Predicting Bobsled Pushing Ability From Various Combine Testing Events.

Tomasevicz, CL, Ransone, JW, and Bach, CW. Predicting bobsled pushing ability from various combine testing events. J Strength Cond Res 34(9): 2618-2626, 2020-The requisite combination of speed, power, and strength necessary for a bobsled push athlete coupled with the difficulty in directly measuring pushing ability makes selecting effective push crews challenging. Current practices by USA Bobsled and Skeleton use field combine testing to assess and identify specifically selected performance variables in an attempt to best predict push performance abilities. Combine data consisting of 11 physical performance variables were collected from 75 subjects across 2 winter Olympic qualification years (2009 and 2013). These variables were sprints of 15, 30, and 60 m, a flying 30-m sprint, a standing broad jump, a shot toss, squat, power clean, body mass, and dry-land brake and side bobsled pushes. Discriminant analysis (DA) in addition to principle component analysis (PCA) was used to investigate 2 cases (case 1: Olympians vs. non-Olympians; case 2: National Team vs. non-National Team). Using these 11 variables, DA led to a classification rule that proved capable of identifying Olympians from non-Olympians and National Team members from non-National Team members with 9.33 and 14.67% misclassification rates, respectively. The PCA was used to find similar test variables within the combine that provided redundant or useless data. After eliminating the unnecessary variables, DA on the new combinations showed that 8 (case 1) and 20 (case 2) other combinations with fewer performance variables yielded misclassification rates as low as 6.67 and 13.33%, respectively. Using fewer performance variables can allow governing bodies in many other sports to create more appropriate combine testing that maximize accuracy while minimizing irrelevant and redundant strategies.

Effect of manual compressive therapy on latent myofascial trigger point pressure pain thresholds.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the effects of 90 s of manual compressive therapy (MCT) on latent myofascial trigger points (LTPs) for 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks to determine changes in individual pressure pain threshold (PPT). A total of 30 (15 males, 15 females; age = 22 ±â€¯4 y/o, height = 175 ±â€¯18 cm, weight = 162.5 ±â€¯57.5 kg) symptomatic subjects with LTPs volunteered for the study. METHODS: PPT was measured at baseline and pre- and post-treatment for all 12 sessions with a pressure algometer across the 4-week treatment time frame. The MCT was applied to the control group on their LTP at pressure intended to provide a sham condition (1/10 on verbalized analog scale (VAS)). Two experimental groups had MCT applied either directly on the LTP (d-TP) or in close-proximity to their LTP (cp-TP) at moderate pressure (7/10 on VAS). RESULTS: There was a significant increase in PPT from the first through twelfth treatment sessions (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.914). A significant increase in PPTs between treatment groups was acutely observed from pre- to post-therapy tests (p = 0.001, partial η2 = 0.146). The differences between pre- versus post-treatment PPT measures indicated significant differences (d-TP vs. control, p < 0.001; cp-TP vs. control, p = 0.007). No differences were observed between experimental groups (p = 0.215). CONCLUSIONS: PPT continued to increase after several weeks of MCT when applied directly on or within 2.5 cm of an identified LTP compared to control.

Physical activity and its relationship to rodeo injury and success.

The purpose of this study was to determine the interrelationship among physical activity, injury, and success of rodeo athletes. Seventy-two male Professional Rodeo Cowboys' Association members served as participants and were grouped into timed, steer-wrestling, saddle-bronc, bareback, bull-riding, and multiple rough-stock events. Participants completed demographic and overall physical activity questionnaires. Sixty-two percent of the subjects participated in regular exercise for a minimum of 2 days per week. Pearson bivariate correlation coefficients revealed weak correlations (r = 0.151, -0.188, and -0.074; p > 0.05) among metabolic (MET) level, earnings rate, and injury rate. A 1-way between-subjects analysis of variance indicated no differences in MET level among groups. Physical activity did not affect performance or injury rate, and competitors in various events did not have different levels of energy expenditure. Therefore, rodeo sports-medicine personnel should encourage athletes to engage in other sport-specific training activities to help prevent rodeo injuries.