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Karamti MH, Zouhal H, Bousselmi M, Darragi M, Khannous H, Ben Hmid A, Zamali I, Ben Ahmed M, Laher I, Granacher U, Moussa AZB. Changes in Physical Fitness, Muscle Damage and Cognitive Function in Elite Rugby Players over a Season. Sports (Basel) 2024; 12:223. [PMID: 39195599 PMCID: PMC11360730 DOI: 10.3390/sports12080223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
This study proposes to monitor the physical, immune and cognitive responses and adaptations of elite rugby players throughout the season based on the loads performed. Anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests (e.g., muscle strength and power, linear and change-of-direction speed, cardiorespiratory fitness) and analyses of serum concentrations of markers of muscle damage (creatine kinase [CK] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were carried out over a sporting season (24 weeks) for 17 elite rugby players (10 forwards and 7 backs) aged 18.91 ± 0.76 years. The physical fitness test results show improvements in the performance of both forwards and backs over the season (p < 0.05), with an advantage for backs compared with forwards in most tests (p < 0.05). Muscle damage markers decreased at the end of the season compared with the baseline levels for forwards (p < 0.05). CK levels were unchanged for the backs, but there were increased LDH concentrations at the end of the season compared with baseline (p < 0.05). Serum BDNF levels decreased for the total group between the second and third sampling (p < 0.05). The muscular and physical capacities of rugby players differ according to their playing position. Immune responses and adaptations, as well as BDNF levels, vary throughout the season and depend on the physical load performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Houssem Karamti
- Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SFAX, University of Sfax, Sfax 3027, Tunisia; (M.H.K.); (M.B.)
- Research Laboratory (LR23JS01) “Sport Performance, Health & Society”, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
| | - Hassane Zouhal
- Movement, Sport, Health and Sciences Laboratory (M2S), UFR APS, University of Rennes 2-ENS Cachan, Av. Charles Tillon, CEDEX, 35044 Rennes, France
- Institut International des Sciences du Sport (2I2S), 35850 Irodouer, France
| | - Mariem Bousselmi
- Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SFAX, University of Sfax, Sfax 3027, Tunisia; (M.H.K.); (M.B.)
- Research Laboratory (LR23JS01) “Sport Performance, Health & Society”, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
| | - Manel Darragi
- Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SFAX, University of Sfax, Sfax 3027, Tunisia; (M.H.K.); (M.B.)
- Research Laboratory (LR23JS01) “Sport Performance, Health & Society”, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
| | | | - Ahlem Ben Hmid
- Clinical Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1000, Tunisia; (A.B.H.)
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
| | - Imen Zamali
- Clinical Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1000, Tunisia; (A.B.H.)
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
| | - Mélika Ben Ahmed
- Clinical Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1000, Tunisia; (A.B.H.)
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
| | - Ismail Laher
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Urs Granacher
- Department of Sport and Sport Science, Exercise and Human Movement Science, University of Freiburg, 79102 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Amira Zouita Ben Moussa
- Research Laboratory (LR23JS01) “Sport Performance, Health & Society”, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
- Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, University of Manouba, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
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James LP, Haycraft JAZ, Carey DL, Robertson SJ. A framework for test measurement selection in athlete physical preparation. Front Sports Act Living 2024; 6:1406997. [PMID: 39011346 PMCID: PMC11246953 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1406997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Preparing athletes for competition requires the diagnosis and monitoring of relevant physical qualities (e.g., strength, power, speed, endurance characteristics). Decisions regarding test selection that attempt to measure these physical attributes are fundamental to the training process yet are complicated by the myriad of tests and measurements available. This article presents an evidenced based process to inform test measurement selection for the physical preparation of athletes. We describe a method for incorporating multiple layers of validity to link test measurement to competition outcome. This is followed by a framework by which to evaluate the suitability of test measurements based on contemporary validity theory that considers technical, decision-making, and organisational factors. Example applications of the framework are described to demonstrate its utility in different settings. The systems presented here will assist in distilling the range of measurements available into those most likely to have the greatest impact on competition performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan P. James
- Sport, Performance, and Nutrition Research Group, School of Allied Health, Human Services, & Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jade A. Z. Haycraft
- Sport, Performance, and Nutrition Research Group, School of Allied Health, Human Services, & Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, Australia
| | - David L. Carey
- Sport, Performance, and Nutrition Research Group, School of Allied Health, Human Services, & Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Samuel J. Robertson
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, Australia
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Philipp NM, Cabarkapa D, Nijem RM, Blackburn SD, Fry AC. Vertical Jump Neuromuscular Performance Characteristics Determining On-Court Contribution in Male and Female NCAA Division 1 Basketball Players. Sports (Basel) 2023; 11:239. [PMID: 38133106 PMCID: PMC10748117 DOI: 10.3390/sports11120239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
While various quantifiable physical attributes have been found to contribute to athletes' performance, there is a lack of scientific literature focused on examining how they relate to success during competition performance. The aim of this study was to investigate different countermovement jump (CMJ)-derived force-time characteristics and their utility in distinguishing high from low performers within a measure of on-court contribution (i.e., minutes per game played). Twenty-nine collegiate athletes (n = 15 males and n = 14 females) volunteered to participate in this investigation and performed CMJs on dual force plates sampling at 1000 Hz, weekly over the course of their basketball season. The athletes' average of their three best test-days across the season was used for further analysis. To identify their on-court contribution, athletes were divided into groups with high and low minutes per game, based on a median-split analysis. The findings suggest that at the overall group level (i.e., both genders), the modified reactive strength index (mRSI) and braking rate of force development (RFD) revealed the greatest between-group magnitudes of difference, with athletes playing more minutes per game showing greater performance. At the team-specific level, the braking RFD, average braking velocity, and mRSI were shown to be the greatest differentiators between groups for the men's team. The women's high-minutes group displayed greater magnitudes of mRSI and jump height. By identifying the neuromuscular qualities seen in top performers within their respective populations, the attributed physical performance underpinning these qualities may be identified, providing practitioners with insights into physical performance qualities and training methodologies that have the potential to influence basketball performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas M. Philipp
- Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory—Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA; (D.C.); (R.M.N.); (S.D.B.); (A.C.F.)
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McMahon JJ, Ripley NJ, Comfort P. Force Plate-Derived Countermovement Jump Normative Data and Benchmarks for Professional Rugby League Players. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:8669. [PMID: 36433265 PMCID: PMC9696698 DOI: 10.3390/s22228669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The countermovement jump (CMJ) is an important test in rugby league (RL), and the force plate is the recommended assessment device, as it permits the calculation of several variables that explain jump strategy, alongside jump height. The purpose of this study was to produce normative CMJ data and objective benchmarks for professional RL forwards and backs. Normative data for jump height, modified reactive strength index, and jump momentum are provided for 121 professional RL players (66 forwards and 55 backs) who completed CMJ testing on a portable force plate during preseason training. Standardized T-scores (scaled from 0 to 100) were calculated from the respective positional group mean and standard deviation to create CMJ performance bands that were combined with a qualitative description (ranging from extremely poor to excellent) and a traffic light system to facilitate data interpretation and objective benchmark setting by RL practitioners. The jump height and modified reactive strength index benchmarks were larger for the lighter backs, whereas the jump momentum benchmarks were larger for the heavier forwards. The presented novel approach to compiling and presenting normative data and objective benchmarks may also be applied to other data (i.e., from other tests or devices) and populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J. McMahon
- Centre for Human Movement and Rehabilitation, University of Salford, Salford M6 6PU, UK
| | - Nicholas J. Ripley
- Centre for Human Movement and Rehabilitation, University of Salford, Salford M6 6PU, UK
| | - Paul Comfort
- Centre for Human Movement and Rehabilitation, University of Salford, Salford M6 6PU, UK
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
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