Matching Items (2)
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Effect of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Sports Performance

Description
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown benefits beyond its original therapeutic application, though there is a lack of research into these benefits in healthy and athletic populations. To address this gap in the VNS literature, the present study addresses the feasibility and possible efficacy of transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) in improving…

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown benefits beyond its original therapeutic application, though there is a lack of research into these benefits in healthy and athletic populations. To address this gap in the VNS literature, the present study addresses the feasibility and possible efficacy of transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) in improving performance and various biometrics during two athletic tasks: golf tee shots and baseball pitching. Performance, cortical dynamics, anxiety measures, muscle excitation, and heart rate characteristics were assessed before and after stimulation using electroencephalography (EEG), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and electrocardiography (ECG) during the baseball and golf tasks as well as electromyography (EMG) for muscle excitation in the golf participants. Golfers exhibited increased perceived quality of each repetition (independent from outcome) and an improvement in state and trait anxiety after stimulation. Golfers in the active stimulation group also showed a greater reduction in right upper trapezius muscle excitation when compared to the sham stimulation group. Baseball pitchers exhibited an increase in perceived quality of each repetition (independent from outcome) after active stimulation but not an improvement of state and trait anxiety. No significant effects of stimulation Priming, stimulation Type, or the Priming×Type interaction were seen in heart rate, EEG, or performance in the golf or baseball tasks. The present study supports the feasibility of tVNS in sports and athletic tasks and suggests the need for future research to investigate further into the effects of tVNS on the performance, psychologic, and physiologic attributes of athletes during competition.
ContributorsLindley, Kyle (Author) / Tyler, William J (Thesis advisor) / Wyckoff, Sarah (Committee member) / Buneo, Christopher (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
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Pediatric Shoulder Rehabilitation

Description

Objectives:
As a result of increased participation in competitive sports, shoulder instability, subluxations, and dislocations are common injuries in the adolescent athlete. These injuries worsen when athletes over train, make physical contact, and do not take enough time for rest between injuries. Protocols and therapies need to be implemented to prevent…

Objectives:
As a result of increased participation in competitive sports, shoulder instability, subluxations, and dislocations are common injuries in the adolescent athlete. These injuries worsen when athletes over train, make physical contact, and do not take enough time for rest between injuries. Protocols and therapies need to be implemented to prevent subsequent injuries, including progressive measurement of rehabilitation and return to play (RTP) outcomes. The goal of treatment for these athletes is to return them to their previous level of performance and prevent re-injury.

The purpose of this quality improvement evidence-based project was to determine if the use of the Pediatric Adolescent Shoulder Survey (PASS) affects return to play. The aims of this project were to determine if there was a change in return to play (RTP) outcomes, compare length of RTP between operative and non-operative groups, and determine if PASS scores improved over time.

Methods:
The PASS is a 13 item, patient reported outcomes (PROs) survey assessing symptoms, limitations, compensatory mechanisms, and emotional distress. It is reliable and valid for athletes who have acute shoulder injuries and decreased range of motion or strength.

After obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from the institution and university, providers at a southwestern sports medicine clinic were educated on administration and scoring of the survey. Surveys were administered to athletes ages 8-18 who presented with shoulder injuries at intervals. Retrospective and prospective chart reviews were obtained at baseline (control group) and post intervention (intervention group). Return to play (RTP) days and Pediatric Adolescent Shoulder Survey scores were recorded.

Results:
Independent t-tests were calculated to compare mean RTP days from control and intervention groups, RTP for operative and non-operative groups within the control and intervention groups. Statistically significant t (20) = -2.827, p = 0.03) differences were noted between operative group for the intervention group, (n=9), M=136.00 (SD=51.49) days vs non-operative group, M= 83.68 (SD=31.78) days. No statistically significant difference between control group M =118.68 (SD=55.95) days and intervention group M=107.52 (48.77) days was noted. PASS scores showed improvement over time.

Conclusion:
The PASS instrument may positively affect RTP. There was a significant change in RTP for the whole group. Non-operative patients RTP sooner than operative for the whole sample. PASS scores improved over time for all patients.
ContributorsKunz, Brittany (Author) / O'Haver, Judith (Thesis advisor) / Uri-Glover, Johanna (Thesis advisor)
Created2018-04-30