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Mechanical Properties of Sprinting in Elite Rugby Union and Rugby League.
- Source :
- International Journal of Sports Physiology & Performance; Sep2015, Vol. 10 Issue 6, p695-702, 8p, 3 Charts, 2 Graphs
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Purpose: To compare mechanical properties of overground sprint running in elite rugby union and rugby league athletes. Methods: Thirty elite rugby code (15 rugby union and 15 rugby league) athletes participated in this cross-sectional analysis. Radar was used to measure maximal overground sprint performance over 20 or 30 m (forwards and backs, respectively). In addition to time at 2, 5, 10, 20, and 30 m, velocity-time signals were analyzed to derive external horizontal force--velocity relationships with a recently validated method. From this relationship, the maximal theoretical velocity, external relative and absolute horizontal force, horizontal power, and optimal horizontal force for peak power production were determined. Results: While differences in maximal velocity were unclear between codes, rugby union backs produced moderately faster split times, with the most substantial differences occurring at 2 and 5 m (ES 0.95 and 0.86, respectively). In addition, rugby union backs produced moderately larger relative horizontal force, optimal force, and peak power capabilities than rugby league backs (ES 0.73-0.77). Rugby union forwards had a higher absolute force (ES 0.77) despite having ~12% more body weight than rugby league forwards. Conclusions: In this elite sample, rugby union athletes typically displayed greater short-distance sprint performance, which may be linked to an ability to generate high levels of horizontal force and power. The acceleration characteristics presented in this study could be a result of the individual movement and positional demands of each code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- ANTHROPOMETRY
BIOMECHANICS
BIOPHYSICS
COMPARATIVE studies
CONFIDENCE intervals
EXERCISE physiology
MATHEMATICS
REGRESSION analysis
RESEARCH evaluation
RESEARCH funding
RUGBY football
RUNNING
SCIENTIFIC apparatus & instruments
STATISTICS
STATISTICAL reliability
EFFECT sizes (Statistics)
INTER-observer reliability
ELITE athletes
CROSS-sectional method
EXERCISE intensity
DATA analysis software
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15550265
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- International Journal of Sports Physiology & Performance
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 109127855
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2014-0151