Theses and Dissertations - Department of Kinesiology

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations - Department of Kinesiology by Author "Balilionis, Gytis"

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    Clothing fabric effects on physiological and comfort responses
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2011) Balilionis, Gytis; Bishop, Phillip A.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    During exercise and in hot environments, the main cooling mechanism is through sweat evaporation. However, clothing can disrupt evaporation, which leads to decreased performance and in some cases can lead to heat illness. New fabrics and designs have been introduced with the purpose of improving thermoregulatory properties. One of those innovations is a channeled synthetic fabric. The first of three studies evaluated the effects of a channeled synthetic and synthetic t-shirts under a ballistic vest on physiological and comfort responses during exercise in a hot environment. Eight participants, in counterbalanced order, completed two simulated "industrial" protocols for three hours. The overall (0 - 180 min) change in rectal temperature was significantly (p = 0.04) lower with channeled synthetic shirt compared to a synthetic shirt. Additionally, overall change in thermal comfort (p = 0.05), sweating sensation (p = 0.06), and heart rate (p = 0.07) were, or tended to be more favorable throughout exercise with channeled synthetic compared to synthetic shirt. We also examined the effects of channeled synthetic shirt and synthetic cycling shirt effects on thermoregulation, thermal comfort, and heart rate. Eight participants attempted a 30-km cycling time trial. Results indicated significantly (p = 0.04, n = 8) smaller increase in rectal temperature from baseline to 15th km (first dropout) with the channeled synthetic shirt compared to cycling shirt. Also, the change in thermal comfort was significantly (n = 5, p = 0.03) lower with channeled shirt compared to cycling shirt from baseline to 30th km. A third study examined channeled compression shorts, compression shorts, and cycling shorts effects on thermoregulation, heart rate, and thermal comfort response during 30-km cycling trial in hot a environment. Eight participants completed a 25-km cycling trial. Results revealed no significant main effect for rectal or skin temperatures, heart rate, and thermal comfort between the three different types of shorts (n = 8, p > 0.05). In conclusion, wearing a channeled synthetic shirt provided better thermoregulatory or thermal comfort responses compared to synthetic shirt in two studies. Channeled compression shorts did not improve thermoregulatory or thermal comfort responses compared to cycling and compression shorts.
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    Effects of different types of warm-up on swimming performance in collegiate swimmers
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Balilionis, Gytis; Bishop, Phillip A.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of three different types of warm-up on swimming performance in NCAA Division I swimmers. Eight male and eight female swimmers utilized three warm-up protocols prior to performing 50-yard (45.72-meter) freestyle swim trials each trial in counterbalanced order and separated by 48 hours. The warm-up protocols consisted of: (1) no warm-up, (2) short warm-up (50-yards at 40% maximal effort and 50-yards at 90%), (3) regular warm-up (swimmers own pre-competition warm-up). Following the warm-up regimen, participants rested for three minutes and completed a 50-yard freestyle swim trial. Heart rate pre- and post- trial, diving distance, reaction time, post warm-up RPE, post 50-yard trial RPE, and stroke count were measured. Times for 50-yard swim were significantly (p = 0.03) different among warm-ups. Mean 50-yard time was significantly (p = 0.01) faster after regular warm-up (24.95 ± 1.53 sec) compared to short warm-up (25.26 ± 1.61 sec) and approached significance between no- and regular- warm-ups (p = 0.06); however, no significant difference was found between no- (25.19 ±1.54 sec) and short warm-ups (p = 0.59) on 50-yard time. Individual data indicated that 19% of participants performed their best 50-yard time after short warm-up, 37% after no-, and 44% after regular warm-up. Heart rate was significantly (p = 0.01) higher after regular warm-up (100 ± 13 b/min) compared to no warm-up (88 ± 18 b/min) and approached significance between short- and regular warm-ups (p = 0.07); however, no significant difference was observed between no- and short warm-ups (92 ± 19 b/min) (p = 0.32). RPE was significantly (p <0.001) lower after no warm-up (6.3 ± 0.5) compared to short warm-up (10.1 ± 1.7) and regular warm-up (12.1 ± 1.0). No significant difference was found in reaction time (p = 0.96), RPE post 50-yard time trial (p = 0.11), dive distance (p = 0.67), and stroke count (p = 0.23) among warm-ups. In conclusion, regular warm-up was better than short warm-ups to achieve the fastest mean 50-yard freestyle time but individuals differed in their response to different warm-ups.