Masters Degrees (Physiotherapy)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Physiotherapy) by browse.metadata.advisor "Brink, Yolande"

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    Evaluation of sport-related concussion factors at baseline in a cohort of collegiate Rugby Union players
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Carstens (du Preez), Emmari; Brink, Yolande; Viviers, Pierre Louw; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Physiotherapy.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: Sport-related concussion (SRC) has become a growing concern across all sporting types, specifically in full contact sports such as Rugby Union. Baseline screening for SRC, with the addition of specific cervical measures has been proposed in the literature to ensure a multimodal assessment to SRC management. However, the utility of cervical measures at baseline SRC screening and the relationship between cervical measures and other RU intrinsic and extrinsic factors have not yet been established. Aim and objectives: This study aimed to describe RU intrinsic and extrinsic factors in a cohort of collegiate RU players at baseline pre-season SRC screening and to determine if relationships exist between intrinsic (cervical function, age, mass, height, previous SRCs, and previous neck injuries) and extrinsic factors (position of play, level of play). Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Stellenbosch University. Data were collected using a pre-season baseline questionnaire and a series of standardised cervical tests were conducted. The questionnaire contained questions relating to age, mass, height, position of play, level of play, previous SRCs, and previous neck injuries. Cervical flexor endurance (CFE), cervical extensor endurance (CEE), cervical anterolateral flexion strength (CAFS) and joint position error (JPE) were measured. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all continuous data and frequency distributions for all categorical data. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used to determine correlations between intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Pearson’s chi-square test and one-way ANOVA were performed to determine whether differences between the positional subgroups for categorical and continuous variables respectively existed. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine between which positional subgroups differences occurred. Two-sample t-tests determined whether differences in intrinsic and extrinsic factors between those with and without previous SRCs existed. Results: Forty-eight players completed the baseline SRC screening with a mean age, mass, and height of 21.10 years (SD=1.66), 95.22kg (SD=12.54), and 1.83m (SD=6.36), respectively. Thirty-two (66.66%) participants reported a previous SRC, but only two (4.16%) participants reported a previous neck injury. The mean holding time for CFE and CEE were 64.47 sec (SD=33.28) and 150.59 sec (SD=68.46), respectively. The mean CAFS was 9.43 kg (SD=1.32) for the left and 9.85 kg (SD=1.52) for the right. The mean JPE repositioning error was 54.79 mm (SD=18.39) to the right, 54.27 mm (SD=19.49) to the left, and 60.58 mm (SD=19.93) for extension. Correlations were seen for age and CAFS to the left (CAFS_L) (r = 0.42, p = 0.002) and CAFS to the right (CAFS_R (r = 0.43, p = 0.002) overall and within the backline subgroup (CAFS_L: r = 0.53; p = 0.009; CAFS_R: r = 0.55; p = 0.006). JPE to the right (JPE_R) and mass were correlated (r = 0.29, p = 0.04) overall and within the backline subgroup (r = 0.60; p = 0.003). CAFS_R and CAFS_L were correlated overall (r = 0.79; p <0.001) and remained within the subgroups. Significant group differences were seen for JPE_R (p = 0.004) overall and specifically between the loose forwards and the tight forwards subgroups (p = 0.002). Conclusion: This study provides baseline values for cervical function measures in a collegiate RU population and shows the relationships that exist between RU specific intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can be evaluated in future research. It also highlights the value and feasibility of adding cervical function tests as part of baseline SRC screening. Furthermore, clinicians could collect data on age, mass and POP as correlations exist between these factors and measures of cervical function. This could assist with holistic player management,