From control to causation : Validating a ‘complex systems model’ of running-related injury development and prevention
- Authors: Hulme, Adam , Salmon, Paul , Nielsen, Rasmus , Read, Gemma , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Applied Ergonomics Vol. 65, no. (2017), p. 345-354
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Introduction There is a need for an ecological and complex systems approach for better understanding the development and prevention of running-related injury (RRI). In a previous article, we proposed a prototype model of the Australian recreational distance running system which was based on the Systems Theoretic Accident Mapping and Processes (STAMP) method. That model included the influence of political, organisational, managerial, and sociocultural determinants alongside individual-level factors in relation to RRI development. The purpose of this study was to validate that prototype model by drawing on the expertise of both systems thinking and distance running experts. Materials and methods This study used a modified Delphi technique involving a series of online surveys (December 2016- March 2017). The initial survey was divided into four sections containing a total of seven questions pertaining to different features associated with the prototype model. Consensus in opinion about the validity of the prototype model was reached when the number of experts who agreed or disagreed with survey statement was ≥75% of the total number of respondents. Results A total of two Delphi rounds was needed to validate the prototype model. Out of a total of 51 experts who were initially contacted, 50.9% (n = 26) completed the first round of the Delphi, and 92.3% (n = 24) of those in the first round participated in the second. Most of the 24 full participants considered themselves to be a running expert (66.7%), and approximately a third indicated their expertise as a systems thinker (33.3%). After the second round, 91.7% of the experts agreed that the prototype model was a valid description of the Australian distance running system. Conclusion This is the first study to formally examine the development and prevention of RRI from an ecological and complex systems perspective. The validated model of the Australian distance running system facilitates theoretical advancement in terms of identifying practical system-wide opportunities for the implementation of sustainable RRI prevention interventions. This ‘big picture’ perspective represents the first step required when thinking about the range of contributory causal factors that affect other system elements, as well as runners' behaviours in relation to RRI risk. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
Health and economic burden of running-related injuries in Dutch trailrunners : A prospective cohort study
- Authors: Hespanhol Junior, Luiz , van Mechelen, Willem , Verhagen, Evert
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sports Medicine Vol. 47, no. 2 (2017), p. 367-377
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Trailrunning is becoming very popular. However, the risk and burden of running-related injuries (RRI) in trailrunning is not well established. Objective: To investigate the prevalence, injury rate, severity, nature, and economic burden of RRIs in Dutch trailrunners. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 228 trailrunners aged 18 years or over (range 23–67), and was conducted between October 2013 and December 2014. After completing the baseline questionnaire, the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems was administered every 2 weeks to collect data on RRIs. Participants who reported RRIs were asked about healthcare utilization (direct costs) and absenteeism from paid work (indirect costs). RRI was defined as disorders of the musculoskeletal system or concussions experienced or sustained during participation in running. Results: The mean prevalence of RRIs measured over time was 22.4 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 20.9–24.0], and the injury rate was 10.7 RRIs per 1000 h of running (95 % CI 9.4–12.1). The prevalence was higher for overuse (17.7 %; 95 % CI 15.9–19.5) than for acute (4.1 %; 95 % CI 3.3–5.0) RRIs. Also, the injury rate was higher for overuse (8.1; 95 % CI 6.9–9.3) than for acute (2.7; 95 % CI 2.0–3.4) RRIs. The median of the severity score was 35.0 [25–75 %, interquartile range (IQR) 22.0–55.7], and the median of the duration of RRIs was 2.0 weeks (IQR 2.0–6.0) during the study. The total economic burden of RRIs was estimated at €172.22 (95 % CI 117.10–271.74) per RRI, and €1849.49 (95 % CI 1180.62–3058.91) per 1000 h of running. An RRI was estimated to have a direct cost of €60.92 (95 % CI 45.11–94.90) and an indirect cost of €111.30 (95 % CI 61.02–192.75). Conclusions: The health and economic burden of RRIs presented in this study are significant for trailrunners and for society. Therefore, efforts should be made in order to prevent RRIs in trailrunners. © 2016, The Author(s).
Hip and knee osteoarthritis affects younger people, too
- Authors: Ackerman, Ilana , Kemp, Joanne , Crossley, Kay , Culvenor, Adam , Hinman, Rana
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy Vol. 47, no. 2 (2017), p. 67-79
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Although osteoarthritis (OA) has traditionally been considered a disease of older age, hip and knee OA can and does affect younger adults, with a profound impact on psychosocial well-being and work capacity. Obesity and a history of traumatic knee injury (eg, anterior cruciate ligament rupture and/or meniscal tear) are key risk factors for the accelerated development of knee OA, while structural hip deformities (including those contributing to femoroacetabular impingement syndrome) are strong predictors of early-onset hip OA. In view of these associations, rising rates of obesity and sports injuries are concerning, and may signal a future surge in OA incidence among younger people. Assessment of hip and knee OA in younger people should focus on a patient-centered history, comprehensive physical examination, performance-based measures, and patient-reported outcome measures to enable monitoring of symptoms and function over time. Referral for imaging should be reserved for people presenting with atypical signs or symptoms that may indicate diagnoses other than OA. Nonpharmacological approaches are core strategies for the management of hip and knee OA in younger people, and these include appropriate disease-related education, activity modifcation (including for work-related tasks), physical therapist-prescribed exercise programs to address identifed physical impairments, and weight control or weight loss. High-quality evidence has shown no beneft of arthroscopy for knee OA, and there are no published clinical trials to support the use of hip arthroscopy for OA. Referral for joint-conserving or joint replacement surgery should be considered when nonpharmacological and pharmacological management strategies are no longer effective. © 2017 Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
Incidence, aetiology and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in volleyball : A systematic review of the literature
- Authors: Kilic, O. , Maas, Mario , Verhagen, Evert , Zwerver, Johannes , Gouttebarge, Vincent
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: European Journal of Sport Science Vol. 17, no. 6 (2017), p. 765-793
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Currently, there is no overview of the incidence and (volleyball-specific) risk factors of musculoskeletal injuries among volleyball players, nor any insight into the effect of preventive measures on the incidence of injuries in volleyball. This study aimed to review systematically the scientific evidence on the incidence, prevalence, aetiology and preventive measures of volleyball injuries. To this end, a highly sensitive search strategy was built based on two groups of keywords (and their synonyms). Two electronic databases were searched, namely Medline (biomedical literature) via Pubmed, and SPORTDiscus (sports and sports medicine literature) via EBSCOhost. The results showed that ankle, knee and shoulder injuries are the most common injuries sustained while playing volleyball. Results are presented separately for acute and overuse injuries, as well as for contact and non-contact injuries. Measures to prevent musculoskeletal injuries, anterior knee injuries and ankle injuries were identified in the scientific literature. These preventive measures were found to have a significant effect on decreasing the occurrence of volleyball injuries (for instance on ankle injuries with a reduction from 0.9 to 0.5 injuries per 1000 player hours). Our systematic review showed that musculoskeletal injuries are common among volleyball players, while effective preventive measures remain scarce. Further epidemiological studies should focus on other specific injuries besides knee and ankle injuries, and should also report their prevalence and not only the incidence. Additionally, high-quality studies on the aetiology and prevention of shoulder injuries are lacking and should be a focus of future studies. © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Injury prevention exercise programs for professional soccer : Understanding the perceptions of the end-users
- Authors: O'Brien, James , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine Vol. 27, no. 1 (2017), p. 1-9
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: To evaluate the perceptions of professional soccer players and staff members toward injury prevention exercise programs (IPEPs). Design: Self-report survey. Setting: Four professional soccer teams in 4 different countries. Participants: 126 players, coaches, physiotherapists, and fitness coaches were invited to participate, with 72 respondents. Main Outcome Measures: Web-based survey detailing perceptions of lower limb (LL) injury susceptibility and seriousness, the value of IPEPs in general, and more specifically the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) 11+. Results: The vast majority of the respondents believed that professional soccer players are at high risk of LL injuries (93%) and that players should perform evidence-based injury prevention exercises (98%). They also agreed that LL injuries can shorten a player's career (85%), cause physical problems later in life (82%), and negatively impact on team performance (77%). However, perceptions varied across teams regarding which types of injury prevention exercises are effective, who holds responsibility for injury prevention, and when IPEPs should be performed. Specific knowledge of the FIFA 11+ was very low and 47% of respondents believed the program would need modification for use in their team. Conclusions: Players and staff members in professional soccer teams strongly support the use of evidence-based IPEPs. However, perceptions vary considerably between teams regarding which exercises can prevent injuries, who holds the responsibility for injury prevention, and when preventive exercises should be performed. Enhancing the ultimate impact of IPEPs in professional soccer requires a detailed understanding of each team's specific implementation context. © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intervention strategies used in sport injury prevention studies : A systematic review identifying studies applying the Haddon matrix
- Authors: Vriend, Ingrid , Gouttebarge, Vincent , Finch, Caroline , van Mechelen, Willem , Verhagen, Evert
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Sports Medicine Vol. 47, no. 10 (2017), p. 2027-2043
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Prevention of sport injuries is crucial to maximise the health and societal benefits of a physically active lifestyle. To strengthen the translation and implementation of the available evidence base on effective preventive measures, a range of potentially relevant strategies should be considered. Objective: Our aim was to identify and categorise intervention strategies for the prevention of acute sport injuries evaluated in the scientific literature, applying the Haddon matrix, and identify potential knowledge gaps. Methods: Five electronic databases were searched (PubMed, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Cochrane) for studies that evaluated the effect of interventions on the occurrence of acute sport injuries. Studies were required to include a control group/condition, prospective data collection, and a quantitative injury outcome measure. Results: A total of 155 studies were included, mostly randomised controlled trials (43%). The majority of studies (55%) focussed on strategies requiring a behavioural change on the part of athletes. Studies predominantly evaluated the preventive effect of various training programmes targeted at the ‘pre-event’ phase (n = 73) and the use of equipment to avoid injury in the ‘event phase’ (n = 29). A limited number of studies evaluated the preventive effect of strategies geared at rules and regulations (n = 14), and contextual modifications (n = 18). Studies specifically aimed at preventing re-injuries were a minority (n = 8), and were mostly related to ankle sprains (n = 5). Conclusions: Valuable insight into the extent of the evidence base of sport injury prevention studies was obtained for 20 potential intervention strategies. This approach can be used to monitor potential gaps in the knowledge base on sport injury prevention. © 2017, The Author(s).
Is risk-taking in talented junior tennis players related to overuse injuries?
- Authors: Van der Sluis, Alien , Brink, Michel , Pluim, Babette , Verhagen, Evert , Elferink-Gemser, Marije , Visscher, Chris
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports Vol. 27, no. 11 (2017), p. 1347-1355
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Overuse injuries are a serious problem in junior tennis. Gaining insight in age-specific risk factors can contribute to prevention. The developmental cognitive processes that take place during adolescence make talented players more inclined to take risks. This may be even more pronounced in the high performance culture in which they move. Therefore, this study focuses on the relationship between risk-taking and overuse injuries in talented tennis players. Seventy-three talented tennis players (45 boys and 28 girls, age 11-14years) were monitored for 32weeks, using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems. Risk-taking was measured at the start of the season with the Iowa Gambling Task. Linear regression analyses were executed to predict (a) overuse injuries, (b) time loss overuse injuries and (c) overuse severity, by risk-taking, exposure time, and injury history. In boys, risk-taking contributed significantly to time loss overuse injuries [F(1,39) = 7.764, P = 0.008, R-2 = 0.15] and to overuse severity [F(1,39) = 5.683, P = 0.022, with an R-2 of 0.13] In girls, time loss overuse injuries [F(1,23) = 6.889, P = 0.018, R-2 = 0.20] and overuse severity [F(1,23) = 7.287, P = 0.013, R-2 = 0.24] were predicted by exposure time. Coaches and trainers should be aware that talented male tennis players who are inclined to take risks, are more likely to maintain risky behavioral patterns related to overuse injuries.
Left ventricular speckle tracking-derived cardiac strain and cardiac twist mechanics in athletes : A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies
- Authors: Beaumont, Alexander , Grace, Fergal , Richards, Joanna , Hough, John , Oxborough, David , Sculthorpe, Nicholas
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sports Medicine Vol. 47, no. 6 (2017), p. 1145-1170
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
Multivariate modelling of subjective and objective monitoring data improve the detection of non-contact injury risk in elite Australian footballers
- Authors: Colby, Marcus , Dawson, Brian , Peeling, Peter , Heasman, Jarryd , Rogalski, Brent , Drew, Michael , Stares, Jordan , Zouhal, Hassane , Lester, Leanne
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 20, no. 12 (2017), p. 1068-1074
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: To assess the association between workload, subjective wellness, musculoskeletal screening measures and non-contact injury risk in elite Australian footballers. Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Across 4 seasons in 70 players from one club, cumulative weekly workloads (acute; 1 week, chronic; 2-, 3-, 4-week) and acute:chronic workload ratio’s (ACWR: 1-week load/average 4-weekly load) for session-Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE) and GPS-derived distance and sprint distance were calculated. Wellness, screening and non-contact injury data were also documented. Univariate and multivariate regression models determined injury incidence rate ratios (IRR) while accounting for interaction/moderating effects. Receiver operating characteristics determined model predictive accuracy (area under curve: AUC). Results: Very low cumulative chronic (2-, 3-, 4- week) workloads were associated with the greatest injury risk (univariate IRR = 1.71–2.16, 95% CI = 1.10–4.52) in the subsequent week. In multivariate analysis, the interaction between a low chronic load and a very high distance (adj-IRR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.07–6.34) or low sRPE ACWR (adj-IRR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.01–6.29) was associated with increased injury risk. Subjectively reporting “yes” (vs. “no”) for old lower limb pain and heavy non-football activity in the previous 7 days (multivariate adj-IRR = 2.01–2.25, 95% CI = 1.02–4.95) and playing experience (>9 years) (multivariate adj- IRR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.03–4.06) was also associated with increased injury risk, but screening data were not. Predictive capacity of multivariate models was significantly better than univariate (AUCmultivariate = 0.70, 95% CI 0.64–0.75; AUCunivariate range = 0.51–0.60). Conclusions: Chronic load is an important moderating factor in the workload–injury relationship. Low chronic loads coupled with low or very high ACWR are associated with increased injury risk.
- Description: Objectives: To assess the association between workload, subjective
Online news media reporting of football-related fatalities in Australia : A matter of life and death
- Authors: Fortington, Lauren , Bekker, Sheree , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 21, no. 3 (2017), p. 245-249
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: While deaths in sports settings are rare, they do occur. To develop an understanding of the sports and people most at risk, and to identify opportunities for prevention, routine and systematic data detailing the occurrence of these fatalities is required. There is currently no routine reporting of data of this nature in Australia. As there is often strong community interest in these incidents, the media offers an opportunity for surveillance. However before this can occur, understanding of the terminology used by the media is required. The aim of this study was to identify the terminology most frequently used in online Australian news media coverage of football-related deaths. Design: Retrospective review of online news media. Methods: Three databases were searched for online news media reports of people who died while participating in football (all football codes) in Australia. A descriptive analysis of terminology was undertaken to identify the common language applied. Results: Thirty-four football-related fatalities in Australia were identified between 2010-2016, via 149 separate articles. The most frequent terms identified in the media items were: Family; Club; Rugby; Football; Player; League; Died; Game; Death; Life; Loved; Hospital; Match; Young; Community; Playing; Friends; Sport; Heart; AFL [Australian Football League]. Conclusions: This study identified terminology used in reporting football-related fatalities in Australia, identifying common reference to terms relating to 'death' as metaphors and the frequent celebration of 'life.' The findings suggest that a reliance on researcher-generated terminology will be insufficient to reflect media discourse in prospective monitoring of sports deaths for surveillance.
Pain duration is associated with increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity in patients with Achilles tendinopathy
- Authors: Jewson, Jacob , Lambert, Elizabeth , Docking, Sean , Storr, Michael , Lambert, Gavin , Gaida, Jamie
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports Vol. 27, no. 12 (2017), p. 1942-1949
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Tendinopathy is a common condition, which has been linked to surrogate measures of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity and insulin resistance. This study aimed to compare in vivo measures of the SNS and insulin resistance between individuals with and without Achilles tendinopathy. This case–control study compared Achilles tendinopathy sufferers to healthy controls. SNS activity was quantified using muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), while metabolic status was assessed via a modified glucose tolerance test and fasting lipid panel. Ultrasound tissue characterization assessed tendon structure. Resting MSNA did not differ between the 15 cases and 20 controls. Tendon pain duration in tendinopathy patients was correlated with burst frequency (R2=.32, P=.02) and burst incidence (R2=.41, P=.01) of MSNA. After adjusting for multiple comparisons, there was a trend suggesting fasting glucose was greater in cases (median 4.80, IQR .70 in cases vs 4.51, .38 in controls) and correlated with pain severity (R2=.14, P=.03), but no other metabolic measures were associated with tendon pain/structure. This study indicates that SNS activity is associated with tendon pain duration, building on previous data indicating the SNS is involved in recalcitrant tendinopathy. Metabolic parameters had little relationship with Achilles tendinopathy in this metabolically homogenous sample. Prospective studies are required to uncover the precise relationship between SNS activity, insulin resistance, and tendinopathy.
- Description: Tendinopathy is a common condition, which has been linked to surrogate
Prevention of sport related facial injuries
- Authors: Black, Amanda , Patton, Declan , Eliason, Paul , Emery, Carolyn
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Clinics in Sports Medicine Vol. 36, no. 2 (2017), p. 257-278
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: There is evidence that eye protection, mouth guards, helmets, and face guards are effective in reducing the risk of facial injury; however, such safety practices are not adopted universally by all athletes playing high risk sports. Underlying beliefs about risk perception, comfort, ineffectiveness, utility, and a lack of awareness or enforcement have been identified as reasons people may not adopt preventive measures. There are several high-risk sports that have not mandated or do not enforce use of protective equipment. Valid evidence can assist with addressing the resistance caused by prevailing beliefs and could be essential in influencing rule changes.
Rasmussen's legacy in the great outdoors : A new incident reporting and learning system for led outdoor activities
- Authors: Salmon, Paul , Goode, Natassia , Taylor, Natalie , Lenne, Michael , Dallat, Clare , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Applied Ergonomics Vol. 59, no. (2017), p. 637-648
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Jens Rasmussen's seminal risk management framework and accompanying Accimap method have become highly popular in safety science circles. Despite this, widespread adoption of the model and method in practice has not yet been achieved. This paper describes a project involving the development and implementation of an incident reporting and learning system underpinned by Rasmussen's risk management framework and Accimap method. The system was developed for the led outdoor activity sector in Australia to enable reporting and analysis of injuries and near miss incidents, with the aim of supporting the development of more effective countermeasures. An analysis of the data derived from the first 3 months use of the system by 43 organisations is presented. The outputs provide an in-depth Accimap-based analysis of all incidents reported by participating organisations over the 3 month period. In closing, the importance of developing usable domain specific tools to support translation of Ergonomics theory and methods in practice is discussed.
- Description: Jens Rasmussen's seminal risk management framework and accompanying Accimap method have become highly popular in safety science circles. Despite this, widespread adoption of the model and method in practice has not yet been achieved. This paper describes a project involving the development and implementation of an incident reporting and learning system underpinned by Rasmussen's risk management framework and Accimap method. The system was developed for the led outdoor activity sector in Australia to enable reporting and analysis of injuries and near miss incidents, with the aim of supporting the development of more effective countermeasures. An analysis of the data derived from the first 3 months use of the system by 43 organisations is presented. The outputs provide an in-depth Accimap-based analysis of all incidents reported by participating organisations over the 3 month period. In closing, the importance of developing usable domain specific tools to support translation of Ergonomics theory and methods in practice is discussed. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reliability of a field test of defending and attacking agility in australian football and relationships to reactive strength
- Authors: Young, Warren , Murray, Mitch
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Vol. 31, no. 2 (2017), p. 509-516
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Defending and attacking agility tests for Australian football do not exist, and it is unknown whether any physical qualities correlate with these types of agility. The purposes of this study were to develop new field tests of defending and attacking agility for Australian Rules football, to determine whether they were reliable, and to describe the relationship between the agility tests to determine their specificity. Because the reactive strength (RS) of the lower limb muscles has been previously correlated with change-of-direction speed, we also investigated the relationship between this quality and the agility tests. Nineteen male competitive recreational-level Australian Rules football players were assessed on the agility tests and a drop jump test to assess RS. Interday and interrater reliability was also assessed. The agility tests involved performing 10 trials of one-on-one agility tasks against 2 testers (opponents), in which the objective was to be in a position to tackle (defending) or to evade (attacking) the opponent. Both agility tests had good reliability (intraclass correlation > 0.8, %CV < 3, and no significant differences between test occasions [p > 0.05], and interrater reliability was very high [r = 0.997, p < 0.001]). The common variance between the agility tests was 45%, indicating that they represented relatively independent skills. There was a large correlation between RS and defending agility (r = 0.625, p = 0.004), and a very large correlation with attacking agility (r = 0.731, p < 0.001). Defending and attacking agility have different characteristics, possibly related to the footwork, physical, and cognitive demands of each. Nonetheless, RS seems to be important for agility, especially for attacking agility. © 2016 National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Sand training : Exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammatory responses to matched-intensity exercise
- Authors: Brown, Henry , Dawson, Brian , Binnie, Martyn , Pinnington, Hugh , Sim, Marc , Clemons, Tristan , Peeling, Peter
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: European Journal of Sport Science Vol. 17, no. 6 (2017), p. 741-747
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study compared markers of muscle damage and inflammation elevated by a matched-intensity interval running session on soft sand and grass surfaces. In a counterbalanced, repeated-measures and crossover design, 10 well-trained female athletes completed 2 interval-based running sessions 1 week apart on either a grass or a sand surface. Exercise heart rate (HR) was fixed at 83–88% of HR maximum. Venous blood samples were collected pre-, post- and 24 h post-exercise, and analysed for myoglobin (Mb) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Perceptual ratings of exertion (RPE) and muscle soreness (DOMS) were recorded immediately post- and 24 h post-exercise. A significant time effect showed that Mb increased from pre- to post-exercise on grass (p =.008) but not on sand (p =.611). Furthermore, there was a greater relative increase in Mb on grass compared with that on sand (p =.026). No differences in CRP were reported between surfaces (p >.05). The HR, RPE and DOMS scores were not significantly different between conditions (p >.05). These results suggest that in response to a matched-intensity exercise bout, markers of post-exercise muscle damage may be reduced by running on softer ground surfaces. Such training strategy may be used to minimize musculoskeletal strain while still incurring an equivalent cardiovascular training stimulus. © 2017 European College of Sport Science.
Sport-specific factors predicting player retention in junior cricket
- Authors: Talpey, Scott , Croucher, Tom , Bani-Mustafa, Ahmed , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: European Journal of Sport Science Vol. 17, no. 3 (2017), p. 264-270
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Understanding factors that motivate young athletes to continue participation in sport can help key stakeholders cultivate an environment that fosters long-term participation. This investigation sought to determine the performance and participation factors that influenced continued participation in junior cricket. Administration-level data were collected each annual season across a seven-year period by a community-level junior cricket association in Australia and analysed to identify the performance and participation-based predictors of player retention. All players were males aged <16 years. Players were categorised according to whether they remained in (or departed from) the association at the end of each playing season. A multivariate logistic regression model with a stepwise variable selection was employed to identify significant independent predictors of player retention. The number of innings batted and overs bowled were significant participation-related contributors to junior cricket player retention. Performance factors such as the number of wickets taken and the number of runs scored also significantly influenced player retention. Finally, team age group, the number of previous seasons played and age were also significant factors in player retention. This demonstrates that sufficient opportunity for children to participate in the game and expression of skills competence are key factors for retention in cricket.
- Description: Understanding factors that motivate young athletes to continue participation in sport can help key stakeholders cultivate an environment that fosters long-term participation. This investigation sought to determine the performance and participation factors that influenced continued participation in junior cricket. Administration-level data were collected each annual season across a seven-year period by a community-level junior cricket association in Australia and analysed to identify the performance and participation-based predictors of player retention. All players were males aged <16 years. Players were categorised according to whether they remained in (or departed from) the association at the end of each playing season. A multivariate logistic regression model with a stepwise variable selection was employed to identify significant independent predictors of player retention. The number of innings batted and overs bowled were significant participation-related contributors to junior cricket player retention. Performance factors such as the number of wickets taken and the number of runs scored also significantly influenced player retention. Finally, team age group, the number of previous seasons played and age were also significant factors in player retention. This demonstrates that sufficient opportunity for children to participate in the game and expression of skills competence are key factors for retention in cricket. © 2016 European College of Sport Science.
Sports Injury Prevention : The Role of the Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Authors: Talpey, Scott , Siesmaa, Emma
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Strength and Conditioning Journal Vol. 39, no. 3 (2017), p. 14-19
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Prevention of sports injuries is a priority for sport stakeholders across the spectrum of training and competition. Achieving this objective requires a multidisciplinary approach with strength and conditioning coaches playing an important role in the process. When considering sports injury prevention strategies, the role of the strength and conditioning coach can extend beyond observing exercise technique and prescribing training to develop a robust and resilient athlete. This paper provides strength and conditioning coaches with a broad overview of the sports injury prevention process and outlines examples of how strength and conditioning coaches can work to promote and improve athlete safety. © 2017 National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Strength adaptation to squat exercise is different between Caucasian and South Asian novice exercisers
- Authors: Knox, Allan , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Baker, Julien , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research in Sports Medicine Vol. 25, no. 3 (2017), p. 373-383
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study compared the progression of muscular strength (MS) adaptation between age-matched Caucasian (CAUC) and South Asian (SOU) men during 6 weeks (3x week-1) of resistance training. MS was determined pre and post intervention by 3-repetition maximum (3RM) strength tests, and data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. Pre-intervention upper and lower body 3RM were similar between groups and both upper and lower body 3RM increased in CAUCs (P < .001) and SOUs (P < .001) following resistance training. However, lower body strength adaptation (3RM) was higher in CAUCs compared with SOUs (P = .002). There was a significant group x time interaction in strength progression of the squat exercise (P = 0.03) from session 7 through to 18 (completion). The present study offers novel but provisional data that lower body strength adaptation is slower in SOU than CAUC men despite comparable adaptation to upper body strength.
Subsequent injuries are more common than injury recurrences : An analysis of 1 season of prospectively collected injuries in professional Australian football
- Authors: Finch, Caroline , Cook, Jill , Kunstler, Breanne , Akram, Muhammad , Orchard, John
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The American Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 45, no. 8 (2017), p. 1921-1927
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: BACKGROUND: It is known that some people can, and do, sustain >1 injury over a playing season. However, there is currently little high-quality epidemiological evidence about the risk of, and relationships between, multiple and subsequent injuries. PURPOSE: To describe the subsequent injuries sustained by Australian Football League (AFL) players over 1 season, including their most common injury diagnoses. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Within-player linked injury data on all date-ordered match-loss injuries sustained by AFL players during 1 full season were obtained. The total number of injuries per player was determined, and in those with >1 injury, the Subsequent Injury Classification (SIC) model was used to code all subsequent injuries based on their Orchard Sports Injury Classification System (OSICS) codes and the dates of injury. RESULTS: There were 860 newly recorded injuries in 543 players; 247 players (45.5%) sustained >/=1 subsequent injuries after an earlier injury, with 317 subsequent injuries (36.9% of all injuries) recorded overall. A subsequent injury generally occurred to a different body region and was therefore superficially unrelated to an index injury. However, 32.2% of all subsequent injuries were related to a previous injury in the same season. Hamstring injuries were the most common subsequent injury. The mean time between injuries decreased with an increasing number of subsequent injuries. CONCLUSION: When relationships between injuries are taken into account, there is a high level of subsequent (and multiple) injuries leading to missed games in an elite athlete group.
Tackling reliability and construct validity : The systematic development of a qualitative protocol for skill and incident analysis
- Authors: Savage, Trevor , McIntosh, Andrew
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sports Sciences Vol. 35, no. 5 (2017), p. 449-456
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: It is important to understand factors contributing to and directly causing sports injuries to improve the effectiveness and safety of sports skills. The characteristics of injury events must be evaluated and described meaningfully and reliably. However, many complex skills cannot be effectively investigated quantitatively because of ethical, technological and validity considerations. Increasingly, qualitative methods are being used to investigate human movement for research purposes, but there are concerns about reliability and measurement bias of such methods. Using the tackle in Rugby union as an example, we outline a systematic approach for developing a skill analysis protocol with a focus on improving objectivity, validity and reliability. Characteristics for analysis were selected using qualitative analysis and biomechanical theoretical models and epidemiological and coaching literature. An expert panel comprising subject matter experts provided feedback and the inter-rater reliability of the protocol was assessed using ten trained raters. The inter-rater reliability results were reviewed by the expert panel and the protocol was revised and assessed in a second inter-rater reliability study. Mean agreement in the second study improved and was comparable (52-90% agreement and ICC between 0.6 and 0.9) with other studies that have reported inter-rater reliability of qualitative analysis of human movement.