@article{ref1,
title="Changes in muscle activation following balance and technique training and a season of Australian football",
journal="Journal of science and medicine in sport",
year="2014",
author="Donnelly, C. J. and Elliott, B. C. and Doyle, Tim L. A. and Finch, C. F. and Dempsey, A. R. and Lloyd, David G.",
volume="18",
number="3",
pages="348-352",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: Determine if balance and technique training implemented adjunct to 1001 male Australian football players' training influenced the activation/strength of the muscles crossing the knee during pre-planned and unplanned sidestepping. <br><br>DESIGN: Randomized Control Trial. <br><br>METHODS: Each Australian football player participated in either 28 weeks of balance and technique training or 'sham' training. Twenty-eight Australian football players (balance and technique training, n=12; 'sham' training, n=16) completed biomechanical testing pre-to-post training. Peak knee moments and directed co-contraction ratios in three degrees of freedom, as well as total muscle activation were calculated during pre-planned and unplanned sidestepping. <br><br>RESULTS: No significant differences in muscle activation/strength were observed between the 'sham' training and balance and technique training groups. Following a season of Australian football, knee extensor (p=0.023) and semimembranosus (p=0.006) muscle activation increased during both pre-planned sidestepping and unplanned sidestepping. Following a season of Australian football, total muscle activation was 30% lower and peak valgus knee moments 80% greater (p=0.022) during unplanned sidestepping when compared with pre-planned sidestepping. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: When implemented in a community level training environment, balance and technique training was not effective in changing the activation of the muscles crossing the knee during sidestepping. Following a season of Australian football, players are better able to support both frontal and sagittal plane knee moments. When compared to pre-planned sidestepping, Australian football players may be at increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury during unplanned sidestepping in the latter half of an Australian football season.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1440-2440",
doi="10.1016/j.jsams.2014.04.012",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.04.012"
}