The purpose of this study was to compare selected kinematic characteristics of distance runners over a twenty year period. The subjects in the investigation were 14 long distance runners who at the time of the first observation were considered highly trained (running more than 50 miles per week). The second observation occurred approximately 20-23 years after the first observation. At this time the average weekly mileage per runner had decreased to 37 miles per week. The first observation's data were collected with a Locam camera at film speeds ranging from 60 to 120 frames/second. The film data were digitized at the same time as the second observation's data. The second observation's data were collected with a Panasonic 5000 shutter video camera. The Peak Performance Motion Measurement System video interface allowed a 60 frame/second field rate. Ten subjects ran at a speed of 3.4 m/s; two subjects at the speeds of 3.1 and 3.6 m/s; and one subject at each of the following speeds: 4.0, 4.5, and 4.9 m/s. Statistical analyses (ANOVA) of the stride length, stride frequency, support and non-support time, and joint angular displacement indicated no significant difference (p > .05) between the first observation and the second observation. The results of this study indicated that the kinematics of continually active long distance runners do not change with an increase in age. / School of Physical Education

Numerous cross-sectional studies have reported an inverse relationship between VO2,,,ax and age. However, few longitudinal investigations have compared the rate of decline in VO2,,.x between women who did or did not report exercise habits consistent with the 1990 ACSM position stand for quantity and quality of exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine if changes in exercise habits and body composition affected age-related changes in VO2.x. Subjects were 91 women (age 40.9 ± 8.8 years at baseline) tested twice between 1973 and 1996 (range of 3.1 - 21.9 years, mean interval of 9.3 ± 4.2 years). The subjects were divided into four physical activity groups based on their reported exercise habits at baseline and follow-up as: non-exercise - exercise (NE-EX; n = 21), NE-NE (n=36), EX-EX (n=19), and EX-NE (n=15). Baseline VOz,,,ax (ml-kg-1-min-1) was significantly higher for the EX vs. NE ( 38.4 ± 8.4 vs.28.8 ± 5.7; f42.2; P<.0001). ANOVA revealed significant differences between the physical activity change groups and mean percent changes in VO2. (% A ml•kg'.min'-yr') (F =10.887; P<.0001) which are listed in the following:NE-NENE-EXEX-EXEX-NE-1.081.58*-1.25-2.21* NE-EX vs. EX-NE; NE-EX vs. EX-EX; and NE-EX vs. NE-NE (P<0.05)There were differences between the following groups: NE-EX vs. EX-NE; NE-EX vs. EX-EX; and NE-EX vs. NE-NE for percent change in VO2max (nl•kg'-min 1•yr 1) with the EX-NE group having the largest decline in VO2max during the follow-up period.Using a multiple regression model after adjusting for the exercise habit groups, the exercise group scheme accounted for 27.3 percent of the variance in percent change in VO2max at step 1 of the analysis (f = 1.09; P < 0.001). Change in percent body fat and change in maximal ventilation accounted for an additional 7.2 percent and 6.5 percent of the variance at steps 2 and 3, respectively. The change in maximal heart rate accounted for an additional 2.5 percent of the variance at step 4, although the statistical significance of the contribution was low (P = 0.057). Increases in body fat and decreases in pulmonary ventilation were found associated with declines in aerobic power while a decline in maximal heart rate between the tests was associated with a decline in percent change in aerobic power.In conclusion, these data demonstrate that: 1) adoption or maintenance of a regular exercise program is associated with less decline in VO2,,. during long-term follow-up compared to women who did not exercisers, and 2) changes in exercise habits, body composition, maximal ventilation, and maximal heart rate accounted for nearly half (43 %) percent of the percent decline per year. / School of Physical Education

A semester-long study examined the problems and needs of non-traditional women students. The subjects were a non-traditional undergraduate student enrolled in a beginning composition class and a non-traditional graduate student enrolled in an advanced composition class. The study argues that since universities and colleges are actively recruiting older students, these institutions should be more responsive to the unique problems posed by non-traditional women students, which are different from traditional-aged students. The study addresses non-traditional women students' reasons for returning to school and the personal and academic barriers they run into. The two case studies discuss their expectations relating to their composition classes in particular and fitting into the university system generally. In conclusion, recommendations are made in the specific areas of university systems, pedagogy, and future research. / Department of English

Two studies based on one online randomized controlled trial examined the effects of sport gain-framed messages (Rothman & Salovey, 1997) and a sport possible self (Murru & Martin Ginis, 2010) protocol on indices of possible self activation and elaboration, sport intention, and sport activity. 244 non-sporting adults (M = 50.59, 40-59 yrs) completed baseline/screening measures (T1), a gain-framed experimental/control intervention one week later (T2), and follow-up measures (T3) four weeks after T2. Study 1 showed gain-framed participants most frequently attended to a health and fitness message, more frequently described a possible self, and elaborated more on their possible selves (especially about delaying aging and developing friendships through sport). Study 2 indicated that gain-framed individuals requested more sport newsletters and registered for more sport programs. From T1 to T2, gain-framed conditions facilitated increased intentions for those with low approach motivation, whereas control conditions improved intentions for individuals with high approach motivation.

The importance of economic and social capital for health has been well-documented. However, their impact on age-related differences in health is less clear. To address this issue, this study examined the impact of several individual level indicators of economic and social capital on selected health outcomes in middle and later life. Data for the analysis were drawn from the 2008 General Social Survey (Cycle 22) conducted by Statistics Canada. Using a study sample of those aged 45 and over (n=12,135), multivariate regression analyses assessed main, mediating and moderating effects of economic and social capital measures on chronic conditions, health or activity limitations, and self-reported health. The findings indicated that individual level economic capital and structural social capital were positively associated with health status in middle and later life. In addition, the findings revealed the importance of both bonding and bridging forms of social capital in middle and later life. As well, the findings suggest that individual level structural social capital is a more upstream social determinant of health than economic capital in middle and later life as economic capital was found to mediate the social capital-health relationship, but not vice versa. Lastly, no evidence was found for an individual level interaction between economic capital and structural social capital in middle and later life. The theoretical, empirical, and policy implications of these findings are outlined. / Graduate / 2013-12-14

A number of chronic disease and behavioural factors are recognised to increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. These putative ???vascular??? risk factors have increasingly been recognised to increase the risk of cognitive impairment in the absence of clinically manifest ischemic events. Their relationship to structural brain changes has received limited attention. In this dissertation, I used high resolution magnetic resonance image (MRI) to examine two structural features of the brain, regional gray matter (GM) volumes and silent lacunar infarcts, and determined their association with vascular risk factors. I related these to cognitive function in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. The work was based on the data of three waves in two healthy cohorts drawn from the PATH Through Life Study, which is a population-based longitudinal study of ageing comprising 3 cohorts aged 20-24, 40-44, and 60-64 years, with about 2500 participants in each cohort. Random subsamples of Wave 1 of the cohort aged 60-64 years (N = 478) and Wave 2 of the 40+ cohort (aged 44-48 years) (N = 411) were examined cross-sectionally for the MRI sub-study. The MRI cohort aged 60-64 years was re-examined 4 years later in Wave 2. These studies showed that vascular risk factors are associated with lower regional GM volumes and this association varies at different ages. In adults aged 44-48 years, individual risk factors did not show a significant relationship with GM volumes, but the Framingham risk score was associated with less GM volumes in a number of brain regions, suggesting an additive effect of the risk factors. In the 60+ cohort, hypertension was independently associated with less regional GM volumes in bilateral medial frontal, right superior frontal, left superior temporal and precentral gyri. The same cohort, when examined in Wave 2, showed the negative association of hypertension with gray matter volumes to be more widespread. These associations were observed in men but not in women in either wave. Sex dimorphism was observed in the younger cohort as well, with greater GM volumes in temporal and occipital cortices, midbrain and cerebellum in men, while less GM volumes in cingulate and parietal cortices in comparison with women. Lacunar infarcts were present in 7.8 % of the 60+ cohort, and asymptomatic new lacunar lesions developed in 0.4 % per year in this group. The prevalence of lacunar infarcts was correlated with hypertension and a steeper decline in mental speed. These series of studies indicate the relationship of vascular risk factors with changes in brain structure and cognitive function in healthy middle-aged adults. It is suggested that modifying these vascular risk factors may protect the brain from silent lesions and cognitive impairment, and that intervention should begin early in life to have a major impact.

Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 1989. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-60).

Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-164).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc. Anthropology)--University of Waikato, 2008. / Title from PDF cover (viewed October 3, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-92)