Abstract
Background: A rugby union game consists of 80 minutes of strenuous exertion. Forwards are required to participate in the arduous activity of scrummaging throughout a game.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify whether rugby-match simulated fatigue modified individual scrummaging technique and reduced performance.Methods: Twelve forwards (body mass 106.2±13.3 kg; stature 179.5±8.4 cm) had individual scrum kinetics and kinematics assessed prior to and following a protocol that simulated a rugby match. The simulated rugby match protocol required participants to run at various velocities and perform rugby specific tasks. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was assessed using a 6-20 Borg scale and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Blood lactate, heart rate and RPE were measured prior to, at mid-point and after the simulated game, while markers of muscle damage (blood creatine kinase activity (CK) and urea) were measured prior to and following the protocol.Results: RPE (p<0.0001) and VAS (p<0.0001) showed significant increases between the pre- and post-simulation values. Of the physiological markers, heart rate (p<0.0001) and blood urea concentration (p=0.004) increased following the match simulation. No significant differences were observed for blood CK (p=0.281), individual scrummaging forces (p=0.433) or in the kinematic variables following the protocol. While physiological fatigue and subjective ratings of physiological fatigue may develop during a rugby simulation, no differences were observed in peak forces or in body kinematics at peak force.Conclusion: Physiological fatigue does not influence individual scrummaging performance and technique.
Highlights
A rugby union game consists of 80 minutes of strenuous exertion
Assessing the objective physiological fatigue markers (Table 2), blood lactate was significantly higher at half-time compared to the start (d=1.0), but no significant difference was reported between the start and end (d=0.7) or between the half-time point and end point (d=0.2) of the match simulation
There was no significant difference in creatine kinase activity (CK) immediately following the simulated rugby match protocol (d=0.4)
Summary
A rugby union game consists of 80 minutes of strenuous exertion. Forwards are required to participate in the arduous activity of scrummaging throughout a game. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify whether rugby-match simulated fatigue modified individual scrummaging technique and reduced performance. [1] This exertion requires players to have a high level of endurance fitness and efficient physiological mechanisms to endure highintensity collisions and maintain effective technique in all the specialised aspects of the game. Both psychological [2] and physiological, [2,3,4,5] markers of fatigue have been shown to increase following competitive rugby games. That individual scrummaging forces would decline as a result of the match simulation, and secondly, that individual scrummaging kinematics would be negatively affected
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