The effect of a rhythmic movement intervention on selected bio-motor skills of academy players in the Western Cape, South Africa
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE
Abstract
Rhythmic movement, also referred to as “dance”, involves the execution of different motor skills as well as the integration and sequencing of actions between limbs, timing and spatial precision. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate and compare the effect of a 16-week rhythmic movement intervention on flexibility, dynamic balance, agility, power and local muscular endurance of academy rugby players in the Western Cape, according to positional group. Players (N=54) (age 18.66 ± 0.81 years; height 1.76 ± 0.69 cm; weight 76.77 ± 10.69 kg), were randomly divided into a treatment-control [TCA] (n=28) and a control-treatment [CTB] (n=26) group. In this crossover experimental design, the interaction effect of the treatment order and the treatment time between the TCA and CTB group, was determined. Results indicated a statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) in agility2 (p=0.06), power2 (p=0.05), local muscular endurance1 (p=0.01) & 3 (p=0.01) and dynamic balance (p<0.01). Likewise, forwards and backs also showed statistically significant improvements (p<0.05) per positional groups. Therefore, a rhythmic movement intervention has the potential to improve rugby-specific bio-motor skills and furthermore, improve positional specific skills should it be designed with positional groups in mind. Future studies should investigate, not only the effect of rhythmic movement on improving specific rugby bio-motor skills, but the potential of its application as an alternative training method during off-season (or detraining phases) or as a recovery method.
Description
CITATION: Solomons, J., et al. 2020. The effect of a rhythmic movement intervention on selected bio-motor skills of academy players in the Western Cape, South Africa.
International journal of Sports Science and Coaching, doi:10.1177/1747954120956909.
The original publication is available at https://journals.sagepub.com
The original publication is available at https://journals.sagepub.com
Keywords
Dance movement therapy, Dance therapy, Dance -- Therapeutic use, Dance psychotherapy, Rugby Union Football Players -- Western Cape (South Africa), Rugby Union Football Players -- Western Cape (South Africa), Physical fitness -- Rugby football, Endurance sports -- Training -- Rugby Football, Motor ability -- Rugby football, Motor skills -- Rugby football, Rugby football -- Training
Citation
Solomons, J., et al. 2020. The effect of a rhythmic movement intervention on selected bio-motor skills of academy players in the Western Cape, South Africa. International journal of Sports Science and Coaching, doi:10.1177/1747954120956909