College of Education and Human Development Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/1173
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Browsing College of Education and Human Development Theses and Dissertations by Author "Ajisafe, Toyin"
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Item Comparison of Normal Plantar Cutaneous Sensation between Children with Obesity and Peers with Healthy Weight(2018-12) Gilson, Andrea Cristina; Gilson, Andrea Cristina; Ajisafe, Toyin; Garcia, Theresa; Ajisafe, Toyin; Garcia, TheresaAjisafe, Toyin; Garcia, Theresa; Spaniol, Frank; Spaniol, FrankSpaniol, FrankObesity is a chronic disease resulting from excessive fat accumulation and body mass. There have been equivocal findings regarding plantar cutaneous in sensation children. Deficits in plantar sensation can impact postural control, balance, and the capacity to proficiently engage in physical activity. Therefore, it is important to establish whether normal plantar cutaneous sensation differs between children who have healthy weight and those who are obese. Twenty-seven subjects from 3rd, 4th, 9th – 12th grades (mean ± standard deviation 12.90 ± 3.6 years) participated in this study. Ten subjects were obese and 17 had healthy weight. Plantar cutaneous sensation was measured using a Semmes-Weinstein pressure aesthesiometer kit. Each subject was tested by one of four assessors whose interrater reliability (α = .710; p = .005) was previously established. Nine sites were tested on each foot. The respective force gram magnitudes required to bend the two thinnest monofilaments (i.e., 0.07 g and 0.4 g) was assigned whenever a subject reported sensing touch at a specific site. Both filaments are associated with normal sensation. An independent samples t-test was calculated to determine plantar sensation differences between children who have healthy weight and those with obesity. Mann-Whitney U test was calculated where assumptions of normality were violated. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. There were 10 and 17 subjects in the obese and healthy weight groups, respectively. There were no significant differences (p > .05) in normal whole foot sensation (i.e., .07 g and 0.4 g monofilaments) on the right and left feet between the groups. Right whole foot sensation of healthy weight subjects (3.5929 g + 0.64742) and right whole foot sensation of obese subjects (3.3410 g + 0.85461) did not differ significantly from each other, t(15.132) = 0.806, p = 0.433. Left whole foot sensation of healthy weight subjects (3.4468 g + 1.01623) and left whole foot sensation of obese subjects (3.2390 g + 1.06027) did not differ significantly from each other, t(18.342) = 0.499, p = 0.623. Additionally, sensitivity among foot regions did not indicate effect of foot region on plantar sensation. Subjects who were obese in this study reported to feel less than subjects with healthy weight. However, there was no significant difference in the values of the plantar sensation scores. It was concluded that normal plantar cutaneous sensation does not differ between preadolescents with obesity and peers with healthy weight. Given the small current sample size, more subjects need to be tested, in order to increase confidence and substantiate findings from this study.Item Effects of sprint training on kinematic and kinetic variables of countermovement jump and drop jump(2017-08) Delgado, Ferdinand; Ajisafe, Toyin; Spaniol, FrankThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a four-week sprint training protocol on various kinematic and kinetic variables for the countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ). Jump training has been used to enhance sprint training. However, there is a dearth of research on whether sprint training affects jumping performance. Since both types of activities involve applying force to increase propulsion and, with sprinting and DJ, regulation of vertical stiffness to promote optimal propulsion is involved, then it is appropriate to investigate the possible effects of sprinting to jumping. Fourteen recreationally active college students (age: 23.07 years ± 2.97; height: 170.49 cm ± 7.19; mass; 67.46 kg ± 10.18; seven males and seven females) with normal body mass index readings performed a four-week sprint training protocol. The sprint training protocol involved two training sessions per week while sprinting as fast as possible with maximal rest in between repetitions. CMJ and DJ performance were assessed the week before and after the sprint intervention. Jump height and peak propulsive force (PPF) were assessed for the CMJ. Jump height, PPF, ground contact time, reactive strength index (RSI), propulsive impulse, minimum vertical center of mass displacement (CoMmin) and vertical stiffness were measured for the DJ. Height jumped was higher during the CMJ following sprint training (t(13) = -2.648, p = 0.020). Although PPF (t(13) = -1.525, p = 0.151), did not significantly differ, there was an increasing trend post-test. Height jumped during the DJ was higher following sprint training (t(13) = -3.795, p = .002). However, no statistically significant differences were found for PPF (t(13) = 0.452, p = 0.659), ground contact time (t(13) = -0.280, p = .784), RSI (t(13) = -1.094, p = 0.294), propulsive impulse (t(13) = -1.141, p = 0.274), CoMmin (t(13) = 1.137, p = .276) or vertical stiffness (t(13) = 1.502, p = 0.157). An increasing trend was found with PPF and a decreasing trend was found with vertical stiffness. The results show that sprinting may improve CMJ and DJ height. However, further research would be needed on the exact mechanisms that allow this phenomenon to occur.Item The relationship between the Army physical fitness test and a twelve-mile ruck(2018-08) Hall, Harrison AJ; Bonnette, Randy; Ajisafe, Toyin; Boham, MikaelaThe purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and the twelve-mile ruck assessment of Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets (CDT’s). The APFT is a vital part of every soldiers time in the US Army because it is the only fitness test required to pass twice a year, and also allows soldiers to receive pay and be considered for promotions upon passing the assessment. The twelve-mile ruck is an assessment which CDT’s march twelve miles carrying 35 pounds in less than three hours, but is only performed once. Due to the evident importance of training for the APFT, officers in the US Army have been found to overtrain in running, push-ups, and sit-ups, which has caused injuries from repetitive stressors, and has not prepared servicemen for heavy load carriage. Since the APFT is crucial to all soldiers for career advancement, and the twelve-mile ruck relates directly to combat specific tasks (i.e., soldiers carry up to 130 lbs. of equipment during combat), it is important to investigate if the APFT is correlated to the twelve-mile ruck to determine if a more combat specific assessments should be utilized for such important fitness standards in place of the APFT. A linear multiple regression analysis was performed in a stepwise backward model to interpret the relationship between seventeen Army ROTC Cadets’ (Age = 20.5 ± 2.50, weight (kg) = 71.69 ± 11.74, height (m) = 1.67 ± .09, BMI = 25.45 ± 5.11) archived APFT measures, and twelve-mile ruck times. Significant positive relationships between BMI (r = 0.771, p = 0.001, n = 17), and weight (kg) (r = 0.579, p = 0.007, n = 17) when compared to the twelve-mile ruck were found. Also, a significant relationship was observed between the two-mile run score (r = -0.654, p = 0.002, n = 17) and the twelve-mile ruck. These results indicate there were significant relationships between the APFT and a twelve-mile ruck.