Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Kinesiology'

The purpose of this research was to examine the influence of activity trackers on physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory endurance (CRE), body fat percentage (BF%), and exercise motivation. With wearable technology being named as the number one fitness trend for 2016 and 2017 (Thompson, 2015, 2016), activity trackers may be an effective tool to increase physical activity, increase CRE, decrease BF%, and improve exercise motivation. Forty-eight healthy volunteer participants ages 18–72 who did not achieve more than 3000 metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes per week of physical activity (PA) were recruited to participate in a 12-week walking intervention. Participants were given the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), exercise motivation inventory (EMI-2) survey, tested for anthropometric measures, and tested for CRE at baseline and final testing. Participants were divided into an activity tracker group and a control group. Analyses revealed no significant differences between the treatment and control groups for PA, CRE, BF%, or motivation from baseline to final testing. There were significant improvements in PA measured by the IPAQ for both groups from baseline to final testing, F _{(2, 64)} = 17.374, p = .000; however, step counts did not improve for either group from baseline to final testing. There were significant improvements in CRE for both groups from baseline to final testing, F _{(1, 29)} = 13.016, p = .001. Analyses revealed that the walking program may have been effective for improving PA and CRE, but that activity trackers did not provide any additional benefits. The conclusion is that activity trackers alone may not be an effective tool for the improvement of PA, CRE, BF%, or motivation.

Brazilian Jiujitsu is a martial art practiced by millions of people. It is a grappling art in which students are taught to win against opponents through the use of leverage, technique and tactics. Like many martial arts, coaches are seldom well-suited to impart crucial knowledge to their students. Many coaches are in the position due to high level competition success which does not translate into good teaching ability. Coaches often teach in a way that they themselves have been taught, instead of relying on scientific knowledge of correct biomechanics, motor learning, and physiology. This manual will provide a scientific background in biomechanics, motor learning, and physiology to instructors to improve their training protocols.

Back squats (BSQ) have been shown to effectively potentiate lower body power in a subsequent performance activity. There is a plurality of post activation potentiation (PAP) studies in which the BSQ and vertical jump (VJ) are used. To date, there is little information regarding BSQ and horizontal jump (HJ) performance. Nine collegiate ice hockey players from the California State University, Long Beach ice hockey team volunteered for the study. Participants performed five testing sessions separated by 96 hours. The first testing session was a one repetition maximum (1RM) BSQ to assign the athletes specific intensity. The intensity chosen was 87% of the athletes’ 1RM, which means they should complete five repetitions (87%) for the potentiated testing sessions. The four testing sessions were randomized consisting of a back squat followed by horizontal jump (BSQ-HJ), back squat followed by vertical jump (BSQ-VJ), horizontal jump only (CT-HJ) and vertical jump only (CT-VJ). During the potentiated conditions participants had a rest interval of 5 minutes between the BSQ and VJ or HJ. Alpha-level was set a priori at 0.05. The results indicate that both vertical (p = 0.017) and horizontal (p = 0.003) jump were significantly increased (VJ = +5.51cm, HJ = +11.55cm). The present study helps indicate that muscular power performance can be improved in VJ and HJ using the PAP training phenomenon in collegiate ice hockey players.

While body image disturbances continue to be seen in individuals living in Western society, research has shown that both weight loss and exercise participation can decrease body image disturbance in both men and women. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of a weight management clinic on body perception of obese individuals. Thirty nine participants were a part of a three-month weight management program with caloric restrictive diets and weekly exercise recommendations. The 34-item Multidimensional Body Self Relation Questionnaire, Body Assessment Scale and Social Physique Anxiety Questionnaire were administered at baseline and 12 weeks. All physiological measurements were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks. Based on participant’s weight loss, they were divided into two groups: weight loss and no weight loss. A 2 (baseline, 12 week) X 2 (weight loss achieved, weight loss not achieved) repeated measures ANOVA was conducted with difference between ideal and current body position as the dependent variable to examine the relationship between weight loss and body perception. A 2 (baseline, 12 week) X 2 (weight loss achieved, weight loss not achieved) repeated measures ANOVA with social physique anxiety as the dependent variable was conducted to examine the relationship between weight loss goal achieved and body perception. A 2 (baseline, 12 week) X 2 (weight loss achieved, weight loss not achieved) repeated measures ANOVA with the MBRSQ-AS subscales as the dependent variable was conducted to examine the relationship between weight loss goal achieved and body perception. A Pearson correlation was run to predict weight loss from the MBSRQ-AS subscales, SPA and BAS. The results of this study indicate that there was a significant difference in body perception from baseline to 12 weeks, regardless of weight loss achieved by participants. Additionally, there was no correlation between weight loss and body perception variables.

Many athletes have started to specialize in a particular sport at a much younger age. To narrow down the population we looked into volleyball athletes that sport specialize at a younger age compared to those that wait until a later age. Looking into the long term effects on the athlete’s skill level, injury and burnout rates. This cross-sectional study took two days of data collections involving 27 participants. Testing consisting of sport specific testing, anthropometrics, and surveys to investigate for volleyball history, injury and burnout in participants. Data showed that athletes that have participated for more than 3 years had a higher vertical approach and standing jump. Along with their motor development, the t-test agility test showed they were able to change direction with more ease and at a faster rate than those athletes having played less. The self-reported data showed that athletes had more ankle injuries as compared to others and 12 out of the 18 athletes reported feeling burnout from the year round sport. Concluding that the athletes that start at an earlier age have more increased motor development leading to their ability to move with ease when demonstrating the sport specific skills. More data is needed to come to a conclusion about the injury and burnout rate in the sport-specific athletes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate sartorius activity and angles of hip flexion, hip external rotation, and knee extension. These variables were evaluated during the two phases between passé and full extension of a développé devant. Data were collected for both parallel and turned-out positions about 90° of hip flexion on the preferred leg, in a sample of collegiate dancers.

Findings of the present study suggest that the sartorius experiences greater changes in muscle activity as a result of greater changes in ROM. Additionally, it can be deduced that the sartorius’s contribution to hip external rotation might be largely responsible for the muscle’s greater activity observed in turnout versus parallel. However, distinction of how much muscular activity is distributed towards each action of the sartorius at a given time cannot be concluded due to limitations in the equipment used. Further research is needed to understand the développé devant.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 33.9% of U.S. adults are overweight and 35.1% are obese. Individuals with the highest rates of overweight and obesity are African Americans (48%) followed by Latinos (43%), who in many cases are also underserved. Regular physical activity and proper nutrition have many health benefits; however, overweight and obese undeserved individuals may not be aware of the available resources, nor have the financial means to partake in quality fitness and nutrition programing. Kinesiology and Nutrition students, on the other hand, have limited opportunities to provide fitness and nutrition programming to underserved communities while developing their well-being, character, and leadership strengths. Because of the dual-natured need, the Beach Community Wellness Program (BCWP) was created. The BCWP is a free fitness and nutrition intervention program taught by CSULB Kinesiology and Nutrition students. The program is offered to underserved citizens in the North Long Beach area. The purpose of this project was to provide a comprehensive synopsis of the BCWP that focuses on: 1) the design and implementation of BCWP; and 2) the program’s effects from both the adults and student perspectives.

The population of older adults in the United States is rapidly increasing. Falls are a major health concern among the older adult population, and there is an increasing need for more theory-driven fall risk reduction programs that are multifactorial, effective, and inexpensive. The Stay Well At Home (SWAH) program was a 16-week, in-home multifactorial fall risk reduction program that was implemented by trained lay facilitators. The development of this intervention was guided by the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA). The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the efficacy of SWAH program as a multifactorial program, to determine its effectiveness as a HAPA-guided intervention, and also to inform further program development of the SWAH program. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of SWAH recipients (N=15) at the conclusion of the 8-week in-home phase of the program. The purpose of the interviews was to learn about participant experiences with the program and changes they may have observed in themselves. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then thematically analyzed. Themes were also related back to HAPA constructs. The major themes reported by SWAH recipients included an overall increase in fall protective behaviors (100%) as well as improvement in gait (80%), balance (73%), and physical performance (53%). Recipients also responded positively to the SWAH program content and structure. Common barriers for SWAH recipients were health and motivation barriers (73%) and taking the time to exercise (67%). Analysis of the main themes in this study suggest that SWAH was effective at implementing the HAPA model with the exception of successfully implementing action planning activities. The SWAH program was perceived by the interviewed participants as effective in reducing overall fall risk and was fairly successful as a HAPA-guided intervention. Further, it was well received and viewed as beneficial by many SWAH recipients.

GLASS, STEPHEN MICHAEL, Ph.D. Strength, Balance, and Range of Motion as Modifiers of the Effect of External Load-Bearing on Functional Movement Behaviors in the Military Recruitment Population. (2015) Directed by Dr. Scott E. Ross. 172 pp. Clinical movement screens have become increasingly popular in strength and conditioning programs designed for the tactical athlete. Whereas conventionally administered movement screens are largely not sensitive to behaviors which impact soldierrelevant physical performance, recent evidence suggests that modified screens which incorporate external load-bearing strengthen the relationship between movement behaviors and performance outcomes. It remains unclear, however, which mechanisms may account for this improvement in association. Physical performance is considered a multidimensional construct influenced by several independent factors. Among the factors which influence military physical performance, movement screens may require high levels of strength, balance, and range of motion. This project used penalized interaction models to determine the role of strength, balance, and range of motion in modifying the effects of external load bearing on movement quality and movement. Additional confirmatory analyses examined differences in the abilities of FMS item scores to predict physical performance outcomes when those scores were obtained during control vs. external load-bearing conditions. Results suggest that the effect of load on movement complexity is modified by strength, balance, and range of motion whereas the effect on clinically rated movement quality is modified by only balance and range of motion. While the direction of the observed effects did not always coincide with our hypotheses, the present findings mirror those of previous research with respect to differential validity of weighted vs. control FMS item scores in predicting criterion performance measures.

Ergogenic aides are widely used by fitness enthusiast and athletes to increase performance. Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine (A-GPC) has demonstrated some initial promise in changing explosive performance. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if 6 days of supplementation with A-GPC would augment isometric force production compared to a placebo. Thirteen college aged males (Means ± SD; Age: 21.9 ± 2.2 yrs, Height: 180.3 ± 7.7 cm, Weight: 87.6 ± 15.6 kg; VO2 max: 40.08 ± 7.23 ml O2*Kg-1*min-1, Body Fat: 17.5 ± 4.6 %) gave written informed consent to participate in the study. The study was a double blind placebo controlled, cross-over design. The participants reported to the lab for an initial visit where they were familiarized with the isometric mid-thigh pull in a custom squat cage on a force platform and upper body isometric test against a high frequency load cell, and baseline measurements were taken for both. The participant then consumed either 600 mg per day of A-GPC or placebo, and at the end of 6 days, performed isometric mid-thigh pull and an upper body isometric test. A one week washout period was used before the participants baseline was re-measured and crossed over to the other treatment. The A-GPC treatment resulted in significantly greater isometric mid-thigh pull peak force change from baseline (t= 1.76, p=0.044) compared with placebo (A-GPC: 98.8.±236.9N vs Placebo: -39.0±170.9N). For the upper body test, the A- GPC treatment trended towards greater change from baseline force production (A-GPC: 50.9±167.2N Placebo: -14.9±114.9N), but failed to obtain statistical significance (t=1.16, p=0.127). The study found that A-GPC is effective at increasing lower body force production after 6 days of supplementation. Sport performance coaches can consider adding A-GPC to the diet of speed and power athletes to enhance muscle performance.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD) is characterized as excessive lipid accumulation in the liver in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. NAFLD is generally considered benign; however, at an undefined threshold, lipid accumulation becomes toxic; i.e., lipotoxic, triggering an inflammatory response progressing to steatohepatitis or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Currently, pharmaceutical interventions provide limited benefits for the treatment of NAFLD and NASH. Lifestyle modifications such as caloric restriction and increasing physical activity to promote weight-loss may provide a more effective therapeutic approach. It remains unclear; however, if a negative caloric balance induced by diet alone or in combination with physical activity is the most effective strategy for reducing hepatic inflammation during weight-loss. Purpose: To determine if weight-loss by caloric restriction when combined with unrestricted physical activity will show lower expression of hepatic inflammation in obese, male C57BL/6 mice when compared to diet alone. Methods: To induce obesity, 8-week old, male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) (60% kcal from fat) for 10 weeks. An age-matched group of male mice were fed a low-fat diet (LFD) (10% kcal from fat) for the entire 18 weeks of the study, which served as the lean controls. After 10-weeks, mice fed the high-fat diet were randomly assigned to one of three groups for 8-weeks: 1) a high-fat diet , 2) a low-fat diet (DIET) (10% kcal from fat) or 3) a low-fat diet plus ad libitum access to a running wheel (DIET+PA). At the end of the 8 weeks, mice were sacrificed using approved humane methods and plasma and hepatic tissue were collected. Plasma was analyzed for circulating concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The degree of insulin resistance was estimated using the vi homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Hepatic total lipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol were measured to characterize the degree of lipotoxicity in the tissue. To determine changes in the inflammatory profile of the liver, the expression of hepatic levels of interleukin 1 β(IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) mRNA were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Results: DIET+PA mice had significantly (P<0.05) lower body mass and hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol levels than the LFD, HFD, and DIET groups. The addition of exercise in the DIET+PA group lead to significantly (P<0.05) lower expression of IFN-γ mRNA when compared to HFD mice. These positive changes in hepatic inflammatory profiles were not seen with diet alone. In addition DIET+PA mice had significantly higher expression of IL-6 mRNA and IL-1β in the liver than HFD mice. Conclusion: The addition of exercise to a calorie restrictive diet promoted a reduction of hepatic pro-inflammatory factors and increase of anti-inflammatory factors greater than diet alone. These findings suggest that exercise should be a key component to the prevention and treatment of NAFLD and prevention of NASH.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to observe the consequence of sports-related concussions on athletes who were evaluated initially in a prolonged time frame regarding symptom recovery, cognitive recovery, postural stability recovery, and neuropsychological recovery to athletes who were evaluated immediately. This is a descriptive, retrospective chart review of physically active athletes whom were evaluated on an outpatient basis by licensed neuropsychologist at a Physical Therapy Clinic. Data was extracted and this study showed that ?prolonged? athletes experienced more symptoms at time of injury as well as time of initial evaluation compared to ?typical-acute? athletes. Furthermore, ?prolonged? athletes performed significantly worse on the ?eyes open, firm surface? portion of a balance assessment as well the visual memory composite on ImPACT. This study concludes immediate help sought from a licensed specialist in concussions is important to prevent delayed recovery.

This study examined the physiological changes resulting from an eight-week training program on a lower body positive pressure treadmill (LBPPT) at three different levels of body weight (BW). Thirty-three healthy college aged students (age: 25 ±7 years) participated in this study. Participants performed a graded exercise test (GXT) and trained in one of three groups with differing percentages of BW. Following the progressive training program, another GXT was performed to assess the effects of training. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the absolute change among groups from pre-training to post-training. The 100% BW group improved their relative VO_2peak when compared to the 50% BW group (p = 0.02). Relative VO_2peak for the 75% BW group was not different than either the 100% BW (p = 0.14) or the 50% BW group (p = 0.66). Based on the results, it appears that running at a BW of 75% or less results in no improvement in aerobic capacity when compared to running at 100% BW.

The purpose of this study was to determine if different cueing techniques could alter knee mechanics during the cutting maneuver. Twenty competitive female soccer players (age 21.9 ± 3.3 years, height 1.68 ± 0.3 m; mass 68.2 ± 8.2 kg) participated in this study. Each participant performed three trials for each cue: verbal (VER), visual (VIS), and kinesthetic (KIN). A significant omnibus F test was observed for knee flexion range of motion (ROM) and peak knee flexion (PKF), respectively, ( F (3,54) = 5.009, p = 0.004) (F (3,54) = 3.769, p = 0.016). Post hoc comparisons revealed that the KIN cue resulted in higher peak knee (PKF; p =0.048) and knee flexion ROM; p =0.014), while VIS cue also results in higher (PKF; p =0.044) and higher (PKROM; p = .010). Effects can be seen at the knee, hip and torso using different cueing techniques during the two-step cutting maneuver.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of training at varying levels of body weight support on running biomechanics. The 8-week training intervention had volunteers (n=33) complete 24 sessions running at either no support (100BW), 25% body weight support (75BW), or 50% body weight support (50BW). Video footage was captured of the runners’ pre- and post- training at the three levels of BW support and stride kinematics were determined. Differences in stride characteristics and joint kinematics between the three BW support conditions and two time points of data collection were evaluated using a 3 x 2 x 3 mixed ANOVA. The 75BW and 50BW group elongated their stride and quickened their cadence as a result to training when evaluated at 75BW and 50BW. Joint kinematics did not change as a result to training. Gait was not altered when returning to 100BW after training at 75BW or 100BW.

In the learning and cognitive fields it has been well established that a two-way interaction between instructor and participant is more beneficial for learning. Within Motor Control and Learning, this process comes to fruition through what is known as self-controlled practice. The purpose of this study is to determine how goals influence the process of self-controlled practice. It was hypothesized that there will be a difference in learning between the self-controlled group (SC) and a yoked group (Y) as well as a difference in learning between the SC groups with respect to timing goal. One hundred and twenty young adults participated in this experiment. Participants in the self-control group were provided control over the amount of practice trials they completed during practice while participants in the yoked group received the same amount of practice trials as the individuals in the self-control group. Additionally, self-control participants were grouped according to timing goals. Error score measures were collected to assess changes in performance. Results indicated partial confirmation of differences due to stringency of the timing goal, as well as, no differences between self-control and yoked groups.

The capstone of the Doctor of Athletic Training program is a Dissertation of Clinical Practice Improvement (DoCPI). The DoCPI is designed to examine and articulate an athletic trainer’s evolution as a scholarly practitioner. Included in this extensive document is a Plan of Advanced Practice, which encompasses an understanding of current clinical practices, professional goals, strengths and weaknesses, and a blueprint for my clinical practice future. Reflecting on patient-reported outcomes and clinical strengths and weaknesses combined to contribute to the chapters that are contained within this DoCPI. The final research multi-site study reflects the philosophy of the DAT in its mission to engage in action research and utilize practice-based evidence to address local clinical practice challenges and enhance clinical decision making. The exploration of the effects of Mulligan Concept® positional sustained natural apophyseal glides on mechanical neck pain within the athletic population has provided a means to directly treat non-traumatic musculoskeletal injury of the cervicothoracic region without reluctance. The point of engaging in action research is not to discover new knowledge or argue theories but rather to obtain insight that has practical applications to the solution of a specific problem. The following DoCPI offers evidence of how action research can be integrated and applied in a clinically meaningful way as well as depict my adventure from a novice athletic trainer to advanced practitioner.

Regular physical activity (PA) in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) shows PA trends among adolescents (defined as 13–18 yrs.) decrease such that the majority of adolescents are not participating in sufficient activity to meet recommended guidelines. Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors that are present in adolescence have a tendency to track into adulthood. Youth who are overweight tend to have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors than their normal weight peers.

Rural adolescents may not be engaging in PA as often as their urban counterparts due to barriers of their rural lifestyle. Many rural communities are characterized by vast distances, low socioeconomic status, transportation challenges, and low public funding levels for facilities, programs, and other public amenities. Rural residency, especially in the southern U.S. has been associated with low levels of PA. The rural population is very unique in that they have specific barriers to PA. These may be social, financial, transportation, personal (i.e. lack of time, resources, caregiver responsibilities) or environmental factors (i.e., transportation, inadequate programs, lack of facilities).

The purpose of this study was to extend previous findings by surveying a large sample of rural Alabama adolescents regarding barriers to PA and surveying parents and school administrators in this regard as well. Also, this study evaluated the effect that age, race/ethnicity, gender, and SES have on barriers to PA. This study did indeed demonstrate several demographic differences concerning barriers to PA. Additionally, it demonstrated several differences between students, parents, and administrators regarding perceived barriers to PA. Finally, this study provided additional data concerning common barriers to PA reported in the literature. Gender and SES differences were found to be the two covariates that were barriers to exercise and PA in rural West Alabama adolescents.

Athletes face a significantly higher risk of developing clinical eating disorders compared to nonathletes (Petrie & Greenleaf, 2007; Sundgot-Borgen & Klugland Torstveit, 2004). One risk factor for the development of eating disorders is body dissatisfaction, which is when an individual has a subjective, negative view of their physical body (Stice & Shaw, 2002). Researchers in the field are calling for future research to examine factors that can be modified and strengthened through targeted interventions. Two such factors are self-efficacy and trait self-control. Self-efficacy is the belief is one’s ability to organize the necessary steps to achieve desired goals (Bandura, 1997). Trait self-control is the enduring ability to interrupt undesired behavioral tendencies and resist acting upon them (Baumeister, Vohs & Tice, 2007). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between body dissatisfaction, self-efficacy and trait self-control. One hundred and five NCAA division I and division II athletes completed an online questionnaire containing demographic information and measures for body dissatisfaction, self-efficacy and trait self-control. Pearson correlations found a significant positive relationship between trait self-control and self-efficacy. Significant negative relationships were found between body dissatisfaction and trait self-control and body dissatisfaction and self-efficacy. Additionally, two separate one-way ANOVAs were run assessing the effect of sex and division on body dissatisfaction, self-efficacy and trait self-control. Female athletes were found to have higher amounts of body dissatisfaction than male athletes and athletes in division II schools also had more body dissatisfaction than those in division I schools. Future research should examine differences in the sporting environment as well as instrumentation that better satisfies the needs of male and female athletes.

Alanine has long been recognized as an important substrate for hepatic gluconeogenesis through the glucose-alanine (Cahill) cycle which plays an important role in the maintenance of euglycemia during times of caloric deficiency. The Cahill cycle involves the transamination of pyruvate by the amino group of glutamate, producing α-ketoglutarate and alanine. Alanine formed in skeletal muscle during exercise can be sent to the liver where it is used to produce glucose and safely remove the NH₃₊ as urea. This process is catalyzed by the glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) enzyme, of which two distinct isoforms exist: cytosolic GPT1 and mitochondrial GPT2. However, the precise role of these different enzymes in alanine metabolism remains to be fully elucidated and is an ongoing subject of debate. Likewise, the potential efficacy of exogenous alanine administration as a strategy to improve skeletal muscle glycogen recovery following exercise has not been examined. The following studies were conducted to: 1) evaluate the metabolic effects of L-alanine administration following a bout of exhaustive exercise and 2) determine the role hepatic GPT2 plays in gluconeogenesis from alanine during exercise.

Administration of L-alanine to C57BL/6 mice kept fasted after an exhaustive bout of exercise did not significantly alter glycogen content in the gastrocnemius during 1 hour of recovery; despite the observation that blood glucose concentrations were elevated at this time compared to mice treated with sterile saline. In addition, treatment with L-alanine resulted in significantly increased blood lactate concentrations at 30 and 60 minutes of recovery.

Liver specific GPT2–/– mice are overtly normal and survive to adulthood with normal exercise tolerance. Gene expression analysis by qPCR reveals LS-GPT2–/– mice have higher levels of GPT1 mRNA, which may act to compensate for the loss of GPT2. Indeed, liver specific deletion of GPT2 and the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 2 (MPC2) resulted in reduced exercise time to exhaustion. Impaired gluconeogenesis was also observed in double knockout mice following 1 hour of recovery from exercise in the fasted state.

These studies demonstrate that immediately following exercise alanine is not a limiting substrate for skeletal muscle glycogen replenishment or hepatic gluconeogenesis. In addition, we show that loss of GPT2 alone is not sufficient to reduce exercise performance or gluconeogenesis due to compensatory changes in gene expression.

Over the last 40 years, a new paradigm has been posited where the variability observed in physiological systems is a consequence of the interactions occurring between the various components that affect the system. While quantifying the magnitude of variability can be useful, analyses that measure how the structure of the variability (dynamics) changes over time have been posited to reflect the health of the system. Many researchers interpret the results of these analyses to be indicative of the system’s adaptive capacity. While there is ample indirect evidence to support this notion, a lack of direct findings has left the literature lacking a definitive foundation to move forward with this interpretation. While many physiological systems are too invasive to safely perturb, the movementbased systems are routinely perturbed in real-world environments without dire consequences. Of particular interest is the locomotor system, which is constantly challenged in real-world environments via slips and trips. Furthermore, the locomotor system can be safely and validly perturbed in the laboratory. A range of locomotor dynamics-based measures have been used to describe differences between various clinical populations, but none have been directly associated with a person’s ability to remain upright when perturbed. The objectives of this study are to (1) examine the relationship between locomotor dynamics/stability to overall fall-risk prior, (2) examine how locomotor dynamics relate to the ability to recover from a trip via global stability, and (3) determine the extent to which an acute trip-training session alters locomotor dynamics and global stability. Forty healthy, older adults (75.2 ± 4.9 yrs) were recruited by convenience from the local community. The participants completed a variety of clinical assessments in order to determine overall fall-risk. Afterwards, they participated in three walking trials consisting of: 1) a 15-minute unperturbed walking session, 2) a 10-minute unperturbed walking session (control) or a 10-minute trip-training session (intervention), and 3) a 15-minute unperturbed walking session. Various measurements of locomotor dynamics and adaptability were calculated from full-body 3-D kinematics collected at 100Hz. Multiple regression and repeated measure analysis of variance models were calculated to determine to what extent locomotor dynamics and adaptability relate to one another and how an acute trip-training session affects their relationship. The results from our first experiment suggested that locomotor dynamics and stability during steady state do not significantly relate to overall fall-risk. However, the second experiment showed that locomotor dynamics are predictive of an individual’s ability to recover from a trip. Our last experiment showed the feasibility of using an acute trip-training session to alter locomotor dynamics and stability. These data represent the first direct evidence of physiological variability being indicative of adaptive capacity in the locomotor system. Further investigation will be necessary to determine the robustness of the analyses to indicate adaptive capacity across perturbations and populations.

Over the past decade, there have been many studies (e.g., Pegoraro, Scott, & Burch, 2018) focused on Facebook and the sport industry, but no known research has examined how National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports teams employ this social media platform for recruiting purposes. With NCAA social media legislation undergoing an overhaul in 2016, teams and coaches are now enjoying newfound freedoms in communicating with recruits. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to employ a content analysis to examine the social networking practices in Division I women’s golf. Using data from 40 programs, the study examined the content and themes of Facebook posts to measure how programs utilized social media to promote themselves and interact with recruits and stakeholders. The study analyzed the usage patterns based on coaching staff demographics and investigated whether the use of ancillary components of programs’ Facebook posts led to greater engagement. Furthermore, the investigation examined the impact of team rankings on the content posted. In analyzing the multimedia content posted, multiple one-way ANOVA were conducted and revealed that likes, reactions, and comments differed significantly ( p < .01) according to post type and post theme. Tukey’s HSD test found significant differences between mean number of likes for several post types at the p < 0.05 level. Chi-square analyses yielded significant findings between ranking and post theme (p < .01), between coaching staff members’ gender and post type ( p < .05), and between the age of coaching staff members and post type and post theme (p < .01). Based on these and other findings, recommendations for scholars (e.g., the need for researchers to extend the development of social media study in sport) and practitioners (e.g., the need for coaches to have a more thorough understanding of the trends in social media so they can capitalize on the promotional and interactive opportunities) are provided.

This study manipulated common practices variables of contextual interference (CI) and frequencies of augmented feedback in order to determine the optimal practice conditions for beginner and experienced performers of a computer-based task. Twenty participants performed 36 trials in the acquisition of a task that involved moving a computer mouse to click 10 on-screen targets as quickly and accurately as possible. Acquisition trials consisted of either blocked practice with knowledge of results (KR) feedback provided on every trial or random practice with a faded feedback schedule. The extent of learning that occurred was gauged by 24-hour retention and transfer tests of two dependent variables: average response time and average accuracy. In line with the predictions of the challenge point framework, beginner participants demonstrated improved learning through low levels of CI and KR feedback after every trial, while experienced participants benefitted from a high CI and faded KR feedback environment. These findings provide insight about the viability of the challenge point framework and how practice can be structured in distinctive ways to foster skill learning for performers of different skill levels.

Older adults are at a high risk for falls and diseases that can be prevented or controlled by achieving the recommended daily amounts of activity as outlined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2008). Despite this knowledge, older adults continue to be the least active demographic in the United States, not only placing them at higher risk for disease, but increased risk of falls and decreases in quality of life (Bean, Vora, & Frontera, 2004; Nelson, Rejeski, Blair, Duncan & Judge, 2007). The objective for this project was to implement a modified martial arts program for older adults over the age of 60, and determine its impact on physical performance measures and self-efficacy. Testing the working hypothesis that participating in a modified martial arts program increased strength, endurance, balance and self-efficacy of adults over the age of 60 achieved this aim. The approach to testing this hypothesis was to conduct a pre-post intervention study, where participants over the age of 60 were tested on the Sit to Stand, 8-foot Up and Go, Arm Curl, 4-point Balance Scale and Self-efficacy for Exercise Scale (SEE) before and after a 12-week modified martial arts program. The rationale of this research was based on preliminary findings that strongly suggested that martial arts programs have positive effects on participants, but studies had not fully addressed older populations or the modifications needed to make older adult training more effective. New findings in this regard provided further evidence of the effectiveness of a modified martial arts program in increasing the muscle strength, muscle endurance, balance and self-efficacy in adults over the age of 60. This project is significant in that it identified the extent to which martial arts training could be a safe, effective and engaging exercise opportunity, thereby encouraging greater participation in physical activity among older adults.

Improper movement patterns during landing could place excess stress on joints. Correction of landing mechanics is necessary to decrease the risk of injury. Thirty-seven recreationally active college students participated in the study; 16 males (age 21.8 ± 2.08 years; height 174.5 ± 9.55 cm; mass 76.73 ± 11.70 kg) and 21 females (age 21 ± 1.22 years; height 162.9 ± 7.724 cm; mass 65.04 ± 15.04 kg). The participants performed 12 trials of a drop vertical jump (DVJ) task; three trials of each: baseline (BAS), kinesthetic (KIN) cue, verbal (VER) cue, and visual (VIS) cue. A repeated measures ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction determined that mean LESS scores were statistically significantly different between pre- and post-cueing for KIN, VER, and VIS (F(2.856, 102.799) = 69.608 p < .05). A repeated measures ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction determined that mean peak ground reaction forces (GRF) were statistically significantly different between pre- and post-cueing for VER and VIS for the left leg (F(2.462, 88.618) = 5.931 p < .05) and VER for the right leg (F(1.986, 71.498) = 3.104 p < .05). Cueing can be beneficial to improve landing mechanics and decrease risk of injuries.