Background: Rugby injuries are a common phenomenon. The aim of medical professionals is to treat these injuries to the best of their abilities, and if possible, to help prevent their occurrence. Bahr and Holme (2003) argue that sports participation carries with it a risk of injury, with the even more weighty issue that it might later even lead to physical disability. Junge, Cheung, Edwards and Dvorak (2004) recommends the development and implementation of preventative interventions to reduce the rate and severity of injuries in Rugby Union. The Medical and Risk Management Committee of USA Rugby (2003) also reports that the key to preventing injuries in any sport is identifying and addressing the risk factor associated with it. Various studies have identified weakness in plyometric strength, proprioception arid balance as - of lower leg and ankle injuries (Margison, Rowlands, Gleeson arid Eston, 2005; Stasiwpoulos, 2004; Verhagen, Van der Beck, Twisk, Bahr and Mechelen, 2004; Baltaci & Kohl, 2003; Mlophy, Conaoly and Beynnon, 2003; Moss, 2002; Anderson). Aims: ThE aim of this study was to investigate the influence of proprioception, balance and plyometric strength on the occurrence of lower leg injuries in schoolboy rugby players. A further aim was to develop a preventative training programme to address these variables, should they prove to have an influence on lower leg injuries. The possible inclusion of these tests in talent identification test batteries will also be examined. Design: A prospective cohort study. Subjects: A group of 240 schoolboys in U/14, U/15, U/16 and U/18 age groups in two schools (Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom ("Volkskool") and Potchefstroom Boys High School ("Boys High")) in the North West Province of South Africa was used as the test cohort. Method: At the beginning of the 2006 rugby season all players were tested for proprioception, balance and plyometric strength. These tests were conducted using a computerised tilt board for proprioceptive testing; Star Excursion Balance Test for Balance and an electronic timing mat for plyometric strength. During the season, weekly injury clinics were held at both schools to document all injuries that occurred following the preceding weekend's matches. A statistical analysis was done on all the data collected from the test batteries and injury clinics. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviation, minimum and maximum) were used as well as practical significant differences (d-values) (Cohen, 1988). The ratios for left and right leg plyometric strength to bilateral plyometric strength (L+R/Bil) and individual left and right leg plyometric strength to bilateral plyometric strength (L/Bil and R/Bil) were also calculated. Results: A profile of proprioception, balance and plyometric strength was compiled for schoolboy rugby players using the test data The U/18 players generally bad the best test results of all the age groups, outperforming U/14, U/15 and U/16 players with most tests. U/15 players outperformed both U/14 and U/16 players. Backline players performed better than loose forwards and forwards in plyometric tests in most age groups. Loose-forwards also outperformed tight-forwards with plyometrics at most age groups. At U/15 and U/16 level, tight-forwards slightly outperformed loose-forwards with Star Excursion Balance Tests. Generally, A-teams performed better than B-teams with all the tests except L+R/Bil; L/Bil and R/BiI. The difference between the teams, however, only had a small to medium effect and cannot be considered practically significant. At U/14 and U/15 levels, there were more practically significant differences between the A- and B-teams, with A-teams outperforming B-teams. The tests could have some value for talent identification at this age level. A rugby epidemiological study was done on the data collected in the weekly injury clinics. This study recorded 54 injuries at the two schools involved during the 2006 season from April to July. Two hundred and forty players were involved in 10890 hours of play. Eight thousand nine hundred and ten of these player hours were practices and 1980 were match hours. These injuries occurred at a prevalence rate of 4.96/1000 player hours. Match injuries accounted for 77.78% of all injuries with training sessions resulting in the remaining 22.22% of injuries, with a match injury rate of 1 injury per individual player every 3.14 matches. U/14 players showed an overall match injury rate of 11.11/1000 match hours. U/15 players showed a rate of 2.47/1000 match hours. The low rate may be attributed to underreporting of injuries by the U/15 players. U/16 players showed a late of 22.33/1000 hours, while U/18 players showed an exceptionally high rate of 45/1000 match hours. The tackle situation was responsible for the highest percentage of injuries (57.14%). Boys High presented with more injuries (57.4%) than Volkskool at a higher prevalence rate (5.60/1000 player hours). In a positional group comparison, backline players presented with 51.85% of injuries. Since backline players only present 46.7% of players in a team, this shows that backline players have a higher risk of injury. A-team players presented with 66.6% of injuries at a prevalence rate of 6.37/1000 player hours. B-team players had an injury rate of 3.43/1000 player hours. The test values for the players suffering lower leg injuries were compared to those for uninjured players. There were eight players with nine lower leg injuries: one player had injuries of both legs. Six of the injuries were intrinsic of nature and two players had extrinsic injuries. Test values for all five tested players with intrinsic injuries were weaker by a high practically significant margin for the L+R/Bil ratio. Conclusion: L+R/Bil proved to be the test result with the most influence on the occurrence of intrinsic lower leg injuries. When the individual test results for the players with intrinsic injuries are compared to the percentiles for all players, it becomes visible that the injured players fall in the 20th percentile for both L+R/Bil and Injured leg/Bil ratios. These 20th percentile values could thus be used as a standard for determining the possible occurrence of intrinsic lower leg injuries. These 20th percentile values are 1.012 for R+L/Bil ratios; 0.483 for L/Bil ratios and 0.492 for R/Bil ratios. This study shows that plyometric ratios for L+R/Bii, L/Bil and R/Bil have an influence on lower leg injuries in schoolboy rugby players. Proprioception and balance did not have any practically significant effects on the occurrence of these injuries. A preventative training programme was also designed following a study of the literature, combined with these results. The tests could also possibly be integrated in talent identification test batteries at U/14 and U/15 level. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Inledning: Balans eller postural kontroll är en fundamental sensomotorisk funktion för att kunna hålla sig upprätt. Ett viktigt sensoriskt system för den posturala kontrollen är proprioceptionen, vilken bidrar till god precision, ledstabilitet, koordination och balans vid rörelse. Den mekanoreceptor som anses ha störst betydelse för proprioceptionen är muskelspolen, vilken har till uppgift att registrera och reglera längd och förändring av längd hos en muskel. Det går att träna upp sin balans genom träning på instabilt underlag men det är oklart huruvida ankelproprioception påverkas. Syfte: Studiens syfte var att genomföra en initial pilotstudie för att undersöka eventuella indikationer på effekter på dels postural kontroll generellt och dels mer specifikt ankelproprioception. Detta mättes i stillastående balanstest efter balansträning på instabilt jämfört med stabilt underlag med och utan lokal muskelvibration på en grupp unga friska män och kvinnor. Metod: Nio deltagare rekryterades varav fyra stycken slumpades till den grupp som tränade på stabilt underlag (SG) och fem stycken till den grupp som tränade på instabilt underlag (IG). Fyra balanstester utfördes innan och efter träningsperioden genom test av postural svaj mätt med Wii Balance Board (WBB). Resultat: För IG sågs en sänkning av Velocity under och efter vibration av vaderna. Inga tydliga skillnader framkom gällande Anterio-Posterior amplitud inom eller mellan grupperna.Konklusion:Resultatet indikerar att träning på instabilt underlag kan ha påverkan på proprioceptionen i anklarna vad gäller att minska svajets hastighet under och efter vadmuskelvibration. Dessa resultat motiverar större studie med fler deltagare för statistiska analyser av eventuella skillnader inom och mellan grupperna.

INTRODUÇÃO: Atletas de futebol podem ter melhor equilíbrio que sedentários, pois os programas de treinamento sensório-motor melhoram a função motora, aumentam o controle neuromuscular e promovem a melhora da propriocepção. Este estudo teve como objetivos: avaliar o equilíbrio postural e a influência da dominância e dos fatores antropométricos em atletas de futebol de campo e indivíduos sedentários. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 100 indivíduos do gênero masculino divididos em dois grupos: 50 atletas de futebol de campo (GA) com idade de 18,0+0,7 anos e 50 indivíduos sedentários (GS) com idade de 17,6+0,6 anos. Os grupos foram analisados em relação à massa corporal, estatura, índice de massa corporal (IMC), flexibilidade e percentagem de gordura. Para avaliação do equilíbrio foi utilizado o protocolo Dynamic Balance System, nível 8 de estabilidade do equipamento Biodex Balance System (BBS). RESULTADOS: Os atletas apresentaram melhores índices no membro dominante no teste para a direita (p = 0,039) e no membro não-dominante no teste para trás/esquerda (p=0,007). Os sedentários tiveram melhores índices no teste realizado para a direita (p=0,034) no membro não dominante. Nos demais índices, não houve diferença estatística. O GS teve melhor desempenho do membro não dominante quando comparado com o dominante na maioria dos testes realizados. No GA houve melhor desempenho do membro não dominante no índice de estabilidade geral (p=0,027) e para esquerda (p=0,009). Houve fraca correlação entre medidas antropométricas e os índices de equilíbrio medidos pelo BBS nos dois grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Não há diferença no equilíbrio postural de atletas de futebol de campo e indivíduos sedentários. A dominância afeta o equilíbrio unipodal dos indivíduos sedentários, mas não afeta dos atletas de futebol de campo da categoria juniores. Os fatores antropométricos não interferiram no equilíbrio / INTRODUCTION: Soccer athletes may have a better balance than sedentary individuals, once sensory-motor training programs improve the motor function, increase neuromuscular control and promote a better balance and proprioception. The aim of this study was to assess the postural balance and the influence of the dominance and of anthropometric measures on field soccer athletes and sedentary individuals. METHODS: One hundred male individuals were assessed and divided in two groups: 50 field soccer players (AG) aged 18+0,7 years and 50 sedentary individuals (SG) aged 17,6+0,6 years. Groups were analyzed regarding body mass, height, body mass index (BMI), flexibility and fat percentage. Balance was assessed using the Dynamic Balance System protocol, level 8 of stability of the Biodex Balance System (BBS) equipment. RESULTS: Athletes presented better indexes in the dominant member in the test performed to the right (p=0,039), and in the non-dominant member in the test to backward/left (p=0,007). Sedentary individuals presented better indexes in the test performed to the right (p=0,034) in the non-dominant member. There was no statistical difference in the other tests. The SG presented better performance of the non-dominant member when compared to the dominant member in most of the tests performed. In the AG, there was a better performance of the non-dominant member in the overall stability index (p=0,027) and to the left (p=0,009). There was poor correlation between anthropometric measures and balance indexes measured by the BBS in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in postural balance between field soccer athletes and sedentary individuals. The dominance affected the unipodal balance of sedentary individuals, but not of field soccer athletes from the junior category. The anthropometric indexes did not interfere in the postural balance

Xu Dongqing. / "June 2003." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 140-154). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

abstract: Proprioception is the sense of body position, movement, force, and effort. Loss of proprioception can affect planning and control of limb and body movements, negatively impacting activities of daily living and quality of life. Assessments employing planar robots have shown that proprioceptive sensitivity is directionally dependent within the horizontal plane however, few studies have looked at proprioceptive sensitivity in 3d space. In addition, the extent to which proprioceptive sensitivity is modifiable by factors such as exogenous neuromodulation is unclear. To investigate proprioceptive sensitivity in 3d we developed a novel experimental paradigm employing a 7-DoF robot arm, which enables reliable testing of arm proprioception along arbitrary paths in 3d space, including vertical motion which has previously been neglected. A participant’s right arm was coupled to a trough held by the robot that stabilized the wrist and forearm, allowing for changes in configuration only at the elbow and shoulder. Sensitivity to imposed displacements of the endpoint of the arm were evaluated using a “same/different” task, where participant’s hands were moved 1-4 cm from a previously visited reference position. A measure of sensitivity (d’) was compared across 6 movement directions and between 2 postures. For all directions, sensitivity increased monotonically as the distance from the reference location increased. Sensitivity was also shown to be anisotropic (directionally dependent) which has implications for our understanding of the planning and control of reaching movements in 3d space. The effect of neuromodulation on proprioceptive sensitivity was assessed using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which has been shown to have beneficial effects on human cognitive and sensorimotor performance in other contexts. In this pilot study the effects of two frequencies (30hz and 300hz) and three electrode configurations were examined. No effect of electrode configuration was found, however sensitivity with 30hz stimulation was significantly lower than with 300hz stimulation (which was similar to sensitivity without stimulation). Although TENS was shown to modulate proprioceptive sensitivity, additional experiments are required to determine if TENS can produce enhancement rather than depression of sensitivity which would have positive implications for rehabilitation of proprioceptive deficits arising from stroke and other disorders. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Neuroscience 2018

Joint Position Sense (JPS) of the shoulder as determined by repeated repositioning tasks has been performed under different constrained testing conditions. The variability in the testing protocols for JPS testing of the gleno-humeral joint may incorporate different movement patterns, numbers of trials used to derived a specific JPS variable and range of motion. All of these aspects may play an important role in the assessment of G-H JPS testing. When using a new instrument for assessing JPS all of these issues need to be examined to document the optimal testing protocols for subsequent clinical assessments. By undertaking these studies future clinical trials may be more optimally assessed to determine if there are differences between dominant and non-dominant arms as well as the presence of JPS changes in performance associated with pathology and rehabilitation. This study used a 3-dimensional tracking system to examined gleno-humeral JPS using 2 open kinetic chain movement patterns. The 'conventional' 90 degree abducted, externally rotated movement was compared to the hypothetically more functional D2 movement pattern used in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitatory techniques. These two patterns were tested at different ranges (low and high). Two cohorts (n=12, n=16) of normal healthy athletic males aged 17-35 years, performed matching tasks of both left and right arms. The second cohort (n=16) were assessed with and without strapping the gleno-humeral joint with sports tape. Accuracy (overall bias) and precision (variability) scores were determined for progressively greater numbers of trials. The findings of the study show that estimates of JPS accuracy and precision become more stable from data derived from 5 to 6 matching trials. There were no statistical differences between sides [95%CI ± 1.5cm]. The accuracy but not precision improved as subjects approximated the 'high' end of range in the 'conventional' or D2 pattern. Furthermore, no systematic differences were detected at different ranges of movement or movement patterns with or without the application of sports tape. These findings provide a guide to the number of trials that optimise the testing of the gleno-humeral joint and also suggest that in normal controls the magnitude of differences between sides and movement patterns is similar. These findings also iii indicate that sports tape applied to the shoulder may not significantly change the JPS performance in healthy, athletic males.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The current study evaluated whether robotic guidance can influence movement planning and/or the use of online proprioceptive feedback. Participants were divided into three groups wherein they practiced an aiming task unassisted or via a robotic device that led them through a trajectory with an asymmetric or symmetric velocity profile. Baseline performance was measured prior to training and a post-test included control and tendon vibration trials. Temporal, spatial, and kinematic variables were used to assess planning and online control mechanisms. Results indicated that tendon vibration altered the way individuals planned their movements and used online sensory feedback. Robotic-guided groups appeared to use online feedback to a lesser extent than the unassisted group during tendon vibration trials, based on kinematic data. Individuals may become less inclined to use erroneous proprioceptive feedback following robotic guidance, supporting the potential benefit of robotics in neuro-motor rehabilitation for those with proprioceptive deficits.

No description available.