1135 Lab ideas
Stretching
Murray, See below for 3 different tests.
1. Sit and Reach test for stretching. You can build one of these boxes w/
carboard and a rule. You can examine the the impact of various
strecthing/warm up protocols on flexibility.
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/sit&reach.htm
Sit and Reach Test
Sit and Reach flexibility testThis test measures the flexibility of the
lower back and hamstring muscles. This following describes the procedures as
used in the President's Challenge Fitness Awards.
*
equipment required: sit and reach box (or alternatively a ruler can be
used, and held between the feet)
*
description / procedure: This test involves sitting on the floor with
legs out straight ahead. Feet (shoes off) are placed with the soles flat
against the box, shoulder-width apart. Both knees are held flat against the
floor by the tester. With hands on top of each other and palms facing down,
the subject reaches forward along the measuring line as far as possible.
After three practice reaches, the fourth reach is held for at least two
seconds while the distance is recorded. Make sure there is no jerky
movements, and that the fingertips remain level and the legs flat.
2. An easy one is the margaria power test that one can perform with stairs
and a stop watch.
*
purpose: this is a classic test of power of the lower extremities.
*
equipment required: stopwatch, timing mats (optional), tape measure,
flight of 12 steps with a starting line of 6 meters in front of the first
step. Each step is approximately 17.5 cm high with the 3rd, 6th and 9th step
clearly marked. The vertical distance between the 3rd and 9th step must be
accurately measured for use in the results formula.
*
description / procedure: The athlete's weight is determined in
kilograms. The athlete is given a few practice runs up the steps to warm up.
The athlete stands ready at the starting line 6 meters in front of the first
step. On the command "Go", the athlete sprints to and up the flight
of
steps, taking three steps at a time (stepping on the 3rd, 6th and 9th
steps), attempting to go up the steps as fast as possible. The time to get
from the 3rd step to the 9th step is recorded (either using a stopwatch or
using switch mats placed on the 3rd and 9th steps), starting when the foot
was in first in contact with the 3rd step, and stopped when the foot
contacts the 9th step. Allow three trials of the test, with 2-3 minutes
recovery between each trial.
*
scoring: Power (Watts) is calculated from the formula below, where P =
Power (Watts), M = Body mass (kg), D = Vertical distance, between steps 3 &
9 (meters), t = Time (seconds). 9.8 is the constant of gravity:
P = ( M x D ) x 9.8 / t
*
disadvantages: the ability to successfully conduct this test requires
the availability of steps of the appropriate height and with a clear run up
area.
*
reliability: the accuracy of this test will be reduced if a stopwatch
is used instead of timing mats for measurement of the time. If using a
stopwatch, you should have two people record simultaneously and use the
average of the two measurements. It is also important to give the subjects
adequate practice so that they can confidently run up the stairs with
maximum effort.
*
comments: The test described here was introduced by Kalamen (1968),
and is a variation of the original Margaria Step Test developed by Margaria
et al. (1966).
*
references:
o Margaria, R., Aghemo, P. and Rovelli, E. (1966) Measurement of
muscular power (anaerobic) in man. Journal of Applied Physiology 221,
1662-1664.
o Kalamen, J. (1968) Measurement of maximum muscular power in man.
Doctoral thesis, Ohio State University
3. Daily activity level w/ a pedometers. Okay these cost about $20 each but
they can be very helping in getting students to collect data on daily
activity levels. M vs F. Frosh vs senior. Faculty vs students. Etc.
Good luck hope this helps.
Terry Favero
----
Hi Murray,
sorry for the delay in response..i get busy and tend to ignore my email. I understand completely the no finace thing...I do a somewhat dated but useful lab that drives home BP and cardiac output. You don't need much..but you do need a BP cuff or such. Details below. Our classrooom is 6 flights up - so I often make my students run up the stairs as fast as possible during my lecture about cell respiration..drives home a few concepts - lactic acid for one, and later oxygen debt, and muscle fatigue. I also make them run down as fast as possible a few days before we discuss the concept of delayed onset muscle soreness. Some spirometry materials are fairly cheap these days - and sometimes reps will send out samples. You might look into some of the older texts for ideas..McArdle and Katch, Katch or Stuart Fox were popular when I was a exc.phys. student.
I looked online briefly and Mcgill has an interesting online tutorial - might
be of help:
http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/physio/vlab/exercise/vlabmenuexercise.htm
also - keep in mind that some of the equipment in the fitness center (is there one at your school?) may be able to keep track of mets and energy expenditure - it may not be 100% on target, but should be ok for academic exercises.
Here's the lab i do on cardiac output: it is extremely portable:
Students partner up.
1. take resting heart rate: measure pulse; record BPM
2. take resting BP (this can be awkward if using a cuff - but my students
need to learn how to use a cuff): record resting
systolic and diastolic pressures
3. calculate resting pulse pressure: systolic - diastolic
4. estimate stroke volume: pulse pressure x 1.7 : report in ml
5. estimate cardiac output: BPM x Stroke Volume; report in ml.
Now have one partner exercise vigorously (interpretation of this is often
highly variable - so again I suggest the stairs) -
then repeat all measures above.
Then have second partner do the same thing.
I find the BP cuff inexperience makes this a little frustrating as pulse and BP drop pretty quickly during recovery - so fumbling around tends to interfere.
I hope this helps a bit - EH
----- Original Message -----
From: Murray Jensen <msjensen@umn.edu>
Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 4:31 pm
Subject: Murray Jensen -- Looking for an exercise physiologist
To: eh403@nyu.edu
> Elizabeth
>
>
> Thanks for your reply to my call for exercise physiologists.
>
> I teach a freshman level, non-majors, anatomy and physiology course.
> Last
> year I had the pleasure of working with a graduate student from our
> kinesiology department. She wrote up a great lab on VO2 maximum – our
> students love it. Along with the lab, we developed a database for students
> to record data. Along with VO2 max, we record percent body fat, BMI,
> and a
> few others. (We use the data in a graphing project later in the semester.)
> Now I’m hooked on exercise physiology, but I don’t have anyone
around
> with
> experience. (We lost funding for our graduate student.)
>
> Here is my question:
> With both “non majors” and “freshman level” mind,
can you recommend any
> exercise physiology activities that we could use in our lab? More
> specifically, I’m looking for tests/events where students can collect
> performance data (preferably on themselves or other students), and use
> simple equipment like a BMI tester.
>
> The activities can not involve expensive equipment (treadmills, computer
> peripherals, etc.) because we do not have any money.
>
> Murray Jensen
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 10/7/08 10:02 AM, "Elizabeth Harper" <eh403@nyu.edu> wrote:
>
> > Murray,
> >
> > I too am a traind exercise physiologist - with what do you need
help?
> > -Elizabeth
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Emerick, Paul (Biology)" <pemerick@monroecc.edu>
> > Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008 10:43 am
> > Subject: RE: [HAPS-L] Murray Jensen -- Looking for an exercise physiologist
> > To: HAPS-L@hapsweb.org
> >
> >
> >> Murray
> >>
> >> I am trained as an exercise physiologist and i would be
> interested in
> >> hearing more about what you have to say about this opportunity!
> >>
> >> Paul
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: HAPS-L-owner@hapsweb.org on behalf of Murray Jensen
> >> Sent: Fri 10/3/2008 3:40 PM
> >> To: HAPS-L@hapsweb.org
> >> Subject: [HAPS-L] Murray Jensen -- Looking for an exercise
physiologist
> >>
> >> HAPSTERS
> >>
> >> Are there any exercise physiologist out there who have an
> interest or
> >> specialization in science education?
> >>
> >> More specifically:
> >>
> >> I’m putting together a grant that involves high school
students
> >> (juniors or
> >> seniors in an anatomy and physiology course), exercise
> physiology, and
> >> topics in the nature of science, e.g., data collection, research
> design,
> >> etc.
> >>
> >> Thanks for the help.