Mason, BRJ, Argus, CK, Norcott, B, and Ball, NB. Resistance training priming activity improves upper-body power output in rugby players: implications for game day performance. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 913-920, 2017-"Priming" or preactivation strategies performed in the hours leading into competition have been suggested to improve game day performance. Therefore, this study assessed the effectiveness of a resistance training priming activity on eliciting changes in lower- and upper-body power output, along with perceptual measures. To assess these changes, 13 state-level rugby players (aged 18.5 ± 0.5 years) completed a test-retest protocol using a counterbalanced crossover design. Perceptual (readiness to perform questionnaire) and performance measures (20-kg countermovement jump [CMJ], 20-kg bench throw) were completed before either a control (rest) or priming activity (4 sets of 3 banded back squats and banded bench press). After a 1-hour and 45-minute recovery period, perceptual and performance measures were repeated. Readiness to perform showed no meaningful differences pre- and postintervention. Bench throw peak power (8.5 ± 5.8%, 90% confidence limit; p ≤ 0.05) improved after the priming activity when compared with the control trial. Countermovement jump peak power (3.4 ± 4.9%; p > 0.05) had a small decrease after the priming activity when compared with the control trial. Therefore, completing a priming activity 1 hour and 45 minutes before competition is recommended to improve upper-body power output. However, further research into lower-body priming protocols should be conducted before implementing a lower-body priming activity before competition.

No abstract

No abstract

Interlimb coordination variability analysis can shed light into the dynamics of higher order coordination and motor control. However, it is not clear how the interlimb coordination of people with no known injuries change in similar activities with increasing difficulty. This study aimed to ascertain if the interlimb coordination variability range and patterns of healthy participants change in different unilateral functional tasks with increasing complexity and whether leg dominance affects the interlimb coordination variability. In this cross-sectional study fourteen younger participants with no known injuries completed three repeated unilateral sit-to-stands (UniSTS), step-ups (SUs), and continuous-hops (Hops). Using four inertial sensors mounted on the lower legs and thighs, angular rotation of thighs and shanks were recorded. Using Hilbert transform, the phase angle of each segment and then the continuous relative phase (CRP) of the two segments were measured. The CRP is indicative of the interlimb coordination. Finally, the linear and the nonlinear shank-thigh coordination variability of each participant in each task was calculated. The results show that the linear shank-thigh coordination variability was significantly smaller in the SUs compared to both UniSTS and Hops in both legs. There were no significant differences found between the latter two tests in their linear coordination variability. However, Hops were found to have significantly larger nonlinear shank-thigh coordination variability compared to the SUs and the UniSTS. This can be due to larger vertical and horizontal forces required for the task and can reveal inadequate motor control during the movement. The combination of nonlinear and linear interlimb coordination variability can provide more insight into human movement as they measure different aspects of coordination variability. It was also seen that leg dominance does not affect the lower limb coordination variability in participants with no known injuries. The results should be tested in participants recovering from lower limb injuries.

Mason, BRJ, Pumpa, KL, McKune, AJ, Gill, ND, and Ball, NB. A multidisciplinary approach to game day preparation for team sports: A Delphi study with expert consensus. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1345-1352, 2022-The aim of this study was to identify game day preparation strategies used by performance staff to improve team sport performance and to determine consensus regarding the application and importance of these strategies. Twenty-five performance staff working in high performance or professional team sports participated in this Delphi study, which implemented 3 survey rounds. The first round sought responses to open-ended questions relating to the use of game day preparation strategies. These responses were developed into statements and recirculated (round-2 survey), with subjects asked to rate their level of agreement with each statement. The third and final survey presented revised versions of statements that did not reach a consensus in the previous round, along with new statements derived from subject responses. A thematic analysis of the open-ended responses in the first survey identified 5 key themes relating to game day preparation strategies: "exercise," "nutrition," "psychological," "technical and tactical," and "other." The round-2 survey included 38 statements across the 5 themes, with 22 reaching the consensus threshold ($75%) for agreement. The remaining 16 statements did not reach consensus. The final survey included 18 statements (16 revised and 2 new) with 12 reaching the consensus threshold for agreement. Key preparation strategies identified in this study include structured and progressive warm-ups, strength and power-based priming sessions, individualized nutrition plans, and precooling in hot conditions. Performance staff working in similar environments should consider adopting these strategies to improve athlete or team performance.