Search Results (6)

The purpose of this longitudinal pilot study was to add to the body of research relating to head kinematics/vibration in sport and their potential to cause short-term alterations in brain function. In horseracing, due to the horse’s movement, repeated low-level accelerations are transmitted to the jockey’s head. To measure this, professional jockeys (2 male, 2 female) wore an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to record their head kinematics while riding out. In addition, a short battery of tests (Stroop, Trail Making Test B, choice reaction time, manual dexterity, and visual function) was completed immediately before and after riding. Pre- and post-outcome measures from the cognitive test battery were compared using descriptive statistics. The average head kinematics measured across all jockeys and days were at a low level: resultant linear acceleration peak = 5.82 ± 1.08 g, mean = 1.02 ± 0.01 g; resultant rotational velocity peak = 10.37 ± 3.23 rad/s, mean = 0.85 ± 0.15 rad/s; and resultant rotational acceleration peak = 1495 ± 532.75 rad/s², mean = 86.58 ± 15.54 rad/s². The duration of an acceleration event was on average 127.04 ± 17.22 ms for linear accelerations and 89.42 ± 19.74 ms for rotational accelerations. This was longer than those noted in many impact and non-impact sports. Jockeys experienced high counts of linear and rotational head accelerations above 3 g and 400 rad/s², which are considered normal daily living levels (average 300 linear and 445 rotational accelerations per hour of riding). No measurable decline in executive function or dexterity was found after riding; however, a deterioration in visual function (near point convergence and accommodation) was seen. This work lays the foundation for future large-scale research to monitor the head kinematics of riders, measure the effects and understand variables that might influence them. Full article

When collecting marker-based motion capture data from clinical populations, speed of collection and comfort for the participant is a priority. This could be achieved by attaching markers to motion capture Velcro suits, as opposed to the skin. This study aimed to ascertain the reliability of sagittal-plane gait parameters estimated using Plug-in Gait (PiG) and Conventional Gait Model 2 (CGM2) marker sets from data collected in Suited and Non-suited (markers placed onto skin) conditions. For ten participants, markers were placed based on PiG and CGM2 models and data captured during a 2-min treadmill walk. Trials were repeated in suited and non-suited conditions. PiG ankle flexion/extension measurements had poor/moderate reliability (Non-suited ICC = 0.531, Suited ICC = 0.435). CGM2 ankle flexion/extension measurements had good/excellent reliability (Non-suited ICC = 0.916, Suited ICC = 0.900). There were significant differences in minimal detectable change (MDC) between conditions at the ankle for PiG (Non-suited MDC = 2.32°, Suited MDC = 18.90°), but not for CGM2 (Non-suited MDC = 0.63°, Suited MDC = 0.95°). When using CGM2, knee (Non-suited ICC = 0.878, Suited ICC = 0.855) and hip (Non-suited ICC = 0.897, Suited ICC = 0.948) showed good/excellent reliability in both conditions. A motion capture suit is not a reliable solution when collecting joint angle data using the PiG model but is reliable enough to consider when using the CGM2 model. Full article

Background: Taking part in moderate-to-vigorous exercise in contact sports on a regular basis may be linked to an increase in cerebrovascular injury and head trauma. Validated objective measures are lacking in the initial post-event diagnosis of head injury. The exercise style, duration, and intensity may also confound diagnostic indicators. As a result, we propose that the new Interdisciplinary Group in Movement & Performance from Acute & Chronic Head Trauma (IMPACT) analyze a variety of functional (biomechanical and motor control) tests as well as related biochemistry to see how they are affected by contact in sports and head injury. The study’s goal will be to look into the performance and physiological changes in rugby players after a game for head trauma and injury. Methods: This one-of-a-kind study will use a randomized controlled trial (RCT) utilizing a sport participation group and a non-participation control group. Forty male rugby 7 s players will be recruited for the study and allocated randomly to the experimental groups. The intervention group will participate in three straight rugby matches during a local 7 s rugby event. At the pre-match baseline, demographic and anthropometric data will be collected. This will be followed by the pre-match baseline collection of biochemical, biomechanical, and cognitive-motor task data. After three consecutive matches, the same measures will be taken. During each match, a notational analysis will be undertaken to obtain contact information. All measurements will be taken again 24, 48, and 72 h after the third match. Discussion: When the number of games increases owing to weariness and/or stressful circumstances, we expect a decline in body movement, coordination, and cognitive-motor tasks. Changes in blood biochemistry are expected to correspond to changes in biomechanics and cognitive-motor processes. This research proposal will generate considerable, ecologically valid data on the occurrence of head trauma events under game conditions, as well as the influence of these events on the biological systems of the performers. This will lead to a greater understanding of how sports participants react to exercise-induced injuries. This study’s scope will have far-reaching ramifications for doctors, coaches, managers, scientists, and sports regulatory bodies concerned with the health and well-being of athletic populations at all levels of competition, including all genders and ages. Full article

Rugby Union (rugby) is a full-contact team sport characterised by frequent collision events. Over one third (2.7 million) of global rugby participants are women and girls. Yet, most rugby research, laws, and regulations are derived from the men’s game with limited transferability to the women’s game. This includes research focused on injury and concussion management. Greater insights are urgently required to enable appropriate adaptations and support for all rugby participants. Therefore, this paper presents the protocol for a project that sought to gather insights into the understanding, experiences, and attitudes of players and coaches in women’s rugby regarding key issues of concussion, injury, and training for injury prevention, as well as the implications of the menstrual cycle for training and performance. From August 2020 to November 2020, online, open, cross-sectional surveys for players and coaches were distributed globally through rugby governing bodies and women’s rugby social media platforms using snowball sampling. Survey responses were recorded anonymously via a GDPR-compliant online survey platform, JISC (jisc.ac.uk, Bristol, England). Participant eligibility included being ≥18 years and either actively playing or coaching women’s rugby 15s and/or sevens, or having done so in the past decade, at any level, in any country. To enhance the number and accuracy of responses, the survey was professionally translated into eight additional languages. A total of 1596 participants from 62 countries (27 ± 6 years; 7.5 ± 5.1 years of playing experience) and 296 participants from 37 countries (mean age = 36.64, SD = 9.09, mean experience = 6.53 years, SD = 3.31) completed the players’ and coaches’ surveys, respectively. Understanding women’s participation in and experiences of rugby is important to enable lifelong engagement and enjoyment of the sport and health during and following participation. Full article

(1) Background: We aimed to compare gender differences in knee biomechanics and neuromuscular characteristics, and to determine the relationships between lower limb muscle pre-activations and knee biomechanics during a single leg drop landing, in order to identify riskier landing patterns to prevent injury and intervene properly. (2) Methods: Descriptive laboratory cross-sectional study on 38 healthy untrained subjects with low to moderate physical activity status. (3) Results: During the initial-contact phase of landing, females demonstrated greater peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) normalized to body weight (49.12 ± 7.53 vs. 39.88 ± 5.69 N/kg; p < 0.001; Hedge’s g = 1.37), peak knee anterior reaction force normalized to body weight (0.23 ± 0.04 vs. 0.17 ± 0.05 N/kg; p < 0.001; Hedge’s g = 1.33), and decreased pre-activation of the semitendinosus (45.10 ± 20.05% vs. 34.03 ± 12.05%; p = 0.04; Hedge’s g = 0.67). The final regression equation was peak knee anterior reaction force = 0.024 + 0.025 (peak knee flexion moment) − 0.02 (semitendinosus-to-vastus lateralis pre-activation ratio) + 0.003 (peak vertical GRF) (R² = 0.576, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Overall, the data provided in this study support that a reduced semitendinosus-to-vastus lateralis pre-activation ratio predicted an increase in knee anterior reaction force and potentially an increase in ACL forces. Female non-athletes had gender-specific landing characteristics that may contribute to ACL injury. Future studies are warranted to consider more possible predictors of non-contact ACL injury. Full article

Background: Maintaining a healthy gait into old age is key to preserving the quality of life and reducing the risk of falling. Nonlinear dynamic analyses (NDAs) are a promising method of identifying characteristics of people who are at risk of falling based on their movement patterns. However, there is a range of NDA measures reported in the literature. The aim of this review was to summarise the variety, characteristics and range of the nonlinear dynamic measurements used to distinguish the gait kinematics of healthy older adults and older adults at risk of falling. Methods: Medline Ovid and Web of Science databases were searched. Forty-six papers were included for full-text review. Data extracted included participant and study design characteristics, fall risk assessment tools, analytical protocols and key results. Results: Among all nonlinear dynamic measures, Lyapunov Exponent (LyE) was most common, followed by entropy and then Fouquet Multipliers (FMs) measures. LyE and Multiscale Entropy (MSE) measures distinguished between older and younger adults and fall-prone versus non-fall-prone older adults. FMs were a less sensitive measure for studying changes in older adults’ gait. Methodology and data analysis procedures for estimating nonlinear dynamic measures differed greatly between studies and are a potential source of variability in cross-study comparisons and in generating reference values. Conclusion: Future studies should develop a standard procedure to apply and estimate LyE and entropy to quantify gait characteristics. This will enable the development of reference values in estimating the risk of falling. Full article