Sports Sciences Commons^™

Cocreating A Programme To Prevent Injuries And Improve Performance In Australian Police Force Recruits: A Study Protocol, Myles C. Murphy, Andrea B. Mosler, Jonathan Hodgson, Sophia Nimphius, Evert Verhagen, Joanne Kemp, Alex Donaldson, Debra Langridge, Vanessa R. Sutton, Kay M. Crossley, Clare L. Ardern, Carolyn A. Emery, Mary A. Kennedy, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Martin Hägglund, Brady Green, G. Gregory Haff, Garth Allen, Andrea Bruder

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A healthy police force is a key component of a well-functioning society, yet 1 in 20 law enforcement recruits drop out of the recruit training programme due to injury. This drop-out rate has substantial economic and workforce ramifications. In the Western Australia Police Force, one in five recruits suffers a musculoskeletal injury during the recruit training programme, causing time-loss from work. We will now identify the critical elements of an injury prevention intervention and investigate the needs, experiences and suggested solutions to address potential implementation challenges. Our objective is to co-create an intervention with content and context experts, specifically for …

The Effect Of Fatigue On Climbing Fluidity And Hand Movements, Andrew Walsh, L. Seifert, C. Button, S. Vial, J. Croft

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In rock climbing, climbers use their arms to regulate their posture on the wall, which can lead to localised muscle fatigue. Evidence shows fatigue is the primary cause of falls, but little is known about how fatigue specifically affects climbing rhythm and hand movements. The present study examined climbing fluidity and hand movements on an indoor climbing wall before and after a specific fatiguing protocol. Seventeen climbers completed three repetitions of a challenging climbing route (21 on Ewbank scale) with different levels of localised arm fatigue. Climbers’ movements were tracked using 3D motion capture, and their hand actions assessed using …

"On The Mat They Will Get Treated The Same": Male High School Wrestlers' Attitudes Towards Female Opponents, Emily Ann Kaht

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Wrestling has historically been considered a male sport. Until recently, so few girls wrestled that those who did had no choice but to take on male opponents. Media reports and the literature indicate that those girls faced a wide range of attitudes from their opponents. While some women reported feeling supported by their male teammates, others reported hostility. Some stakeholders have, in the past, argued that wrestling is inherently unsuitable for girls, and some girls had trouble securing matches due to widespread refusal of boys to wrestle against them. Reasons given for boys forfeiting against girls have included a fear …

The Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge And Dietary Behavior Of Student-Athletes, Kerry A. Smith, Kathleen Fritch, James Rost, Amy Jo Riggs, Juliann Sergi Mcbrayer, Monika Krah

Georgia Educational Researcher

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior while controlling for academic major, year, and gender among Division III student-athletes. Sufficient nutrition is essential for athletic performance, injury reduction, and overall health. However, student-athletes face unique challenges that can disrupt optimal nutrition, including poor nutrition knowledge and access to available resources. While several studies have examined the relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior, no known studies have addressed this among Division III student-athletes. This non-experimental correlational study examined dietary behavior using the Rapid Eating and Activity Assessment for Participants (REAP-S) and …

Muscle Strength, Muscle Endurance, Voluntary Activation, And Perception Of Effort In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Me/Cfs): An Overview, James L. Nuzzo, Janet L. Taylor, Christopher Latella

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating condition characterized by fatigue, post-exertional malaise, perceived muscle weakness and other symptoms. Whether muscle strength is objectively reduced in ME/CFS is unclear. Objective and methods: Our aim was to determine if muscle strength, muscle endurance, voluntary activation, and perceived effort during muscle endurance tasks are altered in ME/CFS by reviewing the relevant literature. Results: We identified 27 studies that compared muscle strength or endurance between individuals with ME/CFS (n = 1,023) and healthy controls (n = 672). Tests typically involved handgrip, elbow flexion, or knee extension tasks. Across studies, muscle strength …

Psychophysiological Tools & Techniques To Predict Perceptual Motor Task Outcomes, Bobby Gerald Rawls Iii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The process of perceiving environmental information, analyzing it, formulating a plan of action, and carrying out said plan is vital to our day to day lives. This loop occurs for every motor task we perform, from actions as simple as elbow flexion to as complex as performing surgery. As such, it is imperative to understand what physiological, psychological, and neurocognitive factors most dictate success or failure in the motor performance loop.

Prior research has shown that measures from each of these facets have strong relationships with motor performance outcomes, though these findings tended to rely on artificially produced stress in …

Psychological Impacts In Exercise Riders And Professional Jockeys Following Injury, Kelley M. Renner

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

One of the most well-known equestrian sports, horse racing, is not only a cornerstone of Kentucky’s economy, but also a vital part of its culture, with professional jockeys playing an essential role in the local communities and traditions that define the state. Despite its popularity and financial impact, mental health challenges within the sport have continually been shrouded in silence and ignored in research (Ball et al., 2007). Equally concerning is the high injury prevalence, and psychological impact of these injuries (e.g., psychological distress, depression, anxiety, loss of identity, and self-esteem (King et al., 2022; Losty et al., 2019; McConn-Palfreyman …

You’Re Too Slow! Self-Selected Volitional Efforts Reveal Unexploited Neuromuscular Reserve Capacity Compared To Maximal Efforts During Fatiguing, Load Equated Resistance Exercise, Brian Benitez

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This investigation examined how movement intent influences neuromuscular excitation strategies during fatiguing resistance exercise, comparing maximal intended concentric efforts versus self-selected volitional efforts during load-equated Smith machine back squat exercise to quantify reserve capacity and characterize underlying neuromuscular mechanisms. Twenty-three resistance-trained participants (12 males, 11 females) completed a repeated-measures design, with replication, across six visits, performing smith machine back squat repetitions-to-failure at 70% 1RM under maximal intent (accelerate rapidly) and volitional intent (self-selected effort) conditions. Maximal voluntary isometric contractions used rapid (instantaneous 10-second effort) and ramp (5-second build-up, 5-second maximal) protocols. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from vastus lateralis and …

The Effects Habitual Training Shoe Use Has On Running Economy When Transitioning To High Performance Running Shoes, Dalton C. Harris

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Background: The recent increase in popularity of minimal shoes in endurance running is linked to potential improvements in running economy and reduced injury risk. However, high performance running shoes, specifically designed to improve running economy remain the fastest shoe to wear when racing. Purpose: Knowing this, the aim of this paper is to examine whether or not the habitual use of minimal shoes increases the benefits of the high performance shoes. This will guide practitioners and athletes when establishing shoe rotations and training plans during race preparation. Methods: The study consisted of 4 sessions: Sessions 1 and 2 were maximal …

Individual Differences Provide A Nuanced Understanding Of The Contributions Of Age, Experience, And Level Played To Superior Perceptual-Cognitive-Motor Skill, Khaya Morris-Binelli, Minerva A. Westbrook, Benjamin Piggott, Sean Müller, Paola Chivers

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Theories of expertise either predict superior performance is due to monotonic and progressive exposure to a domain task or due to non-linear exposure to a domain. The aim of this study was to explore the predictions of these theories by use of an individual differences approach to investigate how age, experience, and level played within a sample of athletes with high expertise contributes to superior perceptual-cognitive-motor skill. Twenty-seven players sampled from junior rugby union high-performance pathways and professional rugby union teams in Australia completed an in-situ perceptual-cognitive-motor test involving four attackers and three defenders. Participants were presented with scenarios representative …

College Athlete Workload Management To Improve Performance, Brody Reid

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Load management is an often used and misunderstood term within the realm of sport science. It has been described as the reason behind numerous soft tissue injuries as well as being the reason star athletes sit on the bench for games. This review aims to synthesize the existing literature regarding the workload management paradox within sport. Seminal work in this topic has been gathered mostly by Tim Gabbett in the paper “The Injury Prevention Paradox” where a relationship between fitness gain and fatigue accrued is outlined. This theory was first proposed by Roger Bannister in 1975. This paper …

The Mediating Effect Of Injury On The Relationship Between Running Mileage And Depressive Symptoms In Division 2 Cross Country Athletes, Jaxon Leduc

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Training for a cross-country season requires athletes to accumulate a high volume of training miles at different intensities. Over a period of months and years, consistent high training volumes have been shown to contribute to overuse injuries in cross country athletes. Injuries have been shown to negatively impact athlete’s mental health; this is especially true in student athletes. The purpose of this research is to explore the mediating effect of injuries on the relationship between training volume and mental health in collegiate cross-country runners. Participants in this study were 40 members of NCAA Division 2 Cross Country teams with eligibility …

Prediction Of Snatch And Clean And Jerk Performance From Physical Performance Measures In Elite Male Weightlifters, Ingo Sandau, Kristof Kipp

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

This study aimed to build a valid model to predict maximal weightlifting competition performance using ordinary least squares linear regression (OLR) and penalized (Ridge) linear regression (penLR) in 29 elite male weightlifters. One repetition maximum (1RM) or 3RM test results of assistant exercises were used as predictors. Maximal performance data of competition and assistant exercises were collected during a macrocycle in preparation for a competition. One repetition maximum snatch pull, 3RM back squat, 1RM overhead press, and body mass were used to predict the 1RM snatch; and 1RM clean pull, 3RM front squat, 1RM overhead press, and body mass were …

Nutritional Strategies To Improve Post-Exercise Recovery And Subsequent Exercise Performance: A Narrative Review, Alireza Naderi, Jeffrey A. Rothschild, Heitor O. Santos, Amin Hamidvand, Majid S. Koozehchian, Abdolrahman Ghazzagh, Erfan Berjisian, Tim Podlogar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Post-exercise recovery strategies influence the body’s ability to restore physiological homeostasis, replenish energy stores, repair muscle damage, and promote desired adaptations, which improve exercise performance. This narrative review examines the impact of nutritional strategies commonly used for enhancing recovery and subsequent exercise performance, particularly when athletes face short recovery periods. Carbohydrate ingestion is essential for glycogen replenishment, especially within the initial hours post-exercise, with its impact dependent on the types, timing, and amount. Protein is essential for accelerating muscle recovery and achieving a positive nitrogen balance, depending on the type and dosage. The co-ingestion of carbohydrates with proteins or fats …

Train Less And Still Similarly Improve? Maturational Growth Is More Influential Than Training Engagement On Performance Indices Development In Volleyball, Stephen Cobley, Marie Javet, Shaun Abbott, Caitlin Fox-Harding, Stephen Bested, Daniel Hackett, Michael Romann

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Identifying factors which more or less account for performance improvement during developmental stages is essential for sports science knowledge and coaching practice. Accordingly, this study examined the longitudinal, changing, influences of Volleyball-specific Training Engagement (VTE) and Maturity Status on physical test performance development. Participants were N = 139 Swiss female competitive volleyball players, aged 10–14 years at baseline (M = 12.93, SD = 1.15 years). Annually for 3 years, participants completed the 9-3-6-3-9 Agility Sprint; Standing Long Jump [SLJ] and Jump & Reach test. Linear Mixed Models (LMMs) examined longitudinal independent and interactive relationships between VTE (hours/week) and Maturity Status …

Rapid Force Generation During Unilateral Isometric Hamstring Assessment: Reliability And Relationship To Maximal Force, N. J. Ripley, J. Fahey, M. Cuthbert, J. J. Mcmahon, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Limited research has reported the reliability of rapid force generation characteristics during isometric assessments of the hamstrings. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the between-session reliability of rapid force generating characteristics of the hamstrings and relationship to maximal force production. Twenty-three female soccer players (age: 20.7 ± 4.7 years; height: 168.7 ± 5.9 cm; body mass: 64.4 ± 6.7 kg) performed three unilateral trials of the 90–90 isometric hamstring assessment, on two separate occasions, separated by 7 days. Peak force, force at 100- and 200 ms and average rate of force development (aRFD) over 100- and …

Exercise And Sports Science Australia Updated Position Statement On Exercise For Preventing Falls In Older People Living In The Community, Anne Tiedemann, Daina L. Sturnieks, Elissa Burton, Jeannette M. Thom, Stephen R. Lord, Stacey Scott, Catherine Sherrington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Backgrounds: Falls affect a significant number of older Australians and present a major challenge to health care providers and health systems with over 380 older Australians hospitalised for a fall each day.

Objectives: This statement seeks to inform and guide exercise practitioners and health professionals in safe and effective prescription of exercise to prevent falls amongst community-dwelling older people.

Exercise prescription to prevent falls: Exercise is crucial for preventing falls in older age. Research evidence has identified that programmes which include functional balance and muscle strength training are the most effective in preventing falls. It is also important for exercise …

Community Perspectives On Spinal Cord Injury In Rugby Union: Facts And Fears, Nicole Merrick, Marelise Badenhorst, Ashlee Morgan, Lauren Fortington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: The sport of rugby union, henceforth rugby, is associated with a risk of spinal cord injury (SCI). Perceived risks can impact participation. Understanding community perspectives on rugby-related SCI may provide insight for addressing concerns around risk. The aim of this study was to explore community perspectives through social media discussion about SCI in rugby union. Methods: Posts about SCI in rugby union were identified using the advanced search function on Twitter. Data (content as original post, retweet, quote tweet and comments) were included if focused on Rugby Union and written in English. Inclusion dates (July 2018 to June 2019) …

Practices And Perceptions In Hamstring Training For Injury Prevention And Enhancement Of Athletic Performance: A Qualitative Analysis, Steven Ross, Nicholas J. Ripley, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) remain a prevalent issue across sports, despite extensive research. Previously, the current authors have reported practices and perceptions of training for the mitigation of HSIs, however such practices are highly nuanced. In this study, the authors utilised semi-structured interviews to further understand applied practitioner perceptions and identify how evidence is translated into practice. Twelve practitioners (one physiotherapist and eleven strength and conditioning [S&C] coaches including one dual accredited S&C coach and physiotherapist) working in a range of sporting disciplines were interviewed across six broad categories of questioning (practitioner profile, job role challenges, resistance training, high-speed running …

Effects Of Beetroot Gummy Jelly Ingestion On Running Performance In Simulated Hypoxia In Recreational Runners, Jun Ma

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study examined the effects of seven days of beetroot gummy jelly (BGJ) supplementation on physiological, metabolic, and endurance performance responses under sea-level and simulated hypoxic conditions. Eleven male recreational runners (age 22.3 ± 1.8 years; BMI 21.4 ± 2.0; VO2 max 54.2 ± 4.6 mL·kg-¹·min-¹) completed four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials: BGJ–sea level, BGJ–hypoxia, placebo–sea level, and placebo–hypoxia. Participants consumed BGJ or placebo daily for seven days before each trial. Physiological measurements included serum nitrate/nitrite, blood glucose, lactate, heart rate (HR), arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), perceived exertion (RPE), muscle oxygenation (ΔTSI), and a 10-km time-trial performance test.BGJ supplementation significantly …