Matching Items (322)
Description
This study examined the relationships between the amount of physical activity engagement and two sets of health-related tests: measures of physical fitness (abdominal curl-ups, push-ups, handgrip strength, hip flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness) as well as measures of motor skill performance (kicking, throwing, jumping, hopping, running, and standing from a supine position) in mid-life women (ages 45-65). Physical activity engagement was assessed using 7-day accelerometer readings and the Stanford Brief Activity Survey. Motor skill performance was assessed using scores of maximum kicking, throwing, jumping, hopping, and running speeds and maximum jumping distance. Physical fitness was assessed using scores of maximum abdominal curl-ups, push-ups, handgrip strength, hip flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Results suggest that regular participation in moderate lifestyle, walking, and vigorous physical activity are related to better performances in curl-ups, push-ups, cardiorespiratory fitness on a submaximal treadmill test, kicking, throwing, and transitioning from a supine position to standing. These data represent the feasibility of selected motor skills and physical fitness tests for mid-life women and suggest that a relationship may be present between selected motor skills and health-related physical fitness measures and physical activity.
ContributorsHouse, Hannah Elizabeth (Author) / Ainsworth, Barbara (Thesis director) / Der Ananian, Cheryl (Committee member) / Stodden, David (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
The purpose of the present study was to determine if a relationship exists between adaptive patterns of causal attributions, adherence, and outcome success in physical therapy behavior. Adaptive casual attributions were defined as internal, controllable, and stable attributions as per Weiner's Attribution Theory of Motivation. Participants were seeking physical therapy for a post-surgical knee injury, with (n=3). Attributions were measured using the CDSII questionnaire, and outcome success was measured by the KOOS questionnaire to assess various dimensions of knee functionality. The respective physical therapist for the patient also completed the RAdMAT questionnaire to measure adherence. The data collected for all participants was analyzed qualitatively, with some emphasis on quantitative findings. Results showed mixed evidence for a relationship between adaptive attributions and adherence across the three participants. A trend toward a relationship between adaptive attributions and outcome success was observed in one participant. In addition, it was observed that adherence does play an indirect role in relating adaptive attributions and outcome success for physical therapy. Conclusions drawn from this pilot study should be used to further educate physical therapists and respective patients in how to improve adherence and experience positive outcomes for rehabilitation.
ContributorsDougher, Amelia Jane (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / Shaibi, Stefany (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
Past research has indicated that the dominant arm produces more efficient interactive torque control during multi-joint movements. In addition, a bimanual arm movement study found that the dominant arm produced more circular trajectories during circular drawing movements, particularly during fast speed conditions. The current study serves to determine whether statistical trajectory analysis of circular drawing patterns can be used as an objective indicator of handedness. The experiment involved subjects performing unimanual circle drawing movements in both arms at two different speeds. The subjects were given handedness questionnaires to separate them into Right-Handed, Left-Handed, and Mixed-Handed categories for data analysis. The movements were tracked by optoelectronic cameras, and a paired T-test comparing the trajectories in each arm established statistical differences in performance. Right-Handed subjects had significant differences in the trajectories of each arm in which the right arm movements produced more circular trajectories. This was more pronounced in fast movements. Left-Handed subjects had no significant differences among arms in movements of either speed, likely due to a low sample size, although the trend in the fast conditions was that the left arm movements were more circular. Mixed-Handed subjects tended to produce more circular trajectories in right arm movements, which reached statistical significance in both conditions. These results indicate that this test could potentially be used as an objective measure of handedness, but more research with stronger statistical significance according to the hypotheses would need to be conducted to confirm the trends observed.
ContributorsIvanhoe, Aaron Mandel (Author) / Dounskaia, Natalia (Thesis director) / Ringenbach, Shannon (Committee member) / Wang, Wanyue (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
The purpose of this study was to determine if there were asymmetries in ground reaction forces (GRF) between dancers and non-dancers, and to see the effect of GRF on external (ER) and internal rotator (IR) strength. Subjects performed double- and single-legged jumps on a force plate with a motion capture marker system attached at anatomical landmarks, and then had strength and range of motion (ROM) of their internal and external rotators tested along at degrees of hip flexion. There were no significant differences in GRF between legs for all subjects involved. However, stronger hip ER was negatively correlated with vertical GRF (z-axis), positively correlated with anteroposterior (y-axis) GRF, and higher mediolateral (x-axis) GRF from double-leg trials was positively correlated with knee abduction. Thus, future studies should further investigate GRF broken into axial components as well as the time to peak GRF to determine any relation of these factors to knee valgus and ACL injury risk.
ContributorsDiamond, Alexander (Author) / Harper, Erin (Thesis director) / Ringenbach, Shannon (Committee member) / Wiley, Alex (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
My intention with this project was multifaceted; my goal was to articulate in words and share through physical embodiment what dance means to me and how dance has helped shape me as an individual. In doing so, I delved into an exploration of defining dance and its role within my life and in society at large. Inspired by the black and white, silent film The Artist, I began pondering how important external elements such as music, lighting, and color are when choreographing work and furthermore sharing it with an audience. For most mainstream concert dance choreographers, these elements are an integral part of the artistic process and factor into the totality of a performance experience as a work comes into fruition. The title of my thesis, A Composition of Dance, is a play on words in my attempt to challenge my own notion of dance and investigate how one's senses and environment can influence one's perception of dance from both the performer and audience perspective.
ContributorsGiordano, Erin Noele (Author) / Schupp, Karen (Thesis director) / Rex, Melissa (Committee member) / Britt, Melissa (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / School of Dance (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
This paper focuses on the current use of complementary medicine in Oncology. First, it reviews the general trends in the rise of complementary therapies in the United States and look at the organizations responsible for the advancement of research. Next reviewed is the specific use of complementary medicine in cancer prevention, during treatment, and post-treatment therapy for increased quality of life. There are many modalities used in the management of this disease including yoga, tai chi chuan, botanicals, probiotics and meditation practices. Each of these therapies has their own unique benefits and are used at different stages of disease prevention and treatment.
ContributorsBalcerzak, Erin Mary (Author) / Larkey, Linda (Thesis director) / Hosley, Brenda (Committee member) / Bucho-Gonzalez, Julie (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
The aim of this study is to understand the affects of grip strength and manual dexterity in activities of daily living (ADL) in persons with Down syndrome (DS). This is important because it could help with future interventions that are focused around improving related disadvantages in this particular population. Ten participants with DS performed the manual dexterity tests (i.e., Purdue Pegboard) and measured their grip strength with a hydraulic dynamometer. Overall, grip strength was lower than the average for the typical population and was reduced after aeorbic exercise. Improvements, however, were found in their manual dexterity from pre-test to post-test. This indicates that the assisted moderate intensity exercise intervention helped their dexterity performance. The improvements in dexterity are consistent with previous research conducted by Ringenbach et al. (2007). These results suggest that a moderate intensity treadmill walking exercise intervention can increase precision and efficiency in dexterity in persons with Down syndrome, however their grip force production may be stimulated by another means.
ContributorsSemper, Logan (Author) / Ringenbach, Shannon (Thesis director) / Kulinna, Pamela (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2012-12
Description
The aim of this study is to evaluate whether or not fitness can be determined using a well-researched six minute walk test (6MWT) in a young adult population with Down syndrome (DS). This holds importance in today's health industry because this particular target group is at high risk for several cardiovascular, cognitive and clinical factors that contribute to their well-being and longevity. As well, the findings of this research could potentially contribute to the low volume of research that currently exists regarding fitness and the DS population and provide pertinent knowledge towards intervention programs. Fourteen participants with DS performed one 6MWT at a self-selected rate during an exercise intervention study to assess physical fitness. The results showed that walk distance increased with decreased BMI and walk distance increased with increased walking speed and increased leisure activity. These findings are clear indicators of physical fitness relating to healthy physical behavior. All results were consistent with past research in specific at-risk health related populations. This data suggests that this physical test is an adequate indicator of fitness levels in populations with DS, which may additionally provide explicit avenues for intervention and treatment to improve health.
ContributorsMoss Hunt, Lauren Charlie (Author) / Ringenbach, Shannon (Thesis director) / Shaibi, Gabriel (Committee member) / Maraj, Brian (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of changing a saddle height to a scientifically recommended position on cycling economy for competitive cyclists. Participants completed one maximal effort graded exercise test and two sub-maximal 70% economy trials, one at the cyclist’s original saddle height and the second at the saddle height corresponding with a knee flexion angle of 25° at full pedal extension. Due to experimental error and equipment failure heart rate became the main performance measure and cycling economy tests were conducted at an average of 84.4% of heart rate max. The results revealed no apparent differences in performance between the recommended and original saddle height. However, 2D analysis of dynamic knee angles revealed that at the 25° knee angle condition, knee angle increased by an average of 16.1% from the static position (average dynamic knee angle = 29.02±4.61°). Dynamic measures (32.59±4.88°) taken during the original angle tests were only slightly augmented compared to the static measure (31.5±2.18°). It is possible based on this trend that a difference in performance values was not present because the change between the original angle and the experimental angle was not substantial. Additionally these findings suggest that cyclists adjust to these acute changes in saddle height by altering other kinematic variables in an attempt to find a comfortable position and perform maximally.
ContributorsRiley, Daniel Jacob (Author) / Harper, Erin (Thesis director) / Cataldo, Donna (Committee member) / Aragon, Alexandra (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
The aim of this study is to understand the relationship among physical fitness, leisure-time activity levels, measures of body composition, and assessments of emotion toward physical activity in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). This is important because it could help individuals understand the importance of physical activity in this population. The BMI, waist circumference, height, weight, body fat percentage, and non-exercise estimation of aerobic capacity along with the temporary state of emotion toward physical activity of thirty participants with DS were measured. The results of our study show that individuals with DS who are more physically fit have less body fat and a lower BMI. They also took part in more leisure-time activity and expressed more effort during physical activity.
ContributorsSnow, Michelle Jeannette (Author) / Ringenbach, Shannon (Thesis director) / Chen, Chih-Chia (Committee member) / Maraj, Brian (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2013-05