This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- New research on music and bench press performance!
- Xander Schauffele teams up with Theo Health
- Is tackling a problem in youth rugby?
New research on music and bench press performance!
A fascinating study was recently published, revealing that one simple tip could help boost your bench press performance! The study involved 20 participants who performed the bench press under three different conditions: 1) listening to self-selected music, 2) listening to stimulating music, and 3) listening to no music at all. In each condition, the subjects completed three sets of eight repetitions at 75% of their 1RM.
The researchers measured both the average and peak power of the participants’ bench press across these conditions. They also assessed each participant’s Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) using the Borg Scale and their arousal level using the Felt Arousal Scale (FAS).
The findings indicated that listening to music significantly improved power output during the bench press compared to bench pressing without music. Interestingly, self-selected music led to higher levels of psychophysical activation compared to the stimulating music condition.
So the next time you hit the bench press, crank up the volume on your favourite song to boost your arousal and power output! To find out more on this topic, check out our blog Music and exercise: Can your favourite tunes really improve performance?
What’s your go-to workout song? We’d love to hear your suggestions!
Xander Schauffele teams up with Theo Health
Prominent golfer Xander Schauffele has garnered attention recently due to his collaboration with Theo Health, an innovative clothing company. Notably, Theo Health is not an ordinary clothing brand; it specialises in the development of smart clothing.
The company was founded by Jodie Sinclair, whose promising football career was abruptly halted by an ACL injury. During her recovery, Sinclair encountered a lack of support and guidance regarding her rehabilitation, leaving her uncertain about the effectiveness of her efforts. In response to this challenge, she established Theo Health, which merges apparel with technology. The company’s inaugural product, “The Alpha Shorts,” incorporates embedded inertial measurement units within compression shorts to monitor movement in real time. This product is capable of tracking various parameters, including depth, balance, asymmetry, and knee alignment.
Theo Health has successfully secured significant financing and anticipates launching mass-market distribution by summer 2027. It will be intriguing to see their progress and the potential popularity of their smart clothing products. With endorsements from elite athletes like Schauffele, the company’s outlook appears promising. Watch this space!
Is tackling a problem in youth rugby?
A recent study conducted by renowned Irish physiotherapist and PhD researcher Lauren Guilfoyle has revealed significant insights regarding injury trends in Irish youth rugby. Spanning four years and encompassing 50 teams, the study analysed 11,000 hours of match play involving over 15,000 youth rugby players, leading to notable findings concerning injuries resulting from rugby tackles.
The study identified that injuries sustained by tacklers occurred 33% more frequently and were 36% more severe compared to injuries experienced by ball carriers. Furthermore, the research indicated that tacklers predominantly incurred injuries to the head and shoulders, whereas ball carriers were more susceptible to injuries affecting the ankle and knee.
The findings of this study suggest that greater efforts are required to improve tackling techniques among Irish youth rugby players to reduce the high risk of injuries associated with tackling. Since Ireland is a prominent nation in world rugby, other countries are likely facing the issue.
With a significant amount of media attention right now on the safety of rugby and as a current S&C coach working with youth rugby players, I find it encouraging to see insightful research being conducted by individuals like Guilfoyle. Research like this has the potential to make rugby a safer sport.
From us this week:
>> New course: Profiling ACL Injuries
>> New podcast: Coaching Through Rehab with Michael Carolan
>> New infographic: Hydration Testing
>> New article: Hydrotherapy
Access to a growing library of sports science courses
SFS Academy is an all-access membership to premium sports science education.
With SFS Academy, you’ll learn from some of the best coaches around the world as they teach you how to apply the latest research and practice with your athletes.
