This paper examines the role and significance of kinesthetic empathy through a framework modeled in Dance/Movement Therapy. With the innate capacity to connect with others, understand ourselves in greater depth, and learn about the world around us, this paper argues for the human importance of creating empathy in intersubjective dynamics and relations, for the betterment of all parties involved. A system of phases is proposed which includes biological and psychological factors to create a model for intentional kinesthetic empathy. The model looks at empathy through the lens of kinesthesia, as the most authentic way to create this empathic potential to be used as a learning tool.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of an 8-week judo program on self-competency, physical activity (PA) motivation, and enjoyment of PA in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). METHODS: The sample included 20 children (ages 8 – 17) with a primary diagnosis of ASD. The participants completed an 8-week judo program that occurred once a week for 45 minutes. Participants were instructed to complete a series of questionnaires that measured athletic self-competency, PA motivation, and PA enjoyment at baseline and at the end of the 8-week judo program. Paired t-tests were conducted to examine differences in psychosocial factors from baseline and post-judo. Additionally, correlational analyses were conducted to examine the association between the psychosocial variables and attendance during the 8-week program. RESULTS: Although increases in psychosocial factors were observed following the cessation of the judo program, these changes were not statistically significant for any of the psychosocial factors following the 8-week program. There was a significant, positive association between PA motivation and judo attendance (r=.43, p=.05), however, neither athletic competency nor PA enjoyment were correlated with judo attendance. CONCLUSION: Although not significant, improvement in psychosocial factors were observed post-judo program. Future studies should consider increasing the duration and frequency of the judo program to potentially elicit greater changes in psychosocial factors related to PA.

A test of standing broad jump ability was administered to ninety-three sixth grade boys to compare the kinesthetic and demonstration methods of instruction. The subjects were classified on the Neilson-Cozens Classification Index and divided into three groups. The first group received the kinesthetic method of instruction, the second group was instructed using the demonstration method, and the third group did not receive any formal instruction. The data were examined by computing the mean and standard deviation of each pre-test and post-test group. The mean and standard deviation of the pre-test scores were 60.61 and 7.589. The mean and standard deviation of the post-test scores were 61.31 and 7.397. When each pre-test score was subtracted from its corresponding post-test score it was revealed that the demonstration group showed an increase in performance of eighteen boys, the kinesthetic group increased by sixteen boys and the group receiving no formal instruction increased by seven boys. Analysis of variance of matched groups revealed an F ratio of 2.68 which was not significant at the .05 level. An alternate approach was attempted in which the effect of the pre-test scores were partialled out from the post-test scores. Subjected to matched group analysis of variance design indicated an F ratio of 2.68 which was not significant at the .05 level. The resu1ts of a randomized group analysis without matching revealed an F ratio of 2.68 which was quite similar to the previous results and also insignificant at the .05 level. Randomized group analysis without matching between post-test scores and the regression equation indicated an F ratio of 2.72 which again was found insignificant at the .05 level of significance. It was found that no statistically significant difference could be obtained by use of one instructional technique exclusively in preference to another.

Is osteoarthritis a fate unconditionally vested in genetic makeup, or are joints aggravated into inflammation by the way they are treated? Humans are a complicated conglomeration of experiences, decisions, and inheritance. Osteoarthritis, likewise, has evaded simplicity in any explanation of its causation, so it necessitates a multi-dimensional perspective. This research considers the relevance of Alexander Technique in filling a void in which treatment and management of osteoarthritis is not equally equipped to answer this multi-dimensional causation. Alexander Technique is classified as a movement therapy, but this does not quite encompass the mindset of it—that it is indeed largely a mindset about movement. More concisely, Alexander Technique emphasizes self-awareness about how a person uses his or her body to perform daily tasks. It is physical minimalism, and involves continual recognition of muscle tension along with the ability to let go of any tension that is burdensome and unnecessary. This technique has diminished pain and increased the ease of movement for those who have experienced it, even people with osteoarthritis. To build the argument that osteoarthritis can be hindered through a heightened consideration of how joints are treated, the initial component of this research investigated the vast amount of information already gleaned about the pathogenesis of this disease. The fields of physiology, genetics, immunology, and clinical practice already have much to share, and this knowledge has been combined with studies about the benefits and goals of Alexander Technique to discover the common ground of osteoarthritis treatment. The experimental component assesses the association of Alexander Technique to the minimization of pain from osteoarthritis. An online survey asks osteoarthritis cohorts about the history of their disease, the effect it has had on their pain levels and activities of daily living, and about the efficacy of their management strategies. Because each participant will be asked if he or she has received Alexander Technique lessons, the survey can be used to analyze each respondent’s experience of osteoarthritis with respect to that. It was found that participants who had received Alexander Technique lessons reported an average of one more pain-free day per week, and experienced diminished pain levels for daily physical activities such as walking. Management strategies also indicated the benefit of Alexander Technique; those who had taken lessons less frequently used pain and anti-inflammatory medications and were able to be more physically active than the unexposed group. No statistical significance was achieved from the data, largely owing to small sample size (Alexander Technique, n=12, no Alexander Technique, n=25). This study is a step in the direction of better osteoarthritis management, promoting prevention-minded awareness of joint use and providing preliminary fuel for more extensive research.

Approximately 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur each year with about 100,000 of these injuries undergoing reconstruction (ACLR). The impetus of ACLR is to allow previously high functioning, physically active individuals to return to desired levels of sports participation and to engage in recommended levels of physical activity. However, 1 out of 3 patients after ACLR fail to return to competitive levels of sport and meet recommended levels of physical activity. Injury-related fear has been cited as the primary barrier for failure to return to sport. However, the research has been primarily qualitative in nature and limited research has quantitatively examined the impact of injury-related fear on return to sport and physical activity engagement in this population. In addition to quantifying the impact of injury-related fear, no research has examined the underlying neural substrates associated with injury-related fear after ACLR. Previous research has demonstrated that patients after ACLR undergo neuroplasticity in sensorimotor regions of the brain and exhibit changes in neurocognitive functioning. Despite previous research in other musculoskeletal pathologies demonstrating neuroplasticity in emotional regulation centers of the brain, no research has examined these brain regions in patients after ACLR. Furthermore, previous research in healthy athletes has suggested that psychosocial impairments can lead to changes in neurocognitive functioning, including reaction time. Understanding these neural substrates could provide insight into appropriate intervention strategies to decrease injury-related fear, increase return to sport and physical activity engagement, and potentially improve neurocognitive functioning in patients after ACLR. The purpose of this dissertation was to further investigate the effects of injury-related fear on patients after ACLR and to determine the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention to decrease injury-related fear in this population. The purposes of these studies were to determine whether patient-based, specifically psychological, and functional outcomes were associated with return to sport and physical activity levels in individuals with a history of ACLR, to determine differences in brain activation patterns when exposed to fear-eliciting stimuli in individuals with a history of ACLR compared healthy matched controls, and to determine the efficacy of in vivo exposure therapy on self-reported fear and reaction times in participants post-ACLR. The results of these studies indicate that injury-related fear was quantitatively associated with return to sport and physical activity engagement in patients after ACLR. Additionally, individuals with a history of ACLR activated emotional regulation centers of the brain in greater depth when compared to healthy matched controls. Lastly, in vivo exposure therapy decreased self-reported injury-related fear for specific functional tasks but did not improve general fear response or reaction time in post-ACLR participants. The results of these studies objectively elucidate the negative impact of injury-related fear in patients with a history of ACLR.

This study takes a phenomenological approach to squirt kayaking. It looks to examine mystical states of consciousness, as defined by William James, and flow theory, as defined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and focuses on what these experiences mean for participants of the squirt kayaking community. The study poses three research questions. (1) Do squirt kayakers experience mystical states of consciousness through squirt kayaking, and what does this experience mean? (2) Do squirt kayakers experience flow states of consciousness through squirt kayaking, and how was this experienced? (3) What is the mystery zombie or the mystery trance state, and how is it experienced? By posting messages on online message boards dedicated to squirt kayakers twenty participants responded to the post and were then contacted by telephone for an interview based off of an original questionnaire created for this study. The results show that mysticism and flow does occur through the squirt kayaking medium. Four primary themes emerged from the data about the experience and are as follows: defies expression, serious leisure, different realm, and the trance. Results indicate that there is not a distinctive difference between mysticism and flow, although further research should be done to support this. Also this study would suggest that further research be conducted concerning the build-up of carbon dioxide in the brain and its effects on mystical experiences. Implications of this research to look to challenge the concept of mysticism and flow by broadening what recreation offers its participants. Keywords: charc, flow, mystery trance, mystery zombie, mysticism

This study takes a phenomenological approach to squirt kayaking. It looks to examine mystical states of consciousness, as defined by William James, and flow theory, as defined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and focuses on what these experiences mean for participants of the squirt kayaking community. The study poses three research questions. (1) Do squirt kayakers experience mystical states of consciousness through squirt kayaking, and what does this experience mean? (2) Do squirt kayakers experience flow states of consciousness through squirt kayaking, and how was this experienced? (3) What is the mystery zombie or the mystery trance state, and how is it experienced?By posting messages on online message boards dedicated to squirt kayakers twenty participants responded to the post and were then contacted by telephone for an interview based off of an original questionnaire created for this study. The results show that mysticism and flow does occur through the squirt kayaking medium. Four primary themes emerged from the data about the experience and are as follows: defies expression, serious leisure, different realm, and the trance.Results indicate that there is not a distinctive difference between mysticism and flow, although further research should be done to support this. Also this study would suggest that further research be conducted concerning the build-up of carbon dioxide in the brain and its effects on mystical experiences. Implications of this research to look to challenge the concept of mysticism and flow by broadening what recreation offers its participants. Keywords: charc, flow, mystery trance, mystery zombie, mysticism

Students enrolled in two beginning bowling classes received the same basic instruction on bowling techniques, but practiced under two different levels of precision of knowledge of results (KOR). The experimental group practiced by rolling at a full set of ten bowling pins with each ball (precise KOR). The control group practiced by shadow bowling (general KOR). There were no significant differences between groups in the effects of the two practice conditions upon the acquisition skills. There were no significant groups by tests interaction either. There was, however, a significant trials effect across groups. It was concluded that although both practice conditions resulted in skill acquisition, neither level of precision of knowledge of results was superior to the other.

Adherence is considered a prerequisite for the success of exercise programs for musculoskeletal disorders. The negative effects of non-adherence to exercise recommendations impact the cost of care, and also treatment effectiveness, treatment duration, the therapeutic relationship, waiting times, the efficiency of personnel and use of equipment. Adherence to therapeutic exercise intervention is a multifaceted problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) established the multidimensional adherence model (MAM). The MAM describes five interactive dimensions (socioeconomic, healthcare team and system, condition-related, therapy-related, and patient-related factors) that have an effect on patient adherence. The first purpose of this dissertation was to explore the MAM dimension of condition-related factors to determine the Quick Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (QDASH) minimal clinical important difference (MCID) for three distal upper extremity conditions. The second purpose was to explore the MAM dimension of personal factors to learn from individuals who expressed incongruence between their QDASH and GROC scores; how they described their perceived change in therapy. The third purpose was to explore the MAM dimension of therapy-related factors to examine the effect of patient-therapist collaborative goal setting on patient adherence to treatment and QDASH outcomes. Results demonstrated in the first study that diagnosis specific MCID’s differed from the global MCID using multiple diagnoses. In the second study results demonstrated that patients expect to have a dedicated therapist who they can trust to work collaboratively with them to establish goals and spend time with them to achieve these goals. In the third study, our first hypothesis was not supported for all three measures of adherence. The median for home exercise program diary adherence was found to trend towards significance by 8.7 percent favoring the experimental group Mann-Whitney U (p < .100). Our second hypothesis was not supported. The experimental group receiving collaborative goal setting intervention had similar QDASH mean change scores 45.9±27.6 compared to the control group 46.1±23.8, Mann-Whitney U (p < .859).

There is limited data on the quality of life of individuals who exercise in a group versus individuals who exercise alone. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the quality life between adults who attend an exercise class and those who exercise alone. Using the WHOQOL-BREF, 27 adult females were surveyed in Central California at two Church of Latter Day Saints locations. Ten females were enrolled in a group exercise class while 17 were individual exercisers. The data was analyzed using a t-test for independent samples to determine if there is a significant difference in scores. There was not a significant difference in overall quality of life, environmental domain, and physical domain, but there was a significant difference in the psychological and social domains. Further research is recommended and benefits are detailed.