the diagnostic accuracy of EyeGuide focus testing for concussion in elite male rugby players.

Introduction: Smooth pursuit eye movements may be affected by head impacts. The EyeGuide Focus system is a simple, portable, test of visual tracking. This study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of EyeGuide measurements for detection of concussion during elite Rugby matches.

Assessment of an eye-tracking tool to discriminate between concussed and not concussed professional male rugby players: a cohort study.

Objectives: Concussion is a common injury in rugby union ('rugby') and yet its diagnosis is reliant on clinical judgment. Oculomotor testing could provide an objective measure to assist with concussion diagnosis. NeuroFlex® evaluates oculomotor function using a virtual-reality headset.

Mixed methods evaluation of a low-carbohydrate high-fat nutrition education program for women from underserved communities in South Africa.

South Africa faces a dual burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and communicable diseases, exacerbated by the high consumption of processed foods. The Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) program implements community-based low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) interventions to address these issues. This study evaluated the impact of EBSA's 6-week program on the metabolic health and well-being of 32 women from underserved communities.

Social Determinants of COVID-19 Pandemic Control: Participatory Learnings From Everyday Experiences in Cape Town, South Africa.

Introduction: As countries adapted their disaster responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa responded with an alert-level risk approach based on epidemiological principles that impacted all societal levels. We explored the everyday experiences of people in Cape Town whose basic needs were met and who could report on the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic control. Gaining insight into their perspectives contributes to knowledge that can inform policies and practices for managing future public health crises.

Time to level the playing field between men and women - Given similar injury incidence: A two-season analysis of match injuries in elite men and women's (Super League) rugby league.

Objectives: To compare match injury incidence, severity and burden in men's and women's elite rugby league.

Design: A prospective cohort epidemiological study.

Methods: Time loss match injury data were collected from all men's (11,301 exposure hours) and women's (5,244 exposure hours) Super League clubs.

When to Pull the Trigger: Conceptual Considerations for Approximating Head Acceleration Events Using Instrumented Mouthguards.

Head acceleration events (HAEs) are acceleration responses of the head following external short-duration collisions. The potential risk of brain injury from a single high-magnitude HAE or repeated occurrences makes them a significant concern in sport. Instrumented mouthguards (iMGs) can approximate HAEs.

Injury Profile in Youth Female Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: An increasing number of epidemiological studies assessing the incidence, prevalence and severity of injury in youth female sport are available. However, no study has sought to synthesise the current evidence base across all youth female sport. As such, a systematic review and meta-analysis of injury in this cohort is necessary to understand the diversity of injury and its associated burden between sports in addition to identifying the density of research available.

The speed and acceleration of the ball carrier and tackler into contact during front-on tackles in rugby league.

The aim was to use a combination of video analysis and microtechnology (10 Hz global positioning system [GPS]) to quantify and compare the speed and acceleration of ball-carriers and tacklers during the pre-contact phase (contact - 0.5s) of the tackle event during rugby league match-play. Data were collected from 44 professional male rugby league players from two Super League clubs across two competitive matches.

A comparison of activity demands between trial matches and in-season matches across multiple teams and seasons in semi-professional, male rugby league players.

Trial matches are frequently used for team preparation in rugby league competitions, making it essential to understand the demands experienced to assess their specificity to actual competition. Consequently, this study aimed to compare the activity demands between pre-season trial matches and early in-season rugby league matches. Following a repeated-measures observational design, 39 semi-professional, male rugby league players from two clubs were monitored using microsensors during two trial matches and the first two in-season matches across two consecutive seasons.

"Is the focus in professional rugby ever really on health?": A qualitative study on the uptake of illness prevention guidelines in rugby.

Illness prevention is essential for athlete health management, but little is known about its uptake in sport. Prior to the pandemic, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) published a consensus statement recommending illness prevention guidelines are implemented in sports. Yet, little is known about guideline uptake.

Mental Fatigue Impairs Tackling Technique in Amateur Rugby Union Players.

Purpose: To test the effects of mental fatigue (MF) on tackling technique on the dominant and nondominant shoulders in rugby union.

Methods: Twenty male amateur rugby union players and a total of 953 tackles were analyzed. A randomized crossover counterbalanced design was used across a non-MF (control) and an MF condition.

Development of a rugby shoulder function (RSF) questionnaire: An online Delphi study.

Objective: Develop a questionnaire to monitor symptoms of player perceived shoulder function/dysfunction.

Design: 3-Stage Online Delphi Study.

Methods: Participants: surgeons, sports and exercise medics, academic researchers, strength and conditioning coaches, therapists and athletes split by level of expertise/experience.

The effect of systematic exercise training on skeletal muscle strength in a patient with advanced inclusion body myositis: A case study.

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an inflammatory and degenerative autoimmune disease that targets specific muscle groups, causing severe muscle weakness. Exercise training is often contraindicated in myopathies as it may aggravate muscle damage and inflammation. Although some reported positive outcomes in muscle strength of early diagnosed IBM patients undergoing resistance training, there remains uncertainty as to whether exercise could be beneficial and safe in advanced stage IBM.

Acetabular fracture after cycling related falls: High index of suspicion is required to avoid missing the injury on plain radiographs.

Cycling participation as a medium of transport and as a competitive sport has steadily increased in recent decades. Traumatic injuries secondary to falls and collisions occur relatively frequently. Fractures of the hip and pelvis are uncommon with no studies to date reporting their exact incidence in this sport.

Consensus on a netball video analysis framework of descriptors and definitions by the netball video analysis consensus group.

Using an expert consensus-based approach, a netball video analysis consensus (NVAC) group of researchers and practitioners was formed to develop a video analysis framework of descriptors and definitions of physical, technical and contextual aspects for netball research. The framework aims to improve the consistency of language used within netball investigations. It also aims to guide injury mechanism reporting and identification of injury risk factors.

The Efficacy of a Multimodal Recovery Strategy Implemented After a High-Intensity Rugby League Training Session.

Aben, HGJ, Hills, SP, Higgins, D, Cooke, CB, Davis, D, Jones, B, and Russell, M. The efficacy of a multimodal recovery strategy implemented after a high-intensity rugby league training session. J Strength Cond Res 37(8): 1634-1642, 2023-The efficacy of a multimodal recovery strategy implemented within 4 hours of rugby league (RL) training was investigated using repeated-measures, randomized, crossover methods in 10 professional academy RL players (age: 17 ± 1 years).

Are rugby league players involved in more tackles than normal, prior to an injury sustained during a tackle event?

Rugby league has a relatively high injury risk, with the tackle having the greatest injury propensity. The number of tackles players engage in, prior to injurious tackles may influence injury risk, which has yet to be investigated. Therefore, this study investigated if rugby league players are involved in more tackles (as either tackler or ball carrier) (i) in the 10 minutes, or (ii) 1-min periods prior to an injurious tackle-event, (iii) differences for ball carriers .

Graft choices for paediatric anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: State of the art.

The paediatric population is at particularly high risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries due to high rates of sports participation. Other risk factors for ACL injuries in children include but are not limited to being female, generalised ligamentous laxity, a high body mass index (BMI), and poor neuromuscular control. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is commonly done to treat ACL injuries and allow for return to sports and daily activities.

A novel application of entropy analysis for assessing changes in movement variability during cumulative tackles in young elite rugby league players.

The aim of this study was to identify between-position (forwards vs. backs) differences in movement variability in cumulative tackle events training during both attacking and defensive roles. Eleven elite adolescent male rugby league players volunteered to participate in this study (mean ± SD, age; 18.

The Association of Variants within Types V and XI Collagen Genes with Knee Joint Laxity Measurements.

Joint laxity is a multifactorial phenotype with a heritable component. Mutations or common polymorphisms within the α1(V) () α1(XI) () and α2(XI) () collagen genes have been reported or proposed to associate with joint hypermobility, range of motion and/or genu recurvatum. The aim of this study was to investigate whether polymorphisms within these collagen-encoding genes are associated with measurements of knee joint laxity and computed ligament length changes within the non-dominant leg.

Oral contraceptive use in Premiership and Championship women's rugby union: perceived symptomology, management strategies, and performance and wellness effects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral contraceptive use in domestic rugby union, to compare symptomology by contraceptive use, and to determine symptom management strategies. Additionally, to characterise the perceived influence of oral contraceptive use and non-use on wellness and performance. A total of 238 Premiership and Championship women's rugby union players completed an online questionnaire.

Investigating the association between COL1A1 and COL3A1 gene variants and knee joint laxity and ligament measurements.

Background: Joint laxity is a multifactorial phenotype with a heritable component. Type I collagen gene (COL1A1) mutations cause connective tissue disorders with joint hypermobility as a clinical feature, while variants within COL1A1 and type III collagen gene (COL3A1) are associated with musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate whether COL1A1 and COL3A1 variants are associated with measurements of non-dominant knee joint laxity and computed ligament length changes.