Injury prevention programs that focus on boating and water safety in the Northwest Territories (NWT) have existed for decades; however, rates of boating incidents are much higher in the NWT than southern Canada. To better understand this health disparity, we engaged in community-based participatory research informed by postcolonial feminist theory to examine Aboriginal men’s understandings of the risk factors that contribute to boating incidents in Inuvik, NWT. Participants identified four main risk factors for boating incidents in Inuvik: 1) Gender, 2) age, 3) place, and 4) lack of boating safety education. As a result of these findings and the ways …

Examining The Perceived Impacts Of Recreational Swimming Lessons For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Erin Kraft M.A. Ed.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived impacts of recreational swimming lesson participation for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Although swimming lessons are a suitable form of physical activity for children with ASD, minimal research has examined the impacts of these lessons. The author conducted semi-structured interviews with an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) certified therapist and a swim instructor, each with experience working with children with ASD in swimming lessons. The participants suggested that swimming lessons encouraged children with ASD to socialise. Both participants agreed that distractions in swimming lessons and barriers in communication created challenges …

Editorial: Born To Swim?, Stephen J. Langendorfer Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Can a child's eventual swim kick and stroke preference be predicted shortly after birth? Read this editorial....

Can You Float? Part I - Perceptions And Practice Of Unsupported Flotation Competency Among Young Adults, Kevin Moran Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The capacity to maintain the airway through buoyancy control when immersed in water is critical in preventing drowning (Stallman, Moran, Quan & Langendorfer, 2017). In this first phase of the Can you Float? study, perceived and real unsupported flotation competency of a group of students (n=37) with known water proficiency was examined. Using a modified version of Borgs Rating of Perceived exertion (RPE), participants were asked to estimate exertion levels before and after a practical test of five stationary floating tasks of increasing difficulty ranging from treading water to motionless floating. Most participants (82%) were able to tread water for …

Ballroom Dance For Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Feasibility Study, Alexander V. Ng, Sheri Bunyan, Jimin Suh, Pamela Huenink, Tyler Gregory, Shannon Gambon, Deborah Miller

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the exercise intensity and feasibility of recreational ballroom dance for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Seven persons with MS participated in 2 one-hour dance sessions per week for 6 weeks. Dance types included rumba, foxtrot, waltz, and push-pull. Six other persons with MS comprised a control group that did not dance. Heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored during the sessions. Outcomes included: quality of life, fatigue, depression, self-efficacy, timed up and go, Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index and the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite comprising 9-hole …

Biological Determinants Of Physical Activity Across The Life Course: A “Determinants Of Diet And Physical Activity” (Dedipac) Umbrella Systematic Literature Review, Katina Aleksovska, Anna Puggina, Luca Giraldi, Christoph Buck, Con Burns, Greet Cardon, Angela Carlin, Simon Chantal, Donatella Ciarapica, Marco Colotto, Giancarlo Condello, Tara Coppinger, Cristina Cortis, Sara D’Haese, Marieke De Craemer, Andrea Di Blasio, Sylvia Hansen, Licia Iacoviello, Johann Issartel, Pascal Izzicupo, Lina Jaeschke, Martina Kanning, Aileen Kennedy, Fiona Ling, Agnes Luzak, Giorgio Napolitano, Julie Anne Nazare, Camille Perchoux, Tobias Pischon, Angela Polito, Alessandra Sannella, Holger Schulz

Publications

Background: Despite the large number of studies and reviews available, the evidence regarding the biological determinants of physical activity (PA) is inconclusive. In this umbrella review, we summarized the current evidence on the biological determinants of PA across the life course, by pooling the results of the available systematic literature reviews (SLRs) and meta-analyses (MAs). Methods: We conducted an online search on MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases up to January 2018. SLRs and MAs of observational studies that investigated the association between biological determinants of PA and having PA as outcome were considered eligible. The extracted …

The Fall Of The Gladiators: Wives’ Tales Of Concussion Reporting And (Possible) Progressive Neurodegenerative Disease In Nfl Players, Caroline E. Faure Edd; Atc, Madeline P. Casanova Mpe

The Qualitative Report

This study aims to uncover and describe stories of progressive cognitive, emotional, and behavioral decline in NFL players, as told by those who may know them best: their wives. The goal of the study was to simply explore and understand this new phenomenon with a group of individuals who had not yet been asked to voice their experiences. For this qualitative study, we conducted interviews with 20 wives of current and retired NFL players. Through thematic analysis of the wives’ narratives, we identified four themes that help to describe the wives’ attitudes and experiences. These were (a) Husbands’ Willingness to …

An Examination Of Step Frequency And The Running Readiness Scale As Predictors Of Running-Related Injury In Collegiate Cross-Country Athletes, Shelley Payne Dr., Jenna D'Errico

Health and Sport Sciences Faculty Scholarship

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between step frequency and the Running Readiness Scale and the occurrence of a Running-Related Injury (RRI) in a Division III cross-country team. Methods: Each athlete was screened prior to the season for their step frequency at a preferred and pre-determined pace. Additionally, each athlete performed 6 musculoskeletal tests known as the “Running Readiness Scale” to assess body alignment, weight distribution, and muscular endurance. Each subject logged their training and competition schedule and injury history throughout the season using the Otterbein Run Tracker app. Results: Sixteen subjects completed data collection …

Acute Exercise And Mindfulness Meditation On Learning And Memory: Randomized Controlled Intervention, Malina Austin, Paul D. Loprinzi

Faculty and Student Publications

© 2019 The Author(s). Background: The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the potential combined effects of acute exercise and mindfulness mediation on episodic memory. Methods: All data collection occurred in the authors’ laboratory (January to May of 2019). In this three-arm, within-subject design, participants (N=20; Mage=21.6 years) completed three counterbalanced laboratory visits, including Exercise Only, Exercise + Meditation and Control. Learning and memory were assessed from a word-list task. A one-factor repeated-measures ANOVA was computed for two memory outcomes, including the learning outcome (average performance across the 6 trials) and the long-term memory recall (10-minute delay). Results: The …

Using Virtual Reality To Train Athletes, Brian Christoffersen

Master of Arts in Sport Management

Training athletes is an ever-evolving part of sports that, with the growth of the use of technology in sports, has become increasingly complex. Organizations and teams are constantly looking for new ways to be at the forefront of training development. As the development of virtual reality has moved forward, so has the ability to adopt these new technologies to a wide variety of areas. There are multiple systems already in existence that use virtual reality to train athletes. This proposed study aims to shed light on this promising technology to help athletes learn more efficiently and effectively in a safe …

The Effect Of One Night Of Sleep Restriction On Aerobic Exercise Performance, Lindsay Lickers

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: Sleep is essential for bodily recovery and is especially important for athletes who will sustain high volumes of muscle damage. Many athletes struggle to get enough sleep, particularly the night prior to competition for a variety of reasons. Long term sleep deprivation has definitively shown negative effects on athletic performance; however, little is known about the effect of a single night of reduced sleep.Methods: Complete data was gathered on nine subjects. Following VO2max testing and a familiarization trial, subjects performed two experimental trials that concluded with simulated 3- km time trials on a cycle ergometer: one …