Variations in strength-speed-power performance across the season: do true changes occur in elite rugby players?

Irineu Loturco; Chris Bishop; Santiago Zabaloy; Túlio B.M.A. Moura; Maurício S. Ramos; Lucas A. Pereira; Michael McGuigan

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2024.135201

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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3/2024
vol. 41

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abstract:

Original paper

Variations in strength-speed-power performance across the season: do true changes occur in elite rugby players?

Irineu Loturco

^{1, 2, 3}

,

Chris Bishop

⁴

,

Santiago Zabaloy

^{5, 6}

,

Túlio B.M.A. Moura

¹

,

Maurício S. Ramos

⁷

,

Lucas A. Pereira

^{1, 2}

,

Michael R. McGuigan

^{8, 9}

NAR – Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, São Paulo, Brazil
Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
University of South Wales, Pontypridd, Wales, United Kingdom
Faculty of Science and Technology, London Sports Institute, Middlesex University, London, United Kingdom
Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Rhinos, Leeds, United Kingdom
Leeds Beckett University, Headingley Campus, Leeds, United Kingdom
CBRu – Brazilian Rugby Confederation, São Paulo, Brazil
Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia

Biol Sport. 2024;41(3):201–211

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2024.135201

Online publish date: 2024/02/07

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This study aimed to determine, through the use of a highly sensitive statistical tool, whether real changes in performance were present; and compare the rates of meaningful variations in strength, speed, and power parameters at different time-points during the competitive season in national team rugby players. Thirtytwo players were assessed 5 times across the season using the following tests: squat jump and countermovement jump tests; 30-m sprint velocity; and one-repetition maximum (1RM) in the half-squat and bench-press exercises. A repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to test for differences between successive time-points. Individual coefficients of variation values were used to set target scores for post measurements and examine whether changes in performance parameters were greater than the natural test variance, thus providing an indication of whether “true changes” occurred. No significant changes were detected in the vertical jump height, 1RM measures, and sprint velocity and momentum throughout the 11-month period (P > 0.05). True changes occurred much more frequently for strength-power measures than for sprint velocity and momentum. Elite rugby union players did not exhibit significant variations in neuromuscular performance across the competitive period, when a group-based analysis was conducted. However, at the individual level, “true changes” in strength-power- (but not in speed-) related qualities were consistently observed over the competitive season.

keywords:

Variations in strength-speed-power performance across the season: do true changes occur in elite rugby players?

Irineu Loturco 1, 2, 3 , Chris Bishop 4 , Santiago Zabaloy 5, 6 , Túlio B.M.A. Moura 1 , Maurício S. Ramos 7 , Lucas A. Pereira 1, 2 , Michael R. McGuigan 8, 9

Athletic performance, Team-sports, Muscle strength, Sprint speed, Resistance training

Irineu Loturco

^{1, 2, 3}

,

Chris Bishop

⁴

,

Santiago Zabaloy

^{5, 6}

,

Túlio B.M.A. Moura

¹

,

Maurício S. Ramos

⁷

,

Lucas A. Pereira

^{1, 2}

,

Michael R. McGuigan

^{8, 9}