The aim of this study was to determine differences in fitness test performance relative to injury location and number of injuries between uninjured structural firefighters, and firefighters who ...self-report injuries. Body composition and fitness test data included: body mass index (BMI); body fat percentage (BF%); fat and lean body mass; waist:hip ratio; combined grip strength; predicted one-repetition maximum (1RM) leg press; 90-s abdominal crunches; cadence push-ups; flexibility (trunk flexion and extension; left and right rotation; left and right lateral flexion; shoulder flexion); and estimated maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O2max). ...injuries could affect a firefighters’ ability to maintain certain fitness components (e.g., lower-body and back injuries could limit the ability to train aerobic fitness, leading to poorer body composition and V̇O2max).
Discussion: The aim of this research was to assess the relationship between training load variables and injury risk in a law enforcement recruit population. Recruits in this population typically ...engage in a ‘one size fits no-one’ training program that is centred around body weight exercises and long-distance running. ...including more physical training around muscular strength and power could improve fitness components that are vital to law enforcement while decreasing the distance run and potentially mitigating injury risk.
There is little research investigating relationships between the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and athletic performance in female athletes. This study analyzed the relationships between FMS (deep ...squat; hurdle step HS; in-line lunge ILL; shoulder mobility; active straight-leg raise ASLR; trunk stability push-up; rotary stability) scores, and performance tests (bilateral and unilateral sit-and-reach flexibility; 20-m sprint linear speed; 505 with turns from each leg; modified T-test with movement to left and right change-of-direction speed; bilateral and unilateral vertical and standing broad jumps; lateral jumps leg power). Nine healthy female recreational team sport athletes (age = 22.67 ± 5.12 years; height = 1.66 ± 0.05 m; body mass = 64.22 ± 4.44 kilograms) were screened in the FMS and completed the afore-mentioned tests. Percentage between-leg differences in unilateral sit-and-reach, 505 turns and the jumps, and difference between the T-test conditions, were also calculated. Spearman's correlations (p ≤ 0.05) examined relationships between the FMS and performance tests. Stepwise multiple regressions (p ≤ 0.05) were conducted for the performance tests to determine FMS predictors. Unilateral sit-and-reach positive correlated with the left-leg ASLR (r = 0.704-0.725). However, higher-scoring HS, ILL, and ASLR related to poorer 505 and T-test performance (r = 0.722-0.829). A higher-scored left-leg ASLR related to a poorer unilateral vertical and standing broad jump, which were the only significant relationships for jump performance. Predictive data tended to confirm the correlations. The results suggest limitations in using the FMS to identify movement deficiencies that could negatively impact athletic performance in female team sport athletes.
Weighted sled towing is a common resisted sprint training technique even though relatively little is known about the effects that such practice has on sprint kinematics. The purpose of this study was ...to explore the effects of sled towing on acceleration sprint kinematics in field-sport athletes. Twenty men completed a series of sprints without resistance and with loads equating to 12.6 and 32.2% of body mass. Stride length was significantly reduced by approximately 10 and approximately 24% for each load, respectively. Stride frequency also decreased, but not to the extent of stride length. In addition, sled towing increased ground contact time, trunk lean, and hip flexion. Upper-body results showed an increase in shoulder range of motion with added resistance. The heavier load generally resulted in a greater disruption to normal acceleration kinematics compared with the lighter load. The lighter load is likely best for use in a training program.
Musculoskeletal screening has proven effective in identifying risk factors for seasonal injury in athletic populations, although no such research has been reported in sailors. Given that older ...Olympic class sailors are more at risk of experiencing seasonal LBP, and potential disability through modified or lost participation, coaches and sports medicine...
