The Impact of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Program on Leg Stiffness, Reactive Strength, and Landing Biomechanics in Amateur Female Rugby Players

This randomized control study aimed to assess 12 weeks of a novel neuromuscular training program (KneeRugbyWomen) on jump-related biomechanical variables in amateur female rugby players. Twenty-four participants were randomly allocated either an experimental group (EG; n = 12, age: 20.05 ± 4.43 yrs., height: 166.54 4.46 cm, weight: 64.65 6.44 kg) or (CG; 20.04 4.88 166.83 7.30 69.83 12.84 kg). Participants tested before and after 12-week intervention for (leg stiffness, Reactive Strength Index (RSI), landing mechanics using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS)). A significant increase RSI was found EG (p 0.012, r 0.70, large effect). At post-testing, players had significantly greater scores compared CG at post-intervention 0.007, 0.55, LESS pre-intervention 0.008, effect) 0.003, 0.60, Results this demonstrate positive effect KneeRugbyWomen RSI, which has been previously associated with increased ACL injury risk