The Impact of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Program on Leg Stiffness, Reactive Strength, and Landing Biomechanics in Amateur Female Rugby Players

Sikora, Ondřej, Lehnert, Michal, Hanzlíková, Ivana and Hughes, Jonathan ORCID: 0000-0002-9905-8055 (2023) The Impact of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Program on Leg Stiffness, Reactive Strength, and Landing Biomechanics in Amateur Female Rugby Players. Applied Sciences, 13 (3). ART 1979. doi:10.3390/app13031979

Preview

Text 12366 Sikora, Lehnert, Hanzlikova, Hughes (2023) The Impact of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Program on Leg Stiffness, Reactive Strength, and Landing Biomechanics in Amateur Female Rugby Players.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (649kB) | Preview

Abstract

This randomized control study aimed to assess 12 weeks of a novel neuromuscular training program (KneeRugbyWomen) on jump-related biomechanical variables in amateur female rugby players. Twenty-four participants were randomly allocated to either an experimental group (EG; n = 12, age: 20.05 ± 4.43 yrs., height: 166.54 ± 4.46 cm, weight: 64.65 ± 6.44 kg) or a control group (CG; n = 12, age: 20.04 ± 4.88 yrs., height: 166.83 ± 7.30 cm, weight: 69.83 ± 12.84 kg). Participants were tested before and after a 12-week intervention for jump-related biomechanical variables (leg stiffness, Reactive Strength Index (RSI), and landing mechanics using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS)). A significant increase in RSI was found in EG (p = 0.012, r = 0.70, large effect). At post-testing, players in EG had significantly greater RSI scores compared to CG at post-intervention (p = 0.007, r = 0.55, large effect). LESS scores of CG were significantly greater compared to EG at pre-intervention (p = 0.008, r = 0.55, large effect) and post-intervention (p = 0.003, r = 0.60, large effect). Results of this study demonstrate a positive effect of the KneeRugbyWomen training program on RSI, which has been previously associated with increased ACL injury risk in female players.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Injury prevention; Jumping; Risk factors; Injury; Anterior cruciate ligament
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Anna Kerr
Date Deposited:	14 Feb 2023 15:48
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:06
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/12366

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record