Citation

Reid LC, Cowman JR, Green BS, Coughlan GF. J. Sport Rehab. 2013; 22(2): 122-129.

Affiliation

School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23238265

Abstract

Global positioning systems (GPS) are widely used in a sports setting to evaluate the physical demands on players in training and competition. The use of these systems in the design and implementation of rehabilitation and return to running program has not yet been elucidated. Objective: To demonstrate the application of GPS technology in the management of return to play in elite club Rugby Union. Design: Case Series. Setting: Professional Rugby Union club team. Participants: 8 elite Rugby Union players (Age: 27.86 ± 4.78 years, Height: 1.85 ± 0.08 m, Weight: 99.14 ± 9.96 kg). Intervention(s): Players wore a GPS device for the entire duration of a club game. Main Outcome Measure(s): Variables of locomotion speed and distance were measured. Results: Differences in physical demands between playing positions were observed for all variables. Conclusions: An understanding of the position specific physical demands measured by GPS, provides key information regarding the level and volume of loads sustained by a player in a game environment. Using this information, the sports medicine practitioner can develop rehabilitation and return to running protocols specific to that player position to optimize safe RTP.

Language: en