Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a term used to describe a number of symptoms affecting women approximately two weeks prior to menstruation, and ceasing with the onset of menstrual flow. The general physiological and psychological adaptations to training suggest that physical activity could lessen some PMS symptoms. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to compare the number of PMS symptoms of intercollegiate athletes with those of sedentary college age women, and 2) to determine if training reduced the severity of PMS symptoms in a group of previously sedentary women.In study #1, a PMS questionnaire was distributed to female athletes representing six teams (n=92), and sedentary female athletes (n=47) at Ball State University. A one-way analysis of variance revealed that there was no significant difference (p>.05) in occurance of symptoms between the athletes and the sedentary females.In study #2, 13 sedentary women (X age= 34.6 + 1.9) suffering from PMS, participated in a four month study to determine if training would reduce the severity of their PMS symptoms. Eight women comprised the training group, and participated in 30-40 minutes of aerobic exercise four times per week. The control group consisted of five women who remained inactive. A correlated t-test revealed a significant increase (p<.Ol) in maximal oxygen uptake and a significant decrease (p<.Ol) in PMS symptoms after four months of activity in the experimental treatment group. The control group showed no significant changes (p>.05) in maximal oxygen uptake or PMS symptoms during the four months of the investigation. Based on the data from this study, it was concluded that women with PMS have significant decreases in mood swings, appetite, cravings for sweets, breast tenderness, anxiety and depression after training.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Physical Education and Sport Science / Master / Master of Philosophy

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Thirty-three sedentary individuals (males, n=24; females, n=9) were studied to see the effects of 15-20 weeks of endurance training by walking and jogging on high-density lipoprotein, serum total cholesterol, and serum triglyceride. The training group (also called the moderately trained group) was then compared to a sedentary group and a highly trained group (25+ miles/week) to see what affect, if any, the endurance training had on their lipoprotein profile.Even though maximal oxygen uptake increased and percent fat decreased in the moderately trained group, no favorable differences mere seen in HDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol, serum total cholesterol, or serum triglyceride when comparing this group with the sedentary group.Significant changes did exist between the moderately trained and the highly trained groups when comparing HDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol, and serum triglyceride values.It appears that 15-20 weeks of endurance training does in fact increase one Is fitness level, but more training at a higher intensity and/or longer duration is needed to produce favorable changes in the lipoprotein profile.

Six men were studied to compare the effects of pre-exercise carbohydrate feedings on endurance performance and muscle glycogen utilization during exhaustive exercise. Trials consisted of a cycling ride to exhaustion at 757. of the subjects' maximal oxygen uptake preceded by the ingestion of either fructose (FRU), glucose (GLU), or sweet placebo (CON). No differences were observed between trials for oxygen uptake, respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate, or exercise time to exhaustion. Blood glucose was elevated (P<0.05) as a result of the glucose feeding, but fell rapidly with the onset of exercise, reaching a nadir of 4.02 + O.-'4 mmcl: i (mean + SE) at 15 min of exercise (P<0.05). Serum insulin also increased (P<0.05) following the glucose feeding: by 30 min of exercise, however, insulin had returned to pre-drink levels. No differences in blood glucose and insulin were observed between FRU and CON. Muscle glycogen utilization during the first 30 min of exercise (CON = 46.3 ± 82 mmol/kg w.w., FRU = 56.3 + 3, GLU = 50.0 + 4.9) and total glycogen use (CON = 93.4 + 11.1, FRU = 118.8 + 10.9, GLU = 99.5 + 4.3) was similar between trials (P>O.05). It was concluded that despite more stable blood glucose and insulin levels in FRU and CON, compared with GLU, this provided no advantage to endurance performance or muscle glycogen utilization.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship of exercise of self-care agency and serum cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association (1986) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (1987) have identified the reduction of serum cholesterol as a major factor in decreasing the risk for coronary artery disease. Orem's theory of self-care identified diet and exercise management as activities well being (Orem, 1971). It was hypothesized that high levels of self-care are inversely related to serum cholesterol levels. A retrospective study was conducted. A convenience sample of 176 individuals who have obtained cholesterol screening at a Nursing Center for Family Health was obtained. Written consent was obtained to review individual files for serumcholesterol levels, information related to demographic variables, nutrition and exercise habits; and for the Exercise of Self-Care Agency. Each participant completed the "Exercise of Self-Care Agency" tool. Confidentiality was maintained and responses were coded for analysis only. Correlational statistics were utilized to analyze the data obtained. The hypothesis was tested using Pearson r analysis and demonstrated poor correlation and no significant relationship. Research questions related to diet, exercise, age and the exercise of self-care agency were tested by a 3x2x2 ANOVA and showed no significant difference. Recommendations for future study should include replication of the study with a larger sample and randomization of the sample. / School of Nursing

Sixty-nine female Wistar rats were studied to determine if the oxidative capacity and glycogen concentration of skeletal muscle was affected by either an increase or decrease in training duration following a 9 wk program of treadmill running. Initially, 30 rats were randomly assigned to one of three sedentary control groups. Subgroups (N=10) of sedentary animals were kept inactive and were sacrificed at week 0 (Cl), week 9 (C2) and week 11 (C3) of the study. Thirty-nine rats were initially trained 5 days/wk for 9 wks using a standard exercise protocol. At the end of 9 wks of treadmill running, endurance trained animals were separated into four groups: 1) Eleven rats (ET) were killed. 2) Ten rats (CT) continued to train for 2 additional weeks following the same protocol and were killed at the end of 11 wks of training. 3) Ten rats (DT) decreased the duration of daily running by 66% and after 14 days were killed. 4) Eight rats (IT) increased the duration of daily running by 500% in an attempt to simulate overtraining in humans, and after 6 days were killed. The respiratory capacity (Qo2) and citrate synthase activity (CSA) of the soleus (SOL) and plantaris (PLANT) muscles were significantly increased (p< 0.05) over all control groups by nine weeks of treadmill running (ET). The Qo2 and CSA of CT rats were significantly higher than all control groups, and the PLANT CSA was significantly higher (p< 0.05) than ET rats. The SOL and PLANT Qo2 and CSA remained significantly higher (p< 0.05) than all control groups with fourteen days of decreased training. Six days of increased training significantly increased (p< 0.05) SOL and PLANT Qo2 and CSA over all control groups. In addition IT rats had SOL and PLANT CSA that were significantly higher (p< 0.05) than ET rats. The SOL and WV glycogen concentrations were unaffected by all training protocols. Only the CT and IT PLANT and liver had significantly more (p< 0.05) glycogen than all sedentary control groups. The results of this study indicate that the rat is a very adaptable animal, and to thoroughly study it as a possible model for the study of overtraining in humans would require an examination of various exercise protocols. In addition, the exercise-induced increase in the oxidative capacity of trained skeletal muscle is not readily reversible during decreased training.

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The objective of this project was to study tree effect of physical conditioning on platelet function. Twelve Ball State University undergraduate males were tested for platelet retention and platelet aggregation with collagen and adenosine diphosphate before, during and after a controlled six and one half week physical training program consisting of calisthenics and jogging. A significant increase was found in the tendency of platelets to aggregate with collagen while no change was found in aggregation with ADP or in platelet retention. It was concluded that: i) more work is necessary to verify this training effect, and ii) further work should be done considering other variables in the blood coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways in order to gain a better overall understanding of the effect of exercise on hemostasis.