CEHD News Kinesiology

CEHD News Kinesiology

LaVoi receives Inspiring Women Award from Minnesota Lynx

InspiringWomenMNDr. Nicole M. LaVoi, teaching faculty in the School of Kinesiology and associate director of the Tucker Center, was honored at the Minnesota Lynx game July 7. During the second quarter, LaVoi was awarded the Inspiring Women Award for her work in making a difference for girls and women in and through sport.

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LaVoi to serve as Editorial Board Member for SCR

LaVoi-Nicole-2010 Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi, teaching faculty in the School of Kinesiology and associate director of the Tucker Center, has been invited to serve as an Editorial Board Member for Sports Coaching Review (SCR), a new journal produced by Taylor & Francis.
Sports Coaching Review is an international peer-reviewed medium for the publication of articles related to sports coaching. It aspires to become a major focal point for the publication of sports coaching research throughout the world.

Leon publishes chapters in two different publications

LeonA-2005Dr. Arthur Leon, professor of kinesiology, had two chapters published in Lifestyle Medicine, Second Edition. The chapters are respectively titled, “Clinical Strategies for Management of Dyslipidemias” and “Lifestyle Management for Prevention of Hypertension.” The chapters were co-authored by Ulf Bronas, Ph.D.
Dr. Leon also published a chapter in Essential Cardiology: Principles and Practices. The chapter he wrote is titled, “Cardiac Rehab and Secondary Prevention for Myocardial Infarction.”

Li Li Ji visits China with President Kaler, reports on trip highlights

Li Li Ji, Professor and Director of the School of Kinesiology, recently returned from a 10-day official trip to China, part of a U of M delegation led by President Eric Kaler. Through meetings, events, and meaningful exchanges during the trip, the School has increased its visibility with some of China’s most prestigious universities and strengthened collaboration with its counterparts in China. While President Kaler’s activities have been extensively covered on University websites, Dr. Ji has provided a report on his experiences traveling with the President related to the School of Kinesiology’s mission.

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Dengel and Marlatt to publish in Journal of Pediatrics

Dr. Donald Dengel, associate professor of kinesiology, and doctoral student Kara Marlatt had their manuscript accepted for publication by, Journal of Pediatrics. Their work is titled, “Impact of Pubertal Development on Endothelial Function and Arterial Elasticity.” The Journal of Pediatrics is an international peer-reviewed journal that advances pediatric research and serves as a practical guide for pediatricians who manage health and diagnose and treat disorders in infants, children, and adolescents.

Dengel gives talk at Concussion Awareness Summit

Associate professor of kinesiology Dr. Donald Dengel recently presented at the #C4CT Concussion Awareness Summit during the Brewer Sports Symposium held in Minneapolis, Minn., on June 21. The title of Dr. Dengel’s talk was, “New Ideas on Diagnostic Testing For Traumatic Brain Injury.”
The #C4CT Summit focuses on important scientific, medical, translational and prevention-related topics of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and the long-term impacts on athletes and soldiers.

Dengel and Templeton publish article in Heart and Vessel

Associate professor of kinesiology Dr. Donald Dengel and former doctoral student Danielle Templeton published an article in, Heart and Vessel.
The article is titled, “Effects of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) on the compliance and distensibility of the carotid artery.” The research focuses on the impact of continuous-flow LVAD on the carotid elastic properties. The findings of the research suggest that the continuous-flow LVAD is associated with lower carotid artery compliance and distensibility, potentially placing further strain on the left ventricle.

Daily Chronicle quotes LaVoi on female coaches

LaVoi-Nicole-2010 Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi, teaching faculty in the School of Kinesiology and associate director of the Tucker Center, was quoted in an article titled, “As more girls play sports, fewer women have coaching jobs,” in the Daily Chronicle.
The article describes the rise in girls playing sports but the limited number of women who have coaching positions. Dr. LaVoi explains the various factors that impact why there are less women coaching. She notes that some of the factors include, “…individual choices to family structure barriers to organizational opportunities to societal stereotypes about gender and leadership.” Dr. LaVoi continues to argue that changes in stereotypes surrounding women need to be made and can by made when women are in positions of power.

Peterson awarded NSCAF Challenge Scholarship

Doctoral student Ben Peterson has been selected for a National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation (NSCAF) Challenge Scholarship in the amount of $1,500.00. The Challenge Scholarship is given to NSCA Members seeking either an undergraduate or graduate degree in a strength and conditioning-related field. Ben and other 2013 NSCA Challenge Scholarship recipients will be acknowledged at the NSCA Awards Banquet on July 12, during the National Conference in Providence, R.I., and will also be included in the August NSCA Bulletin.

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Gao publishes in Journal of Athletic Training

gao-zan-2012Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, had an article published in, Journal of Athletic Training.
Gao is the second author in the article titled, “Injury rehabilitation overadherence: Preliminary scale validation and relationships with athletic identity and self-presentation concerns.” The study was designed to provide initial validation of a novel injury-rehabilitation overadherence measure and to examine correlates of overadherence and risking a premature return to sport. Gao contributed to the data analyses and presentation of the results for the study.

Students travel to Beijing for ‘Managing Mega Sport Events’ course

IMG_0542-thumb-250x187-157316 Sport management students recently returned from an intensive three-week May term course which took place in Beijing, China. Rayla Allison, J.D., associate director and lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, taught the course, Managing Mega Sport Events, at Beijing Sport University (BSU). Students who seized this international opportunity learned about managing large sporting events in and out of the classroom. They also toured incredible Olympic venues such as, Beijing National Stadium and Olympic Green Tennis Centre. Aside from academics, students were able to experience historic Chinese cultural sites and adventure to the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Forbidden Palace, and Ming Tombs.
BSU partners with the School of Kinesiolgy on a student exchange agreement where students from BSU study full-time for one academic year in CEHD. In turn, kinesiology students travel to Beijing for a summer course.

Dengel and Marlatt publish in Journal of Clinical Ultrasound

Dr. Donald Dengel, associate professor of kinesiology, and doctoral student Kara Marlatt published an article in the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound. The article is titled, “The influence of gender on carotid artery compliance and distensibility in children and adults.”
The purpose of their research was to evaluate the impact of gender on carotid arterial elasticity in a large sample of children and adults. Their findings suggest that gender differences in arterial stiffness are not present early in life but emerge later in adulthood.

Gao publishes as lead author in Journal of Sport and Health Science

gao-zan-2012Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, was the lead author in the research article titled, “Associations among children’s situational motivation, physical activity participation, and enjoyment in an interactive dance game.” The article was published in the June issue of, Journal of Sport and Health Science. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between children’s situational motivation and physical activity levels in a Dance Dance Revolution program and perceived physical activity enjoyment.

Stoffregen, colleagues publish innovative research on “getting your sea legs”

Dock_Far-thumb-250x333-158007Body sway and posture correlate with the severity of seasickness experienced by novices on a ship, according to research in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Dr. Thomas Stoffregen, professor of kinesiology and director of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory, and colleagues from other institutions. Studying stance in a group of undergraduate students on a two-day cruise, the researchers found that maritime novices change their posture rapidly to ‘get their sea legs’. Like experienced mariners, novices at sea adjusted to being at sea by rapidly learning to use the horizon as a referent to stabilize the body at sea.
“People have been going to sea for thousands of years, but ours is the first scientific study of how people learn to control their bodies as they get their sea legs,” said Stoffregen.

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Physical Activity Social and Behavioral Science students represented at NASPSPA

The Physical Activity Social and Behavioral Sciences (PASBS) area in the School of Kinesiology was well-represented by several current and former graduate students at the annual meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA), held in New Orleans on June 12-16.
pasbsstudentsFrom left to right: Alison Phillips, Nicole Bolter (PhD, 2010), Andrea Stark, Lindsay Kipp (PhD, 2012), and Amanda Williams.
Alison Phillips presented on her study of adolescents’ achievement motivation in sport, music, and reading domains; Andrea Stark presented her thesis research on social psychological climate and well-being among adolescent dancers; Lindsay Kipp gave a presentation on her study of social influences and psychological well-being among adolescent gymnasts; and Amanda Williams gave a presentation on her research examining predictors of commitment to adult recreational soccer participation.

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Stoffregen’s research on motion sickness featured in Wall Street Journal

Stoffregen2012 Thomas A. Stoffregen, Ph.D., director of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL) and professor of kinesiology, was quoted in a recent Wall Street Journal article on motion sickness. The article, “New Views of Motion Sickness,” provides an overview of new research related to motion sickness, including the work of Stoffregen and his lab.
Stoffregen and his colleagues have found that body sway and posture correlate with the severity of seasickness experienced by novices on a ship. “There may be sort of a general classification that people who are susceptible to motion sickness have,” Dr. Stoffregen said. “Maybe they just move differently in general.”
Read more on Stoffregen’s work.

Members of APAL present posters at NAPSPA

apal Members of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL), presented at the National Association for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NAPSPA) meeting, which took place June 13-15, in New Orleans, La. Three posters were presented by APAL members throughout the meeting.

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Stoffregen to publish in Experimental Brain Research

Stoffregen2012 Thomas A. Stoffregen, Ph.D., director of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL) and professor of kinesiology, has had an article accepted for publication in, Experimental Brain Research. The article is titled, “Console Video Games, Postural Activity and Motion Sickness during Passive Restraint.” The article was also authored by, Chih-Hui Chang, Wu-Wen Pan, and Fu-Chen Chen.
Chang received her Ph.D., in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota in 2006, and is completing a sabbatical year in the APAL. Chen received his Ph.D., in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota in 2011.

CEHD Vision 2020 Blog features Wiese-Bjornstal, Gopher Adventure Race

Vision2020-thumb-300x92-157302 The CEHD Vision 2020 Blog recently featured the School of Kinesiology in two pieces.
Dr. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, associate professor of kinesiology, contributed to an article, “5 Tips to Ensure Children Have a Quality Youth Sports Experience.” In the feature, Wiese-Bjornstal explains that both parents and coaches have a great impact on youth sport and must be competent, mindful, and motivational. Some tips she shares with sport parents are to, comment on great plays, encourage many different sports, do not coach from the sideline, and to cheer for good plays on both teams.
The blog also contains a preview of the annual Gopher Adventure Race (GAR) in, “Get Outdoors Day: 4th Annual Gopher Adventure Race Preview.” The GAR is organized and managed by the Recreation, Park and Leisure Studies Program and brings together 200 participants who take on physical and mental challenges across campus. Not only is the GAR a fun and competitive event but it also allows students to plan, implement, and gain valuable work experience. The article notes on the importance of outdoor recreation explaining that many benefits including better health, a spark in creativity, greater emotional connections, and wonderful memories happen that occur outdoors.