Staring Down the Barrel of a Shotgun

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Caudill College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Jill Marie Alexander on April 8, 2010

An Investigation into the Influence of Athletic Taping on the Postures of Female Equine Riders During Sitting Trot.

Background: With effective postural positioning a rider strives to be harmonious with the horse for optimum performance and communication. It is thought that asymmetry within a rider’s posture has consequences on rider-horse harmony. However, limited empirical studies report on typical postural characteristics of riders and the potential effects of asymmetric postures. Furthermore studies are yet to report on corrective methods such as taping in order to positively adjust asymmetric postures. A study of female riders postures whilst riding sitting trot initiated in the hope of understanding postural characteristics and taping as a method of correction, is reported here. Aim: To investigate the effects of athletic taping on asymmetric postures of female equestrian riders during sittin

THE EFFECT OF KNEE JOINT COOLING ON ISOKINETIC TORQUE PRODUCTION OF THE KNEE EXTENSORS: CONSIDERATIONS FOR APPLICATION

Background: Cryotherapy is commonly used in sport for the management of injury or during recovery, however the effects on concentric isokinetic strength appear unclear when considering the effect of joint cooling distal to the anterior thigh. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cooling of the knee joint on quadriceps concentric isokinetic torque production. The results will inform the use of cryotherapy in practice. Study Design: Observational cohort, Repeated Measures Methods: Fourteen healthy male participants volunteered to take part in the study, all of whom regularly played competitive sports (mean age 20.24±1.51years; body mass 80.34±11.34Kg and height 179.45±6.59cm). 800 g of crushed ice was applied over the anterior knee joint for 20 minutes. Concentric quadriceps strength was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer (IKD) by measuring concentric peak (PkT) and average torque (AvT) outputs at pre-, immediately post and 20 minutes post cooling intervention. Additionally, skin surface temperature (Tsk), was measured using a hand-held thermometer at the patella at the same time intervals. Measurement was taken at the mid-point of each participant’s patella, which was ascertained by measuring between the base and apex. Results: Significant main effects reported for PkT, for time post-ice application (p=0.02, 2=0.161). Post-hoc analysis revealed pre-ice application PkT to be significantly higher (p ≤0.003) than all other timepoints. Quadratic regression analysis revealed a strong correlation between reductions in quadriceps torque production and time post application (r=0.82). The quadratic pattern of recovery displays a minima of 17.28-minutes and maxima of 34.56-minutes post ice application. AvT post-ice application demonstrated significant main effects for time post-ice application (p=0.03, 2=0.152). Post-hoc analysis revealed pre-ice application AvT to be significantly higher (p ≤0.005) than at all other timepoints. Quadratic regression analysis revealed a strong correlation between reductions in quadriceps torque production and time post application (r=0.80). The quadratic pattern of recovery displays a minima of 18.38-minutes and maxima of 36.76-minutes post ice application. Tsk reduced significantly, immediately post intervention (p ≤0.05) without returning to baseline measures at 20-minutes post (p ≤0.05). Conclusions: Isokinetic peak torque values of the quadriceps diminish after cryotherapy application to the knee joint and are not fully recovered at 20 minutes post application on the knee. These findings could have potential implications for participation in activity immediately following ice application

Targeting hyperarousal: Mantram Repetition Program for PTSD in US veterans.

Background: Hyperarousal appears to play an important role in the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, but current evidence-based treatments appear to address this symptom type less effectively than the other symptom clusters. The Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) is a meditation-based intervention that has previously been shown to improve symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may be especially helpful for hyperarousal. If MRP is an effective tool for decreasing this often treatment-resistant symptom cluster, it may become an important clinical tool. Objective: The goal of this secondary analysis was to examine the effect of the MRP on hyperarousal and other PTSD symptom clusters and to examine hyperarousal as a mediator of treatment response. Method: Secondary analyses were conducted on data from a randomized controlled trial in which Veterans with PTSD (n = 173) were assigned to the MRP or a non-specific psychotherapy control and assessed pre-treatment, post-treatment and 8 weeks after treatment completion. The impact of the interventions on PTSD symptom clusters was examined, and time-lagged hierarchical linear modelling was applied to examine alternative mediation models. Results: All PTSD symptom clusters improved in both treatments. MRP led to greater reductions in hyperarousal at post-treatment (Hedge's g = 0.57) and follow-up (Hedge's g = 0.52), and in numbing at post-treatment (Hedge's g = 0.47). Hyperarousal mediated reductions in the composite of the other PTSD symptom clusters. Although the reverse model was significant as well, the effect was weaker in this direction. Conclusion: Interventions focused on the management of hyperarousal may play an important role in recovery from PTSD. The MRP appears efficacious in reducing hyperarousal, and thereby impacting other PTSD symptom clusters, as one pathway to facilitating recovery

Physiological Parameters in Response to Levels of Pressure during Contemporary Cryo-Compressive Applications Implications for Protocol Development

Background The effectiveness of simultaneous dosages of compression and cryotherapy that cryo-compressive devices can offer are of interest in the management of sports injury or post-exercise recovery. Dose-response in terms of physiological parameter is required to inform current practice in the remit of sports medicine to help define optimal protocols for application. The current study aimed to investigate the physiological effects and subjective responses of different cryo-compression dosages offered by two cryo-compressive devices over a rewarming period. Methods Twenty-nine healthy male and female participants (male n=18; female n=11) volunteered (mean ± SD: age 22 ± 3.6 years, height 168.2 ± 8.6 cm, weight 67.4 ± 11.5 kg and thigh circumference 50.7 ± 6.7 cm). Objective measures included skin surface temperature, muscle oxygenation saturation, thermal comfort and sensation. Data were collected pre, immediately post and over a 20-minute rewarming period. Participants were randomly assigned to either Group A (Game Ready); B (Squid) or C Control group. Intervention groups received different cryo-compressive protocols for testing, but all received 15-minutes of cooling. Results Significant reductions in skin surface temperature were displayed across the intervention groups for all time-points (p≤0.05). Analysis of all data displayed a significant effect of time (p≤0.001) on muscle oxygenation. Collapse of the data indicated significant differences in muscle oxygenation across the different modalities and pressure (p≤0.05). Conclusion Muscle oxygenation saturation and skin surface temperature responses differ depending on pressure dose in conjunction with cooling. Higher initial increases of muscle oxygenation saturation immediately post intervention correlate to higher levels of compression. Greater magnitudes of cooling can be achieved through the adjunct of compression. Dose-response relationships between cooling and simultaneous compression should be considered and are dependent on the therapeutic aim of treatment. In order to develop optimum protocols for management of either injury or recovery parameters further investigation is required of contemporary cryo-compressive devices

The Temporal Pattern of Recovery in Eccentric Hamstring Strength Post-Localised Fatigue

BACKGROUND Eccentric hamstring training is a contemporary approach to reducing injury risk in elite footballers. Understanding the temporal pattern of recovery would inform training design. METHODS 20 male professional football players completed baseline assessments of eccentric hamstring strength at isokinetic speeds of 60, 150 and 300°·s-1. Post-exercise assessments were repeated immediately, +24hrs, +48hrs and +72hrs. Main effects for recovery time and testing speed in average torque (AvT), peak torque (PT) and the corresponding angle (Ɵ) were supplemented by regression modelling to describe the temporal pattern of recovery. RESULTS A main effect for recovery time highlighted greater strength pre exercise, with a quadratic pattern to temporal recovery highlighting minima attained at 35.2 – 41.0 hrs. CONCLUSIONS Strength parameters are not fully recovered until 82 hrs post localised fatigue, with the angle of peak torque at high speeds recovering at a much slower rate, with implications for training design

Utilisation of Cryotherapy in Sport: Understanding the Multifaceted Response

Cryotherapy is commonly used in sport for injury, rehabilitation, and recovery in readiness to perform. The principal aim of this thesis was to examine the effects of cryotherapy on several responses that underpin the optimisation of its application in sport. A substantial evidence base investigates the effects of various modes of cryotherapy across different populations and protocols, yet no body of literature examines multiple responses across several domains (biomechanical, biochemical, physiological, psychological) with an emphasis on contemporary in-field applied practices of cryotherapy in sport. This approach defines the originality of the thesis. Fifteen peer reviewed publications represent the body of work, structured by five themes: Theme 1: KINEMATIC RESPONSES TO CRYOTHERAPY Theme 2: MUSCLE STRENGTH RESPONSES TO CRYOTHERAPY Theme 3: THERMOGRAPHY AND SKIN SURFACE RESPONSES TO CRYOTHERAPY Theme 4: CONTEMPORARY CRYOTHERAPY APPLICATIONS AND RESPONSES Theme 5: MULTIFACETED RESPONSES TO CRYOTHERAPY AS A RECOVERY STRATEGY IN ELITE SPORT The studies representing several underpinning concepts from which key research questions evolved, adopted several methodologies and styles, presented in a conceptual arrangement within the five themes as opposed to chronological order. The purpose being to demonstrate synergy between concepts that might be considered important for the development of optimal cryotherapeutic applications in sport. This is an expression of the author’s interest in and evolution of research over several years working in sport rather than a pre-determined plan of studies which allowed adaptability to contemporary issues in practice as they emerged. Populations ranged from amateur to elite professional athletes, with data collection protocols developed from laboratory-based to high-performance sports environments within mid-competitive seasons. Key findings note the ability to reduce skin surface temperature for optimising intended physiological response differs between dose, modality type, compression adjunct and physical positional characteristics in team sport. Further, consensus on optimal protocols for cryo-compression is lacking, despite compression being known to increase the magnitude of cooling. Sports practitioners should appreciate the potentially detrimental biomechanical responses to local cooling at the lower limb when considering the multidirectional demands of sport. Consequently, several variables can influence the optimisation of cryotherapeutic protocols seen in biomechanical and perceptual responses over rewarming periods. Further, where cold-water immersion may be useful to ameliorate potential deficits in eccentric hamstring strength, differences in neuromuscular performance suggest periodisation and individualisation of cryotherapy protocols in these environments is important to negate responses that may be inhibiting readiness to perform. The progression of advantageous cooling protocols in sport are inherent to the understanding of the response and relationship between key variables that underpin the effected output and response in the working context of the cryotherapeutic application. Considerations for applied practitioners to optimise cryotherapy protocols are illustrated (Table 10. pg. 227) and an infographic (Figure 23. pg. 231) to provide recommendations for future applied research demonstrates the originality of the work

The Effect of Proprioceptive Training on Directional Dynamic Stabilisation

Objectives: Significant loss of playing time and the impact of treatment costs due to lower limb injury in football demonstrates a need for improved protocols for injury risk reduction. The aim of the present study is to assess the effect of a proprioceptive training programme on the lower limb dynamic stability of elite footballers. Methods: Sixteen elite premier league footballers were randomly allocated by matched pair design to an 8-week proprioception training group (group A, n = 8) or non-training group (group B, n = 8), to determine the effect of this training over a 16-week period. Group A completed 8 weeks of bilateral proprioceptive training, 5 times per week for 10 minutes. Biodex Dynamic Stability (BSS) measures of Overall Stability Index (OSI), Anterior-Posterior (A-P), Medial-Lateral Stability (M-L) at levels 8-6-4-1 were taken for both groups at baseline, 4, 8 and 16 weeks. Main effects of time, level of stability and direction of stability were determined, with comparisons of effect made between the two groups. Results: The training group displayed significant differences for multi directional stability at week 8 (P ≤ 0.05). A-P stability within the training group displayed significant differences between baseline measures and 16 weeks (P > 0.05), with significant increases in scores displayed for M-L and A-P stability between weeks 8 and 16 (P ≤ 0.05), representing a detraining effect. No significant differences were detected at any time point for the non-training group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Proprioceptive training over 8 weeks has a positive effect on all directions of stability. Greater declines in A-P stability were evident at 16 weeks when compared to M-L and OSI. Consideration must be given to the increased stability scores presented pre testing for A-P when compared to M-L. Findings of this work present implications for training design