Matching Items (22)
Description
Athletes at any level of competition face high-stress environments in which they are still expected to perform at a high level. Because of this, athletes require mental toughness in order to skillfully perform and hopefully outperform their opponents. Mental toughness in sport is a term used to describe a variety of psychological skills that an athlete utilizes that allows them to perform better and more consistently than their competitors. This study was designed to determine whether mental toughness distinguished pole vaulters at three different levels of competition. It was hypothesized that post-collegiate athletes would have higher mental toughness scores than collegiate athletes who would subsequently score higher than high school athletes. Two questionnaires were given to high school, collegiate, and post-collegiate pole vaulters (n = 65) to determine total mental toughness scores as well as scores for eight different subcategories of mental toughness including motivation, self-belief, intensity, focus, control, coping, thriving on pressure, and assertiveness. ANOVA and multiple comparisons demonstrated that mental toughness differentiated post-collegiate pole vaulters from high school pole vaulters, but not between collegiate and post-collegiate. Additionally, collegiate and post-collegiate vaulters scored significantly higher than high school vaulters in the subcategories of motivation and control. Data also showed that male competitors demonstrated significantly higher mental toughness scores than female athletes on both questionnaires. Based on the research, knowing that mental toughness scores differentiate high school pole vaulters from elite pole vaulters (particularly in the areas of control and motivation) could set the foundation for training programs and targeted psychological interventions for younger athletes.
ContributorsWarren, Hannah Victoria (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / Feser, Erin (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
Mental toughness is frequently cited as a key psychological component for superior athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in mental toughness exist between female soccer players at different levels of collegiate competition: intramural, club, and varsity. Based on the available literature, a progressive relationship between mental toughness and level of competition was hypothesized. A total of sixty-two athletes (n=62) were recruited from the intramural, club and varsity soccer teams and administered the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMQT). Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variances (ANOVA) revealed no significant differences between total mental toughness or subcategories (confidence, constancy, control) of mental toughness between athletes of different levels. Though these findings were surprising, there are several possible explanations as to why no relationship could be established. The study controlled for age and gender which may have proved to be a limitation. Other limitations included a small sample size, a brief questionnaire and the timing of the administration of the questionnaire. Future research should examine gender and sport differences in mental toughness across the three collegiate competitive levels as well as examine how/if mental toughness can change over the course of a competitive season.
ContributorsBreunlin, Lina Irene (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an intervention involving physical practice combined with motor imagery and physical practice alone on swimming performance for fifty-yard freestyle. Forty-five male and female high school swimmers were participants on two different high school teams. One team was the treatment group, which included the participants partaking in both motor imagery and physical practice. The other team served as the age matched control group, and the swimmers participated in physical practice only. The combined practice group performed motor imagery three times per week and physical practice five times per week. The physical practice only group performed physical practice five times per week. Each group performed their respective tasks for 9-weeks. Pre-, half-point, and post-tests consisted of a timed fifty-yard freestyle. The treatment group produced significantly faster times on the percent change in swim time scores in comparison to the control group for the half-time to post-time and pre-time to post-time score (p=.000). The treatment group also produced better performances on the pre-time to half-time scores, however, the results were not statistically significant (p = .009). Findings, therefore, support the effectiveness of motor imagery in enhancing swim performance, when combined with physical practice.
ContributorsSears, Mychaela Leduc (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
This observational study explored the motivational factors for recreational cyclists participating in a charity cycling event held by a Christian based nonprofit, the Fuller Center. Participants (n=22; men: n=10; women: n=12) cycled at least one 302 mile segment of a bike ride distancing the whole West Coast (1,657 miles). The purpose of the study was to determine the motives for the cyclists' participation and to then classify those motives as intrinsic or extrinsic. A scale used to measure motivation of marathoners was transcribed to match those of the cycling participants to assess motivation. The participants were divided into 4 groups based on self-reported experience levels, and it was shown that across all types of experience levels, both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators were expressed but with greater emphasis on intrinsic factors. The most commonly indicated intrinsic motivation subcategories were life meaning, personal goal achievement, and affiliation, with affiliation being recognized by every individual. The most commonly indicated extrinsic subcategories were competition, recognition, health orientation, and weight concern. Though each rider's story was signature to the individual, the very specific religious background and philanthropic mission of the Fuller Center Bike Adventure weighed heavily into each individual's motivation alongside the classified intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Therefore, this research offered valuable data about motivation of recreational cyclists but future studies should focus on a less specific population.
ContributorsReyes, Naomi Gabrielle (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
The objective of this project was to complete an in-depth design study for the creation of a prophylactic knee brace. Background literature research analysis demonstrated that soft tissue injuries of the knee were the most prominent injuries related to the knee joint. The literature exhibited that the leading injury of the knee joint consisted of ACL lesions and meniscal tears. Utilizing the information obtained, it was determined that the objective of the knee brace was to emphasize prophylaxis of soft tissue injuries. As such, further analysis was performed in order to analyze injury mechanisms and knee joint biomechanics that would be relevant in injury prevention. An epidemiological review was also conducted regarding current braces that existed in the market today. These results were accounted for when formulating a novel design for the prophylactic device. The key feature of the brace is the implementation of shear-thickening fluid, a non-Newtonian fluid that is able to exhibit fluid-like properties at rest and solid-like properties when impacted by an outside force. This unique property is ideal for a knee brace for its enhanced adaptability and protective effects. A three dimensional digital prototype was designed in a SolidWorks software as the final result. Future endeavors consist of developing a physical prototype and conducting stress and strain analysis of the device in addition to testing its efficacy in human trials. After completion of testing and necessary revisions the goal will be to patent the technology and commercialize the brace into a device available on the public market.
ContributorsCarlow, Niko (Co-author) / Tran, Aaron (Co-author) / Kingsbury, Jeffrey (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-12
Description
Research indicates patient adherence to physical therapy home exercise programs is low and this is confirmed anecdotally by people working in the field. Many patients do not improve at the desired rate because they are only coming into the clinic for two to three days a week and then do not continue with their exercises at home. This thesis project was focused on designing a mobile application that would better help physical therapists facilitate home exercises for their patients. The goals of this application were to make it easier for patients to remember what they need to do and how often they need to do it, to increase patient improvements by making it easier to access and complete assigned exercises, and to make the physical therapist more efficient and effective by assigning the exercises through a program that can be easily altered. In order to create this application, research on self-efficacy, adherence, and behavior strategies and theories was collected. Then, interviews with physical therapists and patients were completed to determine what content should be added to the application for patients to be successful and to determine what features they believed would best facilitate exercise adherence. Lastly, the application and its features were designed based on the collected research and interviews.
ContributorsMoran, Alyssa Marie (Author) / Broman, Tannah (Thesis director) / Feser, Erin (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
In the western medicine, there are many forms of medicines and therapies that have not yet been formally recognized by major government health organizations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These therapies are also considered quite controversial by health-care workers within our western society. As such, the implications of these medicines from a health/economics view show that insurance agencies have not formally added them to policies. In this documentary, we will explain and analyze the function and purpose of stem cell therapy (STT) injections and the use of biologics, which is defined as the medication produced from our own blood and proteins. We will fill in the gaps with knowledge regarding regenerative medicine, such as the functions and properties of stem cells and its lack of standardization in therapeutics. After providing further knowledge on these topics, we will transition into the health/economic perspective encompassing insurance coverage, government funding, FDA regulation and its potential future.
ContributorsPremji, Navid (Author) / Kantor, Daniel (Co-author) / Broman, Tannah (Thesis director) / Stecher, Chad (Thesis director) / Gruber, Diane (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor)
Created2023-05
Description
In the western medicine, there are many forms of medicines and therapies that have not yet been formally recognized by major government health organizations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These therapies are also considered quite controversial by health-care workers within our western society. As such, the implications of these medicines from a health/economics view show that insurance agencies have not formally added them to policies. In this documentary, we will explain and analyze the function and purpose of stem cell therapy (STT) injections and the use of biologics, which is defined as the medication produced from our own blood and proteins. We will fill in the gaps with knowledge regarding regenerative medicine, such as the functions and properties of stem cells and its lack of standardization in therapeutics. After providing further knowledge on these topics, we will transition into the health/economic perspective encompassing insurance coverage, government funding, FDA regulation and its potential future.
ContributorsKantor, Daniel (Author) / Premji, Navid (Co-author) / Broman, Tannah (Thesis director) / Stecher, Chad (Thesis director) / Gruber, Diane (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / The Sidney Poitier New American Film School (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2023-05
Description
Many children with disabilities need physical therapy treatment but it can be difficult to instruct patients with restricted or limited communication. Most exercise cards and depictions used in communicating instruction to pediatric special needs patients are not representative of children with disabilities. This project aimed to create inclusive physical therapy exercise cards depicting children with disabilities. The goal of these cards was to help communicate instructions and motivate children to perform their exercises in clinical settings. The exercise selection was based on observations from working with children with disabilities in a pediatric physical therapy clinic. As a result, photos of children with developmental disabilities were taken performing exercises and subsequently made into cards and provided to physical therapists (PT). The PT’s used the cards for at least a week and reported on their functionality. The feedback from PT’s regarding the use of exercise cards in therapy sessions was overwhelmingly positive. With the positive feedback from the PT’s, the cards will be published and donated to pediatric physical therapy clinics in Arizona.
ContributorsMack, Sarah (Author) / Hart, Teresa (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The goal of this creative project was to create a card-based game relevant to a functional anatomy course. This game would facilitate learning of the muscles, their origins and insertions, and the joint actions to which they strongly contribute. In order to create an effective study tool for memorization and retention, we utilized aspects of cognitive load theory, as well as emotional design principles, including gamification. We focused on the three types of cognitive load: (1) intrinsic cognitive load (the inherent complexity of the learning material), (2) germane cognitive load (the capacity of working memory to create cognitive schema), and (3) extraneous cognitive load (aspects of a learning task that do not contribute to the learning goal). Our goals for effective game design were to increase germane load, decrease intrinsic load, and decrease extraneous load. Additionally, emotional design principles and gamification were used to elicit positive emotions regarding the learning material to increase the amount of working memory load dedicated to learning, rather than extraneous processing.
ContributorsMacariola, Gabrielle Ro (Author) / Broman, Tannah (Thesis director) / Hoffner, Kristin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2022-05