Sports Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Targeted Heart Rate Maximum Percentages On Cognitive Function In College-Aged Adults, Emily Snider, Izzy Smith

Applied Health Sciences Student Works

Previous research has displayed per the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), an increased heart rate (HR) is associated with higher cognitive function due to hormone and neurotransmitter release, specifically through the release of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI). The purpose of the present study is to examine if cognitive function defined by the Purdue PegBoard (PPB) is affected by targeted increases of HR maximum, as increased HR is stimulated by the SNS. METHODS: Twenty- eight healthy participants ages 20.82 ± 1.10 were recruited via email and enrolled in this study. Participants' targeted maximum HR was determined with the maximum HR equation …

The Effect Of Vision On Lower Quarter Balance During Y-Balance Test Testing In College Students, Nathan Smith, Katelyn Mehr

Applied Health Sciences Student Works

Purpose: In order to maintain balance and stability, the body relies on the integration of information from the visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems. If an individual has an impairment or weakness in one or more systems, their ability to maintain balance may be impaired. Both postural stability and vision contribute to one’s ability to maintain balance in functions of everyday life. The Y-Balance Test (YBT) is a dynamic balance assessment. This study focuses on the visual system and its relation to postural balance, specifically if altered visual states affect one’s ability to maintain balance during a YBT via the use …

The Relationship Between Social Cognition And Team Cohesion In Collegiate Athletes, Jessica Pegg

Master's Theses

Thesis Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social cognition and team cohesion in Division III collegiate athletes. Methods: A total of 103 athletes from SUNY Cortland participated. Two questionnaires were used: social cognition was assessed via the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS), and team cohesion was assessed via the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ). The two questionnaires, along with demographics, were completed online. Analysis: Pearson’s bivariate correlations were analyzed to assess the relationships among TSIS total score, GEQ total score, and GEQ social cohesion for the total sample and separately by sports season and sports type. Linear …

Acl Bracing: Is It Still Being Done Clinically And Does It Influence Confidence And/Or Biomechanical Performance During A Drop Vertical Jump?, Bailey Watson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures account for 60% of sports-related injuries and the gold standard for treatment is surgical intervention to replace the damaged ligament to restore function of the ACL. Braces are typically used to return to previous physical activity levels; however, there are no clear guidelines on their utilization. Beyond the physical consequences of undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery, the psychological component is often ignored.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to better understand the impact of knee bracing on both biomechanical factors and confidence following ACL reconstruction. Two aims comprise the overarching purpose; the first is …

Cannabidiol (Cbd) And Resistance Training: Does Cbd Attenuate Acute Pain?, Guillermo Pacheco

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

INTRODUCTION: Resistance training (RT) is an advantageous form of physical activity for health and performance benefits; these benefits are maximized when done strenuously. However, strenuous RT can induce acute inflammatory pain which can lead to delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Common analgesics like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can block protein synthesis, so other alternatives are needed for exercise and athletic communities to maintain physiological adaptations. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid with purported anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and analgesic properties. One of the main reasons for the use of CBD in exercise is pain alleviation; however, research in humans is limited. Therefore, the …

Evaluating The Epidemiological, Hormonal, And Psychosocial Sex-Based Differences In Sports-Related Concussion Outcomes, Samantha Kanny

All Dissertations

Sports-related concussions (SRCs) affect approximately 3.8 million athletes in the United States per year. A multitude of risk factors including age, sex, concussion history and prior medical conditions have been observed to significantly increase sports-related concussion symptom burden. Researchers have posited many reasons to explain sex-based differences in SRC outcomes, often categorized by biological characteristics or sociocultural factors, however, females are vastly underrepresented in sports-related concussion research, making it difficult to understand the true mechanisms underlying SRC sex-based differences. The goal of this dissertation is to help fill the current gap in knowledge on sex-based differences in sports-related concussion outcomes. …

The Role Of Pennation Angle And Architectural Gearing To Rate Of Force Development In Dynamic And Isometric Muscle Contractions, Bas Van Hooren, Per Aagaard, Andrea Monte, Anthony J. Blazevich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Associations between muscle architecture and rate of force development (RFD) have been largely studied during fixed-end (isometric) contractions. Fixed-end contractions may, however, limit muscle shape changes and thus alter the relationship between muscle architecture an RFD. Aim: We compared the correlation between muscle architecture and architectural gearing and knee extensor RFD when assessed during dynamic versus fixed-end contractions. Methods: Twenty-two recreationally active male runners performed dynamic knee extensions at constant acceleration (2000°s−2) and isometric contractions at a fixed knee joint angle (fixed-end contractions). Torque, RFD, vastus lateralis muscle thickness, and fascicle dynamics were compared during 0–75 and 75–150 ms …

Validity Of Apple Watch, Garmin Forerunner® 935 And Geneactiv For Estimating Energy Expenditure During Close Quarter Battle Training In Special Forces Soldiers, Angela Uphill, Kristina L. Kendall, Alison Fogarty, Stuart Guppy, Hannah Brown, Travis Zomer, Simon Parker, G. Gregory Haff

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of three wrist-worn devices for estimating energy expenditure (EE) and heart rate (HR) during close “Close Quarter Battle” (CQB). Fifty male soldiers (mean ± SD: age 30.9 ± 4.6 years, height: 1.81 ± 0.64 m and body mass 87.3 ± 7.7 kg) wore three activity monitors (Apple Watch 5, Garmin Forerunner® 935 and GENEActiv accelerometer), a Metamax 3B metabolic cart and a Polar chest strap, whilst conducting a CQB training activity (duration: 26.6 ± 5.0 min). EE and HR data from each test device were compared against criterion measures using …

Scs 6th Annual Meeting—Eevfa—11th International Congress Of Biochemistry And Physiology Of Exercise, Athens, Greece, 2023, Pedro E. Alcaraz, Elena Marín-Cascales, Anthony J. Blazevich, Tomás T. Freitas, Olyvia Donti, Konstantinos Spyrou, Gregory C. Bogdanis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

On behalf of the Strength and Conditioning Society (SCS) and the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Exercise Physiology (EEVFA), we are pleased to present the abstracts of the SCS 6th Annual Meeting and EEVFA—11th International Congress of Biochemistry and Physiology of Exercise. The event was held at the Hellenic Olympic Committee headquarters in Athens, Greece, on 19–22 October 2023, and comprised several invited sessions from international and national speakers on a variety of topics related to biochemistry and exercise physiology, strength and conditioning practices and their application to health, injury prevention and sports performance. These included strength training in high-performance …

An Analysis Of Strength Training Implementation In Ballet, Claire Hoover

Senior Honors Theses

Ballet, a style of dance that is known for its 180-degree external rotation, extreme precision, discipline, and aesthetics, is an athletic activity that is undertaken by many young people, particularly females. Although ballet has many athletic components, recent studies have shown there are a variety of weaknesses that impact its participants, including the female athlete triad, lack of lower extremity muscular strength, risk of injury, and overtraining. According to recent research, strength training, although not historically paired with ballet, could minimize ballet dancers’ deficiencies by increasing muscular strength and reducing risk of injury and incidence of the female athlete triad. …

Does Appearance Matter? The Relationship Of Perceived Body Size And Physical Appearance On Students' Attraction To Physical Activity At Recess, Danielle Belcher

Master's Theses

Drastic declines in recess physical activity (PA) have been observed within recent years (Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2017). Due to recess’ discretionary nature, psychosocial variables associated with PA are predictors of students’ PA levels. Recess is also a time of heightened bullying occurrences (Vaillancourt et al., 2010). Appearance-based bullying is the most common type of victimization that occurs in schools, transpiring more often in children with larger body max indexes (BMI), and possibly altering students’ physical self-perceptions. Physical self-perceptions have been shown to impact PA motivation, however, it is still unknown the extent to which appearance-based bullying, body size, …

Behavioral Biases In Daily Fantasy Baseball: The Case Of The Hot Hand, Jeremy M. Losak, Andrew P. Weinbach, Rodney J. Paul

Sport Management - All Scholarship

Despite mixed evidence, sport participants and fans heavily believe in the existence of the hot hand. Prior literature examining NBA and NFL betting markets found betters were biased toward hot teams. Using a unique market and data set, this study identifies if the hot hand is prevalent in daily fantasy baseball contests, if there is a profitable hot hand selection strategy, and if consumers believe in its existence. Results show that while there is no evidence of a hot hand effect, and no evidence of a profitable hot hand strategy, consumers believe in and incorporate it in their lineup decisions.

Psychology Of Athletes: Impact Of Injuries On Mental Health, Caitlin Rainey

Whittier Scholars Program

This article aims to contextualize the importance of understanding injuries in athletics and how those injuries impact mental health. With such a high prevalence of injuries in athletics, most studies analyze the physical implications on the athlete. It is vital that mental well being is studied as much as physical health throughout the injury and rehabilitation process. This study reviewed previous literature on the social impacts of team sports, psychological and social implications of injury, the impact of residual pain, and finally the process of retirement. A survey was also conducted at a small liberal arts college in Southern California …

Sports Science: An Entrepreneurial Venture, Nicole J. Jones

Senior Honors Projects

In sports science, ensuring maximum athlete safety and optimizing data utilization are pivotal yet leave room for further work. My project, Unbeaten SafeWare, addresses these critical issues by focusing on two primary concerns: preventing heat-related and cardiac illnesses, which are significant causes of athlete fatalities, and enhancing the transparency and utility of sports data. This initiative involves developing a shirt integrated with sensors to monitor vital signs and an athlete management system to handle data input, storage, analysis, and accessibility for athletes.

The project has advanced through the efforts of a multidisciplinary team, which includes biomedical engineering undergraduates, two faculty …

Athletic Identity Association And Prospective Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Predict Attitudes Of Collegiate Athletes Toward Seeking Help From The Athletic Department, Allie Zerr

Master's Theses

There is an epidemic of mental health issues that has begun to be more openly talked about in college athletics. In 2022, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has found that college student-athletes are now 1.5-2 times more likely to report struggling with mental health than ever before. Previous research has shown a significant association with basic psychological needs satisfaction and overall psychological well-being. Furthermore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible ways that reported of autonomy, competence, and relatedness need satisfaction predicted whether athletes would seek mental health services and identify how athletic identity plays into this …

Physiological Adaptations Following A Strength Endurance Training Block Performed With Accentuated Eccentric Loading Or Traditional Resistance Training, Alex Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Physiological adaptations were investigated following a strength-endurance (S-E) block prescribed with accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) or traditional resistance training (TRAD). Recreationally trained participants (n = 11 males, 6 females, age = 23.2 ± 4.2 yrs, body mass (BM) = 81.3 ± 22.2 kg, height = 172.1 ± 10 cm) completed a four-week block of concurrent resistance, sprint, and change of direction training. Participants were assigned one of two training conditions, AEL (n = 9) or TRAD (n = 8). Training was identical, except AEL performed 110% eccentric overloading every 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^{th …}

Sex And Age Differences In Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Responses And The Resulting Influences On Cognition, Miranda K. Traylor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Vascular dysfunction is the earliest known marker of neurodegeneration. However, limited research has been conducted to determine if changes in peripheral vascular function track differences in brain health. Therefore, the purpose was to determine if previously reported sex differences in near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) vascular occlusion test (VOT) parameters persist across the lifespan and if these differences track age- and sex-related differences in a cognitive task. Ninety-nine healthy, cognitively intact adults (50 women, 49 men) across the adult lifespan (19-81 yrs) were used for analysis. The combination of NIRS-VOT was used to quantify microvascular function. Cognition was defined as the time …

The Biochemical And Metabolic Impact Of 8-Weeks Of Intermittent Energy Restriction On Resistance-Trained Adults: A Pilot Study, Dillon Wells

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of refeeds and diet breaks on biochemical, body composition, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) measures during an energy-restricted diet.

Methods: Resistance-trained men between the ages of 18-45 participated in an 8-week IER weight loss diet plan. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two dietary intervention groups: Group 1 received two days/week of refeeds (REF), and Group 2 received a one-week diet break every two weeks (BRK). All participants followed a standardized volume weight training protocol. Baseline and post-intervention dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and blood measures were conducted …

A Single Bout Of Vigorous Intensity Exercise Enhances The Efficacy Of Rituximab Against Human Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia B-Cells Ex Vivo, Harrison D. Collier-Bain, Annabelle Emery, Adam J. Causer, Frankie F. Brown, Rebecca Oliver, David Dutton, Josephine Crowe, Daniel Augustine, John Graby, Shoji Leach, Rachel Eddy, Daniela Rothschild-Rodriguez, Juliet C. Gray, Mark S. Cragg, Kirstie L. Cleary, Sally Moore, James Murray, James E. Turner, John P. Campbell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is characterised by the clonal proliferation and accumulation of mature B-cells and is often treated with rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody immunotherapy. Rituximab often fails to induce stringent disease eradication, due in part to failure of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) which relies on natural killer (NK)-cells binding to rituximab-bound CD20 on B-cells. CLL cells are diffusely spread across lymphoid and other bodily tissues, and ADCC resistance in survival niches may be due to several factors including low NK-cell frequency and a suppressive stromal environment that promotes CLL cell survival. It is well established that exercise bouts …

Benefits Of Adapted Physical Activities For Students With Disabilities, Jason Mazzuca

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project examines the benefits of adapted physical education for students with disabilities. Through the use of literature reviews, field observations, and interviews with three elementary school teachers, the findings revealed that adaptive physical activities , such as a program called Sami’s circuit has greatly benefited students with disabilities. This kind of adapted physical activities involve the participation of many classes with a large group of students through a virtual trainer, in which teachers can easily adapt to be implemented into their individual classroom setting, and to outdoor activities as well.