Development of a Physical Ability Test for Screening Mental Health Technician Trainee Candidates

This study was designed to establish a valid physical ability test for use by the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities to screen job applicants for the position of Mental Health Technician Trainee. Physical ability tests to determine physical qualifications for jobs requiring substantial physical effort are permitted under current Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines if the required physical standards are job related and consistent with business necessity. In order to determine the physical demands encountered by Mental Health Technicians, a job analysis was conducted. The job analysis phase included: (i) a literature review, (ii) facility site visits, (iii) interviews with technicians, supervisors, and other administrators, (iv) an analysis of job descriptions and training session videotapes, and (v) a written survey of Mental Health Technicians and supervisors at twenty-one Mental Health and Developmental facilities. A total of 1123 questionnaires were distributed and 655 were returned with a return-rate of 58%. Ten job tasks requiring physical effort were identified that are frequently performed by Mental Health Technicians: (1) walk or stand for long periods of time, (2) perform general house cleaning duties, (3) participate in recreational activities with recipients, (4) bathe and dress recipients, (5) assist recipients with laundry, changing bed linens, and cleaning rooms, (6) push recipients in wheelchairs, (7) change Attends on recipients, (8) lift, turn, or reposition recipients, (9) run to the scene of a disturbance or emergency, and (10) lift and carry heavy objects other than recipients. Tasks 1, 4, and 9 were also rated as extremely important for a technician to be able to perform. Other tasks which were performed infrequently, but were also rated as critical, were: (11) physically separate fighting recipients, (12) defend yourself against an aggressive recipient (hitting, kicking, biting, pulling hair, etc.), (13) physically restrain an aggressive recipient with the help of other Mental Health Technicians, and (14) apply restraints to resisting recipients. Overall, these job tasks meet the definition of essential functions based on the written job descriptions, the amount of time spent performing the function, and/or the consequence if a Technician is not able to perform the function. In the second phase of the investigation, the physical test battery and the correspondence between the essential job tasks of Mental Health Technicians and the content of the physical ability test were defined. The recommended test battery included both items that simulate essential job tasks, and items that measure the physical capacities underlying critical job tasks that require special training or are not easily simulated. These tests are: (1) Rockport 1.0 Mile Walk Test, (2) YMCA Bench Press Test, (3) Lift and Carry Test, (4) Hand Grip Strength Test, (5) Recipient Transfer Test, and (6) 100 yard Shuttle Run

Donning a Novel Lower-Limb Restrictive Compression Garment During Training Augments Muscle Power and Strength

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(3): 890-899, 2020. The popularity of graduated compression garments (GCG) in sport and exercise is largely driven by the abundance of anecdotal claims suggesting their efficacy. A new line of compression apparel, restrictive compression garments (RCG), integrate novel resistance technology into lower-limb compression garments designed to provide variable resistance to movement. This study aimed to investigate the effect of donning an RCG during a 4-week training program on selected performance variables. Twelve college-aged males were recruited for four weeks of lower-body strength-power resistance training. Participants were randomized 1:1 and blinded to (i) an intervention group (RCG; n = 6) that donned a lower-body RCG during training or (ii) a control group (SHAM; n = 6) that donned a sham during identical training. Both groups demonstrated significant increases in 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) on a seated leg press after 4 weeks (both p \u3c 0.001), with RCG showing a significantly greater increase compared SHAM (p = 0.005, g = 3.35). Similarly, RCG demonstrated significantly greater increases in jump height, peak power, and average power compared to SHAM (p = 0.032, g = 3.44; p \u3c 0.001, g = 4.40; p \u3c 0.001, g = 4.50, respectively). Donning a RCG while engaging in lower-body strength-power training may augment increases 1-RM on a seated leg press, jump height, peak and average power, compared with same exercise training without an RCG

Efficacy of a 6-week Novel Exergaming Intervention Guided by Heart Rate Zones on Aerobic Performance in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Feasibility Study

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(3): 710-720, 2023. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of a novel exergaming intervention guided by heart rate zones for children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Eight study participants (6 females, 2 males, mean age= 11.4±1.4 years old) participated twice weekly over six weeks to complete twelve multimodal exergaming sessions. Participants significantly improved 6MWT from baseline to week 6 (575.4±55.0 m to 732.8±58.9 m; P\u3c0.01), which conferred a 31% improvement in estimated VO2max (31.5±5.5 ml/kg/min to 40.9±5.9 ml/kg/min), respectively. There was an upward trend of the mean percentage of time spent in the intermediate HR zones over the course of the 6-week intervention. These findings may provide value to the field as they support the clinical utility and promising effects of cardiovascular improvement in children who engage in a compelling exergaming intervention. In doing so, this establishes a preliminary understanding of how to augment routine physical exercise through exergaming using visually targeted heart rate zones

Lower Limb Graduated Compression Garments Modulate Autonomic Nervous System and Improve Post-Training Recovery Measured via Heart Rate Variability

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(7): 1794-1806, 2020. Prior studies have examined the benefits of graduated compression garments (GCG) with regards to diverse exercise regimens; however, the relationship between GCG and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to examine Heart Rate Variability (HRV) trends—a proxy for ANS modulation—in response to donning GCG during a progressive overload training regimen designed to induce overtraining. Ten college-aged male novice runners were recruited for the 8-week crossover study. After three weeks of monitored free living, participants were randomized and blinded to an intervention group that donned a lower-body GCG during a two-week exercise regimen or a control group that donned a visually identical but non-compressive sham during identical training. No significant difference in HRV was calculated by the natural logarithm of the root mean square of successive RR-interval differences (lnRMSSD) between the 3-week free-living baseline and GCG intervention periods (P = 0.3040). The mean lnRMSSD was greater during the free-living phase and GCG intervention compared to the sham placebo (P \u3c 0.001 and \u3c0.001 respectively). With regard to the daily fluctuation of lnRMSSD, no significant differences were found between free-living and intervention (P = 1.000). Conversely, the intervention period demonstrated reduced daily fluctuation of lnRMSSD relative to the Sham placebo group (P = 0.010). These novel findings posit that post training use of a commercially available graduated compression garment in novice runners may be effective in counteracting some deleterious effects from overtraining while attenuating its effects on vagally-mediated HRV

Energy Expenditure and Muscular Recruitment Patterns of Riding a Novel Electrically Powered Skateboard

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 1783-1793, 2020. Analysis of metabolic gas exchange and muscular output measures have enabled researchers to index activity intensity and energy expenditure for a myriad of exercises. However, there is no current research that investigates the physiological demands of riding electrically powered skateboards. The aim of this study was to measure the energetic cost and muscular trends of riding a novel electrically powered skateboard engineered to emulate snowboarding on dry-land. While riding the skateboard, eight participants (aged 21-37 years, 1 female) donned a portable breath-by-breath gas analyzer to measure energy expenditure (mean = 12.5, SD = 2 kcal/min), maximum heart rate (mean = 158, SD = 27 bpm), and metabolic equivalent (mean = 10.5, SD = 2 kcal/kg/h). By comparison, snowboarding has a metabolic equivalent (MET) of 8.0. Per the Compendium of Physical Activities guidelines, the predicted MET values for riding an electrically powered skateboard qualifies as vigorous-intensity activity. Four participants additionally wore a surface EMG embedded garment to record the percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) of lower limb muscle groups. The inner quadriceps had the most pronounced mean peak muscle activation of 145%MVC during frontside and 164%MVC during frontside turns. EMG recordings showed 11.7%MVC higher utilization during backside turns compared to frontside turns while riding the electrically powered skateboard, which is similar to trends observed in alpine snowboarders. Therefore, electrically powered skateboards may be a promising technology for snowboarders and non-snowboarders alike to burn calories and increase physical activity year-round

Effect of Real-Time Feedback on Power Output Using a Novel Smart-Resisted Sled Push

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(6): 1578-1586, 2022. Prior studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of real-time data feedback (RTF) on athletic performance and motivation. Despite this evidence, the lack of practical means to implement RTF has hindered its widespread adoption. Recently, a smart-resisted sled push was developed to improve athletic power by utilizing electromagnetic motors as a resistance mechanism, coupled with an RTF display. Thirty healthy college-aged male football players were recruited in this randomized, crossover designed study to examine the efficacy of the RTF to improve power output. Participants were randomized into either group 1 (receiving RTF first then no RTF) or group 2 (receiving no RTF first then RTF) during six, 10-meter sled pushes with 3 min rest intervals. The first three pushes were set to an easier level (L1) and the last three were set to a resistance level twice that of the first three runs (L2). A one-month washout period was enforced. For trials 1-3 (L1) (p = 0.026, t = -2.34, ES = -0.428) and 4-6 (L2) (p = 0.035, t = -2.22, ES = -0.405), peak power output (the average peak power output over the course of trials 1-3 and 4-6) was greater in both groups when receiving RTF compared to no-RTF. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of RTF in augmenting power output during performance training

Not All HIFT Classes Are Created Equal: Evaluating Energy Expenditure and Relative Intensity of a High-Intensity Functional Training Regimen

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 1206-1216, 2020. The demand for efficient and effective exercises has grown in concert with increased attention to fitness as a determinant of overall health. While past studies have examined the benefits traditional conditioning exercises, there have been few investigations of high intensity functional training (HIFT). The aim of this study was to measure the energy expenditure and relative intensity from participation in a signature, 35-minute group-based HIFT regimen. During the HIFT session, 13 volunteers (aged 23-59 years, 6 females) donned a portable breath-by-breath gas analyzer and a heart rate monitor. Mean caloric expenditure (528 ± 62 kcal), maximum heart rate (172 ± 8 bpm), and metabolic equivalents (12.2 ± 1.4 kcal/kg/h) were characterized as a vigorous-intensity activity according to the Compendium of Physical Activities guidelines. Moreover, implementing this high energy expenditure session twice weekly may comport with Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans weekly physical activity recommendations. HIFT training may provide time-efficient exercise for those seeking exercise-related health benefits

Muscle Activity and User-Perceived Exertion During Immersive Virtual Reality Exergaming Incorporating an Adaptive Cable Resistance System

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(7): 261-275, 2022. The purpose of this exploratory study was to characterize muscle activation via surface electromyography (sEMG), user-perceived exertion, and enjoyment during a 30-minute session of immersive virtual reality (IVR) cable resistance exergaming. Ten healthy, college-aged males completed a signature 30-minute exergaming session using an IVR adaptive cable resistance system that incorporated six traditional compound exercises. Muscle activation (sEMG) was captured during the session with a wearable sEMG system. Rated of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) were recorded following the session. Pectoralis major showed the highest activation during chest press, deltoids showed the highest activation on overhead press, latissimus dorsi showed the highest activation during lat pulldown and row exercises, hamstrings were the most activated muscles during Romanian deadlift, and glutes showed the highest activity during squats. RPE and PACES mean scores were 14 (1) and 4.27 (0.38), respectively. IVR exergaming with resistance cable training provides an enjoyable experience and distracts practitioners from exertion while exercising at a high intensity. Results from this study suggest similar muscle activation responses compared to traditional resistance exercises as demonstrated with prior evidence. This novel form of exercise might have important repercussions for improving health outcomes among those who find it challenging to adhere to and enjoy exercise routines, as well as with little knowledge on how to progress in their resistance training. Further investigations are needed to explore long-term adaptations and to assess if IVR exergaming has additional benefits compared to traditional resistance training

Interrelationship between Sleep and Exercise: A Systematic Review

Although a substantial body of literature has explored the relationship between sleep and exercise, comprehensive reviews and definitive conclusions about the impact of exercise interventions on sleep are lacking. Electronic databases were searched for articles published between January 2013 and March 2017. Studies were included if they possessed either objective or subjective measures of sleep and an exercise intervention that followed the guidelines recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine. Thirtyfour studies met these inclusion criteria. Twenty-nine studies concluded that exercise improved sleep quality or duration; however, four found no difference and one reported a negative impact of exercise on sleep. Study results varied most significantly due to participants' age, health status, and the mode and intensity of exercise intervention. Mixed findings were reported for children, adolescents, and young adults. Interventions conducted with middle-aged and elderly adults reported more robust results. In these cases, exercise promoted increased sleep efficiency and duration regardless of the mode and intensity of activity, especially in populations suffering from disease. Our review suggests that sleep and exercise exert substantial positive effects on one another; however, to reach a true consensus, the mechanisms behind these observations must first be elucidated

Student engagement as a function of environmental complexity in high school classrooms

The purpose of this study was to investigate the linkage between the quality of the learning environment and the quality of students' experience in seven high school classrooms in six different subject areas. The quality of the learning environment was conceptualized in terms of environmental complexity, or the simultaneous presence of environmental challenge and environmental support. The students (N = 108) in each class participated in the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) measuring their engagement and related experiential variables. Concurrently, environmental complexity and its subdimensions were observed and rated from video with a new observational instrument, The Optimal Learning Environments - Observational Log and Assessment (OLE-OLA). Using two-level HLM regression models, ratings from the OLE-OLA were utilized to predict student engagement and experiential variables as measured by the ESM. Results showed that environmental complexity predicted student engagement and sense of classroom self-esteem. Implications for research, theory and practice are discussed