Association Between Position-Specific Impact and Movement Characteristics of Professional Rugby Union Players During Game Play

• Rebecca J. Peek ^[1] ; David L. Carey ^[1] ; Kane J. Middleton ; Paul B. Gastin ; Anthea C. Clarke
  1. [1] La Trobe University

     La Trobe University

     Australia

     
• Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 37, Nº. 1, 2023, págs. 161-166
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The aim of this study was to understand the association between impact and movement characteristics during whole game and peak 1- to 10-minute rolling windows in professional rugby union. Maximal impact (impacts[middle dot]min-1) and corresponding running (m[middle dot]min-1) characteristics as well as maximal running (m[middle dot]min-1) and corresponding impact (impacts[middle dot]min-1) characteristics were obtained for 160 athletes from 4 teams across the 2018 and 2019 Super Rugby seasons. A linear mixed-effects model reported a positive association between whole-game running and impacts, where greater impact characteristics corresponded with greater running characteristics. The average 1-minute peak running characteristics (150-160 m[middle dot]min-1) typically occurred when no impacts occurred. The average 1-minute peak impact characteristics (4-6 impacts[middle dot]min-1) corresponded with an average relative distance of 90-100 m[middle dot]min-1. Worst case scenario observed impact characteristics as large as 15 impacts[middle dot]min-1 with a corresponding relative distance of 140 m[middle dot]min-1. When training for peak period characteristics, running may be completed in isolation; however, peak impacts often occur in conjunction with moderate to high running movements. Given running and impact characteristics can appear concurrently within game play, this highlights the need to train them accordingly. As such, when prescribing training drills to replicate the peak characteristics in rugby union, consideration should be taken for both running and impact characteristics.