CARRYING A BALL CAN INFLUENCE SIDESTEPPING MECHANICS IN RUGBY

Authors

  • Scott R Brown
  • Matt Brughelli
  • Patria A Hume

Keywords:

knee injury, anterior cruciate ligament, ACL, planned, cut, manoeuvre

Abstract

Sidestepping mechanics have been implicated as a risk factor for knee injury in rugby. Carrying a ball is proposed to alter movement patterns. Therefore the purpose of the study was to examine the effects of sidestepping with a ball compared to sidestepping without a ball on lower-extremity biomechanics in male rugby athletes. Three-dimensional kinematics of 18 male rugby athletes were recorded during a maximal effort 45° sidestepping task without and with a ball. Sidestepping with a ball resulted in 15% greater knee adduction angle during weight acceptance and 18% greater hip adduction angle during peak pushoff than without a ball. Future biomechanical evaluations of athletes require the inclusion of the ball specific to the sport to ensure accurate interpretation of movement patterns.

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Published

2016-05-05