Category: Blog

Spine Injuries in Sport

Suegnet

Author: Suegnet Meyer

Introduction

This literature review looks at Cervical Injuries that occur during participation in sport. It looks at injuries that happen in sport with frequent impact, e.g. Rugby and American Football, and also injuries due to continuous strain induced by high G-forces, e.g. Motorsport and Bob-Skeleton.

Aims

The aims of this literature review are to establish: 1) Which muscles stabilise the neck? 2) Which Cervical Strengthening (CS) exercises are most effective? 3) Whether cervical strengthening is effective for rehabilitation and injury prevention? Continue reading →

Achilles Tendinopathy

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Achilles Tendinopathy is commonly known as Achilles Tendinitis. It is a frequent cause of lower calf pain and heel pain. It is usually characterised by a degeneration or worn down of the Achilles tendon, which means it does not possess its normal tensile strength and may be liable to further damage and pain during sporting activity.

Signs & Symptoms

Achilles InjuryThe main symptoms are pain and stiffness of the tendon,  just above your heel bone. It usually develops gradually and may be more noticeable after a period of rest, such as first thing in the morning. The pain may improve with exercise to begin with. Over time, symptoms may worsen; you may start to experience pain after exercise and finally pain during exercise. The tendon above your heel may appear slightly swollen and feel stiff. Continue reading →

Biomechanical Analysis and Measurement of Vertical Jump as a Performance Indicator in Basketball

Suegnet

Author: Suegnet Meyer

Introduction

Vertical jump (VJ) determines explosive lower limb power (Linthorne, 2001). This discussion highlights the VJ kinetic and kinematic pattern and the biomechanical factors maximising vertical jump height (VJH). Furthermore, VJ measurements are analysed and VJ as a basketball performance measure is assessed.

1. Kinetic & Kinematic analysis

Various VJ techniques take place in a sagittal plane. The squat jump (SJ) starts from a stationary semi-squat position excluding the pre-stretching phase. The countermovement jump (CMJ) phases: Continue reading →