Mark Quinn

Differences in the high speed match-play characteristics of rugby league players before, during and after a period of tramseridian transition

There is a paucity of information comparing competitive rugby league match play dynamics between northern and southern hemispheres. Notably, differences in the match demands of games played in an intensive period have not previously been reported. This study is the first to assess such demands, quantified using GPS/accelerometer technology, during a competitive three game period that comprised two games in England, interspersed with one game in Australia. The three games were completed over a period of 23 days. In-game data from fifteen elite level rugby league players were collected. The focus was to assess differences in activity profiles undertaken in each game. There were significant increases in the total number of high speed sprints, distance covered at high speed and acceleration/deceleration efforts undertaken in Australia when compared to England. No significant differences in other key performance indicators were observed. The current findings demonstrate minimal differences in the activity profiles of game play in elite professional rugby league, with the exception of high-speed activity and acceleration/deceleration efforts. The European team were defeated in their game in Australia, with clearly higher levels of total high speed sprints, acceleration and deceleration efforts being observed in that game when compared with games undertaken in England. Such findings emphasise the continuing use of GPS/accelerometer technologies in determining in-game performance characteristics associated with likely success, though the milieu of factors contributing to success must be considered in entirety.

Hormone hopes for gut disease treatment

Hormone hopes for gut disease treatment R in Toronto report that the peptide hormone glucagonlike peptide-2 (GLP-2) stimulates the growth of the small intestine lining (Proc Natl Acad Sci 1996; 93: 7911–16). According to team leader Daniel Drucker (University of Toronto), “This finding may well result in major benefits for patients with severely compromised intestinal function, allowing treatment that will grow new cells in the lining of the small intestine”. In animal experiments, the researchers found that GLP-2 stimulated crypt-cell proliferation and consistently induced a marked increase in bowel weight and villus growth of the jejunum and ileum within 4 days after initiation of GLP-2 administration. Animal trials of GLP-2 will begin by late 1997, said Drucker, and a human treatment may be available as soon as 4 years from now.

Executive function testing to assist identification of pitch-side concussion in elite rugby players

Abstract Background Current methods for assessing concussion during rugby matches rely on rudimentary behavioural assessment, focusing on balance and gross motor function. Cognitive testing with the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool has recently been included, but there are a paucity of normative and baseline data for this test. This study examined the utility of the Trail Making Test (TMT), which is a neuropsychological test of executive function in two parts (TMT-A and TMT-B), to assist identification of cognitive impairments caused by impacts during rugby games. Methods 27 elite male rugby league players contracted to a professional rugby club were recruited towards the end of the season. Each player was tested on three occasions within a 2 week period with both TMT-A and TMT-B for baseline assessment. Each player was additionally assessed after full contact training on 2 consecutive days and during preseason training. Individual baseline data were calculated from the best of the baseline assessments, and time differences were examined with ANOVA. Findings No instances of concussion occurred during data collection. For TMT-A there was no significant difference ( F (3, 24)=2·88, I 2 =0·27) between baseline (mean 13·79 s [SD 5·32], 95% CI 9·34–18·23), post-training day 1 (11·38 [2·63], 9·18–13·58), post-training day 2 (11·16 [1·94], 9·55–12·79), and preseason (11·79 [2·64], 9·58–13·99). For TMT-B there was no significant difference between baseline (31·50 [5·37], 27·01–35·99), post-training day 1 (28·07 [8·82], 20·70–35·44), post-training day 2 (26·18 [6·16], 21·03–31·33), and preseason (26·98 [4·89], 22·89–31·07). Interpretation These findings indicate that there were no significant differences in performance of these executive tasks from baseline to post-training (end of season and preseason). These data show stability of TMT-A and TMT-B data across a competitive rugby league season. Importantly, use of measures of variation such as CIs for these tasks can provide a metric for calculating minimally important clinical differences within cognition. Funding None.