A survey to determine the recovery strategies that medical support staff of rugby teams use to improve recovery of the players
A survey to determine the recovery strategies that medical support staff of rugby teams use to improve recovery of the players
In partial fulfillment of the MPhil Sports Physiotherapy degree
David V Van Wyk1 and Mike I. Lambert2
1 David van Wyk, Registered Physiotherapist
BPhyst (UP)
PO Box 12000
Erasmuskloof
0048
Phone: +27 12 345 4802
Fax: +27 12 345 3294
Email: david_van_wyk@hotmail.com
2MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine,
Department of Human Biology,
Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Cape Town
South Africa
Keywords:
· RUGBY
· ELITE PERFORMANCE
· RECOVERY
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine strategies used to accelerate recovery of elite rugby players after training and matches. A secondary aim was to focus on specifics of implementing ice/cold water immersion as recovery strategy.
Design: Questionnaire-based cross sectional descriptive survey.
Setting and Participants: Most (n=58) of the medical support staff of rugby teams (doctors, physiotherapists, biokineticists and fitness trainers) who attended the inaugural Rugby Medical Association conference linked to the South African Sports Medicine Association Conference in Pretoria (14-16th November, 2007) participated in the study.
Results: Recovery strategies utilized mostly after matches. Stretching and ice/cold water immersion utilized the most (83%). More biokineticists and fitness trainers advocated the usage of stretching than their counterparts (medical doctors, physiotherapists). Ice/Cold water immersion and Active Recovery top two rated strategies. Summary of details around implementation of ice/cold water therapy (mean): (i) time to immersion after matches: 12±9 min ;(ii) total duration of immersion session: 6±6 min; (iii) 3 immersion sessions per average training week; (iv) average water temperature: 10±3 ºC.; (v) ice cubes used most frequently to cool water, and (vi) plastic drums were mostly used as container for water.
Conclusion: In this survey the representative group of support staff provided insight to which strategies are utilized in South African elite rugby teams to accelerate recovery of players after training and/or matches.
KEYWORDS:
· Rugby
· Elite performance
· Recovery
Objective: To determine strategies used to accelerate recovery of elite rugby players after training and matches. A secondary aim was to focus on specifics of implementing ice/cold water immersion as recovery strategy.
Design: Questionnaire-based cross sectional descriptive survey.
Setting and Participants: Most (n=58) of the medical support staff of rugby teams (doctors, physiotherapists, biokineticists and fitness trainers) who attended the inaugural Rugby Medical Association conference linked to the South African Sports Medicine Association Conference in Pretoria (14-16th November, 2007) participated in the study.
Results: Recovery strategies utilized mostly after matches. Stretching and ice/cold water immersion utilized the most (83%). More biokineticists and fitness trainers advocated the usage of stretching than their counterparts (medical doctors, physiotherapists). Ice/Cold water immersion and Active Recovery top two rated strategies. Summary of details around implementation of ice/cold water therapy (mean): (i) time to immersion after matches: 12±9 min ;(ii) total duration of immersion session: 6±6 min; (iii) 3 immersion sessions per average training week; (iv) average water temperature: 10±3 ºC.; (v) ice cubes used most frequently to cool water, and (vi) plastic drums were mostly used as container for water.
Conclusion: In this survey the representative group of support staff provided insight to which strategies are utilized in South African elite rugby teams to accelerate recovery of players after training and/or matches.
KEYWORDS:
· Rugby
· Elite performance
· Recovery
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