Peer-supported physical activity intervention for academic probation freshmen in a physiology-related major: a feasibility study.

To retain students on academic probation, physiology and physiology-related programs may offer a variety of academic support initiatives. This pilot research study examined the feasibility and perceptions of implementing a success coach-led physical activity (PA) program for freshmen on academic probation in a physiology-related program. Freshman on academic probation [grade point average (GPA) <2.0] worked with a success coach on academic success strategies and PA. Freshmen completed validated surveys (Academic Self-Efficacy, Self-Efficacy of Regulated Learning, Institutional Integration Scale) before and after intervention and semistructured interviews after intervention. Retention rate was determined at longitudinal follow-up in Fall 2022. Six freshmen participated. Average GPA did not improve between Fall 2021 (1.561 ± 0.285) and Spring 2022 (1.606 ± 0.832) (P = 0.89). All felt that the program improved their study skills, but fewer (40%) felt that their grades improved. Most had positive perceptions of the PA program, including self-reported improvements in health/fitness (60%), mood/mental well-being (100%), and stress management (80%). Although most improved attention when studying (80%), this did not translate to improved academic performance (40%). For the Institutional Integration Scales, only the scale for "Faculty Concern for Student Development and Teaching" improved by the end of the semester (pre: 37 ± 7.6, post: 19 ± 3.4, P < 0.001). Retention rate of participants (83%) was higher than the university's overall retention rate for students on academic probation (37%). By fostering social integration, improving mood and mental well-being, and increasing university retention rates this pilot project confirmed the feasibility of using upperclassmen as success coaches for a physical activity intervention for academic probation freshmen.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using upperclassmen as success coaches for a physical activity intervention for academic probation freshmen fostered social integration, improved mood and mental well-being, and increased university retention rates.

Experimental evidence on a "light-touch" personalized email intervention in an online, undergraduate physiology course.

In large physiology classes, there is a demand for low-effort, or "light touch," strategies that faculty can use to connect with students and promote increased academic performance and student engagement. The purpose of this study was to compare personalized versus standardized emails following unit quizzes on student perceptions of faculty engagement, participation in academic resources, and academic performance in a junior-level, online physiology course. Students completed the online unit quiz and received a subsequent feedback email from the course director. Students were randomized into the Control (n = 101) or the Experimental (n = 104) group for general or personalized performance feedback emails, respectively. Students completed start and end of semester surveys capturing demographics, course expectations, self-reported use of resources, and impressions of the faculty. Final exam and course grades were collected. Perceptions of faculty were similar between groups, and receiving professor feedback after quizzes did not make the Experimental group more likely to use any of the available academic support services. There was no difference in final exam grades (Control: 73.9 ± 14.1%; Experimental: 73.4 ± 15.3%) or final course grades between groups (Control: 79.2 ± 13.1%; Experimental: 78.7 ± 13.3; P > 0.05). Personalized performance feedback from light-touch emails did not improve student perceptions of faculty engagement, self-reported participation in academic resources, or academic performance compared with a standardized email in a junior-level, online physiology course. Overall, this study does not support the use of personalized emails regarding quiz performance in an online physiology course.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Personalized performance feedback from light-touch emails did not improve student perceptions of faculty engagement, self-reported participation in academic resources, or academic performance compared with a standardized email in a junior-level, online physiology course.

Perceptions of academic preparedness of first-gen freshmen in a physiology major inform recommendations for program-level academic development initiatives.

Many factors contribute to students' academic success, and some, including first-generation (FG) college student status and academic preparation, are especially relevant in physiology programs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine FG college students' perceptions of academic preparedness and intended success strategies with the goal of informing program-level strategies to support FG students in similar undergraduate physiology-related programs. FG freshmen completed short surveys and reflections at the start and end of the semester. Qualitative responses from written reflections were compiled, and content was analyzed. Students were high achievers in high school; 98% expected As and Bs in college, but only 53% had achieved this by the end of the first semester. At the start of the semester, FG students reported feeling prepared academically but were hoping to improve their academic readiness skills, and academic success plans focused on organizational strategies. At the end of the semester, some thought they were as prepared as they expected, but most found they were not as academically prepared for college as they had expected. Several minor themes were identified as areas to address with future cohorts. This study proposes several potential avenues by which to support FG freshmen's academic success in similar physiology programs, including early identification of at-risk students, setting realistic expectations, educating students early and often about evidence-based strategies, and developing academic recovery strategies as needed.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A qualitative investigation of first-generation (FG) college freshmen's perceptions of academic preparedness and intended success strategies informs the development of potential avenues by which to support FG freshmen in physiology programs.

Differences in joint power distribution in high and low lactate threshold cyclists.

PURPOSE: The biomechanical differences between cyclists with a high compared with a low blood lactate threshold (HLT; 80% VO2max vs LLT, 70% VO2max) have yet to be completely described. We hypothesize that HLT cyclists reduce the stress placed on the knee extensor muscles by increasing the relative contribution from the hip joint during high-intensity cycling. METHOD: Sixteen well-trained endurance athletes, with equally high VO2max while cycling and running completed submaximal tests during incremental exercise to identify lactate threshold ([Formula: see text]) while running and cycling. Subjects were separated into two groups based on % VO2max at LT during cycling (high; HLT: 80.2 ± 2.1% VO2max; n = 8) and (LLT: 70.3 ± 2.9% VO2max; n = 8; p < 0.01). Absolute and relative joint specific powers were calculated from kinematic and pedal forces using inverse dynamics while cycling at intensities ranging from 60-90% VO2max for between group comparisons. RESULT: There was no difference between HLT and LLT in [Formula: see text] (p > 0.05) while running. While cycling in LLT, knee joint absolute power increased with work rate (p < 0.05); however, in HLT no changes in knee joint absolute power occurred with increased work rate (p > 0.05). The HLT generated significantly greater relative hip power compared with the LLT group at 90% VO2max (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that HLT cyclists exhibit a greater relative hip contribution to power output during cycling at 90% VO2max. These observations support the theory that lactate production during cycling can be reduced by spreading the work rate between various muscle groups.

Are Wearable Photoplethysmogram-Based Heart Rate Variability Measures Equivalent to Electrocardiogram? A Simulation Study.

BACKGROUND: Traditional electrocardiography (ECG)-derived heart rate variability (HRV) and photoplethysmography (PPG)-derived "HRV" (termed PRV) have been reported interchangeably. Any potential dissociation between HRV and PRV could be due to the variability in pulse arrival time (PAT; time between heartbeat and peripheral pulse). OBJECTIVE: This study examined if PRV is equivalent to ECG-derived HRV and if PRV's innate error makes it a high-quality measurement separate from HRV. METHODS: ECG data from 1084 subjects were obtained from the PhysioNet Autonomic Aging dataset, and individual PAT dispersions for both the wrist (n = 42) and finger (n = 49) were derived from Mol et al. (Exp Gerontol. 2020; 135: 110938). A Bayesian simulation was constructed whereby the individual arrival times of the PPG wave were calculated by placing a Gaussian prior on the individual QRS-wave timings of each ECG series. The standard deviation (σ) of the prior corresponds to the PAT dispersion from Mol et al. This was simulated 10,000 times for each PAT σ. The root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and standard deviation of N-N intervals (SDNN) were calculated for both HRV and PRV. The Region of Practical Equivalence bounds (ROPE) were set a priori at ± 0.2% of true HRV. The highest density interval (HDI) width, encompassing 95% of the posterior distribution, was calculated for each PAT σ. RESULTS: The lowest PAT σ (2.0 SD) corresponded to 88.4% within ROPE for SDNN and 21.4% for RMSSD. As the σ of PAT increases, the equivalence of PRV and HRV decreases for both SDNN and RMSSD. The HDI interval width increases with increasing PAT σ, with the HDI width increasing at a higher rate for RMSSD than SDNN. CONCLUSIONS: For individuals with greater PAT variability, PRV is not a surrogate for HRV. When considering PRV as a unique biometric measure, SDNN may have more favorable measurement properties than RMSSD, though both exhibit a non-uniform measurement error.

Arch Stiffness Does Not Determine Running Economy in Recreational Runners.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between foot length, arch stiffness, and running economy in recreational runner at low running velocities. Sixteen trained endurance (age 20.5 ± 0.4 yrs, height 172 ± 1.8 cm, and mass 68.53 ± 2.40 kg) athletes had their foot anthropometrics and running economy measured. Foot anthropometrics including Foot Length (FL), Arch Stiffness Index (ASI), and Achilles Tendon Moment Arm Length (ATML) were assessed. Subjects then completed a maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) test and running economy (RE) assessment. RE was measured as the oxygen consumption during running at velocities of 9.9 km/h and 11.9 km/h at a 1% grade. Data is reported as Mean ± SE, and the relationship between foot anthropometrics and running economy was assessed with linear regression (α = 0.05). Results: Absolute and relative VO2max values were 3.68 ± 0.19 L/min and 52.96 ± 1.51 mL/kg/min. ASI was 1513 ± 174.27 A.U. with a standing foot length of 25.41 ± 0.4 cm. Subject oxygen consumption at 9.9 km/h and 11.9 km/h was 34.9 ± 0.80 mL/kg/min and 41.02 ± 0.82 mL/kg/min, respectively. There was no correlation between ASI, FL, AHI, and RE (p > 0.05). Arch stiffness and Achilles tendon moment arm do not determine running economy. Therefore, running economy may be impacted by other physiological and biomechanical factors at low running velocities.

The relationship between isometric force-time curve characteristics and club head speed in recreational golfers.

The primary purpose of the present investigation was to examine the relationships between club head speed, isometric midthigh pull performance, and vertical jump performance in a cohort of recreational golfers. Twelve recreational golfers (age, 20.4 ± 1.0 years; weight, 77.0 ± 9.8 kg; height, 177.8 ± 6.3 cm; body fat, 17.1 ± 7.6%; handicap, 14.5 ± 7.3; experience, 8.9 ± 3.6 years) completed 3 testing sessions: (a) familiarization session and body composition measurements; (b) measurement of force-time curves in the isometric midthigh pull, countermovement, and static vertical jump (SJ); and (c) measurement of club head speed. During sessions 1 and 2, subjects performed 5 countermovement jumps, 5 SJ, and 2 isometric midthigh pulls. Isometric peak force was measured at 30, 50, 90, 100, 200, and 250 milliseconds. Rate of force development was measured among 0-30, 0-50, 0-90, 0-100, 0-200, and 0-250 milliseconds. Peak rate of force development was determined as the highest value in a 10-millisecond sampling windows. During session 3, subjects performed 10 maximal golf swings with a driver to measure club head speed; peak and average club head speed were analyzed across the 10 swings. Golf handicap was moderately correlated with average (r = -0.52, p = 0.04) and maximal club head speed (r = -0.45, p = 0.07). Force at 150 milliseconds during the isomeric midthigh pull test was moderately correlated with average (r = 0.46, p = 0.07) and maximal club head speed (r = 0.47, p = 0.06). Moderate correlations were also found between the rate of force development from 0 to 150 milliseconds and average (r = 0.38, p = 0.11) and maximal club head speed (r = 0.36, p = 0.12). The present findings suggest that the ability to exhibit high ground reaction forces in time frames <200 milliseconds are related to high club head speeds.

Cardiovascular responses to exercise when increasing skin temperature with narrowing of the core-to-skin temperature gradient.

The decline in stroke volume (SV) during exercise in the heat has been attributed to either an increase in cutaneous blood flow (CBF) that reduces venous return or an increase in heart rate (HR) that reduces cardiac filling time. However, the evidence supporting each mechanism arises under experimental conditions with different skin temperatures (Tsk; e.g., ≥38°C vs. ≤36°C, respectively). We systematically studied cardiovascular responses to progressively increased Tsk (32°C-39°C) with narrowing of the core-to-skin gradient during moderate intensity exercise. Eight men cycled at 63 ± 1% peak oxygen consumption for 20-30 min. Tsk was manipulated by having subjects wear a water-perfused suit that covered most of the body and maintained Tsk that was significantly different between trials and averaged 32.4 ± 0.2, 35.5 ± 0.1, 37.5 ± 0.1, and 39.5 ± 0.1°C, respectively. The graded heating of Tsk ultimately produced a graded elevation of esophageal temperature (Tes) at the end of exercise. Incrementally increasing Tsk resulted in a graded increase in HR and a graded decrease in SV. CBF reached a similar average plateau value in all trials when Tes was above ~38°C, independent of Tsk. Tsk had no apparent effect on forearm venous volume (FVV). In conclusion, the CBF and FVV responses suggest no further pooling of blood in the skin when Tsk is increased from 32.4°C to 39.5°C. The decrease in SV during moderate intensity exercise when heating the skin to high levels appears related to an increase in HR and not an increase in CBF. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study systematically investigated the effect of increasing skin temperature (Tsk) to high levels on cardiovascular responses during moderate intensity exercise. We conclude that the declines in stroke volume were related to the increases in heart rate but not the changes in cutaneous blood flow (CBF) and forearm venous volume (FVV) during moderate intensity exercise when Tsk increased from ~32°C to ~39°C. High Tsk (≥38°C) did not further elevate CBF and FVV compared with lower Tsk during moderate intensity exercise.