Kinesiology & Health Science

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Open Access
Multi-Method Study On Referral And Access To Heart Function Clinics
(2025-04-10) Mamataz, Taslima; Grace, Sherry
Patients with heart failure (HF) experience significant benefits from receiving comprehensive outpatient care in specialized heart failure clinics (HF clinics). These clinics have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing frequent HF-related hospital readmissions while maintaining cost-efficiency. Unfortunately, despite established guidelines recommending the referral of HF patients to these clinics, there exists a notable discrepancy in both access and utilization of this specialized care, creating issues of low and inequitable service utilization. The underlying reasons are largely unknown and under-researched. Therefore, this doctoral dissertation aimed to advance a scholarly understanding of factors influencing the referral decisions and access to HF clinics through a multi-method study. For this purpose, three inter-linked research studies were undertaken. Firstly, qualitative interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in HF care, including policymakers, clinic providers, and patients. This initial phase established a foundational understanding of the barriers preventing optimal access to HF clinic services. Secondly, recognizing that referring providers play a pivotal role in determining patient access to HF clinics, a mixed-method design was employed, using a sequential exploratory approach to delve into their perspectives on the challenges associated with referring patients to HF clinics. Finally, a cross-sectional survey approach was adopted to compare clinic perceptions of ideal referral criteria with those of referring providers. By identifying areas of agreement between both parties, strategies for consistent application were proposed. This dissertation contributes valuable insights for HF clinics and the broader HF community. The knowledge generated has the potential, when translated into practice, to facilitate appropriate patient access to essential HF services. The findings offer guidance to policymakers, healthcare providers, and HF patients, aiming to optimize the utilization of HF clinic services, enhance the quality of care provided, and improve overall patient outcomes.
Open Access
The Effects Of Age And Distraction On Interlimb Synchronization Of The Center Of Pressure
(2025-04-10) Jalalipour, Arash; Mochizuki, George
Older adults experience increased fall risk, which may be influenced by distractibility. This study examines the effects of cognitive distractions on interlimb synchronization and balance in young and older adults. Participants performed quiet standing trials on separate force plates under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions, with and without cognitive distraction (counting by ones, backward by sevens). Interlimb synchrony was assessed using cross-correlation (CCF) of center of pressure (COP) movements, while root mean square (RMS) sway and mean sway velocity (MSV) were also analyzed. It was hypothesized that cognitive distractions would reduce synchrony, particularly in older adults. Results showed no significant differences in CCF or RMS across groups or conditions, but MSV varied significantly across conditions. These findings suggest that while cognitive distractions affect postural sway velocity, they do not significantly impact synchrony or RMS under these conditions. This study enhances our understanding of balance-cognition interactions in aging.
Open Access
Sex Differences In Endothelial FoxO1 Response To Nutrient And Oxidative Stress
(2025-04-10) Nahal, Manvir Singh; Tara Haas
Endothelial cells (ECs) are vital for vascular homeostasis, regulating blood flow, nutrient exchange, and immune responses. EC dysfunction contributes to diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and hypertension, with sex-specific differences in disease progression. Our lab previously observed sex differences in the response of adipose tissue ECs (ATECs) to high-fat diet-induced metabolic and oxidative stress, with females showing more favorable outcomes. Female ECs express higher Forkhead Box O1 (FoxO1) levels than males, suggesting sex-specific FoxO1 regulation. To explore this, male and female ECs were exposed to metabolic and oxidative stress, and FoxO1 subcellular localization and post-translational modifications were assessed. Male ECs showed increased FoxO1 phosphorylation and cytoplasmic localization, while females retained FoxO1 in the nucleus, supporting enhanced transcriptional potential. These findings highlight sex-dependent FoxO1 regulation, offering insights into molecular mechanisms driving sex differences in vascular health.
Open Access
Relationships Between Movement Behaviours And Dementia
(2025-04-10) Oye-Somefun, Akinkunle Olayemi; Ardern, Chris
The primary objectives of this dissertation were three-fold: i) to evaluate the association of movement behaviors on incident dementia through a systematic review and meta-analysis; ii) to examine the association of movement behaviors on 3-year changes in memory among middle-aged and older adults, stratified by sex; and iii) to investigate the sex-specific association between movement behaviors on cognitive function changes over three years, including the mediation effects of cardiovascular disease on cognitive function. Data from population-based cohort studies, including the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA), were utilized. A systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA), as well as general linear regression, and mediation analyses, were employed. In SRMA Study 1, regular physical activity was associated with a 28% reduction in the risk of incident dementia, while both short (<7 hours) and long (>8 hours) sleep durations were associated with an increased dementia risk (RR = 1.23 and 1.32, respectively). In CLSA Studies 2 and 3, 6-8 hours of sleep was associated with positive changes (z-scores) in immediate and delayed recall among males. Among females, the interaction of higher physical activity levels (≥10 MET-hours weekly) with 8+ hours of sleep and high sedentary time led to an increase in delayed recall. Increasing sedentary time was associated with positive changes in cognitive function in males, while excessive sleep duration was associated with a negative change in cognition. Sitting time was found to mediate the relationship between cardiometabolic components and cognitive changes over three years among males (negatively: systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein, carotid intima-media thickness, glycosylated haemoglobin, and positively: waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and triglycerides) but not females. The relationship between sitting time and 3-year change in global cognition was further mediated through waist circumference and high-density lipoprotein among both females and males, while glycosylated hemoglobin mediated the sitting time and cognition relationship among males but not females. This dissertation highlights the importance of optimizing movement behaviors for cognitive health among older adults, emphasizing the opportunity for targeted interventions to reduce dementia risk and enhance overall cognitive functioning.
Open Access
Biological Ageing Of Skeletal Muscle Endothelial Cells & Responsiveness To Vegf-A: Role Of Epigenetic Writer Ezh2
(2025-04-10) Essue, Dayna Olivia; Roudier, Emilie
In the older population, the loss of small blood vessels (capillaries), known as rarefaction, precedes muscle atrophy. Aging alters the capacity of endothelial cells, the main constituents of capillaries, to form new blood vessels through angiogenesis. Epigenetics has emerged as a new research area to uncover how an ageing phenotype is acquired. Through this project we investigate how the epigenetic writer Enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2 (EZH2) regulates the pro-angiogenic pathway downstream of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) in skeletal muscle microvascular endothelial cells (SMECs) using an in-vitro model of aging. Our results suggest that EZH2 activity might restrain angiogenesis by impairing the expression of genes downstream of the VEGF-A pathway, such as Nr4a3 and Egr3. Our findings indicate that EZH2 potentially supports vascular aging. Yet, caution is required as in-vitro models, such as passaging, fails to reproduce all aspects of aging, more particularly senescence in primary cells
Open Access
Investigating Metabolic And Inflammatory Relationships In Two Distinct Models Of Right-Sided Cardiac Stress
(2025-04-10) Gandhi, Shivam; Perry, Christopher
This thesis summarizes data generated from two distinct models with unrelated underlying etiology that both implicate metabolic- and inflammatory-mediated adaptations in right-sided cardiac stress. The first model, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), is a neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in the X-linked DMD gene that encodes the sub-sarcolemmal protein, dystrophin. While current standards of care –glucocorticoid administration and gene-editing therapies – provide promise for skeletal muscle impairments, the effects of these interventions on dystrophic cardiomyopathy are unclear. The purpose of this thesis was to characterize chamber-specific remodeling in young D2.B10-DMDmdx/2J (D2.mdx) mice, while concurrently exploring if an adiponectin peptidomimetic (ALY688) could alleviate underlying chamber-specific pathology. Our results demonstrated that right ventricular (RV) fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in 4-week-old D2.mdx mice were related to lower mitochondrial respiration and increased complex I-stimulated mitochondrial H2O2. ALY688 prevented RV fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, concurrent with macrophage sub-population shifts towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Our findings identified that the dystrophic heart is heterogeneously affected, while ALY688 represents a viable intervention aimed at addressing secondary contributors to dystrophic cardiac remodeling. The second model, on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, is a common intervention for treatment of coronary artery disease. Key to this surgery is infusion of cardioplegia, which temporarily arrests the heart so surgeons can anastomose grafts around occluded coronary arteries while blood supply is maintained by cardiopulmonary bypass. The combination of ischemia and reperfusion remains a precipitator of post-operative complications. To date, repeated-measures mitochondrial stress responses associated with CABG have never been explored in a study design that compares right atrial appendage (RAA) samples from the same patient at multiple time-points. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate if post-CABG RAA exhibited alterations to mitochondrial stress responses (perturbed mitochondrial substrate-specific respiration and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated protein adaptations) that correlated with patient discharge times. Preliminary findings demonstrated that CABG is associated with increased fatty acid-supported respiration on the post-CABG RAA. It is unknown if this is a protective mechanism or a detrimental mitochondrial stress response. Correlative statistics suggest that the increase in fatty acid-supported respiration and ROS-mediated adaptations do not improve patient discharge times.
Open Access
The Effect Of Ketogenic Diet On Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism
(2025-04-10) Kheirandish, Aris; Ceddia, Rolando
The ketogenic diet (KD), known for its high-fat, low-carbohydrate composition, has gained popularity for weight loss and metabolic health benefits. Despite these advantages, there are concerns that the diet's high saturated fat content might elevate cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study investigates the KD's impact on the molecular mechanisms of cholesterol metabolism in the liver, focusing on cholesterol synthesis markers such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2), as well as cholesterol uptake markers including proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and LDL receptors (LDLr). For that, male Wistar rats (n = 6 per group) were fed for 16 weeks one of the following diets: standard chow (SC, 60% carbohydrates, 13% fat, 27% protein), high-fat sucrose-enriched (HFS, 20% carbohydrates, 60% fat, 20% protein), and ketogenic diet (KD, 0% carbohydrates, 80% fat, 20% protein). Liver tissue was extracted and analyzed for gene expression using real-time PCR and protein content using western blotting. Blood samples were collected to measure circulating cholesterol levels. We found that neither plasma cholesterol levels nor HMG-CoA reductase and SREBP-2 levels in the liver differed among the dietary interventions. However, the KD significantly reduced liver PCSK9 content and expression in comparison other diets, suggesting that the KD enhanced clearance of circulating cholesterol by the liver. To test whether there was a higher amount of LDLr on the membrane compared to the cytoplasm, the ratio of LDLr distribution between these compartments was measured. Importantly, there was an upward trend in the levels of LDLr on the membrane. In conclusion, the KD altered key steps that regulate hepatic cholesterol metabolism and prevented plasma cholesterol levels from increasing, despite its elevated saturated fat content.
Open Access
Investigating The Effect Of Chronic Muscle Use And Disuse On Innate Immune Signaling In Skeletal Muscle
(2025-04-10) Khemraj, Priyanka; Hood, David
Skeletal muscle health is highly dependent on the intricate mitochondrial reticulum that exhibits high levels of adaptability. It is now recognized that mitochondrial perturbations can activate innate immune pathways, such as the NLRP3 inflammasome complex, by augmenting the response against damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The objective of this study was to investigate how various metabolic conditions affect innate immune activation and mitochondrial health within skeletal muscle, which has not been fully elucidated. To investigate this, we assessed innate immune signaling pathways and mitochondrial parameters within a model of muscle denervation and an aging model combined with endurance training. Our results suggest that NLRP3 inflammasome signaling is responsive to alterations in skeletal muscle activity and can be attenuated with chronic endurance training. Furthermore, we highlight a differential response to exercise with aged muscle in innate immune signaling. This work aims to further the understanding of innate immune signaling pathways within skeletal muscle, which can potentially highlight therapeutic targets to regulate its activation under divergent metabolic conditions.
Open Access
Investigating The Association Between Objectively Measured Physical Activity, Trunk Endurance, And Previous Low Back Injury
(2025-04-10) Ilunga, Placide Kalala; Drake, Janessa
The goal of this study was to explore the relationship between physical activity, trunk muscle endurance, and low back pain (LBP) in an undergraduate student population. Using triaxial accelerometers and standardized endurance tests, physical activity and trunk muscle endurance were objectively measured and the results compared between the control and LBP groups. Findings indicated that while the control group generally showed higher physical activity levels, only two of fifteen variables—maximum METs and percent time in vigorous physical activity—were statistically significant. Trunk muscle endurance was higher in the control group, but a ceiling effect in the trunk endurance tests limited the ability to discover the real differences between participants. The expected correlation between physical activity and trunk muscle endurance could not be confirmed due to these limitations. This research contributes to improving the understanding of physical activity, trunk endurance, and LBP among undergraduate students.
Open Access
Black Feminist Geographies Of Harm Reduction: Race, Space & The Embodied Consequences Of Drug Use In Southern Ontario, Canada
(2025-04-10) Hassan, Lensa Said; De Lisio, Amanda
With the dramatic rise in overdose deaths, harm reduction strategies are urgently needed. Limited studies centre Black women and gender-diverse people (BWGDP) and their critical insights regarding harm reduction and drug-related care. This is especially important because in Canada drug criminalization repeatedly and disproportionately subject BWGDP to heightened violence. Using Southern Ontario as a research site, I examine the impact of the current policies and legislation that inform harm reduction services in relation to the unique and complex realities of BWDGP. This research is theoretically informed by the work of Black Feminist Geographies and involved the careful analysis relevant policies, semi-structured interview, and photo data to understand the living geographies of harm reduction and embodied resistance practices of BWGDP who use drugs. I argue for solutions to the state-funded harm reduction strategies that target the systems and sources of violence, in lieu of the bodies that stand in place.
Open Access
Ethnic Variations In Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors- Implication For Prevalent CVD And CVD Mortality
(2025-04-10) Cheung, Queenie Yung Xun; Kuk, Jennifer
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a prevalent global health concern, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality rates. While ethnicity itself is not a direct cause of CVD, certain ethnic groups exhibit a higher prevalence and susceptibility to cardiovascular conditions, stemming from a blend of genetic, environmental, and socio-cultural determinants of health. Recognizing these disparities is pivotal for the development of targeted interventions and policies aimed at reducing health inequalities and fostering health equity. This study employed data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2011 to 2020 to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of the ethnic differences in how CVD risk factors relate with prevalent CVD and CVD mortality. Exploring differences in CVD risk factors between diverse ethnic groups holds the potential to address disparities in healthcare, enhance risk assessment, and optimize treatment strategies through precisely targeted preventive interventions for ethnic minorities.
Open Access
Effects Of Sustained Release Somatostatin Type 2 Antagonism On Glucagon Counterregulation And Glycemia In Type 2 Diabetic Rate Model
(2025-04-10) Aleali, Nadia; Riddell, Michael C.
This thesis examined whether a novel somatostatin receptor 2 antagonist (SSTR2a), ZT-01, could enhance endogenous glucagon secretion and protect against hypoglycemia in a rat model of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Male Sprague Dawley rats were placed on a high-fat diet and injected with streptozotocin to induce T2D. The rats were then chronically treated with varying doses of ZT-01 or vehicle using implanted mini-osmotic pumps. While ZT-01 did not significantly affect basal glucose levels or oral glucose tolerance, it tended to increase baseline glucagon levels and the glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia, though the effects were small. Overall, sustained exposure to SSTR2a modestly improved the glucose and glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in this T2D model, suggesting the potential for this approach to prevent hypoglycemia in insulin-requiring T2D.
Open Access
Characterizing The Role Of Sulforaphane In Mitochondrial Function And Content In Skeletal Muscle Cells
(2024-11-07) Champsi, Sabrina; Hood, David
A healthy mitochondrial reticulum is critical for the maintenance of skeletal muscle. Preservation of the pre-existing pool through the antioxidant response and synthesis of new mitochondria (biogenesis) ensures the quality and quantity of mitochondria is sustained. Exercise has been established an effective intervention to enhance the mitochondrial phenotype, since it elicits metabolic alterations which drive these quality control processes. To evaluate if a pharmaceutical intervention may be able to mimic or enhance exercise induced-mitochondrial adaptations, the compound sulforaphane (SFN) was examined. SFN has been reported as a potent activator of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) signaling cascade which enhances the expression of antioxidant and cytoprotective-related genes. Although activation of this signaling cascade has proven to be beneficial, its relevance to mitochondria has not been fully understood. To investigate this, SFN was combined with an in vitro model of “exercise” and mitochondrial parameters were examined. Our results suggests that SFN activates pathways that elicit exercise-induced mitochondrial adaptations.
Open Access
The Influence of Oral Contraceptives on the Autonomic Nervous System
(2024-11-07) Pereira, Tania De Jesus; Edgell, Heather
This thesis aims to determine the effects of oral contraceptives (OC) on resting autonomic function, autonomic reflex activation, and cerebral blood flow (CBF). The first study systematically reviewed the effects of OC on any aspect of autonomic function. A search strategy was applied to several databases, and 6,148 citations were retrieved. Forty studies were included and grouped by measurement of autonomic function investigated. Physiological responses to isolated reflex activation (i.e., the chemoreflex, mechanoreflex and metaboreflex) were influenced by OC; however, the effect of OC on resting autonomic indices and response to autonomic stressors was less consistent. These inconsistencies may be caused by hormone dosage within OC formulations or stressor intensity. The second study investigated the influence of OC on the cardiorespiratory response to metabo- and mechanoreflex activation in the arm and leg. Two minutes of isometric handgrip or plantarflexion exercise-induced similar increases in blood pressure (BP) and ventilation (VE) in both OC and non-OC users (NOC). While both exercise modalities increased VE, neither OC nor NOC exhibited a sustained increase in VE during 3 minutes of arm or leg post-exercise circulatory occlusion. All women increased BP and VE during 3 minutes of arm or leg passive movement. Considering that all women had a cardiorespiratory response to mechanoreflex but not metaboreflex activation, we suggest that the mechanoreflex may drive VE during exercise in women. The final study investigated the influence of OC and the menstrual cycle on CBF and cerebral autoregulation (CA) during 5 minutes of hypercapnia (5%). Regardless of menstrual or pill phase, all women improved high frequency and very low frequency dynamic CA (dCA) during hypercapnia, although low frequency dCA decreased in the high hormone phase of NOC and the low hormone phase of the pill cycle. During hypercapnia, the presence of endogenous hormones attenuated dCA, while the chronic use of exogenous hormones (i.e., OC) chronically attenuated dCA (i.e., when hormones were not present). The findings of this thesis shed light on the complex influence of OC on autonomic function, CBF and different physiological stressors, emphasizing the need for further research to fully elucidate its impact. There is a further need to control for menstrual cycle, OC formulation, dose, progestin generation and/or type when studying factors affecting autonomic physiology.
Open Access
An Exploration of Stress Reactivity and Mindfulness Meditation in Individuals with Migraine Utilizing Heart Rate Variability
(2024-11-07) Mohabir, Vinashini Saraswatty Devi; Ritvo, Paul G.
Headaches are associated with autonomic nervous system imbalance reflected in heart rate variability (HRV). Mindfulness Meditation (MM) is an evidence-based tool for regulating HRV. Previous literature has examined HRV changes in those with headache disorders after cognitive stress induction. These studies have found there were significant increases in HRV after stress induction in those that practiced MM. The current study examined HRV changes in migraineurs. Participants (N=26) were randomly assigned to a 10-minute recovery condition involving guided MM Practice (N=13) or listening to a description of MM (N=13) following cognitive stress induction. A between-subjects repeated measures MANOVA found a significant difference in HF-HRV over time that varied based on the meditation condition. There was also a significant change in respiratory rate over time regardless of condition. Additional research should be completed with migraineurs to understand ANS activity in migraine and the mechanisms of MM in this population
Open Access
Addictive Tendencies Towards Food: A Multi-Method Analysis of ‘Food Addiction’ and Related Psychopathologies
(2024-11-07) Bonder, Revi; Davis, Caroline
This dissertation comprises two sequential multi-method studies: a quantitative followed by a qualitative study. The primary aim of the first study was to confirm our previous research examining compulsive grazing in a clinical population with obesity and a higher prevalence and severity of food addiction (FA). Moderating effects of weight and sex on the severity and frequency of FA were also explored. Adults with obesity (aged 20 to 50 years) were recruited from a weight-management clinic (n=437). Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing various eating behaviours and related personality measures. Multiple and logistic regression modelling were used with the Yale Food Addiction Scale symptom count and diagnosis as the dependent variables, respectively. A chi-square test of independence and an analysis of variance were used to determine sex differences. Compulsive grazing was a significant factor in FA diagnosis and symptom severity, confirming previous findings. Females from a weight-management clinic sample were more likely to receive an FA diagnosis than females from the general population. The purpose of the second study was three-fold: 1) to explore perceptions of compulsive grazing in individuals with overweight and obesity; 2) to understand where compulsive grazing fits within the spectrum of overeating, particularly in relation to FA; and 3) to assess if the FA concept reflects participants’ experiences. Females (n=34) from the first study were recruited and interviewed virtually using semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. A flexible coding system was developed, which led to a final list of three categories. Notably, findings indicated varied eating behaviours among those with FA (binge eating, compulsive grazing, or a combination of both). Accordingly, a new conceptualization of FA was proposed. Lastly, participants identified bariatric surgery and pharmacologic treatments as effective for managing cravings and compulsive eating. Overall, this dissertation provided a holistic understanding of FA and its associated behaviors. This dissertation contributes to the increasing recognition of FA as a genuine substance-use disorder, which can hopefully have an impact on public health by reducing obesity stigma and enhancing treatment access for individuals with FA.
Open Access
The effects of learning schedules and external visual information on implicit sensorimotor adaptation of upper limb movements.
(2024-11-07) Modchalingam, Shanaathanan; Henriques, Denise
Implicit motor adaptation is vital for maintaining accurate movements when faced with changes in the environment or our own bodies. Using both simple and complex motor tasks, this dissertation investigates the limits of implicit adaptation in upper-limb motor adaptation, and its sensitivity to visual context cues. We first demonstrate that the extent of implicit adaptation depends on how motor errors are introduced during a training paradigm. We find the largest extents of implicit adaptation when participants can adapt to small but noticeable motor errors before experiencing further perturbations to their movements. This method of error introduction led to significantly larger adaptation compared to both abruptly introducing large errors or introducing small errors in a ramped manner. Next, we determined that when adapting to opposing perturbations simultaneously, task-relevant object-shape cues that predict the presence of a given perturbation are insufficient to consistently trigger the formation of object-specific motor memories. Finally, we show that when perturbations can plausibly assign the source of errors to environment causes, context-dependent motor learning can readily occur. Overall, this dissertation highlights the adaptability of implicit motor learning, emphasizing the need to consider perturbation methods, contextual influences, and task complexity when designing effective motor learning paradigms.
Open Access
Effects Of Cold-Water Immersion On Post-Exercise Skeletal Muscle Recovery Following Sprint-Interval Exercise
(2024-10-28) Richards, Andrew Jason; Cheng, Arthur
Cold-water immersion has emerged as a popular post-exercise recovery intervention for athletes and avid exercisers. However, little evidence exists to support its widespread use, especially following high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Therefore, to investigate the use of CWI following HIIE, 12 participants participated in a randomized cross-over study involving repeated all-out contractions of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles followed by CWI or room temperature rest (RT). During a 24-h recovery period, neuromuscular function, intramuscular temperature, and next-day HIIE were performed. The results of the study showed that CWI impaired maximal tetanic force for up to 3-h, whereas immediate recovery occurred following RT. In addition, there was no difference in next-day HIIE performance between the two recovery interventions. Thus, CWI offers no substantial benefit as an effective post-exercise recovery intervention following HIIE.
Open Access
Effects of Manipulating Optic Flow Gain on Dynamic Postural Control During Continuous Support Surface Translations
(2024-07-18) Laurenza, Daniel Alon; Cleworth, Taylor
Human postural control involves interactions between visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems to maintain upright stance. Quiet stance assesses posture when participants are standing still, and dynamic postural control has been assessed through use of moveable support surfaces. Limited work utilizes VR-induced optic flow with continuous platform translations to examine balance. SS oscillations perturbed participants in the A-P direction. Kinetic and kinematic information was quantified into center-of-pressure, center-of-mass, and joint and segment angles. We observed that as gain values increased, participants experienced a relative decrease in sway amplitude, and increases in both sway frequency and velocity, reflecting a tighter regulation of stance with greater visual information. These changes were generally more evident in the second minute of trials. By further examining dynamic postural control and its relationship with optic flow through VR, this thesis demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing visual information to impact postural behaviours in young, healthy adults.
Open Access
Are We Oppressed or Liberated or Both? A Case Study of Persian Women Medical Doctors in Ontario
(2024-07-18) Fouladirad, Tanaz; Nakamura, Yuka
This study focuses on Persian women medical doctors and their lived experiences of immigrating to and settling in Canada, with particular focus on how they came to work as medical doctors in Ontario, and how these experiences shaped their gendered and racialized identities. Drawing on post-colonial feminist theory, this thesis entails a case study, where data were collected through (1) semi-structured interviews with Persian women medical doctors and (2) textual analysis of Canada’s Immigration and Citizenship website and documents pertaining to professional accreditation and credentialling. The findings illustrate the study participants were able to successfully immigrate to Canada via the points system because of their education, training as medical doctors, and English language skills, having been educated in English. However, upon arrival, these same resources constrained settlement. In response, the women in this study exercised their agency and resisted stereotypes of being docile, submissive, and complacent Muslim women.