Browsing by Author "Lombard, Wayne"

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    Does Foam Rolling have a Positive Effect on Performance and Recovery from Post Exercise Induced Muscle Damage: A Systematic Review of the Literature to Guide Practitioners on the use of Foam Rolling
    (2018) Hill, Hayd'n; Hendricks, Sharief; Parker, Romy; Lombard, Wayne
    Foam rolling is a form of myofascial release performed by the individual using their body weight, as opposed to the pressure being applied by the clinician. Foam rolling is currently used by athletes at all levels, from recreational to elite athletes. Foam rolling is used as a warm up to aid performance and/or recovery. This study aims to review the literature to determine if foam rolling enhances performance, positively affects recovery from exercise induced muscle damage, and whether there is a consensus on the protocol to achieve performance and recovery enhancement. Seven electronic databases, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Pubmed Central, Pubmed, ISI Web of Science, Medline and Scopus, were searched using terms related to foam rolling between January 2006 and April 2017. Published articles that included foam rolling as a recovery intervention and/or a performance enhancing tool were included in the study and assessed using the PEDro scale for methodological quality ratings. This dissertation will consolidate and add to the knowledge on the use of foam rolling. It will highlight when foam rolling should be used and recommend a specific protocol that should be used for performance and/or recovery purposes. This may address the confusion around when foam rolling should be used and show foam rolling to be effective as a recovery tool or for enhancing performance. This may help with better management of athletes by sports personnel, and in turn improve their performance and enhance their recovery. A total of 33 articles met the inclusion criterion and were systematically reviewed. There is evidence supporting the use of foam rolling in a warm-up consisting of dynamic stretching and an active warm-up to enhance performance; mainly through its effects on flexibility while maintaining muscle contractility. There is also evidence supporting the use of foam rolling to enhance recovery from exercise induced muscle damage and delayed onset of muscle soreness, with its main effects being the shortening of time to return to baseline performance, flexibility and pressure pain threshold. The mechanism by which foam rolling acts seems to be a neural response to pressure exerted. Sixty to ninety seconds of foam rolling may suffice to achieve the above desired effects. Further research is needed to determine the exact mechanisms of action of foam rolling, as well as the risks that may be associated with foam rolling.
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    Secular changes in anthropometric and physical characteristics of South African National U/20 rugby union players (1998-2010).
    (2012) Lombard, Wayne; Lambert, Michael I
    The aim of this study was to compare changes in the physical and morphological characteristics of South Africa’s National U/20 rugby union players (Forwards and Backs) over a 12 year period from 1998 - 2010. This period spans an era starting just after the onset of professionalism of the game to the modern era where the influence of professionalism has filtered down to junior (U/20) levels. Any changes in morphology and physical ability of the players can be attributed to the changes in the demands of the game and reflect the characteristics that are required for a player to be successful at that level. Players who were U/20 at the time of representing the Junior South African National Team National over a period spanning from 1998 – 2010 were used for the study. A total of 453 players, split into two groups, Forwards (n = 256) and Backs (n = 197), underwent measurements of body mass, stature, body fat percentage, muscular endurance (pull ups), muscular strength (1RM bench press, sprint times (10m and 40m) and aerobic capacity (Multistage shuttle run test). All Tests were conducted once a year in either January or December of that year. Data are represented as means ± 95 % confidence intervals. A Levene’s test of homogeneity was used to determine whether the variance for each variable was equal. A two-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether there were significant differences for either main effect of ‘year’ or ‘position’ or for the interaction between ‘year x position’. If the main effect of ‘year’ or interaction (“year x position”) was significant, a Tukey post hoc test was used to identify specific differences. Statistical significance was accepted when p < 0.05.