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The aim of this study was to determine the physical and physiological demands of intercounty camogie match-play between positions and halves of play. Data were collected from 28 players during 18 competitive games using global positioning systems (10-Hz) and heart rate monitors (2.4-GHz). The study demonstrated that intercounty camogie players covered a total distance (TD) (m ± SD) of 6,040 ± 628 m, relative distance (RD) of 83 ± 13 m⋅min-1, and maximum speed of 25 ± 1 km⋅h-1. Furthermore, the players covered a mean sprint distance of 214 ± 112 m and 14 ± 6 sprints. Players' mean heart rate (HRmean) and HRmaxwas 138 ± 23 b⋅min-1 and 164 ± 20 b⋅min-1, respectively. There were decrements between halves in TD (p < 0.01, ES = -0.45), RD (p < 0.01, ES = -0.45), maximum speed (p < 0.05, ES 5 -0.18), HRmax(p < 0.05, ES = -0.23), running (p < 0.01, ES = -0.34), high-speed running (p < 0.01, ES = 0.34), sprinting (p < 0.01, ES 5 -0.10), HRmax(p < 0.05, ES = -0.23), and HRmax % (p < 0.05, ES = -0.24). Midfielders covered a greater TD compared with full-forwards (p < 0.05, ES 5 -0.38) and half-forwards (p < 0.05, ES 5 -0.38). Full-backs covered a significantly lower RD than midfielders (p < 0.05, ES 5 -1.2), half-backs compared with full-forwards (p < 0.05, ES 5 1.14), and half-forwards compared with full-forwards (p < 0.05, ES 5 1.15). Full-forwards covered significantly less RD when compared with half-backs (p < 0.05, ES 5 -1.14), midfielders (p < 0.05, ES 5 -1.47), and half-forwards (p < 0.05, ES 5 -1.15). The findings provide physical and physiological values on the match demands of intercounty camogie match-play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MacLennan, M, Ramirez-Campillo, R, and Byrne, PJ. Self-massage techniques for the management of pain and mobility with application to resistance training: a brief review. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): 2314-2323, 2023--Fascial restrictions that occur in response to myofascial trigger points (MTrP), exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), and delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) cause soft tissue to lose extensibility, which contributes to abnormal muscle mechanics, reduced muscle length, and decrements in joint range of motion (ROM) and actively contributes to musculoskeletal pain. Resistance training and in particular, weightlifting movements have unique mobility requirements imperative for movement efficacy and safety with ROM restrictions resulting in ineffective volume and intensity tolerance and dampened force output and power, which may lead to a failed lift or injury. Self-massage (SM) provides an expedient method to promote movement efficiency and reduce injury risk by improving ROM, muscular function, and reducing pain and allows athletes to continue to train at their desired frequency with minimal disruption from MTrPs-associated adverse effects. Thus, the aim of this review was to determine the efficacy of various self-massage tools in managing pain and mobility and to explore the potential benefits of SM on resistance training performance. Many SM devices are available for athletes to manage ROM restrictions and pain, including differing densities of foam rollers, roller massagers, tennis balls, and vibrating devices. To attenuate adverse training effects, a 10-to-20-minute bout consisting of 2-minute bouts of SM on the affected area may be beneficial. When selecting a SMdevice, athletes should note that foam rollers appear to be more effective than roller massagers, with vibrating foam rollers eliciting an increased reduction to pain perception, and tennis balls and soft massage balls were shown to be efficacious in targeting smaller affected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this study was to identify the physical fitness profile of Irish adolescents playing hurling, camogie, and Gaelic football according to age and gender. To establish relationships between the physical fitness tests and anthropometry for these male and female adolescents. This cross-sectional study design included 311 adolescents between age of 13-18 years. Subjects completed a physical fitness test battery of 9 tests which included the following: height, body mass, modified sit and reach (SR), seated medicine ball throw (MBT), countermovement jump (CMJ), standing long jump (SLJ), 15-m sprint, 505 agility, and a 6-minute modified Cooper test (m-CT). Female subjects scored significantly higher in the SR than males, and older adolescents scored significantly higher than younger adolescents (p < 0.05). In the remaining fitness tests (MBT, SLJ, CMJ, 15-m sprint, agility, and m-CT), males outperformed females, males had greater anthropometry scores than females, and older adolescents outperformed and had higher changes in anthropometry than younger counterparts (p < 0.05). Normative data for gender and age-specific percentile values (5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th) for these tests in these adolescent players are provided. These data are useful for clubs, parents, coaches, clinicians, and secondary schools in monitoring adolescents and to provide training programs that develop athletic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byrne, PJ, Moody, JA, Cooper, S-M, Farrell, E, and Kinsella, S. Short-term effects of "composite training" on strength, jump, and sprint performance in hurling players. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2253–2261, 2022—The purpose of this study was to compare the short-term effects of "composite" training to sprint training on strength, jump, and sprint acceleration performance in hurling players. A randomized counterbalanced group design with baseline test, pretest and post-test measures was used. Twenty-five hurling players volunteered to participate and 21 completed the study. Subjects were divided into a "composite" (COMP group, n = 10) or a sprint training (SPRINT group, n = 11) group. Both groups trained twice per week for 7 weeks with the SPRINT group performing 6 repetitions of 20 m sprints and the COMP group completing 6 repetitions (1 repetition = 3 bounce drop jumps [BDJs] with a 20 m sprint after 15 seconds recovery). Significant differences existed pretraining to post-training for the COMP group for BDJ contact time (−7.25%; p = 0.05) and countermovement jump (CMJ) variables (height: 7.43%, p = 0.006; force: 5.24%, p = 0.05; power: 15.11%, p = 0.001). No significant differences were found between groups at baseline and for group by time interactions. Significant improvements were observed pretraining to post-training in both groups for the following: absolute 3 repetition maximum (3RM) back squat strength (12.73–17.62%, p = 0.01), 5 m (5.74–9.49%, p = 0.006–0.04), 10 m (4.27–5.59%, p = 0.007–0.02), and 20 m (3.35–3.98%, p = 0.003–0.01). In conclusion, "composite" training is effective in enhancing fast stretch-shortening cycle efficiency inducing CMJ force and power augmentation. However, "composite" and sprint training are effective training approaches for enhancing maximal strength and sprint performance in a time efficient manner in hurling players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the postactivation potentiation response first to bounce drop jump (BDJ) volume; second, BDJ intrarepetition recovery duration and recovery duration between BDJs and 20-meter (including 5- and 10-m split times) sprint performance. The study was undertaken in 2 parts, the first part compared different volumes of BDJs and the second part compared different BDJ intrarepetition recovery periods. The effect of recovery periods between the BDJs and the subsequent 20-m sprints was examined in both parts 1 and 2 (15 seconds, 4, 8, and 12 minutes). Fourteen (mean ± SD: age = 20.83 ± 1.26 years; height = 1.77 ± 0.04 m; and mass = 74.89 ± 6.07 kg) (part 1) and 15 (mean ± SD: age = 20.64 ± 1.00 years; height = 1.78 ± 0.06 m; and mass = 75.67 ± 6.28 kg) (part 2) male collegiate and club hurling players volunteered to participate. A randomized cross-over design was used to compare BDJ volumes (1, 2, and 3 sets of 3 repetitions) and BDJ intrarepetition recovery time (15 vs. 60 seconds) after a warm-up followed by 2 baseline 20-m sprints. The results in part 1 reported a significant improvement in 5- and 10-m sprint time for 1 set of 3 BDJs between baseline and 4 minutes (5 m: -2.34%, p = 0.04, effect size [ES] = -0.043; 10 m: -1.42%, p = 0.03, ES = -0.35), and baseline and 12 minutes (5 m: -3.33%, p = 0.03, ES = -0.57; 10 m: -2.13%, p = 0.01, ES = -0.52). Part 2 reported a significant improvement in 5-m sprint time between baseline and 15 seconds (5 m: -3.38%, p = 0.01, ES = -0.83; 10 m: -2.07%, p = 0.02, ES = -0.58) after the BDJs. The findings support the use of 1 set of 3 BDJs using a 15-second intrarepetition recovery period to maximize 5-, 10-, and 20-m sprint performance after 15 seconds of recovery after the final BDJ in hurling players. The acute response to this BDJ protocol proves to be time efficient and effective in acutely improving sprint acceleration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to first investigate the effects of treating latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the lower limb kinetic chain with respect to performance during sporting actions, as opposed to the traditional goal of pain management with active MTrPs. The second aim was to investigate the effects of dry needling (DN) on performance parameters over time to establish treatment timeframe guidelines before performance. Forty male athletes were assigned to 4 groups; rectus femoris DN (group 1), medial gastrocnemius DN (group 2), rectus femoris and medial gastrocnemius DN (group 3), and no DN (group 4). Subjects completed 6 sessions; familiarization, baseline, immediately after DN, 48, 72, and 96 hours after intervention. Subjects performed squat jumps at 5 incremental loads and were recorded using the My Jump app (iOS) for jump height, power output, optimal force, and optimal velocity. A between--within subject's analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. Results showed a significant increase in jump height in group 2 (gastrocnemius muscle only) from immediately after to 48 hours after intervention (p = 0.01); however, no other statistical significance was observed. From 48 hours onward, a trend for improved performance was observed, with jump height, power, and velocity showing trivial increases. This study found improved jump performance from immediately after to 48 hours post-DN of the gastrocnemius muscle only. This study suggests a likely immediate decrease in jump performance after DN, with levels increasing above baseline between 48 and 96 hours, which may have clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-day reliability of the reactive strength index (RSI) and optimal drop height (ODH) identification from multiple drop heights. Nineteen male trained hurling players (23.1 ± 2.9 years, 83.1 ± 15.5kg, and 182.5 ± 54.89cm) completed 2 maximal depth jumps from 4 incremental drop heights (30, 40, 50, 60cm), over two separate testing sessions 48 hours apart. The RSI and ODH were analysed for reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). RSI and ODH both demonstrated good reliability with ICC ≥ 0.80 (0.87 and 0.81) and CV ≤ 10% (4.2 and 2.98), respectively. The results of this study support the use of an incremental depth jump protocol to find the RSI and ODH in trained hurlers. It is recommended that the incremental depth jump protocol be used when assessing an athletes reactive strength, as it allows a reactive strength profile, maximum RSI, and an ODH to be determined, all of which can provide vital information when determining an athletes training intensity and load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which investigated whether the addition of three depth jumps to a dynamic warm-up (DYNDJ) protocol would significantly improve 20-meter sprint performance when compared with a cardiovascular (C) warm-up protocol or a dynamic (DYN) stretching protocol. Researchers evaluated 29 athletes. They found that the DYNDJ protocol significantly improved sprint performance.

The article presents the results of a study which compared the use of two methods for identifying the drop height at which depth jump plyometric training ought to begin. An overview of related previous research is provided, along with details of the experimental protocol. The study found that the reactive strength index (RSI) could be effective for the countermovement jump, but the maximum jump height (MJH) method was better for improving reaction strength.