Search Results Within Category "Sports Medicine"
Feasibility, Safety and Acceptability of a Mobile Health Delivered Exercise Training Program in Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
This study will be a pilot study to evaluate the workability, safety and acceptability of Exercise and Liver FITness (EL-FIT), a mHealth exercise training program previously confirmed in patients with cirrhosis,(1) in patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
El-Fit NASH (Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis) is a 9-week intervention trial for patients with NASH. Our goal is to evaluate the workability, safety and acceptability of Exercise and Liver FITness (EL-FIT), a mHealth exercise training program. The El-FIT application allows for participants to access to a library of guided workouts. All patients will be asked to complete a screening visit that includes a physical exam, height, and weight measurements & surveys. Participants will be asked to download the EL-Fit NASH application and use it for 8 weeks. In addition to using the application, participants will be asked to complete 3 check-in phone calls through-out the 8 weeks.
Evidence of NASH
Posission of a Smart Phone
Active or recent participation in exercise training program within the last 90 years
Active or recent weight-loss supplement use within the last 90 days
Active illicit substance use
Cancer that is active
Evaluation of Patellar Tendon Biomechanics
The objective of the study is to evaluate the condition of the patellar tendon with Ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound imaging will be explored as an accessible and non-invasive imaging modality to quantify tendon parameters (length, thickness, width, and neovascularization). Participants will sign informed consent and participate in an imaging session that will last approximately two hours. If the Ultrasound measurements prove feasible, they will provide insight into the biomechanical and biological mechanisms that contribute to tendon injury. It is important to understand how these parameters change among patients and healthy individuals with varying degrees of activity levels.
There will be one ultrasound session that will last approximately 2 hours. Ultrasound imaging will be performed at 342 Leonhard Building.
$20 gift card
The influence of estrogen on the thermoregulatory responses to heat stress in pre and postmenopausal women
The frequency and severity of heat waves has increased in the last decades. Women over 65 are at the most vulnerable to adverse events during these events. This sex difference only occurs in middle aged and older adults suggesting that menopause could play a role in increased risk in the heat for women. It is important to identify the role that the menopause transition plays in the ability to regulate body temperature in aging women. In this study, we will identify the role of estrogen levels in pre and post menopausal women on their ability to tolerate heat.
For this study, you will visit the lab for a screening visit, a maximal exercise test, and 6 experimental sessions. Before each experimental visit, you will swallow a temperature-sensing capsule 1-2 hours prior to arriving. In one type of experiment (passive heat stress), conducted during 2 visits, you will wear a suit with tubing running hot water to warm your body. A small catheter will be placed in your forearm to measure skin blood flow. In the other type of experiment (active heat stress), conducted during 4 visits, you will perform light exercise in heat and humidity on at least two separate days with different heat and humidity conditions. Participants will receive estrogen treatment for a portion of the study.
430
using hormonal contraceptives
History of Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, or other similar gastrointestinal disease
Medications that could alter cardiovascular responses or body temperature regulation during exercise (blood pressure reducers, fever reducers, anti-depressants, etc.)
Interlimb differences in Motor Control and Learning
This study examines how each brain hemisphere contributes to motor control and coordination. Participants play virtual reality/computer games to look at how their arms move during different activities.
Participants play 2D virtual reality/computer games by making reaching movements with position tracking sensors attached to their hands and upper arms.
15
upper-extremity orthopedic injuries that interfere with participation
Comparing runners’ perception of their biomechanics through validation of RunScribe wearable technology in an outdoor environment.
Comparing runners' perceptions of their running gait biomechanics to actual mechanics using RunScribe wearable technology validated drone video capture and subsequent kinematic analysis in a natural outdoor running environment.
You will complete a survey and be asked to run a short distance on a track at your typical long distance pace while being filmed by a drone and while wearing a wearable RunScribe device on your shoe.
$50
No prior or current running injuries in the past 3 months
Runs at least 15 km per week
Able to speak English
Current musculoskeletal injury
Currently under medical supervision or not cleared for running
Congenital or traumatic deformity resulting in altered bone alignment
No prior outdoor running experience
NASH AMPK Exercise Dosing (AMPED) Trial
The purpose of this trial is to test different levels of exercise needed to reduce liver fat in patients with NASH.
If you take part in this research, your major responsibilities will include: • Completing exercise sessions (if randomized to exercise group). A typical exercise session will include a 5 minutes warm-up with stretching, 15-45 minutes of brisk walking, jogging or recumbent bike and a 5-minute cool-down.
250.00
NASH diagnosis
BMI 25-45 kg/m2
sedentary lifestyle
Active cardiac symptoms
Cancer that is active
Inability to provide informed consent
Other liver disease
The Biomechanics of Golf Performance
The purpose of this study is to determine what golf equipment and swing characteristics best predict playing ability in a population of golfers. Golfers will hit shots with various clubs while the movement of their body, the club, and the ball are tracked.
Participants will come to the Penn State Golf Teaching and Research Center or the Penn State Golf Courses and hit golf shots using their driver, 7 iron, and putter. A golf monitor will be used to track the ball trajectory. The movements of participant's body, club, and ball will be measured in three-dimensions as they swing. Participants will receive brief feedback from a Class-A PGA Professional upon completion.
Participants will receive brief feedback from a Class-A PGA Professional upon completion.
Between ages of 18-75
Physically able to play a full round of golf (i.e., 18 holes)
Not between ages of 18-75
Not physically able to play a full round of golf (i.e., 18 holes)
Active Men's Study
Description: This research study is to assess energetic status, reproductive health, and bone health in a population of young exercising men. Secondarily, this study will also explore how diet, fitness, cardiovascular function, eating behaviors, stress, cognitive function, and sleep related to energy and reproductive outcomes in exercising men. Eligible young men (age 18-35) are those who are generally healthy and either a) exercising or b) not exercising.
There will be essentially 5 study visits - The first visit will include informed consent to take part in the study & completion of questionnaires and measurement of anthropometrics. Visit 2 will include tests of your metabolism, a blood draw, a saliva collection, and assessment of diet and physical activity. Visit 3 will be a short visit for a saliva collection. Visit 4 will include tests of stress (a hair sample), body composition, bone health, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, cognitive testing, and reproductive function. Visit 5 will consist of a results meeting and return of wearable devices and logs.
BMI between 16-29.9 kg/m2
Non-smoker
For sedentary participants: less than 150 minutes of purposeful exercise per week
For exercising participants: at least 150 minutes of purposeful exercise per week (moderate to high intensity aerobic and/or resistance training).
Procedures using contrast material within the past 7 days, including X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, barium studies, nuclear medicine exams.
Currently a smoker or history of regular smoking
Prostheses
Vasectomy
The effects of creatine supplementation on neurocognitive function of college students of differing levels and types of physical activity
This study design is a survey that collects information about students' active level and supplement use, with an emphasis on creatine. The difference between contact and non-contact athletes will be examined, in addition to people who are considered inactive/low activity. This will help provide information of how physical activity related supplementation use affects cognition in different populations, with varying amounts of neurotrauma.
All participants will complete a digital survey that provides information about their dietary supplementation and physical activity habits. As part of the survey, participants will be allowed to indicate their interest and availability to come to a laboratory setting to complete a brief batter of neurocognitive tests.
Has had concussion in last 3 months
Concussion-Prognosis
Using micro-RNA in saliva coupled with survey data as a prognostic tool with the ability to guide clinical management of concussions
During their baseline visit participants will complete a saliva swab, surveys, balance test and brief neurocognitive test. Day 7, participants will complete a saliva swab and 2 surveys. Day 30, participants will complete a saliva swab and 4 surveys. The baseline visit is the only in-person visit, day 7 and day 30 are done remotely. All surveys are completed online and day 7 and day 30 saliva swabs are sent home with the participants and sent back in a prepaid mailer on day 30.
$40
Diagnosis of concussion
Predicting Concussion Outcomes with Salivary miRNA
The purpose of this study is to identify changes in salivary micro ribosomal nucleic acid (miRNA) expression that are predictive of symptom duration and severity following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in children. The primary endpoints of this study are as follows: 1) Characterization of brain-related miRNA in the saliva of 250 children with mTBI and 200 age- and gender-matched controls between the ages of five and twenty-three years. 2) Identification of a set of salivary miRNAs that is predictive of duration and severity of mTBI symptoms.
Saliva collection and surveys at baseline, 7 days, and 30 Days
$20
Seen in the Penn State Pediatric Concussion Clinic within 2 weeks of most recent concussion
Periodontal disease
Ongoing seizure disorder, or other neurologic disorder
Drug or alcohol dependency
clinical diagnosis of severe TBI
Rocking the foundation: Controlled whole-body vibration training for strength, balance, and gait performance in middle-aged adults.
Testing the effects of low-impact vibration training vs. body squats only on strength, balance, and walking outcomes in people aged 40-65 years.
There will be one study visit lasting approximately 2.5 hours. Following a short screening and consent process, study participants will complete a series of baseline tests to acquire information about body composition, walking ability, strength, and balance. Participants will then complete a workout consisting of vibration training group or a squats only. Each workout will last approximately 10-minutes. The tests will be repeated to assess any changes resulting from the training.
$25.00
Participants must have no known history of musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, or pulmonary impairment that may affect their ability to perform the testing procedures will be included.
Participants will be male and female between the ages of 40 and 64.
Participants must not use a pacemaker.
Participants must be able to stand and walk independently with or without the aid of an assistive device.
Neural mechanisms of manual interception
How does the brain decide to reach one way or the other? This study will examine how movement decisions are coordinated by neural mechanisms in the brain during manual interception and reaching actions.
Participants will be required to complete a simple virtual interception task with a handle. Participants will be screened and sign informed consent upon entry of the lab. They will then be fitted with EMG sensors and an eye-tracking reference sticker. They will be seated for this task. The task requires a participant to hold their hand steady at the epicenter of a circle, and reach as quickly and accurately as possible to one of 2 moving targets that will appear.
$20
Right-handed
18-50 years old
Corrected to normal or normal vision
Ability to grasp objects like handle with right hand
Any history of musculoskeletal disorders
Any history of cardiovascular disease
Any increased risk for syncope
Any history of conditions or diseases of the eyes or vision
Neural and Sensorimotor Mechanisms of Visuomotor Actions: Linking Brain Activity, Muscle Coordination, and Visual Attention
This study explores how the brain, eyes, and muscles work together when people use their hands to track or catch moving objects. Participants will sit and use their right hand on a tablet to follow a moving virtual ball while wearing non-invasive sensors that record brain waves (EEG), muscle activity (EMG), and eye movements. The goal is to understand how the body prepares for and responds to motion using vision and movement control. The findings may help scientists improve therapies and technologies for people with movement difficulties, such as after a stroke or brain injury.
Participants will attend one in-person session lasting approximately 2 hours. During the session, they will wear an EEG cap, EMG sensors, and an eye tracker while completing a hand-tracking task using their right hand on a tablet.
20
Right-handed
Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
No history of neurological, psychiatric, or motor disorders
Able to sit comfortably for up to 2 hours
Presence of metal implants in the head (excluding dental fillings)
Skin sensitivity or allergies to adhesives or EEG gel
Use of medications that affect the nervous system
Platform Wars: Evaluating postural and strength adaptations with Wii Fit Balance vs. Whole-body vibration in college students.
This study will aim to see if there is a difference in strength and balance changes among college students when comparing the Wii Fit Balance and whole-body vibration training.
The study duration will be six-weeks, in which study participants will be involved in either a gaming training group or a vibration platform training group. Participants will complete a baseline session and post-training assessment, each lasting two hours. During both of these visits measures of balance, strength, and walking ability will be acquired. In the six weeks of the study,18 individual vibration or gaming training sessions will be completed. The respective training sessions will take place three times a week for 6 weeks and will last 10-minutes each.
$20.00
Male and female between the ages of 18 and 25.
Known history of musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, or pulmonary impairment that may affect ability to perform the testing procedures.
Use of a pacemaker.
Major general medical disorders, such as recent surgeries, implants in trained body parts (i.e., artificial joints), acute hernias, discopathies (i.e., slipped disks), rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy, and/or acute thrombosis.
Using sedatives of any type upon enrollment to the study.
Validation of Biomechanics Technology in Golf
The purpose of this study is to compare accuracy and repeatability of biomechanical metrics between technologies during golf swings. This study also aims to identify differences in swing characteristics between various skill levels and environments.
You will be screened with a Health History Questionnaire via email, online survey, or in-person. You will come to either the Suzy and Jim Broadhurst Golf Teaching and Research Center (GTRC) or the Penn State Golf Courses with your golf clubs to provide consent, collect blood pressure and heart rate, answer golf-related questions, and perform golf-related tasks (full swing shots with various clubs). Various technologies will be used to measure the biomechanics of your swing. The total time of participation is expected to be about 60-90 minutes.
When you have finished the golf-related activites, you will be provided with a brief piece of instruction from one of the Center’s two Class-A PGA Professionals.
18-55 years old
Physically capable of playing a full round of golf (18 holes)
A known or estimated handicap less than 35 and/or average score less than 120
Healthy and active (> 75 minutes of moderate exercise weekly)
2 or more cardiovascular risk factors according to the Health History Questionnaire
A musculoskeletal injury within the past 3 months
Experiencing pain during a golf swing