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Pre‐binding prior to full engagement improves loading conditions for front‐row players in contested R ugby U nion scrums
Author(s) -
Preatoni E.,
Cazzola D.,
Stokes K. A.,
England M.,
Trewartha G.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12592
Subject(s) - front (military) , set (abstract data type) , safer , sports biomechanics , applied psychology , protocol (science) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology , simulation , physical therapy , computer science , medicine , engineering , computer security , mechanical engineering , programming language , alternative medicine , pathology
We investigated the effect of a “ P re B ind” engagement protocol on the biomechanics of contested R ugby U nion scrummaging at different playing levels. “ P re B ind” requires front‐row props to take a bind on opposing players prior to the engagement, and to maintain the bind throughout the scrum duration. Twenty‐seven teams from five different playing levels performed live scrums under realistic conditions. Video analysis, pressures sensors, and inertial measurement units measured biomechanical outcomes as teams scrummaged following different engagement protocols: the CTPE (referee calls “crouch‐touch‐pause‐engage”), the CTS (“crouch‐touch‐set”), and the P re B ind (“crouch‐bind‐set”) variants. P re B ind reduced the set‐up distance between the packs (−27%) and the speed at which they came into contact by more than 20%. The peak biomechanical stresses acting on front rows during the engagement phase were decreased in P re B ind by 14–25% with respect to CTPE and CTS , without reducing the capability to generate force in the subsequent sustained push. No relevant main effects were recorded for playing level due to within‐group variability and there were no interaction effects between playing level and engagement protocol. Pre‐binding reduced many mechanical quantities that have been indicated as possible factors for chronic and acute injury, and may lead to safer engagement conditions without affecting subsequent performance.