Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 W43 / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / Sports Science / Master / Master of Science in Sports Science

Sixteen males and sixteen females were recruited for this study; eight of each gender were aerobically trained athletes; the remaining eight were untrained control subjects. Each subject performed a maximal exercise stress test for aerobic capacity (VO2max). On a separate day the blood volume and the cardiovascular responses to progressive (0 to -50 torr) lower body negative pressure (LBNP) were determined. The female subjects were observed to be significantly more tolerant of the LBNP than the male subjects. No differences between groups were observed in changes in leg volume, cardiac index, blood pressure, or heart rate during LBNP. However, the females, in comparison to the males, maintained stroke index at a higher level, and increased regional vasoconstriction more, during the LBNP induced hypotensive stress. These findings suggest that female subjects withstand LBNP to -50 torr better than male subjects.

The purposes of this study were (1) to determine if three selected aerobic dance related conditions would result in chronic alterations of flexibility of college women and (2) to compare flexibility measures of college age females during a semester of aerobic dance instruction. Subjects were sixty-three college women enrolled in aerobic dance, bowling, and archery classes. Eight flexibility measures were obtained during the third and eleventh weeks of the experimental period. Data were analyzed by a factor analysis the Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and eight oneway analyses of covariance. Conclusions of the investigation were (1) a program of aerobic dance alone is not sufficient to promote flexibility, and (2) supplemental flexibility activities of ten minutes duration used with aerobic dance training are beneficial in increasing hip flexion.