Pubic apophysitis in elite Australian Rules football players: MRI findings and the utility of VIBE sequences in evaluating athletes with groin pain

Purpose: To compare the sensitivity of a submaximal run test (SRT) with a countermovement-jump test (CMJ) to provide an alternative method of measuring neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) in high-performance sport. Methods: A total of 23 professional and semiprofessional Australian rules football players performed an SRT and CMJ test prematch and 48 and 96 h postmatch. Variables from accelerometers recorded during the SRT were player load 1D up (vertical vector), player load 1D side (mediolateral vector), and player load 1D forward (anteroposterior vector). Meaningful difference was examined through magnitude-based inferences (effect size [ES]), with reliability assessed as typical error of measurements expressed as coefficient of variance. Results: A small decrease in CMJ height, ES −0.43 ± 0.39 (likely), was observed 48 h postmatch before returning to baseline 96 h postmatch. This was accompanied by corresponding moderate decreases in the SRT variables player load 1D up, ES −0.60 ± 0.51 (likely), and player load 1D side, ES −0.74 ± 0.57 (likely), 48 h postmatch before also returning to prematch baseline. Conclusion: The results suggest that in the presence of NMF, players use an alternative running profile to produce the same external output (ie, time). This indicates that changes in accelerometer variables during an SRT can be used as an alternative method of measuring NMF in high-performance Australian rules football and provides a flexible option for monitoring changes in the recovery phase postmatch.

Download Full-text

Effect of Biological Maturation on Performance of the Athletic Ability Assessment in Australian Rules Football Players

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2019-0683 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 28-36

Author(s):

Daniel K. Rogers ◽

Ian McKeown ◽

Gaynor Parfitt ◽

Darren Burgess ◽

Roger G. Eston

Keyword(s):

Statistical Significance ◽

A Priori ◽

Developmentally Appropriate ◽

Peak Height ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Football Players ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Athletic Ability ◽

Biological Maturation ◽

Australian Rules Football

Purpose: To determine the effect of biological maturation on athletic movement competency as measured using the Athletic Ability Assessment-6. Methods: Fifty-two junior Australian Rules football players were split into 3 groups based on proximity to peak height velocity, while 46 senior players were split into 2 groups based on playing status. The subjects completed the Athletic Ability Assessment-6 (inclusive of the overhead squat, double lunge, single-leg Romanian dead lift, push-up, and chin-up). All subjects were filmed and retrospectively assessed by a single rater. A 1-way analysis of variance and effect-size statistics (Cohen d) with corresponding 90% confidence intervals were used to describe between-groups differences in the component movement scores. The statistical significance was set a priori at P < .05. Results: There were significant between-groups differences for all component movements (P < .05). Post hoc testing revealed that older, more mature subjects possessed greater competency in all movements except the overhead squat. The effect sizes revealed predominantly moderate to very large differences in competency between the senior and junior groups (range of d [90% confidence interval]: 0.70 [0.06 to 1.30] to 3.01 [2.18 to 3.72]), with unclear to moderate differences found when comparing the 3 junior groups (0.08 [−0.50 to 0.65] to 0.97 [0.22–1.61]). Conclusions: The findings suggest that biological maturation may be associated with changes in athletic movement competency in youth Australian Rules football players. Therefore, it is recommended that strength and conditioning coaches monitor maturity status when working with 12- to 15-y-old players. This can allow for a comparison of an individual’s athletic movement competency to maturity-based standards and help guide developmentally appropriate training programs.

Download Full-text

Rehabilitation interventions need more than methodological standardisation: an individualised approach

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000899 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000899

Author(s):

Neil Welch ◽

Chris Richter ◽

Kieran Moran ◽

Andy Franklyn-Miller

Keyword(s):

Physical Performance ◽

Groin Pain ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Performance Characteristics ◽

Biomechanical Analysis ◽

Football Players ◽

Single Subject ◽

Group Approach ◽

Subject Analysis ◽

Group Rehabilitation

Objectives: The main aim in the current study was to use a single-subject analysis to profile the physical performance characteristics of individuals within an injured group and a between-group approach to profile the group as a whole. These profiles were then used to inform single-subject and between-group rehabilitation interventions. Methods: Fifty-three (28 with athletic groin pain and 25 non-injured) Gaelic football players (24.8 years±7.1 years; 179 cm±5.5 cm; 79.7 kg±9.2 kg) underwent 3D biomechanical analysis, which was used to measure a series of physical performance characteristics. The non-injured group was used to create a ‘performance database’ to compare the injured individuals, and a between-group analysis was also conducted. The scores from each analysis were used to inform the targets of interventions. Results: The analysis highlighted the variety of profiles that existed across the tested individuals and that these profiles differed from that of the between-group analysis. By analysing individuals in a single-subject approach, detail can be seen that is lost with between-group analysis.

Download Full-text

Do Not Pay Any Attention to the Umpires: Thought Suppression and Task-Relevant Focusing Strategies

Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology ◽

10.1123/jsep.24.3.306 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 306-319 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jeremy R. Dugdale ◽

Robert C. Eklund

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Load ◽

Cognitive Processing ◽

Thought Suppression ◽

Football Players ◽

Mental Control ◽

Processing Theory ◽

Negative Thoughts ◽

Australian Rules Football ◽

Ironic Effects ◽

And Task

Two studies grounded in ironic-cognitive-processing theory were conducted to determine (a) whether ironic errors may be associated with efforts to exert mental control that typically occur in sport settings and (b) whether these potential ironic effects could be negated through the use of a task-relevant cue word to refocus one’s thoughts during suppression. Participants were asked to watch a videotape of a series of clips of Australian Rules Football players, coaches, and umpires. Study 1 revealed that participants were more aware of umpires when instructed not to pay attention to them. Contrary to expectations, however, ironic effects were not significantly magnified by the combination of high cognitive load and the instruction not to pay attention to the umpires. Results from Study 2 indicated that potential ironic effects could be negated when individuals were given a task-relevant cue word to focus on when suppressing unwanted or negative thoughts. Overall, support for ironic processing theory was found in Studies 1 and 2 in this investigation.

Download Full-text