PDF herunterladen
Int J Sports Med 2016; 37(11): 890-897
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-109067
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Profiling Sprint Mechanics by Leg Preference and Position in Rugby Union Athletes

S. R. Brown
1   Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
,
M. Brughelli
1   Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
,
M. R. Cross
1   Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf



accepted after revision 12. Mai 2016

Publikationsdatum:
13. Juli 2016 (online)

Auch verfügbar auf
    Lizenzen und Reprints

Abstract

Lower-extremity power characteristics are central to performance in rugby. However little is known regarding the effects of leg preference and playing position on sprint mechanics. The purpose of this study was to profile sprint kinetics and kinematics in rugby union athletes and compare between legs and between positions. Thirty male academy-level rugby union athletes, separated into forwards (n=15) and backs (n=15), participated in this cross-sectional analysis. Non-motorised treadmill ergometry was used to evaluate peak relative vertical (FV) and horizontal (FH) force and peak relative power (Pmax) of the preferred and non-preferred legs during maximal sprinting. The non-preferred leg of the forwards produced less FV, FH and Pmax than the preferred leg during acceleration (ES=−0.32, − 0.58 and − 0.67) and maximal velocity (ES=− 0.50, − 0.65 and − 0.60). Backs produced more FV, FH and Pmax than the forwards during initial acceleration (ES=0.51, 1.58 and 1.30) but less at maximal velocity (ES=− 0.74, −0.79 and − 0.81). Backs had faster split times at 2, 5, 10 and 15 m (ES=−1.03, −0.82, −0.63 and −0.50) but slower times at 35 and 40 m (ES=0.78 and 1.10) compared with forwards. Forwards produced larger sprint kinetics compared with backs, but also larger lower-extremity imbalances; potentially reducing sprint efficiency and/or increasing injury risk.

Key word

Woodway - non-motorised treadmill - acceleration - maximal velocity - asymmetry - injury risk
 

  • References

  • 1 Austin D, Gabbett T, Jenkins D. The physical demands of Super 14 rugby union. J Sci Med Sport 2011; 14: 259-263
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Brooks JHM, Fuller CW, Kemp SPT, Reddin DB. Epidemiology of injuries in English professional rugby union: part 1 match injuries. Br J Sports Med 2005; 39: 757-766
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Brooks JHM, Fuller CW, Kemp SPT, Reddin DB. Epidemiology of injuries in English professional rugby union: part 2 training injuries. Br J Sports Med 2005; 39: 767-775
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Brown SR, Brughelli M. Assessment strategies for individualised injury prevention in sport. N Z J Sports Med 2014; 41: 78-79
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Brown SR, Brughelli M. Determining return-to-sport status with a multi-component assessment strategy: a case study in rugby. Phys Ther Sport 2014; 15: 211-215
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Brown SR, Brughelli M, Bridgeman LA. Profiling isokinetic strength by leg preference and position in rugby union athletes. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2016 11. 500-507
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Brown SR, Brughelli M, Griffiths PC, Cronin JB. Lower-extremity isokinetic strength profiling in professional rugby league and rugby union. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2014; 9: 358-361
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Brown SR, Brughelli M, Hume PA, King D, Gill N, Craighead H, Kara S. Multi-disciplinary perspectives on the use of lower-extremity injury assessments for a rugby player’s return-to-play. N Z J Sports Med 2014; 41: 30
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Brown SR, Wang H, Dickin DC, Weiss KJ. The relationship between leg preference and knee mechanics during sidestepping in collegiate female footballers. Sports Biomech 2014; 13: 351-361
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Brughelli M, Cronin J, Mendiguchia J, Kinsella D, Nosaka K. Contralateral leg deficits in kinetic and kinematic variables during running in Australian rules football players with previous hamstring injuries. J Strength Cond Res 2010; 24: 2539-2544
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Brughelli M, Nosaka K, Cronin J. Application of eccentric exercise on an Australian rules football player with recurrent hamstring injuries. Phys Ther Sport 2009; 10: 75-80
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Cavanagh PR, Pollock ML, Landa J. A biomechanical comparison of elite and good distance runners. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1977; 301: 328-345
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Cross MR, Brughelli M, Brown SR, Samozino P, Gill ND, Cronin JB, Morin JB. Mechanical properties of sprinting in elite rugby union and rugby league. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2015; 10: 695-702
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Cross MR, Brughelli ME, Cronin JB. Effects of vest loading on sprint kinetics and kinematics. J Strength Cond Res 2014; 28: 1867-1874
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Cunniffe B, Proctor W, Baker J, Davies B. An evaluation of the physiological demands of elite rugby union using global positioning system tracking software. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 1195-1203
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 de Lacey J, Brughelli ME, McGuigan MR, Hansen KT. Strength, speed and power characteristics of elite rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 2014; 28: 2372-2375
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Flanagan EP, Harrison AJ. Muscle dynamics differences between legs in healthy adults. J Strength Cond Res 2007; 21: 67-72
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Gabbett T. Physiological and anthropometric characteristics of elite women rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 2007; 21: 875-881
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Gabbett TJ. A comparison of physiological and anthropometric characteristics among playing positions in junior rugby league players. Br J Sports Med 2005; 39: 675-680
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Gabbett TJ. A comparison of physiological and anthropometric characteristics among playing positions in sub-elite rugby league players. J Sports Sci 2006; 24: 1273-1280
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2016 update. Int J Sports Med. 2015 36. 1121-1124
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Highton JM, Lamb KL, Twist C, Nicholas C. The reliability and validity of short-distance sprint performance assessed on a nonmotorized treadmill. J Strength Cond Res 2012; 26: 458-465
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM, Hanin J. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 3-12
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 King T, Jenkins D, Gabbett T. A time-motion analysis of professional rugby league match-play. J Sports Sci 2009; 27: 213-219
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Lakomy HKA. The use of a non-motorized treadmill for analysing sprint performance. Ergonomics 1987; 30: 627-637
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Mann RV, Murphy A. The Mechanics of Sprinting and Hurdling. 2015 ed. USA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2015
    Google Scholar
  • 27 Mendiguchia J, Brughelli M. A return-to-sport algorithm for acute hamstring injuries. Phys Ther Sport 2011; 12: 2-14
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Mendiguchia J, Samozino P, Martinez-Ruiz E, Brughelli M, Schmikli S, Morin JB, Mendez-Villanueva A. Progression of mechanical properties during on-field sprint running after returning to sports from a hamstring muscle injury in soccer players. Int J Sports Med 2014; 35: 690-695
    Artikel in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Morin JB, Bourdin M, Edouard P, Peyrot N, Samozino P, Lacour J-R. Mechanical determinants of 100-m sprint running performance. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012; 112: 3921-3930
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Morin JB, Gimenez P, Edouard P, Arnal P, Jiménez-Reyes P, Samozino P, Brughelli M, Mendiguchia J. Sprint acceleration mechanics: the major role of hamstrings in horizontal force production. Front Physiol 2015; 6: 1-14
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Morin JB, Sève P. Sprint running performance: comparison between treadmill and field conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 1695-1703
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Nuzzo R. Statistical errors. Nature 2014; 506: 150-152
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Quarrie KL, Hopkins WG, Anthony MJ, Gill ND. Positional demands of international rugby union: evaluation of player actions and movements. J Sci Med Sport 2013; 16: 353-359
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Quarrie KL, Wilson BD. Force production in the rugby union scrum. J Sports Sci 2000; 18: 237-246
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Rabita G, Dorel S, Slawinski J, Saez de Villarreal E, Couturier A, Samozino P, Morin JB. Sprint mechanics in world-class athletes: a new insight into the limits of human locomotion. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2015; 25: 583-594
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Samozino P, Rabita G, Dorel S, Slawinski J, Peyrot N, Saez de Villarreal E, Morin JB. A simple method for measuring power, force, velocity properties, and mechanical effectiveness in sprint running. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2015; 26: 648-658
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Simperingham KD, Cronin JB, Ross A. Advances in sprint acceleration profiling for field-based team-sport athletes: utility, reliability, validity and limitations. Sports Med 2016; DOI: 10.1007/s40279-016-0508-y.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Sterne JAC, Smith GD. Sifting the evidence-what's wrong with significance tests?. Br Med J 2001; 322: 226-231
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar