Author: Heidi Bell

Research Topic / Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of a four-week intervention consisting of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) and static stretching of the trapezius and hamstring muscles on tongue strength and endurance, muscle flexibility, and perceived muscle tension in healthy young adults.

Procedures: Participants will complete two testing sessions (pre and post), 4-weeks apart, assessing tongue muscle strength and endurance using the IOPI device, Neck and Hamstring flexibility using ROM assessments, Muscle tension using a Perceived Muscle Tension Questionnaire (PMTQ).

Time: Participation will include two, ~60 minutes testing sessions (pre/post).

• Treatment Group: Will also include two in-person intervention sessions per week and one at-home stretching session per week, for four weeks. (~30-minutes per session)
• Control Group: Should maintain normal activity throughout the study and no intervention required.

Inclusion criteria:

• Participants must be aged 18-30 years
• No history of tongue / recent oral surgery (except tooth extraction over six months ago)
• No known neurological disorder or TMJ dysfunction
• Not currently in a physical therapy or rehab program
• Not under the influence of illicit drugs or alcohol

Location: 210 Heskett Center, Human Performance Laboratory

Sign-up: If you are interested in volunteering for this study, contact Vindhya Sayam at vxsayam@shockers.wichita.edu or 316-768-9866.

Should you have any questions or concerns, contact Dr. Heidi Bell at heidi.bell@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5150

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of a four-week intervention consisting of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) and static stretching of the trapezius and hamstring muscles on tongue strength and endurance, muscle flexibility, and perceived muscle tension in healthy young adults.

Participants will complete two testing sessions (pre and post), four weeks apart, assessing tongue muscle strength and endurance using the IOPI device, neck and hamstring flexibility using ROM assessments, and muscle tension using a Perceived Muscle Tension Questionnaire (PMTQ).

Participation will include two testing sessions, pre and post, for about 60 minutes each.

• The treatment group will include two in-person intervention sessions per week and one at-home stretching session per week for four weeks at about 30 minutes per session.
• The control group should maintain normal activity throughout the study, and no intervention is required.

Inclusion criteria:

• Participants must be 18-30 years old.
• No history of tongue or recent oral surgery (except tooth extraction >6 months ago)
• No known neurological disorder or TMJ dysfunction
• Not currently in a physical therapy or rehab program
• Not under the influence of illicit drugs or alcohol

Location: Wichita State University, Human Performance Laboratory (HPL), 210 Heskett Center

If you are interested in volunteering for this study, contact Vindhya Sayam at vxsayam@shockers.wichita.edu or 316-768-9866.

Should you have any questions or concerns, contact: Dr. Heidi Bell at heidi.bell@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5150.

Research topic/purpose for the study: To assess what muscle(s) or muscle groups activate and respond in different position settings (i.e., Power Climb, Power Stairs, Power Sled) while engaging in physical activity on the Challenger.

Procedures: Participants will perform physical activity (e.g., movement of arms and/or legs through a full range of motion) in different body position settings on Challenger, a new fitness device. During the assessment, you will be fitted with Electromyography (EMG) electrodes to record muscle response and muscle activity during movement on the device. Heart rate, blood pressure, muscle oxygen saturation and Rate of Perceived Exertion will also be measured. Physical activity in each body position setting will last at least two minutes and no more than 15 minutes while maintaining a heart rate between 60-75% estimated heart rate max.

Time: Participation is expected to last about 45 minutes.

Inclusion/exclusion criteria:

• Participants must be age 18 or older
• No known neuromuscular, orthopedic disorder that may negatively impact body movement
• No known cardiorespiratory or metabolic health condition(s)
• No history of previous or current injuries that would impair movement

Location: Wichita State University, Human Performance Laboratory, 210 Heskett Center.

Contact: If you are interested in participating in this study, schedule a time to participate.

Should you have any questions or concerns, email Dr. Heidi Bell at heidi.bell@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5150.

Purpose of the study: To establish reverse number counting and Cued Stroop normative performance values when using the Sway mobile application.

Procedures: Participants reaction time and cognitive function will be tested using the Sway application on a mobile device.

Time: Participation is a one-time commitment lasting approximately 15-20 minutes.

Inclusion criteria:

• Participants must be age 18 or older
• No known neurological condition that could trigger a seizure in the presence of rapidly changing visual cues on an electronic device
• No seizure in the past six months
• No two seizures in the past 12 months
• No concussion or TBI in past 12 months
• No uncorrected vision
• Not under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Location: Quiet space of convenience for participant on the Wichita State main campus or Human Performance Laboratory, 210 Heskett Center.

Contact: If you are interested in participating, schedule a time to participate or contact Sydnie Strong at sastrong@shockers.wichita.edu

Should you have any questions or concerns, email Dr. Heidi Bell at heidi.bell@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5150.

Students, staff, faculty and industry partners are invited to attend the seminar, “Hidden Science in Engineering Materials,” hosted by the National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR) and the College of Engineering. The seminar will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 24 in 110A Woolsey Hall.

The speakers include Dr. James C. Ho, researcher and retired professor; Dr. Ramazan Asmatulu, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering; and Rachael Andrulonis, director of advanced materials research at NIAR. Dr. Ho will present, “What does low-temperature calorimetry tell us about high-strength Al-Li, Ti-(V, Mo)-Al, and magnetic element-containing materials?;” while Dr. Asmatulu will present, “Failure Mechanism of Fiber Reinforced Composites for Aviation;” and Andrulonis will present, “Qualification of Additively Manufactured Metals.”

Judges are needed to assist with the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) poster presentations. There will be no oral presentation competition, only poster presentations. The 2025 URCAF will be held April 25 in the Woolsey Hall atrium.

Study purpose: To determine differences in an individual’s body image perception and changes in physical activity level following a DEXA assessment.

Procedures: Participants will wear a Garmin smartwatch for six weeks and download two mobile apps (LabFront and Garmin) on their personal mobile device to track biometric data. Surveys assessing perceived body image and physical activity will be completed four times throughout the six-week study.

Duration: Study is six weeks long. See below for the four key sessions.

• Initial session (week one): In-person; first survey; fit Garmin watch; 45 minutes.
• Second session (week two): In-person; second survey after DEXA scan; 45 minutes.
• Third session (week four): Remote; third survey link will be emailed to participant.
• Final session (Week six): In-person; return equipment; final survey; 45 minutes.

Inclusion/exclusion criteria:

• Participants must be 18-30 years old.
• No known psychological or eating disorders
• No known medical conditions significantly limiting physical activity
• No current use of medications affecting metabolism or body composition
• Not under the influence of illicit drugs or alcohol
• Those who are pregnant, attempting to conceive or breast feeding will be ineligible.

Location: Wichita State, Human Performance Laboratory (HPL), 210 Heskett Center

Contact:

• If you are interested in participating in this study, contact Dave del Mar at dsdelmar@shockers.wichita.edu.
• For any questions or concerns, contact Dr. Heidi Bell at heidi.bell@wichita.edu.

Join the Department of Human Performance Studies for a chili cookoff from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 in the lobby of the Heskett Center. Bring a non-perishable food item for $2 for a local food bank.

For questions, contact Stacy Johnson, administrative assistant in the Department of Human Performances Studies, at stacy.johnson@wichita.edu.

The 2024 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) is seeking faculty, staff and community volunteers to judge during the poster session from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 12 in the Rhatigan Student Center.

The URCAF Committee is counting on volunteers to serve as judges. This is an opportunity to engage with undergraduate Shockers and learn about the exciting research students are engaging in across campus.

Research Topic/Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study is to determine whether pre and post tongue muscle performance measures differ following a six-week stretching protocol of skeletal muscles.

Procedures: Participants will complete two testing sessions (pre and post), six weeks apart, assessing tongue strength and endurance using the IOPI device and assessing flexibility using the DARI MotionCapture system.

Time: Participation will include two, 45 minute-one hour testing sessions (pre/post).

• Stretching group: will also include self-conducted stretching sessions three times per week for six weeks.
• Control group: will maintain current activity level throughout the study.

Inclusion criteria:

• Participants must be age 18 or older
• Currently not engaged in moderate to high-intensity exercise four+ days per week
• No known neurological disorder or recent oral surgery
• No known muscular, orthopedic or functional movement disorder
• Not under the influence of illicit drugs or alcohol

Location: 210 Heskett Center, Human Performance Laboratory

Sign-up: Those interested in volunteering for the study can schedule a time online.

For any questions or concerns, contact Jennifer Fernandez at jxfernandez2@shockers.wichita.edu, Zainab Khan at zfkhan@shockers.wichita.edu or Dr. Heidi Bell at heidi.bell@wichita.edu, or call 316.978.5150.