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- Title
National Rugby League athletes and tendon tap reflex assessment: a matched cohort clinical study.
- Authors
Maurini, James; Ohmsen, Paul; Condon, Greg; Pope, Rodney; Hing, Wayne
- Abstract
Background: Limited research suggests elite athletes may differ from non-athletes in clinical tendon tap reflex responses. Methods: In this matched cohort study, 25 elite rugby league athletes were compared with 29 non-athletes to examine differences in tendon reflex responses. Relationships between reflex responses and lengths of players' careers were also examined. Biceps, triceps, patellar and Achilles tendon reflexes were clinically assessed. Results: Right and left reflexes were well correlated for each tendon (rS = 0.7-0.9). The elite rugby league athletes exhibited significantly weaker reflex responses than non-athletes in all four tendons (p < 0.005). Biceps reflexes demonstrated the largest difference and Achilles reflexes the smallest difference. Moderate negative correlations (rS = -0.3-0.6) were observed between reflex responses and lengths of players' careers. Conclusions: Future research is required to further elucidate mechanisms resulting in the observed differences in tendon reflexes and to ensure clinical tendon tap examinations and findings can be interpreted appropriately in this athletic population.
- Subjects
TENDON reflex; RUGBY League football players; SPORTS injuries; ACHILLES reflex; NATIONAL Rugby League (Australia); HEALTH
- Publication
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2016, Vol 17, p1
- ISSN
1471-2474
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s12891-016-1305-3