The effect of training load on neuromuscular performance, muscle soreness and wellness during an in-season non-competitive week in elite rugby athletes

Changes in performance markers and wellbeing in elite senior professional rugby union players during a pre-season period: Analysis of the differences across training phases

“…5 Training volume within pre-season periods is reported to be high (3500-4500 arbitrary units) with concurrent training regularly utilized, 6,7 and focuses upon developing the multifaceted aspects of strength and conditioning required for modern professional rugby union. Fatigue from training stress has been frequently reported in elite level rugby union [8][9][10] , with neuromuscular function (NMF) and perceptual measures used as markers. NMF is the control of skeletal muscle action by spinal and supraspinal mechanisms, with the monitoring of NMF used as a method for detecting fatigue or neuromuscular impairment.…”

“…13 The monitoring of specific performance measures to assess NMF in rugby union is a relatively recent area of research, 14 with tests typically involving objective NMF assessment 9,12 and subjective self-reported assessment of fatigue. 8 A combination of lower-and upper body NMF and some multi-dimensional measure of athlete WB is therefore routinely incorporated in most rugby union clubs. 15 In an intermittent contact sport such as rugby, eccentric muscle actions and blunt muscle trauma are the likely contributors to a decrement in NMF.…”

“…15 In an intermittent contact sport such as rugby, eccentric muscle actions and blunt muscle trauma are the likely contributors to a decrement in NMF. 8 The most common and easily implemented form of NMF assessment is the countermovement jump (CMJ), with the reliability and sensitivity of CMJ to detect changes in training load over time confirmed. 9,12,16 The importance of upper body measures in assessments of NMF has been identified, 17 whereby the plyometric push-up appears sensitive to detecting change in NMF in rugby league players.…”

“…18 Self-reported WB questionnaires are also commonly used as a measure of how players are handling training load, 10 with evidence supporting the use of such measures 19 for monitoring acute and chronic training loads 20 and regularly used in elite rugby union settings to optimise readiness. 8 Saw et al 18 recommend that athletes report their objective well-being on a regular basis alongside other neuromuscular monitoring, as such tools have been shown to complement each other.…”

“…The majority of NMF and WB testing has been conducted postmatch-play during competition phases and not across pre-season training phases. 10,12 Despite recent studies illustrating changes in lower body NMF of elite academy rugby union players during preseason 12 and subjective WB in a single training week in southern hemisphere players, 8 there is no research that assesses subjective measures of readiness and both upper body and lower body objective measures of readiness during pre-season in elite senior level rugby union players. With this in mind, this study aimed to: (1) assess the change in upper and lower body NMF and WB over three distinct pre-season training blocks; and (2) assess which performance marker is most sensitive to changes in accumulation of pre-season training load in elite rugby players.…”