Term of Award

Summer 2025

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology

Committee Chair

Nicholas Siekirk

Committee Member 1

Jessica Mutchler

Committee Member 2

Li Li

Committee Member 3

Barry Joyner

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of verbal instructions (VIC) and cues on lower extremity joint kinematics during recumbent stepping in middle to older adults. The secondary purpose was to determine the effects of exercise strategy (i.e., full body vs legs only) on lower extremity joint kinematics. Sixteen participants age 44-83 completed stepping trials under 6 different conditions: full body no VIC, leg only no VIC, full body push, leg only push full body pull, and leg only pull. 3D motion capture was used to analyze sagittal plane movement during stepping. Linear mixed models evaluated for interactions between exercise strategy and VIC on terminal joint positions up and down, and total joint excursion. No significant interactions were observed for any condition on any independent variable. Significant main effects were found for VIC at the hip, knee, and ankle for joint excursion, and significant main effects of exercise strategy were found for hip and knee for joint excursion. Verbal instructions can influence sagittal plane movement during recumbent stepping by increasing joint excursion of the hip, knee, and ankle. Legs only exercise can also increase joint excursion at the hip and knee. This paper highlights the need for directed and supervised movement during recumbent stepping. Future research should focus on other planes of movement, seat manipulation, and side dominance effects during recumbent stepping.

OCLC Number

1528847121

Research Data and Supplementary Material

Yes

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