The Relationship between Dynamic Balance and Jumping Tests among Adolescent Amateur Rugby Players. A Preliminary Study

Bartosz Wilczyński, Jakub Hinca, Daniel Ślęzak, Katarzyna Zorena, Bartosz Wilczyński, Jakub Hinca, Daniel Ślęzak, Katarzyna Zorena

Abstract

Rugby is a demanding contact sport. In light of research, poor balance, reduced jumping ability, muscle strength, and incorrect landing patterns might contribute to the increased risk of injury in athletes. Investigating the relationship between tests assessing these abilities might not only allow for the skillful programming of preventive training but also helps in assessing the risk of injury to athletes. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dynamic balance, vertical and horizontal jumps, and jump-landings movement patterns. Thirty-one healthy amateur adolescent rugby players (age: 14.3 ± 1.6 years, height 171.4 ± 9.7 cm, body mass 80 ± 26 kg) participated in the study. Data were collected by the Y-balance Test (YBT), Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), Single Leg Hop for Distance (SLHD), and Landing Error Score System (LESS). Significant positive correlations were found between SLHD both legs (SLHDb) and YBT Composite both legs (COMb) (r = 0.51, p = 0.0037) and between SLHDb and CMJ (r = 0.72, p < 0.0001). A relationship was also observed between the CMJ and YBT COMb test (r = 0.51, p = 0.006). Moderate positive correlations were found between the dominant legs in SLHD and the posterolateral (r = 0.40, p = 0.027), posteromedial (r = 0.43, p = 0.014), and composite (r = 0.48, p = 0.006) directions of the YBT. These results indicate that variables that are dependent on each other can support in the assessment of injury-risk and in enhancing sports performance of young athletes.

Keywords: athletes assessment; counter movement jump; injury risk screening; landing error score system; team sport performance.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Correlation between Y-Balance Test Composite both leg and CMJ. (b) Correlation between Y-Balance Test Composite both leg and SLHD both legs. (c) Correlation between CMJ and SLHD both legs. Abbreviations: CMJ—Counter Movement Jump, and SLHD—Single Leg Hop for Distance.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Correlation between Y-Balance Test dominant PM and dominant SLHD. (b) Correlation between Y-Balance Test dominant PL and dominant SLHD. (c) Correlation between Y-Balance Test dominant COM and dominant SLHD. Abbreviations: PM—Posteromedial, SLHD—Single Leg Hop for Distance, PL—Posterolateral, and COM—Composite.

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