The influence of training load on postural control and countermovement jump responses in rugby union. Issue 4 (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Troester, Jordan C.; Jasmin, Jason G.; Duffield, Rob
• Is Part Of: Science and medicine in football. Volume 3:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 320
• Page End: 325
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Single-leg balance -- single-leg landing -- neuromuscular fatigue -- sensorimotor control; Soccer injuries -- Periodicals; Soccer -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Soccer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 617.102763
• DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2019.1598621
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2473-3938

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Purpose: This study investigated responses of single-leg balance and landing and countermovement jump (CMJ) following rugby union training and the specific components of training load associated with test decrement.Methods: Twenty-seven professional rugby union players performed CMJ, single-leg balance and landing tests on a 1000 Hz force plate at the beginning and end of training days. Training load was described by session RPE, Banister's TRIMP, GPS total distance, high-speed running distance (>5.5 m s −1 ), relative speed and body load.Results: CMJ eccentric rate of force development (EccRFD) demonstrated moderate impairment post-training (ES ± 90%CL = −0.79 ± 0.29, MBI = almost certainly ). CMJ height (−0.21 ± 0.16, possible ), concentric impulse (ConIMP) (−0.35 ± 0.17, likely ) and single-leg balance sway velocity on the non-dominant leg (0.30 ± 0.26, possible ) were also impaired. Regression analyses identified the strongest relationship between sRPE and impaired ConIMP (r = −0.68 ± 21, β = −0.68) whilst other load measures explained 27–50% of the variance in balance and CMJ changes.Conclusions: CMJ variables representing altered movement strategy (EccRFD and IMP) may be useful for assessing acute neuromuscular fatigue in rugby union, though single-leg balance sway velocity may be an alternative when maximal tests are impractical.