Cocoa supplementation has been associated with benefits to cardiovascular health. However, cocoa's effects on cognition are less clear. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial (n = 40, age M = 24.13 years, SD = 4.47 years) was conducted to investigate the effects of both acute (same-day) and sub-chronic (daily for four-weeks) 250 mg cocoa supplementation on mood and mental...

The effects of quad rugby training on physical capacity and physical strain during standardized activities of daily living were investigated in 9 trained (A) and 5 untrained quad rugby players (B), and 7 inactive persons with tetraplegia (C) at 0, 3 and 6 months after the start of a quad rugby training program (1.5h.wk[-1]). Physical capacity was measured as maximal isometric strength, peak pow...

The purpose of this study was to identify cervical spine morphologies at risk in rugby games. A parameterized osteoarticular finite element model of the cervical spine modeled 17 subjects under three different loadings, each being representative of rugby game phases: scrum (unconstrained axial compression), tackle (full-constraint axial compression) and collapsing scrum (hyperflexion). Stress a...

The eccentric utilization ratio (EUR), which is the ratio of countermovement jump (CMJ) to static jump (SJ) performance, has been suggested as a useful indicator of power performance in athletes. The purpose of the study was to compare the EUR of athletes from a variety of different sports and during different phases of training. A total of 142 athletes from rugby union, Australian Rules Footba...

AIMS To determine whether a single ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection into the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) reduces the time for rugby athletes to return to function and match play following MRI confirmed ankle syndesmosis injury. METHODS Cohort controlled pilot study. 10 Rugby Union players were recruited during the 2014 season, and consented to receive...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the physiological characteristics of subelite junior and senior rugby league players and establish performance standards for these athletes. METHODS A total of 159 junior (under 16, 15, 14, and 13, n = 88) and senior (first grade, second grade, and under 19, n = 71) rugby league players (forwards, n = 80, backs, n = 79), competing at a subelite level, underwent measu...

BACKGROUND Ground hardness is considered one of the possible risk factors associated with rugby injuries. OBJECTIVES To examine the contribution of ground hardness, rainfall and evapotranspiration to the incidence of injury, and to investigate seasonal injury bias throughout one full season of rugby union. METHODS A prospective epidemiological study of rugby injuries was performed on 271 pl...

OBJECTIVES To document the effects of compulsory mouthguard wearing on rugby related dental injury claims made to ACC, the administrator of New Zealand's accident compensation scheme. METHODS An ecological study was conducted. Estimates of mouthguard wearing rates were available from prospective studies conducted in 1993, 2002, and 2003. Rugby related dental injury claims were available for t...

In rugby union, laceration injuries can occur from players stamping on opponents in the ruck. To measure the stud-skin interaction during stamping movements, pressure sensors can be used. Pressure sensor calibration techniques have highlighted the need to perform calibrations using appropriate impact dynamics. A pilot study with seven rugby players informed the expected peak forces and loading ...

Today real-time sports performance analysis is a crucial aspect of matches in many major sports. For example, in soccer and rugby, team analysts may annotate videos during the matches by tagging specific actions and events, which typically result in some summary statistics and a large spreadsheet of recorded actions and events. To a coach, the summary statistics (e.g., the percentage of ball po...