Thesis (M.S. Ed.)--Northern Illinois University, 2003. / 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, 2004. / 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, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. Ed.)--Northern Illinois University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-77). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-77).

Traditional core stability training was developed as a method of treating and preventing back pain. It was however, seamlessly applied to healthy and athletic populations without scientific evidence supporting its efficacy. Traditional core stability focussed on isolating and training the anatomical region between the pelvis and diaphragm, using isometric or low load exercises to enhance spinal stability. Scientific research challenged this approach for healthy function and athletic performance, resulting in a more functional anatomical definition, which included pelvic and shoulder girdles. Hence, a revised definition of dynamic trunk stability; the efficient coordination, transfer and resistance by the trunk, of force and power generated by upper and lower appendicular skeletal extremities during all human movement. This led to an integrated exercise training approach to dynamic trunk stability. Although early evidence suggested loaded compound exercises preformed upright, in particular back squat, were effective in activating and developing trunk muscles, evidence was inconclusive. Accordingly, the aims of this PhD were to investigate neuromuscular trunk function in loaded, free barbell back squat to understand training implications for trunk stability in dynamic athletic activity. Five research studies were conducted; 4 are published and 1 is being prepared for re-submission. The literature review revealed evidence that back squat was an effective method of activating trunk stabilzers and showed that these muscles were load sensitive (study 1). A survey of practitioners reported an understanding and appreciation of the challenge against core stability training for athletic populations. Furthermore, perceptions were aligned with growing evidence for dynamic and functional trunk stability training (study 2). A test-retest neuromuscular study established interday reliability and sensitivity of electromyographical measurement of trunk muscle activity in squats (study 3). Trunk muscle activation in back squat was higher than hack squat at the same relative, but lower absolute loads (study 4). Trunk muscle activation was lower in squats and bodyweight jumps in the strong compared to weak group (study 5). Furthermore, activation of the trunk muscles increased in each 30o segment of squat descent and was highest in first 30o segment of ascent for all loads (study 5). In conclusion, this series of studies confirmed acute effect of squats on trunk stabilizers and demonstrated that external load increases activation in these muscles. Parallel squat depth is important in optimizing trunk muscle activation. Finally, high levels of squat strength result in lower trunk muscle activation in loaded squats and explosive jumps.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-10-05Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:08:26Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 vital_tm_me_rcla.pdf: 1077397 bytes, checksum: 994b5ff7ab0a7455f5c40b9182e0bc3c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é caracterizada por alterações cognitivas, psicológicas, comportamentais, funcionais e metabólicas. Dentre estas alterações, destacamos os sintomas depressivos e as alterações metabólicas. A prática de atividade física tem se mostrado uma importante ferramenta não farmacológica que auxilia no tratamento da DA. Este estudo foi dividido em duas partes. O estudo 1 teve como objetivo caracterizar o nível de atividade física; analisar se há associação do nível de atividade física e sintomas depressivos e entre nível de atividade física e variáveis metabólicas em pacientes com DA. Participaram deste estudo 37 pacientes nos estágios leve e moderado da DA. Os sintomas depressivos foram avaliados pela Escala de Cornell para Depressão em Demência e pela Escala Geriátrica de Depressão; o nível de atividade física foi avaliado pelo Questionário Baecke Modificado para Idosos. Para mensurar as variáveis metabólicas (colesterol total, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglicérides, glicemia e homocisteina sérica) os pacientes foram encaminhados a um laboratório especializado. Para traçar o perfil cognitivo global utilizamos o Mini-Exame do Estado Mental e o Montréal Cognitive Assessment. Para análise dos dados utilizamos o teste de Shapiro Wilk para verificar a distribuição dos dados. O teste de correlação de Spearman foi utilizado para verificar possíveis relações entre as variáveis analisadas. Os testes de t student e U Mann Whitney foram utilizados para comparar os grupos com maior e menor nível de atividade física. Admitiu-se nível de significância de 5% para todas as análises. O nível de atividade física encontrado foi considerado baixo. Pacientes mais ativos apresentam menos sintomas depressivos e menor... / Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive, psychological, behavioral, functional and metabolic. Among these changes, we can detach the depressive symptoms and metabolic changes. The practice of physical activity has proved to be an important tool as a non-pharmacological treatment of these changes. This study was divided into two parts. The study 1 aimed to characterize the level of physical activity, analyze whether there is an association of physical activity level and depressive symptoms and between physical activity level and metabolic variables in patients with AD. The study included 37 patients in mild and moderate stages of DA. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia and the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the level of physical activity was assessed by the Baecke Questionnaire Modified for the Elderly. To measure the metabolic variables (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglycerides, blood glucose and serum homocysteine) patients were referred to a specialized laboratory. To characterize the overall cognitive profile, it was used the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montréal Cognitive Assessment. For data analysis was used the Shapiro Wilk test to verify the data distribution. The Spearman correlation test was used to verify possible relations between the variables. The Student’s t test and U Mann Whitney test was used to compare the groups with higher and lower levels of physical activity. The level of significance was set at 5% for all analyses. The level of physical activity was found to be low. Patients that were more active showed less depressive symptoms and lower serum homocysteine concentration. Relationships were found between physical activity level and depressive symptoms according to the patient response; between physical activity level... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Daily undulating periodization represents an increasingly popular trend in exercise science with which a traditional model has been established. Tiered daily undulating periodization pairs the DUP approach with a tiered training system which allows volume and intensity to be more evenly distributed throughout a given graining cycle. The concept of tiered daily undulating periodization is a novel form of periodization and has not been investigated. As such, a comparison of traditional and tiered daily undulating periodization has yet to be examined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of traditional and tiered daily undulating periodization models as they relate to strength adaptations in trained males. Twenty-seven resistance trained males (22.0 ± 4.5 years) completed an 8 week resistance training protocol. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the traditional daily undulating periodization group (DUP, n = 12) or tiered daily undulating periodization group (TDUP, n = 15). Participants were recruited from the campus recreation center and met the minimum strength requirements of bench pressing their bodyweight, squatting 125% of their bodyweight, and deadlifting 150% of their bodyweight. Strength measures included squat 1RM, bench press 1RM, deadlift 1RM, powerlifting total, and Wilk’s Coefficient. Each variable was measured at baseline and again after the 8 week training period. Each group performed the same number of sets, reps, and exercises throughout each training week. DUP specified all exercises in a given training bout to be performed the same intensity and repetition scheme. TDUP specified performance of one high intensity exercise each day with each subsequent exercise being performed with lower intensity and differing repetition scheme. Data was analyzed via a 2x2 mixed factorial ANOVA with the alpha criterion for significance set at 0.05. There were no significant differences between groups at baseline and no significant differences were observed between groups for total volume or intensity. With respect to strength dependent variables, there was a main effect for time (p = <0.001) for back squat 1RM (DUP pre = 140.5 ± 33.9 kg, DUP post = 163.3 ± 29.8 kg; TDUP pre = 147.3 ±34.0 kg, TDUP post = 166.5 ± 30.7 kg), bench press 1RM (DUP pre = 104.2 ± 12.9 kg, DUP post = 114.9 ± 14.2 kg; TDUP = 110.4 ± 12.7 kg, TDUP post = 120.6 ± 11.9 kg), deadlift 1RM (DUP pre = 177.7 ± 26.4 kg, DUP post = 194.1 ± 20.2 kg; TDUP pre = 169.6 ± 37.5, TDUP post = 188.3 ± 37.5), powerlifting total (DUP pre = 422.4 ± 67.8 kg, DUP post = 472.4 ± 60.6 kg; TDUP pre = 427.1 ± 79.2 kg, TDUP post = 476.5 ± 74.1 kg), and Wilk’s score (DUP pre = 287.5 ± 49.3, DUP post = 320.0 ± 45.6; TDUP pre = 298.3 ± 45.8, TDUP post = 331.6 ± 38.7). However, no interaction effects were observed between DUP and TDUP for any of the strength dependent variables. These results suggest that 8 weeks of tiered DUP resistance training leads to similar gains in strength compared to the traditional DUP model in trained males. This could be a result of the similar workload between both groups. While not significant, traditional DUP may be more efficacious for improving back squat 1RM (DUP = 16%; TDUP = 13%), while TDUP may elicit greater strength gains in the deadlift (DUP = 9%; TDUP = 12%). Furthermore, this study demonstrates that exercise order and training intensity can be manipulated throughout each training session according to personal preference while maintaining strength adaptations within a DUP model. Lastly, dropout rates in this study lead researchers to conclude that the DUP protocols investigated should be transient and not used as a long term training approach.

The purpose was to examine the effect of chronic alcohol abuse on the androgen receptor content (AR) in skeletal muscle, and to determine if this effect was influenced by resistance training. Thirty-four male rats (456 ± 1 g; mean ± SE) were divided into 4 groups: Sham exercise-Ethanol, Sham exercise-Normal diet, Exercise-Ethanol, and Exercise-Normal diet. Both Exercise groups underwent a 6-week "squat" resistance training protocol and both Ethanol groups received an alcohol-rich diet throughout the 6-week period. Western blot analysis showed no effect of alcohol or resistance training on the AR of the extensor digitorum longus. For the rectus femoris, alcohol caused a decline in the AR (p=0.01). This reduction was not attenuated by resistance training. The AR of the soleus was not affected by chronic alcohol abuse alone; however, the resistance training induced increase in the AR was prevented by chronic alcohol abuse (p=0.03).