The Effects of a Menthol-Based Topical Analgesic on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness-Induced Changes to Running Biomechanics and Pain Perception

The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the effects of a menthol-based topical analgesic on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) induced changes to running biomechanics and pain perception in well-trained runners. A menthol-based topical analgesic (n=10) was compared against a placebo group (n=10) on measures of kinematics, spatio-temporal parameters, and the perception of pain. Three-Dimensional (3D) kinematics of the ankle, knee and hip as well as subjective pain (Comparative Pain Scale and Pressure Threshold) were measured during level treadmill running at baseline, 48 hours after a 30-minute DOMS-inducing downhill run, and after the application of a menthol analgesic. DOMS was induced from the downhill run as identified by our pain measures, however it had little effect on kinematic variables. Pressure threshold was significantly lower at both measurement sites for both groups and Comparative Pain Scale scores were significantly higher after inducing DOMS. There were significant interactions for condition x group, regardless of running speed; average knee and hip range of motion (ROM) during stance and swing were significantly different than baseline after inducing DOMS. The application of a menthol-based topical analgesic had no significant effect on kinematics or pain perception. Our well-trained participants may have been more well-adapted to manage DOMS-induced soreness while limiting changes to running biomechanics. Variability in gait mechanics may have also played a role in the unexpected changes between participants after inducing DOMS. Regardless of the effectiveness of the DOMS-inducing protocol, the menthol analgesic appeared to have no effect on kinematics or pain variables in well-trained runners. Key Words: Biomechanics, Gait, Menthol, Analgesic, Delayed Onset Muscle Sorenes

The Role of Implementation in Leisure, Experiential Education, and Recreation

Within Leisure, Experiential Education, and Recreation (LER) research, there is a shift to evidence-based practices (EBP) in program design and assessment, reflecting the transition to EBPs within the prevention, health, and social sciences. However, one area that still lacks conceptual development and application within LER relates to how programs are implemented. This study contributes both to LER and the broader social sciences by examining the multiple dimensions of implementation within residential summer camp. First, this study reviews the macro level factors that contribute to or inhibit implementation quality. Second, this study examines the factors that promote implementation quality at the facilitator level through the production of a conceptual framework and corresponding characteristic, trait, and behavior measurement recommendations. Third, this study introduces Situational Judgement Testing as a method to predict implementation quality through a content analysis of Subject Matter Experts\u27 responses to scenarios reflecting the LER programming context. Fourth, this study evaluates a Multi-Level Model to explore relationships among facilitator traits, behaviors, and characteristics with implementation quality, related sub-domains of implementation quality, and parent perceptions of program outcomes. The study findings: (a) demonstrate partial support for contemporary implementation research findings in an underexamined context, LER, (b) provide researchers and practitioners with actionable guidelines for future implementation investigations, and (c) establish a platform for research regarding the necessity of implementation assessment within the LER sciences

Influences of Early Life Conditions on Old Age Mortality in Old Québec

Increasingly, bio-demographers are turning to infancy and childhood to gain a better understanding of old age mortality. However, evidence of a link between early life conditions and survival until old age is fragmentary, and the intervening mechanisms remain unclear. Drawing from data on a cohort of French-Canadian children born in the 17th and 18th centuries, we study the effects of infant exposure to infectious diseases (as revealed by the infant mortality rate in the year of birth) on later life mortality. A series of Cox proportional hazard models are used and we control for other familial and environmental conditions prevalent in childhood, as well as in adulthood. Results point to a slight, but not significant effect of a disease load in infancy for females born in years of exceptionally high infant mortality. The results are also not conclusive for males. More generally, a trend of increasing infant mortality over time correlates with general decreases in post-reproductive mortality rates, which are probably due to period improvements in later life conditions. Our study supports the view that period changes have stronger relevance than cohort effects in the study of historical variations in old age mortality

Familial and Environmental Influences on Longevity in a Pre-industrial Population

Data from historical populations provide an adequate context for the examination of the familial and environmental components of longevity. We have investigated the relation between sibling survivorship and longevity through French-Canadian children of a completed fertility cohort born between 1625 and 1704. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the effects of sibling survivorship on the survival time of these early Canadian inhabitants. Other covariates such as regional variation, secular trends (i.e. period effects), parental and spousal survival were also taken into consideration. Our findings show that individuals with at least one sibling surviving beyond 85 years of age had a life-long sustained mortality advantage over the general population. The risks of death after age 50 was 55% and 60% lower for females and males, respectively, having a long-lived sibling. In comparison, the parental of origin effects were negligible. Only the mother-son association in age at death was found significant among the four possible parent-child pairs. Overall, the various models provided better fit to male than to female data. Biological as well as social explanations are explored in order to account for the various results

Examining Predictors of Implementation Quality in an Emerging International Extension Context

In this article, we explore a component of evidence-based programming—implementation quality—within an emerging international Extension context. Specifically, we examine how the traits, characteristics, and perceptions of 46 program facilitators influenced their support of maintaining implementation quality in a Nicaraguan youth violence and substance abuse prevention program, Dale se REAL. The results indicated that of four potential variables, only facilitator buy-in to the Dale se REAL program was a meaningful predictor of implementation support. The implications of the study findings, relative to evidence-based Extension research in both the United States and an emerging international context, are discussed

Examining Predictors of Implementation Quality in an Emerging International Extension Context

In this article, we explore a component of evidence-based programming—implementation quality—within an emerging international Extension context. Specifically, we examine how the traits, characteristics, and perceptions of 46 program facilitators influenced their support of maintaining implementation quality in a Nicaraguan youth violence and substance abuse prevention program, Dale se REAL. The results indicated that of four potential variables, only facilitator buy-in to the Dale se REAL program was a meaningful predictor of implementation support. The implications of the study findings, relative to evidence-based Extension research in both the United States and an emerging international context, are discussed

Illuminating the Process of Youth Development: The Mediating Effect of Thriving on Youth Development Program Outcomes

This paper examines the relationship between the developmental contexts of youth programs and resultant developmental outcomes, and explores whether the developmental process of thriving mediates this relationship. Developmental context is proposed to consist of three elements: (1) youth sparks, (2) program quality, and (3) developmental relationships. Combined, these elements describe youth program context more precisely than in previous studies, allowing for a clearer understanding of effective program settings. Likewise, the process of youth thriving provides insight into the mechanism through which youth development occurs. Sufficient model fit, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the 4-H Thriving scale were determined through a multi-phase confirmatory factor analysis. As hypothesized, structural equation modeling revealed a full mediational effect of youth thriving on developmental outcomes. The results of this study guide youth development practitioners to focus on the quality of the developmental context of youth programs and the ways in which programs can promote youth thriving

The Measles Epidemic of 1714-1715 in New-France

Abstract not availabl

Parent Anxiety Causes and Consequences: Perspectives from Camp Program Providers

Although out-of-school time experiences such as camp contribute to youth development, youth in-volvement in these developmental experiences is largely dependent on parents who determine which activities are appropriate for their children. A contributing factor to parents’ decisions to send their child to camp is the amount of risk and non-clinical anxiety that parents associate with the camp experience, yet little attention has been paid to these issues, particularly from the perspective of camp program providers. It is unclear to what extent parent anxiety is an operational and pro-grammatic concern for camp program providers. Informed by risk perception and parent involve-ment theories, this study explores (1) causes of parent anxiety from the perspective of camp pro-gram providers; (2) operational and programmatic consequences associated with the management of parent anxiety; and (3) camp program practices used to reduce parent anxiety. Data were collect-ed from a sample of 248 camp program providers who completed an online survey that included open-ended questions related to perceptions and observations of parent anxiety, as well as strate-gies used to manage parents. Content analysis was used to code the data and to construct themes. Constructed themes suggested that parent anxiety is associated with parent-child separation, limited parent camp experience, lack of parent trust, the expression of overparenting behaviors, fear of lack of safety, and insufficient preparation. Constructed themes associated with operational or program-matic changes indicated that camp program providers use a range of strategies to reduce parent anxiety, broadly summarized as communication, staffing, access, and education. Implications for practice and future directions are explored

The Cooperative Extension Program Development Model: Adapting to a Changing Context

For over 100 years, Cooperative Extension in the United States has used a consistently articulated program development model including program planning, design and implementation, and evaluation that involves stakeholders in the process. This issue of the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension examines the history and evolution of the program development model for successful Extension work and adaptations to that model that have emerged due to the changing educational context. This issue provides information on how elements of the model have changed over the last 100 years; delves into contemporary issues and challenges; and provides important analysis, implications, lessons learned, and applications for current and future success of Extension programs. In this article, we provide a definition of a program, the rationale for using a program development model in Extension work, the Extension Program Development Model, other program development models used by Extension professionals, and the changing context surrounding Extension work that impacts the Program Development Model