Clinical Determinants of Knee Joint Loads While Sidestepping: An Exploratory Study With Male Rugby Union Athletes.

Background: While several clinical factors have independently been linked to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk factors, their collective impact on knee loading during the sidestep maneuver is unknown. To better understand these factors, we assessed the relationship between strength, balance, and sprint kinetics and external knee abduction moments during sidestepping on each leg.

Methods: Sixteen male academy-level rugby union athletes (age, 20 ± 3 years; body-height, 186 ± 9 cm; body-mass, 99 ± 14 kg) were bilaterally assessed in single-leg: isokinetic concentric and eccentric knee and concentric hip strength, balance at 2 difficulty levels, vertical and horizontal force production during maximal sprinting, and 3-dimensional motion capture while sidestepping on the preferred and non-preferred leg.

A systematic video analysis of 21 anterior cruciate ligament injuries in elite netball players during games.

This systematic video analysis of 21 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries sustained by elite-level netball players during televised games, describes the situation, movement pattern and player behaviour, providing insight regarding the injury mechanism. Seventeen of the ACL injuries occurred from jump-landing actions and only two from cutting manoeuvres. A common scenario was identified for 11 players.

Low Horizontal Force Production Capacity during Sprinting as a Potential Risk Factor of Hamstring Injury in Football.

Clear decreases in horizontal force production capacity during sprint acceleration have been reported after hamstring injuries (HI) in football players. We hypothesized that lower is associated with a higher HI occurrence in football players. We aimed to analyze the association between sprint running horizontal force production capacities at low () and high () velocities, and HI occurrence in football.

Short and long versions of a 12-week netball specific neuromuscular warm-up improves landing technique in youth netballers.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of two 'NetballSmart', netball specific warm-ups in improving landing technique measures in New Zealand secondary school netball players.

Design: Multi-site cluster experimental trial.

Participants: 77 youth participants, mean ± SD age = 15.

Performance Profiling of Female Youth Netball Players.

McKenzie, CR, Whatman, C, and Brughelli, M. Performance profiling of female youth netball players. J Strength Cond Res 34(11): 3275-3283, 2020-The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical performance characteristics of New Zealand secondary school netball players to provide a physical performance profile and determine whether there are differences between playing grade and playing positions for this group.

Comparable endocrine and neuromuscular adaptations to variable vs. constant gravity-dependent resistance training among young women.

Background: Variable resistance has been shown to induce greater total work and muscle activation when compared to constant resistance. However, little is known regarding the effects of chronic exposure to variable resistance training in comparison with constant resistance training. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine the effects of chain-loaded variable and constant gravity-dependent resistance training on resting hormonal and neuromuscular adaptations.

Ten-year nationwide review of netball ankle and knee injuries in New Zealand.

Objectives: To review netball ankle and knee injuries between 2008 and 2017.

Design: Audit of insurance injury claims.

Methods: Data were divided into 5 equal year groups (2008/9, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2016/17), and 3 age groups (10 to 14 years, 15 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years old).

An individualised approach to assess the sidestep manoeuvre in male rugby union athletes.

Objectives: This study aimed to (1) quantitatively assess external knee abduction moments between legs, and (2) qualitatively assess anterior cruciate ligament injury risk between group mean and individual athlete data during the sidestep manoeuvre.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Methods: Sixteen male academy-level rugby union athletes (20.

Taekwondo Anaerobic Intermittent Kick Test: Discriminant Validity and an Update with the Gold-Standard Wingate Test.

The aim of this study was to update the validity of the Taekwondo Anaerobic Intermittent Kick Test compared with the 30-s Wingate anaerobic test as the "Gold-Standard", squat jump and countermovement jump tests. The second objective was to examine whether this new specific test would be able to effectively discriminate between elite taekwondo athletes of different competitive levels. Twenty taekwondo athletes (15 males and 5 females) participated in the validation component, whereas 18 (14 males and 4 females) and 16 (13 males and 3 females) athletes participated in the reliability analysis of the Wingate anaerobic test and jumping tests, respectively.

Differences in Trunk Strength Between Weightlifters and Wrestlers.

Investigations of trunk strength with high-level athletes are limited. The purpose of this study was to compare maximal concentric isokinetic trunk extension and flexion torque, power, and strength ratios between high-level weightlifters (n = 20), wrestlers (n = 20) and a control (n = 25) population. Isokinetic dynamometry was used to evaluate peak torque, power and strength ratios during seated trunk extension/flexion actions at 60°/s and 180°/s.

Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Agility Performance in Elite Soccer Players.

Background: Agility in general and change-of-direction speed (CoD) in particular represent important performance determinants in elite soccer.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a 6-week neuromuscular training program on agility performance, and to determine differences in movement times between the slower and faster turning directions in elite soccer players.

Materials And Methods: Twenty male elite soccer players from the Stade Rennais Football Club (Ligue 1, France) participated in this study.

Relationship of Pre-season Training Load With In-Season Biochemical Markers, Injuries and Performance in Professional Soccer Players.

Introduction: There is controversy in the literature in regards of the link between training load and injury rate. Thus, the aims of this non-interventional study were to evaluate relationships between pre-season training load with biochemical markers, injury incidence and performance during the first month of the competitive period in professional soccer players.

Materials And Methods: Healthy professional soccer players were enrolled in this study over two pre-season periods.

Assessing Horizontal Force Production in Resisted Sprinting: Computation and Practical Interpretation.

The assessment of horizontal force during overground sprinting is increasingly prevalent in practice and research, stemming from advances in technology and access to simplified yet valid field methods. As researchers search out optimal means of targeting the development of horizontal force, there is considerable interest in the effectiveness of external resistance. Increasing attention in research provides more information surrounding the biomechanics of sprinting in general and insight into the potential methods of developing determinant capacities.

The effect of the NetballSmart Dynamic Warm-up on physical performance in youth netball players.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of the NetballSmart Dynamic Warm-up in improving physical performance measures in New Zealand secondary school netball players.

Design: Cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting: A seven-week intervention study in secondary school netball.

When Jump Height is not a Good Indicator of Lower Limb Maximal Power Output: Theoretical Demonstration, Experimental Evidence and Practical Solutions.

Lower limb external maximal power output capacity is a key physical component of performance in many sports. During squat jump and countermovement jump tests, athletes produce high amounts of mechanical work over a short duration to displace their body mass (i.e.

Defining the Phases of Boxing Punches: A Mixed-Method Approach.

Lenetsky, S, Brughelli, M, Nates, RJ, Neville, JG, Cross, MR, and Lormier, AV. Defining the phases of boxing punches: A mixed-method approach. J Strength Cond Res 34(4): 1040-1051, 2020-Current research on punching in boxing has explored both kinematic and kinetic variables; however, there is no shared structure in the literature to describe these findings.

Relationship between vertical and horizontal force-velocity-power profiles in various sports and levels of practice.

This study aimed (i) to explore the relationship between vertical (jumping) and horizontal (sprinting) force-velocity-power (FVP) mechanical profiles in a large range of sports and levels of practice, and (ii) to provide a large database to serve as a reference of the FVP profile for all sports and levels tested. A total of 553 participants (333 men, 220 women) from 14 sport disciplines and all levels of practice participated in this study. Participants performed squat jumps (SJ) against multiple external loads (vertical) and linear 30-40 m sprints (horizontal).

Changes in mechanical properties of sprinting during repeated sprint in elite rugby sevens athletes.

This study aimed to analyse fatigue-induced changes in mechanical sprinting properties during a specific repeated-sprint test in elite rugby sevens athletes. Twenty elite rugby sevens players performed ten 40 m sprints on a 30 s cycle with participant's running back and forth in a marked lane. Radar was used to assess maximal overground sprint performance over each 40 m.

Assessing Head/Neck Dynamic Response to Head Perturbation: A Systematic Review.

Background: Head/neck dynamic response to perturbation has been proposed as a risk factor for sports-related concussion.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to compare methodologies utilised to assess head/neck dynamic response to perturbation, report on magnitude, validity and reliability of the response, and to describe modifying factors.

Methods: A systematic search of databases resulted in 19 articles that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Laterality Influences Agility Performance in Elite Soccer Players.

Laterality (i.e., handedness, footedness, and eyedness) could have an impact on highly repeated soccer movements and thus, could influence performance.

Variability and Reliability of Punching Impact Kinetics in Untrained Participants and Experienced Boxers.

Lenetsky, S, Brughelli, M, Nates, RJ, Cross, MR, and Lormier, AV. Variability and reliability of punching impact kinetics in untrained participants and experienced boxers. J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 1838-1842, 2017-Striking impact kinetics are central to performance in combat sports.

Profiling Single-Leg Balance by Leg Preference and Position in Rugby Union Athletes.

Our aims were to assess single-leg balance in rugby union athletes and compare the stability indices between legs and between positions. Thirty athletes, forwards and backs (n = 15/15), performed single-leg balance measured at two difficulty levels (Level 8: more stable and Level 2: less stable) using the Biodex Balance SD System. The backs' nonpreferred leg had worse scores in medial-lateral and overall indices (effect size = 1.

Effectiveness of an Individualized Training Based on Force-Velocity Profiling during Jumping.

Ballistic performances are determined by both the maximal lower limb power output ( ) and their individual force-velocity (F-v) mechanical profile, especially the F-v imbalance ( ): difference between the athlete's actual and optimal profile. An optimized training should aim to increase and/or reduce . The aim of this study was to test whether an individualized training program based on the individual F-v profile would decrease subjects' individual and in turn improve vertical jump performance.