Influence of musculoskeletal injury history on countermovement jump performance in rugby players

Objective

To examine whether musculoskeletal injury history is a factor that influences countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in rugby players and to compare CMJ performance between player's position (forwards or backs).

Methods

Thirty rugby players (15 with an injury history and 15 without an injury history) performed the CMJ using an inertial sensor (Baiobit®) to evaluate kinematic (Jump Height, Velocity and Phase duration) and kinetic data (rate of force development [RFD], impact peak [IP], take-off force and Stiffness]. The group comparison was performed with an independent t-test, and the association between CMJ performance, sociodemographic variables and injury history was investigated with Pearson's correlation test.

Results

Rugby players with and without history of musculoskeletal injury differed in age and playing experience, but there was no difference in CMJ performance between groups. Jump height of uninjured players was positively correlated with take-off force and RFD and negatively correlated with concentric phase duration and RFD. Injured players demonstrated a negative correlation between take-off force and IP. Compared to backs, forwards were heavier and taller, showed greater IPs and were more likely to have an injury history.

Conclusions

There were no differences in CMJ performance between rugby players with and without an injury history. Forwards showed greater IPs and were more likelier to have an injury history than backs.