Department of Physical Education

News & Events

Experts join health and human services departments at ISU
October 5, 2007

Several new faculty and staff members with expertise in the health and human services areas have joined Indiana State University this fall.

Joining the physical education department are assistant professors Susan Hagood and Rebecca Zakrajsek.

Hagood, formerly of Florida State University, is teaching courses in curriculum and instruction, serving as an undergraduate adviser, supervising student teachers, and training clinical teachers for the student teaching program.

Zakrajsek, formerly of West Virginia University, is teaching courses in coaching education, sport psychology and sport sociology.

Joining the athletic training department are assistant professor Susan Yeargin, rehabilitation coordinator Sheri Walters, associate athletic trainer Michelle Landis, and assistant athletic trainers Bradley Yeargin and Gordon Sinning.

S. Yeargin, formerly of the University of Connecticut, is teaching human anatomy, among other athletic training courses. Her research interests are in the realm of heat and hydration issues of youth athletes, and she was just named as the National Athletic Trainers’ Association delegate to the American Heart Association's and American Red Cross’s International First Aid Science Advisory Board. On the board, she will review and evaluate scientific literature on first aid.

Walters, formerly of the Medical Center of Arlington in Texas, designs and implements rehabilitation programs for ISU student athletes. At the Medical Center of Arlington, Walters provided rehabilitation services for the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, Fort Worth Flyers (Dallas Mavericks developmental team), and Dallas Baptist University.

Landis, formerly of West Texas A&M University, is working in Athletic Training Services, with her primary responsibility being the women’s basketball team, as well as supervising men’s and women’s tennis. She also helps supervise athletic training students and graduate assistants in the clinical setting.

B. Yeargin, formerly of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Conn., is the head athletic trainer for cross-country track and field, and volleyball.

Sinning, formerly of Washington University in Saint Louis, is the head athletic trainer for women’s soccer, baseball and softball; and supervises graduate assistants assigned to baseball and softball.

 

How to avoid the Freshman 15, and why it gets packed on in the first place
August 10, 2007

In high school, Stefanie Baker played on the softball team, took step aerobics classes several times a week, and ate three squares a day.

In college, all that changed. By the end of her first year at Indiana State University, easy access to food and little to no physical activity had taken its toll.

“I didn’t just gain the freshman 15, I gained the freshman 20,” said Baker, a native of Shelbyville. “My clothes weren’t fitting me anymore and I was unhappy with the shape I was in.”

Although recent research places the amount of weight gained by first-year college students at a little lower than 15 pounds #-- closer to 7 or 8 -- the concept of the “freshman 15” is not a myth, but an unpleasant reality for a great number of young adults like Baker, says Jeff Tincher, assistant professor of physical education at Indiana State.

“One of the reasons for freshman weight gain is the kind of food they eat,” Tincher said. “Without mom’s input and supervision, they probably go for the quickest and easiest things they can find to eat, and these are usually filled with lots of calories.”

The majority of college freshman are living on their own for the first time, and the excitement of this new-found freedom is often exhibited in poor choices, Tincher says.

“Their time management skills aren’t the greatest, staying up until all hours of the night to study and do homework,” Tincher said, “and continuing to eat at times that they would normally be sleeping. This results in the consumption of more calories than they took in while living at home, and as a result, they gain weight.”

Alcohol also may be a factor in weight gain, according to Sarah Hawkins, registered dietitian and professor of family and consumer sciences at Indiana State.

“Increased alcohol consumption may be a major contributor, because alcohol does have more calories per gram than any other nutrient besides fat,” Hawkins said. “The easy access to vending machines and late night pizza orders do their share too.”

Another theory to explain college weight gain is that students skip meals during the day and then think they can eat whatever and as much as they want in the evening, says Rao Ivaturi, board-certified nutrition specialist and associate professor of family and consumer sciences at Indiana State.

“If someone consumes 1,500 calories in the form of four meals distributed throughout the day, their insulin level stays regular and fat is burned as they go along their daily activities,” Ivaturi said. “If, however, they stay up late and sleep in, skipping breakfast, and then only have a little lunch, by the time they get to supper, they are starving, and this is literally the message that the body has received throughout the day.

“So when one large meal is finally consumed, the insulin level spikes, making it much more difficult to use those calories because the body wants to store the food as fat, because it doesn’t know when it’s going to get fed again.”

Men are at a slight disadvantage when it comes to the freshman 15, Ivaturi says.

“Research has shown that, on average, men gain slightly more weight than women during their freshman year of college,” he said. “Researchers haven’t figured out yet why this is, but it possibly could be due to the fact that women, in general, keep a closer eye on their weight than men do.”

Baker, who is now a senior majoring in human development and family studies, says too much access to unhealthy food was her downfall.

“Food is available 24-7 in college,” Baker said. “In high school, you’re in class all day and you get one meal during that time #" lunch. There’s no time to snack in between. But at college, you can eat as much as you want in the cafeteria, and there are vending machines in every building. If we were bored, or studying or up late at night, we’d just eat.”

When sophomore year began, Baker decided to make a change.

“I was unhappy with the additional weight I’d put on, so I set a weight-loss goal for myself for every two weeks,” she said.

Baker surfed the university’s Web site and discovered free exercise classes for students through the department of recreational sports.

“I started going to step aerobics classes again, and added weight training,” Baker said. “I ate healthier. I cut down on the size of my meals and the number of times I would eat. I also traded in cookies and chips for things like baby carrots and fruit.”

For those new to choosing and providing their own meals, Hawkins affirms what should already be common knowledge #" avoid fast food.

“High-fat foods are the most concentrated sources of calories, and fast food, or any fried foods, have lots of fats,” Hawkins said. “Soft drinks contribute lots of calories too, and people often fail to consider the calories in their beverages.”

Ivaturi also warns against the sugary beverages which are so popular with the college set.

“If it were up to me, I would ban regular soda and sugary drinks because they can be disastrous by causing insulin spikes that can be so harmful in the long run,” Ivaturi said. “If a college student consumes just three cans of regular soda each day, and does not increase their activity level, that can add up to about a pound of fat per week; and most college students consume much more soda than that in a day.”

When faced with cafeteria food, Ivaturi says to eat the fiber-rich foods first.

“Start off with the plant-based foods -- your vegetables and salad -- and the whole-grain dishes,” Ivaturi said. “These are packed with fiber, which will fill you up, but they are low in fat. After that, you can move on to the entrée items, like the fried chicken, if that’s what you want. Because of the fiber you have already eaten, you will get full faster and won’t be able to eat as much of the high-fat items. You also will stay full longer, which will help prevent late-night snacking.”

Tincher says those new to campus life need to stay physically active.

“Join an intramural sports league that you enjoy, check out the weight room and recreational facilities, and incorporate some kind of physical activity into your daily routine,” Tincher said.

Being a college student is almost synonymous with being overbooked. If scheduling time for formal exercise is not possible, Tincher suggests creating spontaneous exercise opportunities throughout the day.

“Instead of driving or taking the bus to a location near campus, ride your bike or walk,” he said. “Take the stairs to your classroom, instead of using the elevator. When you go to the mall, don’t cruise the lot looking for the closest parking space, park way out and walk to the store.”

ONLINE RESOURCE
A great place to track diet (caloric intake) and activity levels (caloric expenditure), according to Tincher, is www.mypyramidtracker.gov. Type in what you’ve eaten for the day and what you’ve done physically, and the site will break it all down for you.

 

ISU instructor named Indiana Dance Educator of the Year
August 3, 2007

Teresa McCullough, an instructor of physical education at Indiana State University since 1987, was recently named the Indiana Dance Educator of the Year by the Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. The award recognizes a person who has made a major contribution teaching dance at the college level.

McCullough of Brazil, Ind., received her bachelor’s degree in 1987 from Indiana University in dance with a performance concentration; and a master’s degree in 1992 from ISU in communications with a theater concentration.

The award will be presented in November at the association’s annual conference at the Radisson Hotel in Indianapolis. McCullough is now eligible to apply for the Midwest Dance Educator of the Year award.

The Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance is a professional organization for teachers, administrators, researchers, coaches and students who are interested in promoting healthy lifestyles through the activities listed in the title of the organization.

 

Landmark study shows weak correlation between core strength and sport performance
July 2, 2007


How important is core strength to athletic performance? According to an initial study at Indiana State University, not very.

In the study, which is the first of its kind, Thomas Nesser, assistant professor of physical education at Indiana State, has found that while there is a correlation between muscle strength in the core of an athlete’s body, and their demonstrated strength and power in sports performance, the link is moderate to poor, and inconsistent.

“The results are not showing that greater core strength is going to help you -- across the board -- with your sport,” Nesser said. “Only certain areas of the core showed a correlation with specific performance-based activities, and even then, the correlation was slight.”

One example Nesser gave from the study was a correlation found between trunk flexion (abdominal strength) and sprinting.

“Those athletes who had stronger trunk flexion did better on the sprint performance, but having that increased abdominal strength only accounted for 24 percent of their better performance,” Nesser said. “This is a very small percentage. In addition, a relationship between sprint performance and back extension was not even identified.”

While the importance of the core and methods of training and assessing it have been largely publicized, few studies have quantitatively demonstrated core strength’s role in strength and performance; and none have tested strength and power athletes, such as football players. Nesser is the first.

“There is a preponderance of information being generated right now about how to strengthen the core, with new equipment and videos being released at a dizzying pace, but the evidence that all this core strength will help you in your sport performance is not there,” Nesser said. “There is a lot of theory out there, and some good ideas that make sense, but we’re trying to put the hard data to the hype.”

Using 29 members of the NCAA Division I Indiana State football team as subjects, Nesser tested each athlete’s core strength and then compared it to the athlete’s ability in three strength variables and four performance variables.

Core testing consisted of measuring how long the athlete could hold each of four different positions: back extension, trunk flexion, and left and right bridge.

Strength variables consisted of bench press, squat, and power clean; and performance variables included vertical jump, 20- and 40-yard sprints, and a 10-yard shuttle run.

Overall, the results of the study suggested that torso stability is only moderately related to strength and performance.

“We were surprised that core strength is only moderately responsible or related to an athlete’s overall strength and power performance, based on the variables we tested,” Nesser said, “so we are continuing our research in this area and endeavoring to discover if core-specific training is really necessary, and if athletes with superior core strength are capable of doing greater things.”

While core stability is an important component of training and injury prevention, Nesser says that core strength exercises have not been proven to be the best use of an athlete’s time and energy if they are trying to improve in their sport.

For the average person, however, Nesser says core strength plays an important role in a person’s overall fitness and everyday functioning.

“Having a strong core can help everybody in their daily activities, whether that’s lifting and holding a child, or carrying an unbalanced load of groceries,” he said. “We know that core muscle strength helps with balance and stability, but what we don’t know yet is if an increase in core strength plays a significant role with respect to sports.”

A follow-up study was conducted by Tomoko Okada, athletic training graduate student, which built upon the research of Nesser. In her study of 28 non-athlete subjects, Okada also found that there was not a significant correlation between core strength and functional movement.

In addition to teaching at Indiana State, Nesser serves on the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Education Committee and is the NSCA state director for Indiana; he is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and certified health fitness instructor with a Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota. Nesser’s research interests include the effects of training and the factors related to athletic performance.

 

Can P.E. class really make a difference in children’s fitness
May 24, 2007


For some kids, the only exercise they get is during gym class at school. Physical education majors at Indiana State University are learning how to make the most of that time.

“It is no coincidence that as physical education in schools was de-emphasized or eliminated, that the incidence of childhood obesity skyrocketed,” said Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and professor of ISU’s physical education department, and interim chairperson of athletic training. “Until we re-establish physical education as an important daily activity for school children, physical educators are going to have to be creative and efficient in their delivery of course activity and content under less than optimal conditions. Our faculty are working hard at preparing students to be smart and effective in their teaching.”

To help these future P.E. instructors get an understanding of what activities work well with different age groups, elementary school students from Sugar Creek Consolidated and Meadows were invited on campus for the annual P.E. Field Day.

Members of OSPE • Organization for Students in Physical Education • put together and facilitated five activity stations, including favorites such as parachute games, kickball and an obstacle course.

“I’m going to be an elementary education P.E. teacher, and I want to see what it’s like to work with the kids in these different P.E. settings,” said Erynn Williams, a freshman from Indianapolis, who was helping students on the obstacle course. “I love being around kids with all their energy and I want to learn how to combine that energy with exercise that will make them happy. If they aren’t happy about what they’re doing, they’re not going to put their energy into it.”

Tammy Turner, Sugar Creek Consolidated teacher, watched her fifth-graders raise and lower the red-and-white-striped parachute, tossing up bean bags.

“The kids really love coming here; it’s a special treat to them coming on campus and doing all these fun activities,” Turner said. “I am glad to bring them because kids need to be running and developing their strength, and also learning to work together, like they are here in the parachute game. These are concepts that we work on all day long, so this is just a different setting that reinforces the message.”

Childhood obesity is a real concern in this country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 19 percent of U.S. children ages 6 to 11 are overweight.

Solutions are being sought at several levels. Healthy People 2010, a federal initiative by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, presents 467 objectives to improve the health of Americans by the year 2010.

Tom Nesser, assistant professor of physical education, also is seeking solutions to improve the fitness level of our children, and has received a Promising Scholars grant from the university to pursue a line of research.

In his study, he is evaluating the effectiveness of a community-based childhood obesity treatment program, to see if it can improve the physical activity and dietary patterns of participants.

“Structured exercise is good, but people need to be physically active overall, by spending less time sitting and more time moving,” Nesser said. “In addition to well planned and executed P.E. classes, it takes the entire family to increase physical activity levels of children. When the whole family takes a walk after dinner or helps with yard work, the whole family improves their health.”

Nesser, who serves on the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Education Committee, emphasizes to his students the importance of being part of the solution to this national problem.

“I bring up the issue of childhood obesity to students all the time, and each time I do, I challenge them to come up with a solution,” Nesser said. “In class, I teach them the science behind the importance of making physical activity a part of people’s lives, but the challenge is getting people to move. We are surrounded by convenience and it is killing us.”

 

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