ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EXTERNAL LOADING WEAR TIME AND CHANGE IN ANAEROBIC PERFORMANCE OF RUGBY ATHLETES

Authors

K Kobayashi
M Shepherd
M Pulscher
V Pribyslavska
EK O'Neal
G Brown
Z Coats
E Scudamore

Abstract

Keigo Kobayashi¹, Michael Shepherd¹, Matthew Pulscher¹, Veronika Pribyslavska¹, Eric Kyle O'Neal², Gavin Brown¹, Zadie Coats¹ and Eric Scudamore¹

¹Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR

²University of North Alabama, Florence, AL

Abstract. External loading during daily living (ELDL) consists of wearing a weighted vest during outside of training session activities and may improve anaerobic performance. ELDL programming typically consists of wearing 10-15% of individual body mass 8 hrs/day, 4 days/week, for three weeks. No investigations have objectively assessed compliance with weight vest protocols, or explored the possibility of dose-response relationships between ELDL and anaerobic performance. PURPOSE: Explore associations between ELDL total wear time and percentage change on anaerobic performance tasks in rugby athletes. METHODS: Seven D1-A rugby athletes completed three weeks of ELDL with loads of 10%, 12.5%, and 15% of their respective body weight. Loads were not worn during training. Participants were instructed to wear loads at least 8 hrs/day, 4 days/week, for three weeks. Tri-axial accelerometers were placed in the center pocket on the front of each weight vest to assess wear time. Wear time validation parameters were set to 30 minutes non-activity threshold. Baseline and post-ELDL assessments were identical and consisted of a single counter movement jump (CMJ), four continuous jumps (4CJ), 40 m sprint (SP), 15 yd sled push (SLD), and were reassessed after three weeks of ELDL. Percentage change from post-ELDL and baseline were calculated for all performance variables. Pearson correlation analyses were used to examine relationships between wear time and change in each performance variable. RESULTS: Average wear time across the 3-week ELDL period was 73.00 ± 33.77 hrs. No relationship was found between CMJ height (6.20 ± 25.45%; r = -0.53, p = 0.11). Change in 4CJ height decreased (-6.25 ± 11.01%; r = 0.24, p = 0.30), but ground contact time (-11.41 ± 15.28%, r = 0.003, p = 0.50), and explosive leg power factor (ELPF) (11.26 ± 17.16%, r = 0.01, p = 0.49) were not related to wear time. Wear time was not correlated (r = -0.32, p = 0.24) with change in SP (-1.45 ± 3.01%) or SLD (2.93 ± 5.34%; r = -0.45, p = 0.15). CONCLUSION: No dose-response relationship between ELDL wear time and change in performance was observed. Subjective review of scatter plot data suggest that a dose-response relationship may be identifiable with a larger sample size.

Recommended Citation

Kobayashi, K; Shepherd, M; Pulscher, M; Pribyslavska, V; O'Neal, EK; Brown, G; Coats, Z; and Scudamore, E (2023) "ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EXTERNAL LOADING WEAR TIME AND CHANGE IN ANAEROBIC PERFORMANCE OF RUGBY ATHLETES," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 11: Iss. 10, Article 10.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol11/iss10/10