Field Of Kinesiology Research Articles

“A Secret in Plain Sight”: Origin Stories From the Amy Morris Homans Cotillion

The story of the Amy Morris Homans Cotillion is little known outside the circles of those who founded and attended the event. In this article, we detail the origins of the Cotillion from its inception in 1982 to its final iteration in 2014. This underground social event provided a safe space for women to connect and create a lesbian community of joyful sisterhood with long-lasting professional and personal relationships. At its peak, the Cotillion gathered hundreds of women, inviting them to drink, dance, and dream of a better world. We place the Cotillion in the context of the historical development of women’s physical education and the field of kinesiology and use oral-history interviews with women who founded, organized, and regularly attended the Cotillion to create a narrative of the origins of this event.

33rd Delphine Hanna Lecture What Do You Do with an Idea? Transform!

ABSTRACT This lecture explores the profound impact of idea development as a catalyst for transformative change across the field of Kinesiology. It discusses how the nurturing of burgeoning concepts fuels innovation, propelling our field toward progress and empowerment. Emphasizing the iterative process of idea refinement, this paper underscores how the cultivation of creativity and problem-solving skills leads to groundbreaking solutions for global challenges in Kinesiology. By recognizing the transformative power of idea development, stakeholders can harness its momentum to shape a future characterized by ingenuity and sustainable development of our field.

Preparing Kinesiology’s Future Leaders: Navigating the Ever-Changing Higher Education Landscape

The field of Kinesiology is at a pivotal juncture in higher education. This paper, adapted from the Rainer and Julie Martens Invited Lecture at the 2024 National Academy of Kinesiology meeting, examines leadership’s crucial role in preparing the next generation of scholars and leaders in Kinesiology. Drawing on personal experience and leadership theory, the author presents a framework focused on hypothesis-driven, servant, and mission-oriented leadership. These principles address current challenges like budget constraints, enrollment fluctuations, equity concerns, and the balance between specialization and interdisciplinary collaboration. By fostering positive organizational culture and cultivating future leaders, the paper provides a roadmap for advancing Kinesiology’s role in academia and society. It integrates theoretical perspectives with practical insights, contributing to the ongoing dialogue about the future of Kinesiology in higher education, and offers guidance for current and aspiring leaders in the field.

Creating and Retaining an Inclusive Graduate Program in Kinesiology

Over the past decade, enrollment in the exercise science graduate program at Texas State University has shown consistent growth. However, the program’s level of diversity has been low, as indicated by the college’s equity audit report. In response to the imperative of social justice and equity in the field of kinesiology, this article presents one recruitment strategy and two retention strategies aimed at fostering inclusivity in the graduate program. The recruitment strategy describes the steps to establish a partnership with Huston-Tillotson University (a historically Black university). This partnership serves as a means to create a pathway for underrepresented students to pursue graduate studies in exercise science. The two retention strategies explain how a peer-mentoring program and alumni connect can be used to foster an inclusive experience for current students and recent graduates and to promote student success and retention. The benefits of each strategy and suggestions to implement the strategies are also described.

High Impact Practices in Domestic and Study Abroad Service Learning Kinesiology and Physical Education Courses

Research shows that study abroad programs can benefit students in myriad ways including: fostering intercultural understanding, improveing completion of degree programs, retention, community college transfer rates, as well as increasing GPA. The purpose of this study, was to assess and evaluate engagement in high impact practices in college students (N=70) through international service-learning, domestic service-learning, and study abroad programs offered by the kinesiology department of a large comprehensive university in California. Results indicated that short-term kinesiology study-abroad programs consisted of significantly higher levels of faculty-student and student-student engagement, as well as higher scores on diversity and experiential learning when compared to a domestic course. The authors echo Dunn’s (2009) call who called for the development and promotion of international experiences, such as study abroad opportunities, in order to enhance the understanding and viability of undergraduate and graduate students in the field of kinesiology. To date, this call has been left unanswered.

Qualitative inquiry of the variables perceived to influence adapted physical education course: Pilot study

As a required part of kinesiology curriculum, undergraduate students need to take Adapted Physical Education (APE) course in general. The variables that promote learning of undergraduate students in APE should be clearly identified. The aim of this study was to conceptualize variables to consider relating to APE course instruction and delivery. Data collection was based on focused interviews of faculty in the field of kinesiology. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis. APE instructors should include the most important concepts to strengthen learning of undergraduate students. Regarding APE course delivery, instructors can include diverse contents to support learning of undergraduate students. Particularly, by engaging practical experiences, undergraduate students can have appropriate level of pedagogical skills to work with individuals with special needs. Additionally, there are diverse types of institutions across the states. Course delivery should be more contextual depending on the characteristics of the program and institutions.

Research on muscle fatigue recognition model based on improved wavelet denoising and long short-term memory

The automatic recognition technology of muscle fatigue has widespread application in the field of kinesiology and rehabilitation medicine. In this paper, we used surface electromyography (sEMG) to study the recognition of leg muscle fatigue during circuit resistance training. The purpose of this study was to solve the problem that the sEMG signals have a lot of noise interference and the recognition accuracy of the existing muscle fatigue recognition model is not high enough. First, we proposed an improved wavelet threshold function denoising algorithm to denoise the sEMG signal. Then, we build a muscle fatigue state recognition model based on long short-term memory (LSTM), and used the Holdout method to evaluate the performance of the model. Finally, the denoising effect of the improved wavelet threshold function denoising method proposed in this paper was compared with the denoising effect of the traditional wavelet threshold denoising method. We compared the performance of the proposed muscle fatigue recognition model with that of particle swarm optimization support vector machine (PSO-SVM) and convolutional neural network (CNN). The results showed that the new wavelet threshold function had better denoising performance than hard and soft threshold functions. The accuracy of LSTM network model in identifying muscle fatigue was 4.89% and 2.47% higher than that of PSO-SVM and CNN, respectively. The sEMG signal denoising method and muscle fatigue recognition model proposed in this paper have important implications for monitoring muscle fatigue during rehabilitation training and exercise.

Considerations for Sex-Cognizant Research in Exercise Biology and Medicine.

As the fields of kinesiology, exercise science, and human movement developed, the majority of the research focused on male physiology and extrapolated findings to females. In the medical sphere, basing practice on data developed in only males resulted in the removal of drugs from the market in the late 1990s due to severe side effects (some life-threatening) in females that were not observed in males. In response to substantial evidence demonstrating exercise-induced health benefits, exercise is often promoted as a key modality in disease prevention, management, and rehabilitation. However, much like the early days of drug development, a historical literature knowledge base of predominantly male studies may leave the exercise field vulnerable to overlooking potentially key biological differences in males and females that may be important to consider in prescribing exercise (e.g., how exercise responses may differ between sexes and whether there are optimal approaches to consider for females that differ from conventional approaches that are based on male physiology). Thus, this review will discuss anatomical, physiological, and skeletal muscle molecular differences that may contribute to sex differences in exercise responses, as well as clinical considerations based on this knowledge in athletic and general populations over the continuum of age. Finally, this review summarizes the current gaps in knowledge, highlights the areas ripe for future research, and considerations for sex-cognizant research in exercise fields.

What is sport activity loyalty? Verifying the relationship between passion and psychological well-being.

The variables of sport activity loyalty are being utilized actively in the fields of sports management and marketing. This study seeks to understand sport activity loyalty and verify the causal relationship between passion and psychological well-being to discover a new convergent and comprehensive research model in the field of Kinesiology. Passion, psychological well-being, and sport activity loyalty were measured for 198 college athletes who were registered as athletes in the 2021 Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC). To analyze the data, the SPSS 24.0, PROCESS Macro (V.2.13), and Amos 24.0 programs were used. First, harmonious passion had a significant positive effect on sport activity loyalty. Second, harmonious passion had a significant positive effect on psychological well-being, and obsessive passion had a significant positive effect on all variables of psychological well-being except self-realization. Third, the results of testing the mediating effect based on the direct effect revealed that harmonious and obsessive passion had significant indirect effects on sport activity loyalty through feelings of competence and hedonic enjoyment. It is hereby provided that we have examined the causal relationship between sport activity loyalty and sports psychology variables and discovered a new research model convergent between variables in the field of physical education (psychology-sociology, business administration).

College Physical Activity Programs: Recommendations for Stability and Growth

ABSTRACT College and University Instructional Physical Activity Programs (C/U IPAP) are in decline worldwide. Therefore, it has become paramount that leaders in the field of Kinesiology establish effective means of defending, establishing, and growing these instructional physical activity programs. The focus of this article is to provide recommendations for positioning, marketing, and leveraging the value of C/U IPAP to college/university decision-makers and students so these valuable educational experiences can be a vital part of university curricula in the future.

Play vs exergaming: A conceptual analysis as to why exergaming is not play

The fields of kinesiology and public health promotion have significantly invested in the potential for on-line, digitally mediated exergaming to promote higher levels of physical activity and so to reduce disconcertingly high levels of obesity in the USA. The proponents of exergaming attempt to tie exercise to play in order to make exercise fun and sustainable over time. Drawing on Huizinga’s Homo Ludens, the purpose of this concept-based paper was to conceptually analyze the motivational resources provided by true play in contrast to the engineered instrumental design of exergaming. The analysis furthermore explains the disappointing results of studies to date on the effects of exergaming. According to Huizinga, play is undertaken for its own sake, for the lived experience of joy, tension, creativity, and release. In contrast, exergaming emphasizes measurable objectives to lose weight and reduce morbidity and mortality rates. This pressure to meet biological needs appears not to be enjoyable like in true play, and, ironically, exergaming is more likely to harm rather than improve users’ health. Physical activity experts need to emphasize the true elements of playful movement for the felt experiences it can afford, including artistic expression, dance, and recreational games at schools, neighborhoods, and local parks.

A Primer on Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Part I

ABSTRACT The conduct of systematic reviews and meta-analyses are a cornerstone source of information required for evidence-based practice in all medical and allied health professions. Meta-analyses are important in the exercise sciences because, for instance, sometimes many small underpowered studies may suggest the optimal treatment deviates from the generic guidelines that suggest 30 minutes to 60 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity 3 to 5 times weekly, supplemented by 1 or more sessions of resistance exercise. A systematic review and meta-analysis can help by combining studies to increase power and provide an answer. The signature method of presenting results of meta-analyses is the forest plot, and an ability to interpret these data and the associated funnel plots are essential to the practice of evidence-based exercise programming. This work describes the processes of systematic review and meta-analysis and informs the reader on how these works may be presented, interpreted, and applied. Some examples from the field of kinesiology and exercise physiology are presented to illustrate how the results of a meta-analysis may influence evidence-based practice.

Recruiting and Retaining Graduate Students in Kinesiology at a Hispanic-Serving Institution

Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in interest in master’s education in the United States. However, not much attention has been paid to recruiting and retaining master’s students in the field of kinesiology. This article describes recruitment and retention strategies that have been successfully implemented in a kinesiology graduate program at a Hispanic-serving institution. Recruiting from undergraduate programs, removing use of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in graduate admissions, awarding graduate teaching assistantships, creating new programs that flow with the evolving workforce, actively promoting the program at other universities and conferences, and building partnership with other universities are described for recruiting quality master’s students. Establishing a peer/faculty mentorship program and building a strong student network/organization have been shown to have a positive impact on retention. Readers may pick and choose the strategies that work best with the student population, faculty, and other resources available in the program.

The History of Physical Activity in the Past, Present, and Future of Kinesiology’s Big Questions, Hot Topics, and Prospects for Integration

Since the 1981 publication ofPerspectives on the Academic Discipline of Physical Education,the history of physical activity has secured a prominent place in the field of kinesiology. Yet, despite encouraging signs of growth, the subdiscipline still remains an undervalued player in the “team scholarship” approach. Without the integration of historical sensibilities in kinesiology’s biggest questions, our understanding of human movement remains incomplete. Historians of physical activity share many “big questions” and “hot topics” with researchers in other domains of kinesiology. Intriguing possibilities for integrating research endeavors between historians and scholars from other domains beckon, particularly as scientists share the historical fascination with exploring the processes of change over time.

Dare the Discipline(s) to Build a New Academy: The Future of Kinesiology and Health in Higher Education

ABSTRACT In the 40th Annual Dudley Allen Sargent Lecture, I dared the field of kinesiology with its various subdisciplines to be at the center of systematic and individual change in the values, behaviors, and functions of higher education. It is not meant to be a harsh critique of kinesiologists, but is rooted in the belief that the field of kinesiology is suited to be daring enough to build a new academy. Influenced by the work of progressive era educational scholar Howard Counts, I highlight five fallacies associated with the function of higher education, then provide five challenges to prompt our field to ontologically reimagine the academy.

Philosophy and Kinesiology: A Tenuous Past and an Uncertain Future

This essay addresses four main questions. The first is devoted to how I became interested in the philosophy of sport. The second question concerns how my academic career has evolved over time in line with various developments in the field that privileged certain lines of study over others and which largely marginalized philosophy in particular and the humanities in general. The third question centers on what I take to be my own main contributions to the philosophy of sport and what, if any, impact they may have had on the larger field of kinesiology. Finally, I offer my own brief prognosis of what I think the future has in store for the relationship between sport philosophy and kinesiology.

An Excellent Adventure on Some Roads Less Traveled

I am not sure by what fortunate circumstance I was invited to contribute to this special issue ofKinesiology Review. However, I am deeply honored to be part of an issue with such esteemed scholars and colleagues. Like many, my introduction to the field of kinesiology was through sports, but my inspiration to pursue kinesiology as a career was the result of an injury that ended my sporting ambitions. My career is characterized by little planning, large amounts of dumb luck, a willingness to explore some paths that are less well trodden, and deep and enduring friendships that have resulted from a spirit of teamwork and collaboration. The work has been hard, the hours have been long, but the payoff has been enormously gratifying. The overarching lesson from my career for emerging scholars is to have an adventurous spirit and seek out excellent mentors and collaborators.

Having a Little Confidence: A Career of Studying Self-Efficacy in Sport

In this brief autobiography, I reflect on how my childhood and adolescent experiences influenced my decision to study the psychology of sport and physical activity. I describe how my research evolved over time, my contributions to the field, and the people who were influential in my career. Finally, I offer some suggestions for how the field of kinesiology, as a whole, might engage in the future.

Exploring Servant Teaching in Kinesiology: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective

ABSTRACT Rapid growth in the health industry has made kinesiology-based curriculum a priority across campuses nationwide. With students continuing to enroll in kinesiology at an all-time high rate, quality coursework in kinesiology is an absolute must. Previous research suggests that students will get the most out of their coursework when their basic human needs are satisfied. Further, an instructor’s teaching style can play an important role in the quality of education the student receives. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between servant leadership and the basic needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Through this study, we utilized Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework to examine the relationship between servant leadership and need satisfaction in measuring teaching effectiveness in kinesiology related courses. Surveys were distributed to students in kinesiology related courses to score their instructor’s servant leadership style and the students’ perceived need satisfaction. Results suggested that servant teaching is strongly related to student need satisfaction (p < .001). Findings and practical implications for current and future instructors in the field of kinesiology are discussed and suggested.

Examining Professional Development among Faculty Members across Varying Career Stages in Kinesiology

ABSTRACT Professional development (PD) was examined among faculty members to identify enablers and inhibitors, and the coping strategies used to mitigate these. Three faculty members in the field of Kinesiology, at different career stages (early, middle, and late career), were recruited to participate in semi-structured phone interviews. Guided by Cafarella and Zinn's (1999) conceptual framework, four domains of PD were explored. Key PD enablers were mentorship, geographic isolation, scarce teaching resources, and limited financial support. The use of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping was also reported. Implications for post-secondary faculty and administration are presented.