Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 92 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-82).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Exercise Sciences, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Slippery Rock University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 36-37).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Memphis, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 38-43).

Thesis (M.S.)--Purdue University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-52).

abstract: Perceived heaviness of lifted objects has been shown to scale to a ratio of muscle activity and movement during elbow lifts. This scaling reflects the importance of the forces applied to an object and the resulting kinematics for this perception. The current study determined whether these perceived heaviness dynamics are similar in other lifting conditions. Anatomically sourced context-conditioned variability has implications for motor control. The current study investigated whether these implications also hold for heaviness perception. In two experiments participants lifted objects with knee extension lifts and with several arm lifts and reported perceived heaviness. The resulting psychophysiological functions revealed the hypothesized muscle activity and movement ratio in both leg and arms lifts. Further, principal component regressions showed that the forearm flexors and corresponding joint angular accelerations were most relevant for perceived heaviness during arm lifts. Perceived heaviness dynamics are similar in the arms and legs. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2016

Work-related low back disorders (WRLBDs) are common and costly in the U.S. and numerous interventions aiming to reduce WRLBD risk have been developed.  In one approach, training programs incorporating the work strategies (or work methods) of experienced workers have often been proposed as a training model or a behavior target of training.  However, both the specific role of work experience in contributing to WRLBDs and the effectiveness of such an intervention approach are not well understood.  In the current research, differential work strategies of experienced workers and associated WRLBD risk were identified, in the context of several common occupational activities.  Three experiments were completed, in which both experienced workers and matched novices participated.  These experiments involved relatively short duration repetitive lifts/lowers, more prolonged lifts/lowers that induced fatigue, and dynamic pushes/pulls.  Diverse aspects of work strategies were quantified, emphasizing torso kinematics/kinetics, balance maintenance, and/or torso movement stability.  During short-term repetitive lifts/lowers, experienced workers exhibited higher torso kinematics and kinetics, suggestive of a higher risk for WRLBDs, though better balance maintenance and torso stability were evident in this group.  Thus, experienced workers may trade off an increased risk for WRLBDs to achieve better balance and torso stability.  Fatigue modified work methods during repetitive lifts/lowers in both the novice and experienced groups, though the associated contribution to WRLBDs was unclear due to opposite changes in torso kinematics vs. kinetics.  More consistently, fatigue decreased balance maintenance during lifts/lowers.  Fatigue also modified work methods adopted by experienced workers, leading to higher torso kinetics, that were suggestive of a higher risk for WRLBDs during lifts/lowers.  For dynamic pushes/pulls, experienced workers used lower torso kinematics and kinetics, suggestive of a lower risk for WRLBDs.  As a whole, these results suggest that work methods are distinct between novices and experienced workers.  Further, work experience may not consistently reduce WRLBD risk, and the influences of experience may be task specific.  Such findings can help guide the development of future interventions, particularly training, targeting the control of WRLBDs. / Ph. D.

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Recent studies in the area of sport and exercise science have suggested that weightlifting performance may be significantly improved under ambiguous conditions—namely, when the amount to be lifted is unknown. In the present study, procedural concerns from previous studies examining the effect of ambiguity were noted and a methodological variation was introduced.