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- 🏃♀️ Improving Jump-Landing Biomechanics
🏃♀️ Improving Jump-Landing Biomechanics
PLUS: Changing the Game for Female Coaches in Gaelic Sports
Haresh Suppiah
November 11, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
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Welcome, science enthusiasts.
In today’s edition:
The Effect of External Focus Versus Internal Focus on Jump-Landing
Using the coaches voice to improve females in coaching
Confidence to Return to Play After Concussion
Inhalation of Hydrogen-rich Gas helps with exercise fatigue
Improving trainers’ documentation skills
Observation of Achilles tendon and muscle stiffness during running
Cycling’s impact on triathlon performance
Differences in punching techniques in boxing and sanda
and several more…
FEATURED ARTICLES 🌭
Key finding:
External focus instruction improves hip and knee flexion compared to control, but not significantly better than internal focus instruction.
How they did it:
Methodology: The study was a randomized controlled trial involving 41 healthy women who underwent jump-landing interventions with either external focus (EF), internal focus (IF), or control instructions.
Results: The EF group showed significant improvements in hip and knee flexion angles compared to the control group, while no significant differences were found between EF and IF groups.
Measurement: Biomechanics were assessed using markers on body landmarks during drop vertical jumps pre- and post-intervention, with specific focus on knee and hip flexion and abduction.
Innovations: The study highlights that both EF and IF instruction can positively impact jump-landing mechanics but questions the superiority of EF over IF, suggesting both may be effective.
Insights: A significant percentage of participants in both intervention groups reported misalignment with the instructions, emphasizing the need for further exploration of individual attentional focus perceptions.
Why it matters:
For sport practitioners, understanding that external focus (EF) instruction can spur significant improvements in jump-landing biomechanics—like greater knee and hip flexion—over traditional control methods means they can better tailor training interventions to reduce ACL injury risks. Plus, knowing that athletes might not always align with given instructions highlights the importance of adapting coaching techniques to maintain focus and enhance performance.
Key finding:
Improving mentorship and support can enhance female representation and experiences in Gaelic games coaching.
How they did it:
Methodology: Eight online semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 38 female coaches across five different cohorts to analyze their lived experiences in Gaelic games.
Results: Four key themes emerged, highlighting personal factors, coaching contexts, organizational supports, and societal influences affecting female coaches’ experiences and participation levels.
Challenges: Female coaches reported barriers such as feeling undervalued, facing gender stigmatism, and experiencing a male-dominated culture that inhibits their engagement and progression.
Innovations: The study advocates for mentorship, holistic coaching environments, and flexible education to better support female coaches in their development within Gaelic games.
Recommendations: Emphasizing the creation of female coach networks and online learning opportunities can enhance recruitment and retention of female coaches in Gaelic games.
Why it matters:
Understanding the challenges faced by female coaches in Gaelic games provides invaluable insights for sport practitioners aiming to promote inclusivity and elevate coaching standards, ultimately enhancing team performance and fostering a more diverse coaching landscape. By implementing support systems like mentorship and tailored training, organizations can not only empower female coaches but also positively impact athlete retention and development within the sport.
QUICK BITES 🍤
Athlete Health and Well-being
-Personalized educational interventions significantly enhance athletic trainers’ knowledge of clinical documentation compared to passive resources.
Biomechanics
-During incremental running, Achilles tendon and gastrocnemius muscle stiffness initially increases before decreasing with higher intensity.
-Punching speed in boxing and sanda is significantly influenced by trunk and upper limb positioning and shoulder velocity.
Concussion in Sport
-Athletes experience low confidence after a concussion, which improves over time but may linger despite medical clearance.
Gender and Sex Differences in Sport
-Women experience less organ damage and shorter hospital stays than men after exertional heat stroke.
Injury
-Ultrasound-guided tenotomy effectively improves pain and sports participation in athletes with refractory patellar tendinopathy.
Motor Skills
-Startle-inducing audio-visual stimuli significantly enhance reaction times and muscle activity compared to visual stimuli alone.
Recovery
-Inhaling hydrogen-rich gas before exercise significantly reduces fatigue and improves performance in healthy adults.
Sport Physiology
-Higher training status leads to greater exercise intensity thresholds, making fixed intensity strategies less effective across individuals.
Sport Physiology
-Cycling at 90% FTP improves running performance in triathletes more than cycling at 80% FTP.
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Curated by Haresh Suppiah