Macronutrient Supplementation For Endurance Athletes, Jonathan B. Hurst

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: The present study addressed two questions related to macronutrient supplementation during endurance exercise. Firstly, the effects of carbohydrate and protein co-ingestion on time trial (TT) performance were compared to carbohydrate alone. Secondly, the effects of isolated protein ingestion on TT performance were compared to a placebo.

Methods: Six trained cyclists (Age: 22 ± 1 years; Height: 167 ± 12 cm; Weight: 60 ± 10 kg; VO_2max: 62 ± 7 ml/kg/min) completed four experimental trials, consisting of constant-load cycling for two hours (55% W_max) immediately followed by a 30-km simulated time trial. During the trials, subjects …

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Response During Endurance Cycle Training: Impact Of Carbohydrate And Protein Supplementation, Jordan L. Parker

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is part of the superfamily of neurotrophins including: nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4). Recent evidence suggests that aerobic activity can increase BDNF levels both during and following exercise. Likewise, dietary habits have been shown to alter BDNF levels. However, nothing is known about the effect of BDNF levels during aerobic activity under specific dietary interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of specific macronutrient supplementation on BDNF levels during aerobic exercise. Methods: We had the opportunity to determine BDNF levels in blood samples obtained from two …

American Kettlebell Swing And The Risk Of Lumbar Spine Injury, Steve Oikarinen

Honors Program Theses and Projects

CrossFit is a fitness routine that utilizes the American kettlebell swing in their workouts. The Russian swing has been the traditional swing movement performed with the kettlebell swung to chest height, but with the American swing the kettlebell is propelled to an overhead position, which may increase the risk for a lumbar spine injury. However, research has yet to evaluate the American kettlebell swing mechanics and its influence on spinal injuries. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the kinematics of the lumbar spine from maximum hip extension to the overhead position of the American kettlebell swing with …

A Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet Combined With Six Weeks Of Crossfit Training Improves Body Composition And Performance, Rachel M. Gregory

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

A low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is a popular approach to weight and fat loss. CrossFit is a high-intensity power training (HIPT) type exercise for all levels of age and fitness that has gained recognition as one of the fasting growing sports in America. No previous research has been found which examines body composition changes or performance in individuals consuming a LCKD and participating in CrossFit training. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of a 6-week LCKD and CrossFit program on body composition and performance. METHODS: Twenty-seven non-elite CrossFit subjects (mean ± SD age = …

The Effect Of Sex And Footwear On Dynamic Changes During The Loaded Barbell Back Squat, Ameera N. Teal

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of sex and footwear on 3D kinematics, power output, and plantar pressure distribution during the loaded barbell back squat. METHODS: Eleven (four male, seven female) recreationally-active individuals completed six sets of three repetitions of the loaded barbell back squat at 60% of their measured 1RM. Using a randomized counterbalanced crossover design, one set was completed in each of the three footwear conditions – weightlifting shoes (WLS), running shoes (RS) and minimalist shoes (MS) – and 3D kinematics, ground reaction force (GRF), and plantar pressure distribution were collected. A two-way …

The Effect Of Acute Aerobic Exercise On Hemostasis In Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients, Ryan A. Martin

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Purpose: To determine the hemostatic response after acute aerobic exercise in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Methods: Eighteen males were recruited from the university and local community. Individuals who presented evidence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disease were excluded. Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) > 5 was criteria for OSA. Subjects performed a treadmill exercise test at 35% and 70% predicted VO₂reserve during the morning hours. Pre exercise blood samples were obtained after 15 minutes supine rest and within two minutes following exercise. Repeated Measures ANOVA were performed for Factor VIII antigen, tPA antigen, tPA activity, and PAI-1 activity across two time …

The Effect Of The Cyp1a2 -163 C>A Polymorphism On The Metabolism Of Caffeine And Effect On Performance, Gabrielle E. Giersch

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Prior studies from our laboratory suggest that the -163 C > A polymorphism of the Cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2) gene influences the ergogenic effect of caffeine. Although this polymorphism has been known to influence the inducibility of hepatic CYP1A2 and the rate of caffeine metabolism, levels of caffeine and/or metabolites have never been reported in these aforementioned studies (1, 12, 16). Thus, a mechanistic link between the polymorphism and the ergogenic effect of caffeine is lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine if the CYP1A2 polymorphism affected caffeine metabolism between the genotypes (AA homozygotes and C allele carriers). Twenty male …

Athletic Trainers' Or Athletic Training Students' Perceptions Of Sexual Harassment By Student-Athletes In The Collegiate Setting, Amber M. Simmons

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Sexual harassment is an issue that occurs in healthcare professions and on college campuses nationwide. Athletic trainers employed at the collegiate setting are healthcare professionals who work in close conjunction with student-athletes, which may predispose a risk of a sexual harassment occurrence. A study was conducted to investigate the sexual harassment of athletic trainers and athletic training students by student athletes at the collegiate setting. A Qualtrics survey, containing closed- and open-ended questions, was sent out to 297 CAATE-accredited athletic training program directors; the athletic training staff at these institutions were also sent the survey as well. The program directors …

A Coach's Guide For Injury Prevention In Youth Football, William Edward Allen Iii

Senior Theses

Youth football is a declining sport this day in age, and this decline can be associated with the negative connotations on football portrayed by the media. Parents need a sense of security when it comes to the health of their children, and this can be achieved by creating a safer environment; one in which young athletes correctly learn safe techniques improving the quality of the game, leading to a decrease in injuries. By creating a website that details instructions and provides protocols to educate coaches on proper preventative injury practices, football can take a step forward in injury prevention, resulting …

Association Of Sleep Behavior To Physical Activity And Bmi In 9th And 10th Grade Students, Sonia Lina Davda

Senior Theses

Despite the topic’s popularity in research, the relationship between sleep duration and physical activity (PA) remains unclear. Measurement protocol differences, highly specific samples, and incomplete data contribute to varying results suggesting that additional research is needed. The purpose of the TRACK II study was to examine the relationship between PA, BMI, and self-reported sleep in adolescents. 369 9 th and 10 th grade students from 2 diverse school districts participated in the study. Participants completed a self-reported sleep questionnaire and had their height and weight measured. Demographic variables were also reported by participants. Actigraph accelerometers were used to objectively measure …

Are There Bad Wins And Good Losses? Outcome Effects In Sport, Richard Erik Inglis

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Abstract

Outcomes have been shown to distort feeling states, performance evaluations, and subsequent performances. This retrospective distortion represents an outcome bias, a phenomenon that has been studied extensively in a wide array of disciplines and domains. However, despite their importance, the effects of outcomes have received little attention in the sport corpus. In an attempt to remedy this oversight, 60 participants with basketball experience were recruited to take part in a free throw shooting competition. Participants completed two rounds of 20 free throws. Following their first round, participants were randomly assigned to either a negative outcome (lose by one shot) …

Recreational Participation And Perceived Stress Levels Of College Students And If Leisure Satisfaction Mediates Their Relationship, Andrew Montgomery

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between campus recreation participation and perceived stress in college students and if leisure satisfaction mediates their relationship. Participants for this research were 342 college students at a southeastern university. Students completed a survey about their demographics, perceived stress (PSS-10), campus recreation participation and their leisure satisfaction (LSS). Correlations and mediation was then calculated using the statistical analysis program SPSS. Participants of recreational services perceived stress was not significantly correlated with students who do not use recreational services. Leisure satisfaction was inversely correlated with perceived stress in the participants. Out of …

The Effect Of Weighted Body Armor On Close Combat Reaction Time And Core Muscle Activation 2016, Christopher Banta

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to measure the choice reaction time and myoelectric activity of the right and left rectus abdominus, and right and left external obliques required to initiate movement in response to a visual stimulus that signaled performance of four different closecombat movements (left or right cross and left or right dodge). Reaction time and myoelectric activity were then compared with performing the movements in response to the visual stimulus while wearing a weighted vest that simulated wearing tactical body armor. Myoelectric activity was measured as the average root mean square (RMS) of the surface electromyography (sEMG) …

Power Output And Loads On The Lumbar Vertebrae During A Power Clean 2016, Joseph Keleher

Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to compare the peak resultant torque, shear, and compressive forces acting at the L3/L4 junction of the lumbar vertebrae and the peak power output during 40% one repetition maximum (1RM) and 80% 1RM attempts of the power clean. It was hypothesized that performance of a power clean at 80% 1RM will result in greater peak resultant compressive force, torque and shear force at the L3/L4 junction of the lumbar spine than that of a 40% 1RM attempt. Power cleans at 80% 1RM will also result in higher maximum instantaneous power outputs than that …

Do Running Kinematics Change On The Alter-G Treadmill? [2016], Brittany Lavaute

Master's Theses

The Alter-G lower body positive pressure treadmill, also known as the antigravity treadmill, provides a unique means of exercising for rehabilitation patients and low-impact training in athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction effect of four different treadmill weighted conditions and three different running velocities (2.68 m.s-1, 3.13 m.s-1, and 3.58 m.s-1) on the kinematic variables of step length, step rate, contact time, and flight time on the Alter-G treadmill (AG) and on the regular treadmill (TM). Fifteen participants completed two separate days of testing. All individuals ran at four different conditions (100%, 80%, 60%, and …

Determining The Optimal Combination Of Lifting Method And Intensity For Power Production During The Hang Clean 2016, Thomas P. Murray

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal combination of lifting method and load intensity for power production during the hang clean. Twenty college students (18 male, 2 female) performed one set of three repetitions of the hang clean at four different intensities for each method while standing on a force platform embedded in the floor. Intensities were set at 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% 1RM and the methods tested were Contact, where the participant maintained contact with the force platform throughout the lift, and Jump, where the participant jumped through the pull phase of the lift and …

The Effects Of Whole Body High-Intensity Interval Training On Collegiate Female Soccer Players 2016, Whitney Frary

Master's Theses

Soccer is considered a high intensity sport that requires a high level of both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. A whole body high-intensity interval training adaptation has been shown to benefit both of these systems over a short period of time. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a five week whole-body high intensity interval training program on female collegiate soccer players performance in speed, acceleration, agility, vertical jump, aerobic capacity, physical self perception, and physical enjoyment. Participants were from the SUNY Cortland women’s soccer team who participated in a five- week training protocol three days a …

Connecting The Libraries And Athletics Through Information Literacy Instruction To Strength And Conditioning Interns, Lara Sapp, K.T. L. Vaughan

Libraries

Goal: To build a relationship between the libraries and athletics by connecting the Health Sciences Librarian and university athletics at James Madison University.

In the summer of 2015, the Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning approached the Health Sciences Librarian to discuss library support for their student interns.

A problem-based, information literacy instruction session was included in the didactic training of Strength and Conditioning interns. A collection of core journals and books was identified and developed. Access to these resources is facilitated through a guide tailored to the interdisciplinary nature of this population.

The methods closely parallel those used for …

The Effect Of Descriptive Norms On Resistance Exercise Self-Efficacy In College-Aged Females 2016, Justin Kompf

Master's Theses

Resistance training is a form of physical activity that provides substantial health benefits. Despite these widespread benefits, participation in resistance training is considerably low, particularly among females. To engage in a skill-related activity such as resistance training, individuals need to have confidence in their abilities. Self-efficacy is a cognitive construct that is used to describe situation-specific self-confidence. Descriptive norms are a type of social norm that describes the behavior of others. Descriptive norms have been useful in positively changing health related behaviors. The exact mechanism of how descriptive norms alter behavior is unknown. However, it has been show in research …

Examining The Motivations And Benefits Of Student-Athletes Performing Community Service., Matthew Ryan Huml

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With over 460,000 active student-athletes (NCAA, n.d.), the student sub-population is large enough to investigate potential options for institutions to increase their academic achievement. Additionally, participating in academic-related activities is especially important because of concerns about student-athletes spending more than the 20 hours per week the NCAA allows for working on their sport (Wolverton, 2008). Studies frequently highlight a lack of effort by student-athletes to adjust to academic opportunities and expectations within higher education (Adler & Adler, 1991; Lally & Kerr, 2005; Levine, Etchison, & Oppenheimer, 2014; Miller & Kerr, 2003). To combat this adjustment to higher education, community service …