Univ., Magisterarbeit--Oldenburg.

Thesis (M.A.)--Ball State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 30, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-64).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-206).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, August 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, November, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-95).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 155 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

The bilateral deficit can be described as when the sum of two unilateral movements exceeds the bilateral output. If the sum does not exceed the bilateral output, a bilateral facilitation is present. Little research has been done in males and females comparison of the bilateral deficit. The purpose of the current study was therefore to compare the bilateral deficit between sexes in a 1 repetition maximum (RM) leg press. Twenty participants, ten males and ten females, were recruited (23.4±2.1 years, 71.2±13.1 kg, 172.2±8.9 cm) and seventeen of them completed the study. The test consisted of two testing sessions (one unilateral with preferred leg, and one bilateral session) with seven days in between. The 1 RM was attained within six attempts, with a three minutes rest between every attempt. The current study showed a bilateral deficit of males (5.6±4.6%) and a bilateral facilitation of females (0.6±5.9%). There was a significant difference between sexes of p=0.031 (p<0.05). Previous studies have examined males and females separately, with different methods and protocols. This study used the same method and protocol in both sexes. Some suggestions of the mechanisms behind the deficit have been proposed and may explain the current findings, but further studies are needed. Future research needs to continue to explore and explain the sex difference in the bilateral strength deficit.

Stretching exercises are commonly used as an integral part of a pre-exercise warm-up training sessions despite even early laboratory studies having demonstrated that some degree of mechanical weakness takes place following the stretching of muscle tissue. This study compared the effects of four treatments (n = 12 each) [10 minutes of quiet sitting, without stretching (NS); two minutes warm up on an arm ergometer at 25 watts resistance (WU); 10 second-hold static stretching (each) of the shoulder, chest and arm muscle groups (ST10); and two sets of 20 second-hold static stretching (each) of the shoulder, chest and upper-arm muscle groups (ST20)] on a 1-RM bench press in 48 subjects who were matched for their pre-test 1-RM bench press values. The mean 1-RM bench press values following ST10 (45.0 ± 9.9 kg) and WU (48.9 ± 10.5 kg) treatments were significantly (p ? 0.05) higher at the post-test than at the pre-test 1-RM (43.9 ± 10.1 kg and 43.9 ± 10. kg, respectively). The mean 1-RM values following the ST20 treatment was significantly lower (41.9 ± 10.0 kg) than at pre-test (43.9 ± 10.1 kg). However, multiple comparisons and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical procedures demonstrated that there was no significant difference from pre- to post-test between the four groups. These findings suggest that the use of stretching activities prior to events requiring maximal force production may not be obligatory or may even be contraindicated since the effects of stretching are then to decrease the amount of force that can be produced via the natural elastic components of the muscle and tendons and via the stretch reflex.

Abstract Stretching exercises are commonly used as an integral part of a pre-exercise warm-up training sessions despite even early laboratory studies having demonstrated that some degree of mechanical weakness takes place following the stretching of muscle tissue. This study compared the effects of four treatments (n = 12 each) [10 minutes of quiet sitting, without stretching (NS); two minutes warm up on an arm ergometer at 25 watts resistance (WU); 10 second-hold static stretching (each) of the shoulder, chest and arm muscle groups (ST10); and two sets of 20 second-hold static stretching (each) of the shoulder, chest and upper-arm muscle groups (ST20)] on a 1-RM bench press in 48 subjects who were matched for their pre-test 1-RM bench press values. The mean 1-RM bench press values following ST10 (45.0 ± 9.9 kg) and WU (48.9 ± 10.5 kg) treatments were significantly (p ? 0.05) higher at the post-test than at the pre-test 1-RM (43.9 ± 10.1 kg and 43.9 ± 10. kg, respectively). The mean 1-RM values following the ST20 treatment was significantly lower (41.9 ± 10.0 kg) than at pre-test (43.9 ± 10.1 kg). However, multiple comparisons and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical procedures demonstrated that there was no significant difference from pre- to post-test between the four groups. These findings suggest that the use of stretching activities prior to events requiring maximal force production may not be obligatory or may even be contraindicated since the effects of stretching are then to decrease the amount of force that can be produced via the natural elastic components of the muscle and tendons and via the stretch reflex.