Date of Award

Spring 8-1-2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Athletic Training

First Advisor

Marcus B. Stone

Second Advisor

Jeffrey E. Edwards

Third Advisor

Jody B. Brucker

Abstract

Context: It has been observed that subjects that have experienced an exercise associated muscle cramp (EAMC) exhibited decreases in the threshold frequency (TF) of an electrical induced muscle cramp (EIMC). Hovvever, it is not known if this change was due to the exercise alone. Objective: To determine if full effort football conditioning exercises cause a shift in TF of an EIMC. Design: A 2 X 2 folly repeated measures factorial design was used for this study. The two independent variables were condition (rest, and exercise), and time (pre, and post). Setting: Subjects: Nine NCAA Division IAA football players participating in conditioning exercises were used as subjects. Main Outcome Measure: The TF of the right flexor hallucis brevis as indicated at the time a 2 sec contraction remained after electrically stimulating the muscle. Results: Data from the 6 subjects (age= 20.50 ± 0.84 yr, height= 185.00 ± 6.89 cm, mass= 112.35 ± 27.27 kg) were used for analysis. The result indicated that neither the interaction of condition by time (Fu= 2.31, P = 0.19), or exercise (F1,s 4.29, P 0.09) altered the TF. Only significant difference was found between pre- and post-conditions (F 15 :== 7.50, P = 0.04) for combined trials. Conclusion: There was no effect of football conditioning exercise on the TF of an EIMC.

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