Specific tackling situations affect the biomechanical demands experienced by rugby union players

Seminati, Elena; Cazzola, Dario; Preatoni, Ezio; Trewartha, Grant

doi:10.1080/14763141.2016.1194453

Cited by 36 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…Although results from lab-based studies may have limited applicability to match situations due to its controlled nature, studying the tackle in the lab allows for experiential and explorative study designs. Experiential and explorative study designs may offer deeper insights into the demands and movement patterns of the tackle (eg, tackle biomechanics), 103 as well as test the effects of different conditions (eg, physical fatigue) and interventions (video feedback) 143 on tackle technique. Not all research on the tackle needs to have a direct application, and experiential and explorative work is important to inspire innovative tackle injury prevention and performance strategies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lay of the land: narrative synthesis of tackle research in rugby union and rugby sevens

Burger

Lambert

Hendricks

2020

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med

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ObjectivesThe purpose of this review was to synthesise both injury prevention and performance tackle-related research to provide rugby stakeholders with information on tackle injury epidemiology, including tackle injury risk factors and performance determinants, and to discuss potential preventative measures.DesignSystematic review and narrative synthesis.Data sourcesPubMed, Scopus and Web of Science.Eligibility criteriaLimited to peer-reviewed English-only publications between January 1995 and October 2018.ResultsA total of 317 studies were identified, with 177 in rugby union and 13 were in rugby sevens. The tackle accounted for more than 50% of all injuries in rugby union and rugby sevens, both at the professional level and at the lower levels, with the rate of tackle injuries higher at the professional level (mean 32/1000 player-hours) compared with the lower levels (mean 17/1000 player-hours). A player’s tackle actions and technical ability were identified as major risk factors for injury and a key determinant of performance.Summary/conclusionEvidence-based education, progressive tackle technique training with a high potential to transfer and law changes have been proposed as key modifiers of player tackle actions and technical ability. Conceivably, all three modifiers working in unison (as opposed to separately) will have a higher potential at reducing tackle injury risk while enhancing performance. With the guidance of tackle injury and performance studies, as well as stakeholder engagement, experiential and explorative tackle research has the potential to inspire innovative injury prevention and performance strategies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lay of the land: narrative synthesis of tackle research in rugby union and rugby sevens

Burger

Lambert

Hendricks

2020

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med

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“…Site-specific response of bone to a stressful mechanical environment can be observed in male tennis and baseball players, whose playing arms demonstrate significantly greater BMD and BMC of up to 24% and 45% respectively compared with their non-playing arms (Calbet et al, 1998;Ducher et al, 2009Ducher et al, , 2006Ducher et al, , 2005Haapasalo et al, 2000;Ireland et al, 2013;Sanchis-Moysi et al, 2010;Warden et al, 2009) This response was suggested to be due to the osteogenic effect of the muscles surrounding the shoulder, elbow and wrist acting upon the bones of the arm, producing a large mechanical strain, stimulating a response (Burr et al, 1997). The response of the lumbar spine to stressful mechanical environment can be observed in male rugby players, who demonstrate significantly elevated BMD and BMC at the lumbar spine than a control population (Elloumi et al, 2009;Hind et al, 2014) in response to the high bilateral forces sustained by the trunk during collisions, tackling and while scrummaging (Milburn, 1993;Seminati et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lumbar bone mineral asymmetry in elite cricket fast bowlers

Alway

Peirce

King

et al. 2019

Bone

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Bone responds to mechanical loading by increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and/or bone area to enhance bone strength at the site of the greatest strain. Such localised adaptation has not been demonstrated at the spine. The aim of this study is to determine if BMD and/or bone mineral content (BMC) differs between dominant (ipsilateral to bowling/throwing arm) and non-dominant sides of the vertebrae in cricket fast bowlers, and whether this asymmetry differs according to stress fracture or disc injury history. A further aim was to determine if regional BMD and BMC in the lumbar spine differ between fast bowlers, other cricketers, rugby players and non-active controls, to highlight the site-specific response of lumbar vertebra to unilateral activity Methods 23 fast bowlers, 14 other cricketers, 22 rugby players and 20 controls underwent an anteroposterior (AP) and lateral DXA scans of their lumbar spine to assess BMD, BMC and area. A custom analysis measured BMD and BMC of the dominant and non-dominant sides (lateral 33%) of the AP lumbar spine. BMD and BMC were compared between groups, injury status, vertebrae and sides using ANOVA. Results Analysis of medical records showed that 6 fast bowlers had a history of lumbar stress fracture. Significantly greater BMD and BMC was found in the L4 non-dominant vertebra compared with the dominant vertebra in fast bowlers. BMD and BMC differed significantly according to vertebra, side and group, with fast bowlers having significantly greater BMD and BMC at the L3 and L4 non-dominant vertebra compared with other groups (L3: 13.3%-45.3%, L4: 15.7%-44.0%) compared with other groups. Fast bowlers who never suffered lumbar stress fracture had 3.6% and 1.7% greater BMD in the dominant and non-dominant sides of lumbar vertebrae respectively compared with those who did suffer lumbar stress fracture, but evidence of this was weaker (P = 0.08). Conclusion The lumbar spine responds to a unique unilateral high loading activity through site-specific increased bone mass at the site of most strain. Fast bowlers had increased lumbar BMD, particularly on the non-dominant side of L4, although this adaptation was less marked in those with history of lumbar stress fracture. Site-specific low bone mineral density within the lumbar side may be implicated in the aetiology of lumbar stress fracture.

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“…IRD showed no statistically relevant differences in both groups in this study. An increased IRD distance is related to pelvic floor disorders and urinary incontinence [42], which has a higher prevalence in athletic women compared to sedentary populations [56]. IRD in women is principally altered during postpartum [41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the Abdominal Wall Muscle Thickness in Female Rugby Players Versus Non-Athletic Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

et al. 2019

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Background and Objectives: Rugby players engage in demanding, high loading muscular activity in the spine. Study of the abdominal wall architecture in female rugby athletes is relevant to the possible muscular asymmetry secondary to sport practice and the relationship between the abdominal wall and the pelvic floor muscles. Activation of the transversus abdominis (TrAb) generates an increase in the bladder neck muscle. Moreover, an increased interrecti distance (IRD) is related to urinary incontinence and has a higher prevalence in athletic women. The aim of the present study was to compare and quantify, with ultrasound imaging (USI), the thickness of the transversus abdominis (TrAb), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), rectus abdominis (RA), and interrecti distance (IRD) in female rugby players versus non-athletic women in order to improve upon existing knowledge about abdominal wall configuration in female athletes. Materials and Methods: A sample of 32 women was recruited at the Universidad Europea Research Lab and divided in two groups: a rugby group (n = 16) and a non-athletic women group (n = 16). The thickness of the TrAb, EO, IO, RA, and IRD were assessed by USI in both groups. Results: There were statistically significant differences for the ultrasound evaluation thickness of the right TrAb (p = 0.011; d = 0.10), EO (p = 0.045; d = 0.74), IO (p = 0.003; d = 1.32), and RA (p = 0.001; d = 1.38) showing a thickness increase for the rugby group with respect to the control group. For the IRD thickness, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between groups. Conclusions: An increased TrAb, IO, EO, and RA thickness may be shown in female rugby players versus non-athletic women. Nevertheless, statistically relevant differences were not found for the IRD between both groups.

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Specific tackling situations affect the biomechanical demands experienced by rugby union players

Cited by 36 publications

References 28 publications

Lay of the land: narrative synthesis of tackle research in rugby union and rugby sevens

Lay of the land: narrative synthesis of tackle research in rugby union and rugby sevens

Lumbar bone mineral asymmetry in elite cricket fast bowlers

Comparison of the Abdominal Wall Muscle Thickness in Female Rugby Players Versus Non-Athletic Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

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