Sports Sciences Commons^™

Influence Of Intended Slow And Fast Eccentric Back Squat Velocity On Subsequent Countermovement Jump Performance, Artemis Zarkadoula, Themistoklis Tsatalas, Anthony D. Kay, Anthony J. Blazevich, Christos Kokkotis, Spyridon Plakias, Brett Anthony Baxter, Alex J. Van Enis, Giannis Giakas, Minas A. Mina

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The back squat is a key strength and conditioning exercise used to develop lower-limb strength and power, yet little is known about how movement velocity influences its acute performance-enhancing effects, such as improvements in countermovement jump height and power. The present study examined the acute effects of slow (vslow) versus fast (vfast) eccentric-phase velocity during back squats performed withmaximal concentric velocity on subsequent countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, using a randomized, crossover design. Methods: Fourteen male subjects (age = 22.9 ± 1.9 years; height = 1.8 ± 0.1 m; mass = 76.4 ± 8.3 kg) visited the laboratory on two …

Body Mass-Normalized Handgrip Strength As A Better Indicator Of General Health Than Absolute Values In Middle-Aged Women, Ricardo M. Lima, Trezise, Sally Poppitt, Amanda Devine, Anthony J. Blazevich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To examine the association between HGS and physical function, quality of life (QoL), and cardiometabolic risk markers in midlife women, and verify potential discrepancies between absolute and relative HGS on these relationships. Study design: This cross-sectional study enrolled 83 participants (50.7±5.3y) who completed handgrip (hydraulic dynamometer), knee extensor and plantar flexor (isokinetic dynamometry) strength tests, and body composition evaluations (DXA). A variety of physical function tests, QoL (SF-36) and cardiometabolic blood markers were also measured. Results: Participants below the cutoff for HGS/body mass (0.34) did not differ in height but were significantly (P<0.01) heavier (80.8±12.8 vs. 68.6±11.4 kg), had higher BMI (30.0±4.2 vs. 25.4±4.0 kg/m²) and body fat (39.9±4.4 …

A Scoping Review Of Force Plates In Female Soccer: The Utility, Existing Practice And Identification Of Knowledge Gaps, Jack T. Fahey, Francisco Javier Robles-Palazón, Paul Comfort, Nichoals Ripley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Female soccer has grown exponentially with increasing funding, participation and competition. Force plates enable high resolution force-time assessment using isometric and dynamic tasks for acute or longitudinal monitoring, and profiling performance and injury risk. However, more research has been conducted in male soccer players compared to females with the utility of force plates in female soccer yet to be reviewed. The purpose of this scoping review is to review existing research using force plates in female soccer describing the utility of force plates, methods used, reported metrics and to identify gaps in our current understanding. A literature search was conducted …

Peripheral Neuromuscular Fatigue Responses Of The Knee Extensors To Distinct Concurrent Training Protocols: A Preliminary Study, Tomás T. Freitas, Elena Marín-Cascales, Cristian Marín-Pagán, Linda H. Chung, Antonio Martínez-Serrano, Nicola A. Maffiuletti, Anthony J. Blazevich, Pedro E. Alcaraz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: This study aimed to investigate the extent and time course of peripheral neuromuscular fatigue of the knee extensors following different concurrent training protocols in recreationally active men. Methods: In a randomized, counterbalanced, crossover design, ten participants completed one exercise session of three concurrent exercise protocols in consecutive weeks and in similar resting conditions: traditional concurrent training (TCT), sprint interval training (SIT), and high-intensity resistance circuit training (HRC). Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and electrically evoked tetanic force of the knee extensors were assessed before, immediately after, and at 24 and 48 h following each exercise session. Linear mixed models …

Beyond Weight Loss: Effects Of Trx Suspension Training Combined With Caloric Restriction On Thyroid Function And Mental Well-Being In Obese Hypothyroid Women, Siavash Naddafha, Christopher B. Taber

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The rate of metabolism decreases in hypothyroid patients; hypothyroidism is associated with body mass increases; due to this and other factors, depression, anxiety, and stress increase, which, alongside the disease state and psychological problems, causes the quality of life to suffer. Objectives: The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of caloric restriction along with TRX exercise on body mass, thyroid hormones, and psychological measures in obese and overweight women with hypothyroidism. Methods: 34 women aged 18–50 with hypothyroidism and a body mass index above 25 participated in this study. They were divided into three groups: a …

Multi-Sensory Information And Simulator Immersion: Impact On Decision-Making Performance, Presence, And Cognitive Load, Zachariah G. Hoyne, Khaya Morris-Binelli, Sean Müller, Benjamin Piggott, Paola Chivers, Evan Dekker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Immersive technologies such as 360-degree video virtual reality (360VR) provide unique opportunities to simulate representative environments to investigate decision-making in a safe and cost-effective manner. Inclusion of multi-sensory visual, contextual, and auditory information is important to enhance simulator psychological fidelity. Yet, the influence of increased sensory information on decision-making, presence, and cognitive load in 360VR compared to less immersive two-dimensional video simulators is unknown. This study investigated multi-sensory information, presence, and cognitive load across immersion conditions (360VR and two-dimensional video) in an exemplar sport-specific decision-making task. Fifteen higher-skilled and 15 lesser-skilled Australian Rules Football players completed a decision-making task which …

Addressing Mental Health Issues And The Effectiveness Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Mindfulness-Based Interventions Among Athletes, Shelby Jones-Stachnik

Dissertations

This literature review identifies mental health concerns among competitive athletes and evaluates psychological interventions to address these challenges. Specifically, the review explores the mental health concerns experienced by athletes engaged in high-level sport. It examines whether cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based interventions are effective approaches for improving psychological outcomes in this population. A systematic review of peer-reviewed research was conducted, and findings were synthesized to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based interventions. The review included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and meta-analyses examining psychological interventions in athletic populations. Findings across the literature indicate that both cognitive behavioral …

Exercise Therapy For Mood Disorders In Retiring/Former Athletes, Christian Antos

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the potential integration of exercise therapy and psychotherapy as a treatment approach for mood-related difficulties experienced by former elite athletes during the transition out of competitive sport. Retirement from athletics is often associated with significant biopsychosocial challenges, including disruptions in identity, healthy routines, social support, and emotional well-being. Existing literature suggests that exercise may serve as an effective adjunctive intervention for improving mood and overall psychological functioning, though limited research has explored its application among retiring athletes within psychotherapeutic contexts. This literature review synthesized current research related to athletic retirement, neurobiological mechanisms associated with physical activity, and …

Remote Hr-Guided High-Intensity Interval Training With Weekly Health Monitoring In Breast Cancer Patients During Chemotherapy: A Moderation Analysis Of Physiological Predictors, Madara Ketlīna Štarka-Rantiņa, Rudolfs Ceseiko, Martins Campa, Maksims Zolovs, Greta Franceska Jermolenko, Kristaps Eglitis, Alicia Llorente, Aija Linē, Aija Klavina

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The study aimed to investigate the effects of a six-month remotely monitored heart rate – guided high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on aerobic capacity, functional performance, and weekly self-reported health outcomes in women with stage II–III breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and methods: Fifty-six women (mean age 47 ± 8 years) were randomly assigned (1:1) to a HIIT group or a control group (CG). Thirty-five participants were included in analyses (HIIT group = 17; CG = 18). HIIT group performed 4 × 4-minute HIIT sessions at the intensity of 85–95% of the peak heart rate, two to three …

Effects Of A 10-Day Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Protocol On Anaerobic And Aerobic Performance And Post-Exercise Cytokine Responses, Paulina Brzezińska, Jan Mieszkowski, Madalena Kochanowicz, Andżelika Borkowska, Jędrzej Antosiewicz, Andrzej Kochanowicz

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) consists of brief cycles of limb is-chemia and reperfusion and has been proposed as an ergogenic strategy. This study examined whether a 10-day lower-limb RIPC protocol affects anaerobic and aerobic performance and post-exercise cytokine responses in physically active men. Materials and methods: Sixty healthy, physically active men were assigned to anaerobic (Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), n = 29) or aerobic (Bruce treadmill test (BTT), n = 28) protocols and completed a 10-day lower-limb RIPC (220 mmHg) or SHAM (20 mmHg) intervention. Serum IL-6, IL-10, and IL-15 were measured at baseline and immediately post-exercise before and …

Limits Of Post-Activation Performance Enhancement: Asymmetry Persists Despite Performance Gains, Talia Thompson, Monique Mokha

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) protocols are commonly used to improve power, yet their influence on inter-limb force symmetry remains unclear. This study examined the effects of a PAPE protocol on inter- and intra-session symmetry and performance during a countermovement (CMJ. Ten American football players preparing for the National Football League’s draft completed a complex PAPE protocol consisting of two baseline CMJ trials on dual uniaxial force plates, followed by three sets of maximum effort lower-body lifts (e.g., split squats) alternated with two CMJ trials. Jump height (JH), reactive strength index modified (RSImod), and asymmetry indices for concentric impulse (CIA), eccentric …

Soft Power, Arab Media And Sports Mega Events: Coverage Of Fifa 2022 And Lessons For Future Arab Hosting, Lynne Kennedy, Maaira Shahbaz, Ala Al Rajabi

All Works

Sport mega-events (SMEs) increasingly transcend athletic competition, functioning as strategic instruments for national identity formation, statecraft, and soft power projection. This dynamic is particularly pronounced in the Gulf, where Qatar’s successful hosting reignited regional rivalries and attracted unprecedented global scrutiny. While existing scholars have extensively examined Western media portrayals of SMEs, a notable gap remains for academic engagement with Gulf media. Dismissed as state-controlled and analytically lacking, we contend that such media offer a rich site for exploring how small states use media as soft power, to construct and contest legitimacy, identity, and global influence. This analysis suggests how state-aligned …

The Effects Of Asymmetric Cervical Muscle Fatigue On Cervical Proprioception, Stepping, And Standing Postural Sway, Maryam Homafar

LSU Master's Theses

Background: The cervical spine contributes critically to proprioception and postural control through its dense mechanoreceptor population. The acute effects of asymmetrical cervical muscle fatigue on proprioception, gait, and balance remain understudied, especially considering its widespread occurrence in multiple populations.

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of asymmetrical cervical muscle fatigue on cervical proprioception, stepping ability, and standing postural sway in healthy young adults.

Methods: Eighteen of 25 healthy participants, who met the inclusion criterion of baseline cervical joint position error (CJPE) below 4.5° for left and right rotational directions, completed pre-fatigue and post-fatigue assessments with eyes closed, including CJPE test, …

Comparing Injury Incidence Between Major League Soccer And The English Premier League During The 2024/2025 Season: A Retrospective Cohort Study, William Gadbois, Youssef Salama, Kevin Reck, Scott Mohamed El-Sayed Yaekle

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background

Major League Soccer (MLS) and the English Premier League (EPL) differ substantially in geographic footprint, travel requirements, competition structure, and scheduling. These structural differences may influence player injury risk, yet no study has directly compared injury incidence between the two leagues within the same competitive season. In 2024, MLS introduced a centralized, standardized injury-reporting system that improved transparency and created a unique opportunity for direct comparison with the EPL.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study will analyze all reported time-loss injuries during the 2024 MLS and 2024–25 EPL seasons. Injury data will be collected from publicly available league reports, club …

Barriers To Physical Activity Among Community College Students, Erica Keels

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceived barriers, motivators, and student-identified strategies related to physical activity among students enrolled at a community college located in Northwest Florida. Guided by the Social Ecological Model (SEM), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Health Belief Model (HBM), and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study employed a qualitative descriptive design to examine students’ lived experiences and perceptions that influence their physical activity behaviors. Data were collected through an online open-ended survey administered to students aged 18 years and older. A total of 134 students initially accessed the survey, and 126 eligible participants …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The Guardian Protective Cap In Reducing The Incidence And Recovery Duration Of Concussions Among Division Ii Collegiate Football Players In The State Of West Virginia, Dave Mcentire

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focuses on a retrospective quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of the Guardian protective cap in reducing the incidence and recovery duration of concussions among Division II football players in the state of West Virginia. The study will evaluate the medical records, obtained from the NCAA certified athletic trainers, of four seasons worth of data from two separate football teams. The study will examine two seasons worth of data of the teams prior to mandating the usage of the protective caps during practice, and two seasons of data following their implementation. The study will compare the overall incidence …

The Association Between Diet Quality, Nutritional Knowledge, Low Energy Availability, And Eating Disorder Risk In Collegiate Student-Athletes, Laurel Koontz Awald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to investigate the association between diet quality, nutritional knowledge, low energy availability, and eating disorder risk in a sample of collegiate student-athletes across several sporting disciplines. The quantitative cross-sectional survey was developed using validated questionnaires to investigate diet quality (The Athlete Diet Index), nutritional knowledge (The Platform for Evaluating Athlete Knowledge in Sports – Nutrition Questionnaire), low energy availability (The Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire and Low Energy Availability in Males Questionnaire), and eating disorder risk (DESA – 6). College athletes were recruited from Division I and III universities: (N = 31) from the track and …

From Perception To Performance: The Acute Impact Of Virtual Reality On Hitting Metrics In Collegiate Baseball And Softball Hitters, Darrianne Kylie Hale

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of the four warm-up conditions of virtual reality (VR), heavy bat, light bat, and game bat on hitting metrics in collegiate baseball and softball players. Specifically, this research investigated whether a perceptual-cognitive warm-up using virtual reality produced performance outcomes comparable to traditional physical warm-ups in key physical hitting metrics, including bat speed, time to contact, launch angle, and exit velocity. Each participant experienced all four warm-up conditions in a within-subjects, repeated measures design. Performance was measured using Blast Motion and HitTrax technologies, and statistical analysis was conducted using a …

Caffeine Perceptions And Reality In High School Gymnasts, Gabrielle Steinkopf

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

From years of observation as a high school gymnast, there is a noted “caffeine culture” among gymnasts at my high school. Since gymnastics is a precision sport with not inconsiderable danger, I wondered what impact caffeine ingestion had on athletes. Athletes were asked to give up caffeine during a series of regular season meets, with reflection questions immediately after each meet to assess the impact caffeine might have had on performance vs the gymnasts’ perception of the effects

Hip Stretching Protocol's Impact On Female Ice Hockey Players, Cienna Clark

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Women’s ice hockey participation continues to grow as do injury rates among these players. However, female ice hockey players often show different injuries than male players. This is largely due to the lack of checking in women’s hockey, which means the injuries that tend to be seen are more about overuse injuries and less catastrophic injuries. Female injuries also tend to be more in their hips, which begs the question: what would happen if hips were stretched on a regular basis? Would these injuries subside, or at least improve?