Assessing bench press strength after training without the benefit of vision

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to examine whether upper extremity strength training visually impaired can increase strength on the bench press. Participants in the study were 35 students, 9 females (19.67 yrs +- 1.118) and 26 males (20.58 yrs +-1.70), taking a strength training class at a rural Oklahoma University. All students were administered a health history questionnaire and a survey to determine their eligibility for the study. Each participant was administered a 5-RM bench press and then split into two groups, an experimental and a control group. Both group were administered the same treatment, with the one exception, that the experimental group trained on the bench press using blind-folds.Findings and Conclusions: The increases in 5-RM on the bench press were not statistically significant. However, numerically there were greater increases in 5-RM in the experimental group compared to the control group. The experimental group experienced a greater percentage of change both between group and between group and sex. The results may be attributed to the strength of the test and a more stringent test such as a computerized test or a 1-RM may have resulted in significant results. However, numeric increases can lead us to further explore this area

Do Kayakers Perform More Proficiently On a Rowing Ergometer Than Rowers Perform On a Kayak Ergometer?

Do Kayakers Perform More Proficiently On a Rowing Ergometer Than Rowers Perform On a Kayak Ergometer? Will Roszel, Ali Boolani Oklahoma City University Undergraduate Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a cross-over effect between rowing and kayaking ergometer times in elite rowers and kayakers. Methodology : Subjects (N=23; height (HT)= 180.34cm ±8.53; weight (WT)= 75.93kg ±14.19) were kayakers (n=8) and rowers (n=15) from a convenience sample of high-performance and/or colligate teams who volunteered for this study. After a ten-minute warm up, subjects were asked to complete 1000 meters on the kayak and the rowing ergometers in order. Attempts were separated by a fifteen-minute break. Subjects’ times were recorded; and a one-way ANOVA was used to analyze results. Results: Analysis yielded differences in kayaking time between groups (p\u3c.001), however no statistical significance was noted between groups in rowing time (p\u3c.685). Conclusion: Results suggest that greater motor skills and practice are required to master kayak technique than are required to master rowing technique. Additionally, kayakers may be able to row just as quickly as rowers because of the simplicity of the rowing technique, and the fact that kayakers may have a higher level of overall fitness. However, further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms that account for these differences

Student-Athletes at an Historically Black University (HBU): Examining the Relationship Between Student-Engagement on Campus and Career Situation Awareness

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between student-athletes’ engagement experiences on campus and their career situation awareness at an historically Black university (HBU) in the Southeastern United States with NCAA Division I affiliation. Data was obtained from a sample (n = 118) of female (n= 45) and male (n = 73) student-athletes using measures from the revised versions of the Student-Athlete Experiences Inventory (SAEI) and the Student-Athlete Career Situation Inventory (SACSI). One-way ANOVA, Pearson product-moment correlation tests, and t-tests were employed to analyze gender, race, year classification, and sport played effects. Following data analysis, three key findings were identified. First, HBCUs are likely to provide socially enriching environments for minority student-athletes of both genders that promote career confidence; particularly for Black, female student-athletes. Second, in an HBCU context, White student-athletes may not be as academically involved in university life when compared to their minority counterparts. Third, the use of the library for academic purposes and engagement in socially enriching experiences may have diminishing effects on female student-athletes’ sport identities. Implications and future research recommendations are discussed. To better validate and improve the generalizability, future research should conduct similar studies that employ data from multiple HBCUs

Lower Leg Injury — Basketball

HISTORY: A 21y/o male, Division III (D3) basketball player inverted his right (R) ankle during practice landing from a jump. The athlete felt a popping sensation over the lateral aspect of his R ankle, had immediate pain and the supervising athletic trainer (AT) evaluated him for major deformity. Unable to ambulate, he was transported to the athletic training room for further examination. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Upon initial examination, no obvious deformity, swelling, or ecchymosis was noted. During palpation the lateral malleolus and distal ⅓ of the fibula were point tender. Special tests were performed to rule out fracture and ligament damage; Squeeze Test (-), Bump Test (-), Anterior Drawer (+ for pain), Talar Tilt Inversion and Eversion (-). After testing, the ankle and distal ⅓ of the fibula swelled rapidly, increasing point tenderness, and the squeeze test became positive. He was given crutches, a compression sleeve, and instructed to go to the ER for diagnostic imaging. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: Fracture of distal ⅓ of fibula ATF ligament sprain Rupture of Peroneal Retinaculum TEST AND RESULTS: Radiographs of the R ankle and lower leg (LL). –Nondisplaced fibular fracture. Weight bearing (WB) radiograph was ordered after he slipped and fell. –Could not stand during imaging due to extreme pain; the radiograph was postponed. –One week later imaging revealed the bone remained nondisplaced. FINAL WORKING DIAGNOSIS: Spiral Fracture of Distal ⅓ of Fibula TREATMENT AND OUTCOMES: Alternated between hard cast, crutches, and walking boot due to physician disagreement for 2 weeks. Subsequently, spent 1 week in a hard cast and 3 weeks in a walking boot. Athlete was instructed to gently perform ROM exercise on his own, but forbidden to begin physical therapy (PT) per orthopedic. 7 weeks after initial injury, transitioned to ankle brace and was instructed to begin full WB ambulation. Rehabilitative exercises began ~7-8 weeks after initial injury. Initial rehabilitation included: daily active and passive ROM, light calf and ankle strengthening exercises, and WB exercises. 9 weeks post injury began PT focusing on lower leg and ankle strength. Implemented Laser Therapy pre and post treatment, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, and a plyometric program for calf and ankle strength. Returned to play 13 weeks post injury, wearing ankle brace

Correlation between weight, squat, deadlift and rowing ergometer times in collegiate rowers.

“Correlation between weight, squat, deadlift and rowing ergometer times in collegiate rowers.” Jared McArthur, James Kyle Adair, and Ali Boolani Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City University Human Performance Lab Undergraduate Abstract Purpose; The purpose of the study is to determine a relationship between male rower’s ergometer time (ET) body weight (WT), height (HT), maximal Squat (SQ), and Dead Lift (DL) results. Methodology; Subjects (N=16; HT= 185.34cm ±7.19; WT= 83.82kg ±8.06) were all male high performance athletes participating at the varsity level. All subjects participated in a 20-minute warm up on a Concept 2 rowing ergometer before participating in a 6000 meter timed trial at maximum effort. After 24 hours of recovery subjects were required to participate in a 10-minute warm up (run) before being tested for their 5 Repetition Max (RM) on both SQ and DL. A Pearson correlation was used to analyze data and significance was noted at p\u3c.05. Results: Analysis yielded a negative correlation between WT and ET (p=.002 R= -.70), SQ and RS (p\u3c.001 R=-.79), and DL and ET (p=.045 R=-.51). There was no significance at p\u3c.05 for HT and ET. Conclusion: Rowing technique is extremely dependent on the athlete’s ability to maximize leg thrust, therefore making the SQ and DL essential in determining ES. ES was also faster when subject’s WT was heaver which may be due to increased muscle mass in heavier athletes. Addition studies of larger test groups and 1-RM may be required

Barriers to Adopting Lifestyle Behaviors under the Prism of Lifestyle Medicine

According to the ACSM, lifestyle medicine (LM) is in the top 20 worldwide fitness trends for 2022. The LM pillars of a plant-based diet, physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, social interactions, and avoidance of risky substances have been proposed as effective strategies for preventing and treating chronic conditions. However, implementing lifestyle behavioral changes to improve noncommunicable chronic disease outcomes has still been problematic. Individuals’ mental and physical status has been suggested as a key component in closing the gap between the intention to adopt a healthy lifestyle and actually adopting that behavior. PURPOSE: To examine the associations of selected LM pillars with respect to mental/physical energy and fatigue. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized cross-over project that examined the effects of energy shot use on mood and cognition in adults older than 18 years old in a small college town. Participants (N=670) completed sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), mood (Profile of Mood Survey-Short Form), mental and physical state energy and fatigue (Mental and Physical State and Trait Energy and Fatigue Scales), physical activity, diet (Food Frequency), and mental workload surveys. The remaining LM pillars were assessed indirectly through the previous surveys. Ordinary least squares regression models examined the associations between the variables, using Python 3.0, p \u3c.05. RESULTS: Younger individuals with bad sleep habits and high mental workdays, having high confusion and depression were associated with high mental fatigue. Men that consume a plant-based diet, have high mental workdays, and sleep adequately, were high in both state and trait mood scales. Physical fatigue presented the same characteristics as previously described, with the exception of the use of a diet high in caffeine and polyphenols that were associated with trait, but not state, physical fatigue. Physically active, good sleeper males presented significantly high state and trait physical energy levels. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals who practice the LM therapeutic modality should evaluate individuals’ complex psychosocial profiles before a differential diagnosis is conferred on the premise to implement lifestyle behavioral changes

Association Between Efficiency of Movement Patterns and Basketball Performance: An Exploratory Study

Basketball is a sport that requires players to execute a variety of multidirectional movements that have technically-skilled components of both offense and defense. While research has explored the relationships between a) strength and conditioning measures and basketball performance and b) strength and conditioning measures and measurements of movement efficiency, at this time we are unaware of any research that has investigated if movement efficiency and basketball performance are inter-related. PURPOSE: To explore the association between efficiency of movement and basketball performance. METHODS: Pre-season, participants (n=17) were recruited from a men’s and women’s NCAA Division 1 basketball team. Spatio-temporal movement parameters and their inefficiencies were analyzed using the OptoGait. After a controlled warm-up, participants were asked to complete a 30-second treadmill walk and run, sprint 5 meters, and perform a single and double leg vertical and broad jump. Movement pattern efficiency for gait-based parameters was operationally defined as variance in lower limb movement (e.g., variance in gait speed, single leg support time), with greater variance being considered as inefficient. For jumping movements, inefficiency of movement was defined as larger landing areas and jump points. Basketball statistics were downloaded post-season and each player’s basketball statistics were normalized to 30 minutes. Zero-order correlations were used to identify the relationship between basketball statistics and movement inefficiencies. RESULTS: While there were many (178) significant relationships present, the direction of the relationships was as expected with larger inefficiencies in movement being associated with worse basketball performance. Variances in sprint acceleration were negatively associated with most basketball statistics, with some of the largest relationships being field goal percent (-0.647), free throw attempt (-0.912), and total rebounds (-0.844). CONCLUSION: Taken together, the findings suggest that players who move inefficiently during running and while jumping tend to perform worse when they are playing basketball. Although this study did not identify how these inefficiencies impacted player performance, the results from this exploratory study suggest that investigation into this area is warranted. Our findings provide evidence that strength and conditioning researchers should also seek to understand whether movement efficiencies influence performance in other sports and also further investigate these relationships in basketball players with larger sample sizes

AI-Driven Analysis of Diagnostic Profiles in COVID-19 Patients: Implications for Healthcare Interventions

The COVID-19 crisis has strained global healthcare systems, highlighting the significance of investigating comorbidities and secondary diagnoses in patients. Harnessing of data-driven insights, as facilitated by artificial intelligence (AI), has shown remarkable promise in enhancing the efficacy of healthcare strategies and ameliorating patient outcomes. PURPOSE: To identify diagnostic profiles in COVID-19 patients via AI-driven analysis, focusing on comorbidities and secondary diagnoses. METHODS: The analytical groundwork was established upon the scrutiny of 42,974 patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Each record was characterized by 850 diagnostic indicators encompassing a spectrum of ailments, such as demyelinated diseases, seizure disorders, and various additional comorbidities. The predominant racial composition of the sample was White (n = 31,329, 73%). A majority of patients were of the female gender (n = 23,534, 55%). Data were collected using Electronic Medical Records through the Cerner system from 31 hospitals in a large health system. Finite mixture modeling, a form of model-based unsupervised machine learning, was employed to ascertain the presence of latent, distinguishable patterns among secondary diagnoses. Of the approximately 850 secondary diagnoses considered, 221 exhibited prevalence in over 50 patients. A sequence of mixture models was estimated, incrementally augmenting the number of latent profiles via maximum likelihood estimation with robust standard errors. Model solutions were subjected to rigorous evaluation, culminating in the selection of three diagnostic profiles predicated on statistical model-data fit, parsimony, and interpretability. RESULTS: The selected model revealed the presence of three distinct diagnostic profiles. These profiles were characterized by patients who: (1) exhibited a notably low likelihood of presenting with secondary diagnoses, (2) demonstrated heightened probabilities of manifesting commonly observed diagnoses within the United States, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and a history of tobacco use, or (3) displayed elevated probabilities of harboring multiple comorbid diagnoses, spanning domains such as lung, heart, and kidney-related conditions. The initial profile encompassed 27,002 patients (63%), followed by the second profile comprising 11,419 patients (27%), and the third profile, accounting for 4,553 patients (11%). Patients were individually assigned probabilities denoting their affiliation with each profile, with respective average classification probabilities of .98, .89, and .94, signifying a high degree of classification confidence. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the potential application of AI in informing healthcare interventions, such as tailored treatment plans, early intervention, resource allocation, patient education, research and development, and healthcare policy

Mood Responses to Various Exercise Types Using the Ontological Definitions of Exercise

Recently, a new ontological way of exploring sport and physical activity (PA) has been proposed: the type of PA performed is classified using the four ontological dimensions. This phenomenon has classified PA as individual (I-me), encounter (I-You), team (I-Society), and nature (I-Nature). There has only been one study that has examined how participating in these various types of PA influences moods; however, that study asked individuals to recall what types of PA were performed and how they felt more than 60 days before the commencement of the study. PURPOSE: To identify whether daily moods differ based on the four ontological dimensions of PA. METHODS: Subjects (n=144) were recruited from a small, private university in rural New York and asked to fill out the POMS-SF daily for 60 days. Participants (n=67) who completed 14 or more days of the survey were included in this study. Self-reported exercise type was classified based on the ontological dimension; however, if participants performed more than one type the day was classified as I-Multiple. Moods were scored using previously published methodology. Due to the non-normal distribution of data, a series of Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc Dunn’s tests were used. RESULTS: On days participants performed I-society activities, they reported significantly lower feelings of depression (pCONCLUSION: The findings support the need for PA, as they suggest that performing PA increases feelings of energy. Interestingly, individual PA results in the greatest increase in feelings of energy. Findings also suggest that feelings of depression were lowest when performing PA with several people. The depression findings may be explained by the fact that data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic where our participants were socially distancing on most days

Grit Explained 29.4% of the Variability in Mental Toughness of Student-athletes: Perseverance Was Primarily Responsible

Grit is a dispositional concept applied to individuals pursuing a singular objective. Mental toughness (MT) is a state-like concept, crucial when pursuing multiple goals. Although frequently used interchangeably due to commonalities (purposefulness, perseverance), both these conceptually distinct Positive Psychology constructs have been positively associated with athletic performance indicators. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between grit with MT in a sample of student-athletes. METHODS: The student-athletes (n = 39; female = 29) reported playing one of many sports: football, basketball, golf, volleyball, rowing, acrobatics & tumbling, soccer, baseball, hockey, tennis, track & field, and softball. Grit levels were assessed through the Grit Scale (12 items; 5-point scale; Subscales: Perseverance and Passion). MT levels were assessed through the Mental Toughness Index (MTI) (8 items; 7-point scale; Unidimensional measure of eight key dimensions). MTI’s item 4 (“I strive for continued success”) measures success mindset (the desire to achieve success and the ability to act upon this motive), whose one of the supporting theories is grit. In order to examine the relationships between the two grit subfactors with MT, we used multiple regression with the subscale scores. We conducted an ordinal regression to explore the explanatory power of the grit subscales on MTI’s item 4. RESULTS: Correlation between the two grit subscales: r = .327, p = .011. The correlation between MT and perseverance was the strongest observed among the variables examined (r = .533, p \u3c .001). Together, passion and perseverance explained 29.4% of the variability in MT, although perseverance was primarily responsible for the explained variability (β= .286, p \u3c .001). For the ordinal regression model, the two grit subscales reproduced about 58% of the responses to the item in question. Again, perseverance was the variable responsible for the explanatory power of MT. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that almost 30% of the MT and 60% of MTI’s item 4’s score variabilities are explained by grit (mainly by perseverance). Practitioners should evaluate the predictive value of perseverance (an enduring personal characteristic) to MT and MTI item 4 and design interventions aiming at the non-stable MT key dimensions accordingly