Browsing by Author "Senavirathna, C.S."

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    The effect of 6-week core stability training on core endurance and physical performance in professional rugby players: A randomized controlled pilot study
    (Nepal Journal online, 2021) Senavirathna, C.S.; Mallawaarachchi, A.P.; Karunanayake, A.L.; Gunawardena, S.
    BACKGROUND: Core stability training (CST) is used to enhance sports performance. The relationship between core endurance and physical performance in rugby players had not been evaluated before in Asia. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the effects of a 6-week specific CST program on the core endurance and physical performances (speed, upper body power, lower body power, and agility) following a CST intervention in male rugby players. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Professional rugby players (n=8, intervention and n=8, control) were randomly selected. Mean (SD) age, height and weight of intervention group were 25.25 (2.4) years, 1.64 (0.03) m, and 69.6 (14.9) kg, respectively. In the control group, corresponding values were 29.75 (4) years, 1.66 (0.04) m, and 72.3 (19.1) kg, respectively. Intervention group was trained CST sessions complementary to the usual physical training, 3 times/week for 6 weeks. The control group followed the usual physical training. Subjects were tested for four physical performances (using 40 m sprint, vertical jump, 3 kg medicine ball put, and agility T tests) and four core endurance tests (back extension, abdominal fatigue [AF], and left and right bridges). RESULTS: AF, left bridge, right bridge, and total core endurance were significantly increased in the intervention group (P=0.028, P=0.006, P= 0.008, and P=0.001, respectively). Agility and AF were increased significantly in the control group (P=0.048, P=0.027). The right side bridge endurance (P=0.024) was significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the CST improves core endurance without improving physical performances in rugby players
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    Use of fiber optic goniometer to objectively assess the angle and reflex time of knee jerk in professional rugby players
    (Edizioni Minerva Medica, 2022) Senavirathna, C.S.; Gunawardena, S.; Karunanayake, A.L.; Mallawaarachchi, A.P.
    BACKGROUND: Rugby, being a contact and collision game, results in sudden application of forces on lower limb muscles which may injure them unless an immediate reflex contraction of the muscle occurs. This study aimed to assess the knee jerk reflex parameters of professional rugby players. METHODS: Knee jerk parameters (latency, peak time, total duration, relaxation time and angle) of rugby players were assessed. The angle was measured by a bipolar joint angle sensor in the fiber optic goniometer. An electronic tendon hammer was used to elicit the knee jerk. These instruments were connected to a data acquisition hardware and data were recorded on LabChart 8 software (AD Instruments,Sydney,Australia).RESULTS: Mean (SD) of age, height, weight and BMI were 27.4 (3.9) years, 1.72 (0.07) m, 83.4 (14) kg and 27.8 (4.3), respectively (N.=59). There is no correlation between BMI and reflex parameters (P>0.05 for all parameters). Knee jerk parameters from left and right sides did not show a statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference between the dominant and non-dominant sides. Individual parameters measured in right side showed a significant correlation (P<0.01) to their counterparts from the left. Latency showed a negative correlation with other parameters from the same leg while other parameters showed a positive correlation between each other. CONCLUSIONS: A fiber optic electronic goniometer and an electronic tendon hammer along with data acquisition hardware and software can be used to objectively measure knee jerk parameters of rugby players.