Neuromuscular, physiological and perceptual responses to linear vs. multidirectional high intensity running sessions in academy rugby union players.

• Register: ANZCTR
• Last refreshed on: 13 January 2020
• Main ID: ACTRN12615000663550
• Date of registration: 26/06/2015
• Prospective Registration: Yes
• Primary sponsor: University of Bath, United Kingdom
• Public title: Neuromuscular, physiological and perceptual responses to linear vs. multidirectional high intensity running sessions in academy rugby union players.
• Scientific title: Are measures of neuromuscular fatigue, as identified through dynamometry and sphygmomanometer scores, influenced when compared between two types of modified high intensity running sessions typically used in rugby training environments: i.e. linear (L) vs. shuttle run with multiple changes of direction (COD) in a group of Australian academy rugby union players.
• Date of first enrolment: 27/11/2015
• Target sample size: 25
• Recruitment status: Completed
• URL: https://anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12615000663550.aspx
• Study type: Interventional
• Study design: Purpose: Educational / counselling / training; Allocation: Non-randomised trial; Masking: Open (masking not used);Assignment: Single group;Type of endpoint: Efficacy;
• Phase: Not Applicable

Countries of recruitment

Australia

Contacts

• Name: Mr Liam James Robinson

• Name: Mr Liam James Robinson

Key inclusion & exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: The player must be within the u20s academy squad for the 2015 season and must have had MSK clearance from the assessing physiotherapist prior to being invited for consideration of participation.

Participants must also have clearance from the club prior to being invited – (after MSK screening has been completed)

Exclusion criteria: Failure of in-club musculoskeletal assessment

Club have the right to withdraw a participate also if required

Only players that would otherwise be involved in full contact/non-restricted/non-modified training sessions at the time which the study is being conducted will be selected as invitees for participation.

Any player not given permission by the club will also be excluded, despite them being eligible based on MSK assessment. The parent club will have ultimate say on inclusion of the player in the outlined study.


Age minimum: 18 Years
Age maximum: 20 Years
Gender: Males

Health Condition(s) or Problem(s) studied

Neuromuscular fatigue ;physiological fatigue ;perceptual fatigue ;
Neuromuscular fatigue
physiological fatigue
perceptual fatigue

Other - Research that is not of generic health relevance and not applicable to specific health categories listed above

Intervention(s)

Subjects will run at maximal speed during 30 m shuttles set up in accordance to either protocol A or B. Each 30m of running will be followed by 30 m walking at <1 m/s.

Subjects will run a total distance of 1500 m in both protocols.

Prog A will involve participants running at maximal speeds for 30m in a straight line, followed by a 30m walk and repeated until 1500m of running has been complete. This will likely take 30-45 minutes to complete. This will only be ran once, with Prog B being tested 8 days later.

Prog B (8 days later) will involve participants running at maximal speeds for 30m in an outlined multidirectional manner. The 30m requested will involve periods of change of direction and/or acceleration/deceleration zones which will be outlined by cones and markers on the running field and will be guided by a running co-ordinator during the trial. Each 30m will again be followed by a 30m walk and will be repeated until 1500m running has been completed. This again will likely take 30-45 minutes to complete.

The personnel involved in supervising these sessions will be

A) the author - who will take neuromuscular measurements pre and post running. The author is a 6 year qualified and fully registered physiotherapist.

B) a strength and conditioner who will watch all running and direct the players whilst running as to various times for walking and direction to the next stations. This is a MSc level qualified strength and conditioner

Primary Outcome(s)

Neuromuscular Fatigue as measured by handheld Dynamometry and a sphygmomanometer. [Post running of the trial - immediate assessment after running of the protocol & 48 hours post completion of the running trial. ]

Secondary Outcome(s)

eccentric hamstrings as measured by dynamometer [Neuromuscular measures will be taken both pre warm up and then taken again at the immediate completion of the running of either A or B.
]

Heart rate (HR) will be measured by the GPS unit which will be fitted to the participant prior to any running has commenced. This will monitor throughout the whole testing and be recorded by the GPS co-ordinator. [HR pre running, during running, and upto 5 mins post running]

Session RPE - will be measured at no more than 15 minutes post completion of running protocol A or B. This will be the 1-10 cSession RPE scale which is a validated scale. [No greater than 15 minutes post completion of the running protocol A or B. ]

Composite - Running speed, direction, acceleration zones and deceleration zones will all be measured using the GPS also which will be fitted to the participant prior to running and monitored throughout the whole testing day for prog A and prog B[GPS fitted pre assessment of running and taken off after completion of running ]

RPE - rate of perceived exertion will be measured pre/during & post both Prog A and prog B using the 6-20 BORG scale and will be asked at defined intervals [6-20 RPE at pre warm up, post warm up, 300m, 600m, 1200m, 1500m for both prog A and prog B and will be conducted by an assigned helper. ]

Neuromuscular measures will be taken both pre warm up and then taken again at the immediate completion of the running of either A or B.
3 measures will be taken with dynamometer (knee flexion, extension, eccentric hamstrings)

A) knee flexion as measured by dynamometer [pre warm up and then taken again at the immediate completion of the running of either A or B]

Adductor squeeze will also be taken as a measure of neuromuscular fatigue[Measured pre running and immediately upon completion of running protocol A or B]

Blood lactate concentration ([La]) scores from Prog A compared to Prog B. Will be measured by a Blood Lactate Machine post completion of the running protocol. This will not be measured pre running, as participants will be told to maintain same diet 24 hours prior to running - so blood lactate only measured after running. [Each outcome, aside from blood lactate will be measured pre running and post running
Blood lactate measured at 4 mins post completion of running of either of A or B]

knee extension as measured by dynamometer [Neuromuscular measures will be taken both pre warm up and then taken again at the immediate completion of the running of either A or B.
]

Secondary ID(s)

Nil Known

Source(s) of Monetary Support

Liam James Robinson

Secondary Sponsor(s)

Aaron Coutts (Project Supervisor) Professor in Sport and Exercise Science

Ethics review

Status: Approved
Approval date:
Contact:

University of Bath Research Ethics Approval Committee for Health (REACH)

Status: Approved
Approval date:
Contact:

University of Technology Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee