Exercise Science Students Participate in the
Allied Health Scholarship Colloquium
The annual Allied Health Scholarship Colloquium was held on Friday, April 27, 2007, at the Bismarck Civic Center Exhibition Hall.
The Allied Health Scholarship Colloquium exists to foster scholarly activity on the part of the students and faculty at the University of Mary. Graduate students in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and nursing engage in original research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master's or clinical doctorate degree. Undergraduate students in nursing, athletic training, and exercise science complete elements of the research process in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree. Students disseminate research via formal platform and/or poster presentation for the university community, respective community partners, the professional public, and other guests. The process of engaging in research and sharing results with the professional community prepares students for their roles as lifelong consumers of research and as health care providers rooted in the use of evidence-based practice to guide intervention.
Formal Platform Presentations and Posters
Research disseminated by the Exercise Science students class of 2007 consisted of three platform presentations.
"The Effects of Stretching and/or Warm-Up on Athletic Performance"
Kayla Campbell, Mac Cimbura, Katie Knox Ashley Sorensen
The purpose of this study is to measure and compare athletic performance outcomes, such as 40 meter dash, vertical jump, one rep max leg press, and running body mechanics, based on different variations of warm-up/stretching. The different variations inlclude a short warm-up, dynamic warm-up, stretching and stretching with a dynamic warm-up. Eight football athletes and 10 recreational athletes were asked to complete a health history questionnaire and informed consent before participating. For each testing session, the subject randomly chose one of the four stretching/warm-up routines and completed that protocol, then completed a 40 meter dash, vertical jump test, and a leg press one rep max. Sprint mechanics were video-taped for assessment of quality of movement. Results and the warm-up/stretching routine randomly chosen were recorded in each subject's file for all four warm/up stretching protocols. The researchers anticipate results will show that too much stretching before activity decreases athletic performance, whereas, dynamic warm-up is expected to be associated with enhanced athletic performance. The short warm-up was used as a baseline to compare the other three warm-up/stretching protocols. The current literature on stretching suggest that stretching may decrease muscular strength in the acute post-stretch phases and dynamic warm-up may enhance sprint performance. The researchers hypothesize that coaches and athletes should complete a dynamic warm-up before participating in any athletic event and should avoid using stretching as the main or only form of warm-up.
"University of Mary Football Combine: A Comparison of Results in Transition Years NAIA to NCAA II"
Sara Abrahamson, Josh Dinius, Will Kucera, Derek NcKeil
The University of Mary football team participated in a sports performance combine on March 23, 2007. The football coaching staff has conducted a combine the past three years allowing for a statistical analysis of the results to be completed comparing the different year classes.To analyze the results of the combine and make comparisons between both positions and year classes of the athletes, along with comparing the previous Marauders Combines with those of the University of North Dakota football team. The sports performance combine consisted of a hand-timed 40 yard dash, vertical jump using the Vertec, weight using an electronic scale, height and wingspan measurements, bench press (max. reps. at 225), agility drill, and "L" drill. Based upon the previous results on field performance and coaching predictions, we believe this year's combine outcomes will show positive performance results with the Marauders' transition to NCAA II.
"Nutrition and Physical Activity Behaviors in Children: A Follow-Up Study One Year Post Community Wellness Intervention"
Leah Kuklok, Krystal Rasmussen, Chelsey Stark, Julie Zaruba
The intent of this study is to evaluate whether there have been changes among the physical activity and nutrition practices in elemantary-aged children following the implementation of the Bismarck Public Schools Wellness Program and the Activate Bismarck-Mandan intervention program. An initial survey of the Bismarck-Mandan elementary schools was completed in March 2006 and a follow-up survey was completed in March 2007. The survey inquired about physical activity habits, hours spent watching TV/computer, and diet. The surveys were distributed to elementary school children grades 3-6 via cooperation with the Bismarck Public Schools Administrative Office, and parent/guardian signatures were required. Discriptive analysis was used to assess frequencies of health behaviors. Comparisons will be made between variables from the 2006 and 2007 survey results. We are hypothesizing that changes in physical activity and nutrition practices in the elementary children will be small, but positive. Typically population health promotion programs demonstrate positive effects in three to five years. The University of Mary's Department of Exercise Science intends to repeat the survey study for at least five years.
The 2008 Colloquium will be held May 2, 2008
To receive more information containing the research presented at the 2007 colloquium or to be included on the mailing list to receive information about the 2008 colloquium, please e-mail glracine@umary.edu. This free event offers six (6) continuing education credits.
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