Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brock University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-86).

Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

This study aimed to distinguish the coping efforts of athletes who endured shorter, and longer, durations of competitive suffering. Eleven male and 15 female endurance athletes (Mage= 35.8, sd= 12.1) completed a 5km competitive suffering running time-trial task. Following the task, threat perceptions and coping function use (problem focused, PFC; emotion focused, EFC; and avoidance, AvC) were measured in 200 meter intervals using video mediated recall. Control beliefs were also assessed. Those who suffered for shorter durations used more EFC during initiation and at the peak of competitive suffering, as well as less AvC during initiation, in comparison to longer duration sufferers. PFC use did not distinguish competitive suffering duration. Non-significant correlations were revealed between control beliefs and both suffering duration and coping function use. Overall, the results imply that emotion-focused coping is the most appropriate coping function to decrease competitive suffering duration, regardless of control beliefs. / xi, 106 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Compression socks (CS) are used as an ergogenic aid during and after exercise by many athletes of elite and recreational status. The exact mechanism whereby CS affect performance and postexercise recovery is not yet elucidated. Some research ascribes the beneficial effects to improved lactate removal rates with CS. One hypothesis is that CS improve venous return and thereby remove the lactate from the tissue to other tissues such as the liver, and the second hypothesis is that the CS cause retention of the lactate within the muscle and therefore improve the oxidation of the lactate within the muscle (Berry & McMurray, 1987). The current study endeavoured to test the hypothesis set by Berry and McMurray (1987) by measuring the effect of CS as well as flight socks (FS) on muscle oxygenation during exercise and recovery in endurance trained runners and triathletes. Eleven male endurance trained runners and triathletes (age = 34.8 ± 3.8 years, VO2max = 52.4 ± 7.1 mL.kg-1.min-1) participated in the study. They completed an incremental exercise test to exhaustion to determine their maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) and peak treadmill velocity (PTV). Then they completed two 10 km treadmill running tests at 80 % of their PTV. During these two trials participants wore either CS or FS; the order of treatment was randomly selected. A subset of the study sample (n = 5) also completed a control test wearing only their ankle length sport socks (NS). After these trials, participants completed a 60 minute passive recovery period in the seated position while muscle oxygenation was measured. Compression under the socks was measured at several anatomically determined measurement points prior to the commencement of the exercise test, along with the determination of blood haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]). During the exercise trials, blood lactate concentration ([BLa]), skin temperature (ST),oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), heart rate (HR), and muscle oxygenation variables (oxy-haemoglobin (O2Hb), deoxy-haemoglobin (HHb), tissue oxygenation index (TOI) and total haemoglobin index (nTHI)) was measured . During the 60minute passive recovery period, [BLa], ST, O2Hb, HHb, TOI, and nTHI measurements were continued. The results showed that there were differences in the pressure exerted between the two pressure condition (CS and FS) at the posterior ankle, and under the elastic of the sock as well as on the anterior calf at the level of greatest calf circumference. Differences in ST between the CS and NS and the FS and NS conditions were found between the first four 2 km intervals of the exercise protocol, but not during recovery. No differences were found in [BLa] between the three different compression conditions during either the exercise (p = 0.19) or recovery period (p = 0.63), as well as no differences in the cardiorespiratory variables during exercise between the three different compression conditions (VO2, p = 0.06; VCO2, p = 0.12; HR, p = 0.36). With regard to the muscle oxygenation variables, no differences were found between the three compression conditions during exercise, however there was a trend for lower oxygen utilization (HHb) during exercise in the NS condition (p = 0.57, medium to large practical significance). There were also no differences in these variables (O2Hb, p = 0.65; HHb, p = 0.57; TOI, p = 0.39; nTHI, p = 0.22) during recovery, although oxygen utilization (HHb) showed a faster recovery rate with increasing external pressure. From the results obtained, it seems that external compression caused a decrease in the blood flow velocity within the muscle, thereby increasing oxygen diffusion rate. During exercise this did not facilitate differences in [BLa], however, after the first 10 minutes of the recovery period, large practical differences were found between the NS and both sock conditions, suggesting that the increase in oxygen diffusion improved lactate clearance. This could support the hypothesis set by Berry and McMurray (1987). / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kompressie sokkies (CS) word gereeld deur beide rekreasie- en elite atlete gebruik as ‘n ergogeniese hulpmiddlel tydens oefening en herstel. Die presiese meganisme waardeur CS prestasie en post-oefening herstel beïnvloed is nog nie volledig verklaar nie. Sommige navorsing skryf die voordelige effekte toe aan die vinniger herstel van laktaat in die sirkulasie. Daar is tans twee hipoteses vir die meganisme waardeur CS laktaat verwydering verbeter. Die eerste hipotese is dat CS die veneuse terugvoer verbeter en daardeur die laktaat van die weefsel verwyder en na ander weefsels soos die lewer vervoer vir verwydering. Die tweede hipotese is dat CS veroorsaak dat die laktaat in die spierweefsel teruggehou word wat dan tot gevolg het dat die laktaat in die spier self deur middel van oksidasie verwyder word (Berry & McMurray, 1987). Hierdie studie poog om Berry en McMurray (1987) se hipotese te toets deur die effek wat CS sowel as vlugsokkies (FS) op spieroksigenasie het gedurende oefening en herstel in geoefende uithouvermoë hardlopers en driekamp atlete vas te stel. Elf ingeoefende langafstand hardlopers en driekampatlete (mans) (ouderdom = 34.8 ± 3.8 jaar; VO2maks = 52.4 ± 7.1 mL.kg-1.min-1) het aan hierdie studie deel geneem. Die deelnemers het ‘n inkrementele toets tot die punt van uitputting voltooi om hul maksimale aërobiese kapasiteit (VO2maks) en piek trapmeul snelheid (PTV) vas te stel. Die elf deelnemers het ook twee 10 km hardlooptoetse teen 80 % van hul PTV voltooi. Gedurende hierdie twee toetse het die deelnemers óf CS óf FS gedra; die volgorde van die intervensie was lukraak aan hulle toegeken. ‘n Subgroep van die steekproef (n = 5) het ook ‘n kontrole toets voltooi waartydens hulle hul eie enkelhoogte sport sokkies (NS) gedra het. Aan die einde van die hardloop protokol het die deelnemers ‘n 60 minuut passiewe herstel periode in die sittende posisie voltooi terwyl spieroksigenasie gemeet is. Kompressie onder die sokkies is voor die aanvang van die hardloop protokol by verskeie anatomies gedefinieerde punte gemeet. Verder was die bloed hemoglobien konsentrasie ([Hb]) ook gemeet voor die hardloop protokol. Tydens die oefeningtoets is bloedlaktaat konsentrasie ([Hb]), veltemperatuur (ST), suurstof verbruik (VO2), koolstofdioksied produksie (VCO2), harttempo (HR), sowel as spieroksigenasie veranderlikes (oksi-hemoglobien (O2Hb), deoksi-hemoglobien (HHb), weefsel oksigenasie indeks (TOI), en totale hemoglobien indeks (nTHI)) gemeet. Gedurende die 60 minuut passiewe hersteltydperk is [BLa], ST, O2Hb, HHb, TOI en nTHI metings geneem. Die resultate toon dat daar ‘n verskil is in die druk wat uitgeoefen word in die onderskeie druktoestande (CS en FS) op die been by die posterior enkel en onder die rek van die sokkie, sowel as op die anterior kuit waar die kuit die grootste omtrek het. Verdere verskille tussen die CS en NS en die FS en NS toestande is in ST gevind in the eerste vier 2 km intervalle van die oefeningtoets, alhoewel geen verskille tydens die herstelperiode gevind is nie. Tydens beide die oefening (p = 0.19) en herstel (p = 0.63) protokol is geen verskille tussen die drie kompressie toestande met betrekking tot [BLa] gevind nie. En so ook is daar geen verskille tussen die onderskeie kompressie toestande in kardiorespiratoriese veranderlikes (VO2, p = 0.06; VCO2, p = 0.12; HR, p = 0.36) tydens oefening gevind nie. Met betrekking tot spieroksigenasie veranderlikes was daar geen verskil gevind tussen die drie kompressietoestande gedurende oefening nie, alhoewel daar ‘n tendens was vir die NS toestand om tydens oefening minder suurstofverbruik (HHb) (p = 0.57, medium tot groot praktiese effek) te lewer. So ook gedurende herstel is daar geen verskil in hierdie veranderlikes (O2Hb, p = 0.65; HHb, p = 0.57; TOI, p = 0.39; nTHI, p = 0.22) gevind nie, alhoewel die suurstofverbruik (HHb) vinniger na die basislyn herstel het met ‘n toename in druk. Die resultate toon dat eksterne kompressie ‘n afname in die bloedvloei tempo in die spier veroorsaak wat dan ‘n verlengde suurstof diffusie tyd veroorsaak. Hierdie verlengde suurstof diffusie tyd het geen effek op [BLa] tydens oefening gehad nie, alhoewel daar na die eerste 10 minute van die herstelperiode ‘n groot praktiese verskil tussen die NS en sokkie toestande gevind was in [BLa]. Hierdie verskil kan daarop dui dat die toename in suurstof diffusie verbeterde laktaat verwydering tot gevolg het, wat dan die hipotese van Berry en McMurray (1987) ondersteun.

This study examined the effects of two distinct phases of endurance training (summer and in-season training) in previously well-trained male and female high school cross-country runners. Eleven males and 11 females from the same high school training program were recruited for the three testing sessions: post-track season (June), postsummer training (mid-August), and post-cross-country season (early-November). However, due to injury and other circumstances, only 10 males and 4 females completed all testing sessions. Thus, baseline characteristics were analyzed for both genders; however, longitudinal analysis was only conducted using the males. Submaximal measurements included running economy (RE), blood lactate concentration ([BLa]), and heart rate (HR) at three running speeds in females (6, 7, and 8 mph), and males (7, 8, and 9 mph). Maximal measurements of oxygen uptake (VO2max) and HR, neuromuscular characteristics of isokinetic knee extension strength and vertical jump height, and body composition were also measured. Baseline results showed that the males possessed a higher VO2max, greater neuromuscular characteristics, and lower submaximal [BLa] and HR values than the females. Longitudinal analysis of the males showed that there was an increased VO2max, decreased maximal HR, and decreased neuromuscular strength following summer training. In-season training precipitated further increases in VO2max, an increase in maximal and submaximal HR, and increased neuromuscular characteristics. RE and [BLa] did not significantly change (p<_ 0.05) throughout the course of the study. Likely, it is the subtle changes in these variables in previously welltrained runners which account for the slower performance times at the beginning of the cross-country season and the improvements thereafter. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of caffeine supplementation on strength and muscular endurance in resistance-trained women. In a randomized manner, 15 women consumed caffeine (6 mg/kg) or placebo (PL) seven days apart. Sixty minutes following supplementation, participants performed a one repetition maximum (1RM) barbell bench press test and repetitions to failure at 60% of 1RM. Heart rate and blood pressure were assessed at rest, 60 minutes post-consumption, and immediately following completion of repetitions to failure. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significantly greater bench press maximum with caffeine (p<0.05) (52.9 « 11.1 kg vs. 52.1 « 11.7 kg) with no significant differences between conditions in 60% 1RM repetitions (p=0.81). Systolic blood pressure was significantly greater post-exercise, with caffeine (p<0.05) (116.8 « 5.3 mmHg vs. 112.9 « 4.9 mmHg). Our findings indicate a moderate dose of caffeine may be sufficient for enhancing strength performance in resistance-trained women. / by Erica R. Goldstein. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boise State University, 2009. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-54).

The purpose of this study is to determine physiological adaptations in trained male high-school runners before and after high-intensity training associated with a crosscountry season. Testing occurred on five separate occasions at the Human Performance Laboratory. After the first familiarization session, the subjects performed a treadmill graded exercise test in which maximal oxygen consumption and ventilatory threshold was measured. Submaximal oxygen consumption and blood lactate concentration at three running speeds (10, 12, and 14 km'hf 1 at 0% grade) was determined in a second testing session. After the cross-country season (13 weeks) the subjects returned to the laboratory and performed the same graded exercise and submaximal exercise tests. VO2max significantly increased, VT tended to increased, however, not significant. There were no changes in submaximal economy or lactate except for significant decline in blood lactate at 14 km hf' . Although these variables are associated with endurance performance in adults, there is very little information available regarding the effects of endurance training on these variables in the adolescent age group. Knowing the extent of the adaptations will help to optimize the training programs for age group. / School of Physical Education

Triathlon has had a rapid evolution from its origins 25 years ago in the United States to becoming a full summer Olympic sport in Sydney 2000. It is a sport that combines the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running linked together with two transitions. It is this combination of events that gives triathlon its uniqueness in the area of exercise science. As a very young sport, the body of knowledge is somewhat limited, but is steadily growing. The following document aims to shed some new light on a range of aspects within the sport of triathlon and highlight triathlon as a sport in its own right with very specific demands when compared with each of the three individual sub-disciplines