title: The effect of tissue flossing on ankle range of motion, jump and sprint performance in elite rugby union athletes

authors: Mills, Blair Stephen

subjects: Tissue-flossing

abstract: The anecdotal use of floss bands amongst athletic populations is becoming a popular strategy to increase joint range of motion (ROM), enhance both injury prevention and rehabilitation and improve overall athletic performance, despite limited evidence for its efficacy. Such a technique has been described as ‘tissue flossing’ and involves wrapping a thick band of rubber (floss band) tightly around a joint or muscle group, to partially occlude blood flow to the area. Recently, research has been conducted regarding the use of tissue flossing to acutely enhance the athletic qualities of ankle mobility and jumping and sprinting performance in a recreationally trained population. Research from our laboratory (see appendices), expanded on this work by investigating the time-course of potential benefits following floss band application, also in recreationally trained athletes. The work in this thesis aimed to add knowledge to current literature and to further investigate the use of tissue flossing for improved sport performance in an elite-athlete setting.
The study contained in Chapter 2 of this thesis is the first to investigate the use of tissue flossing on athletic performance in an elite setting. As part of the study, a counterbalanced crossover design was implemented whereby fourteen professional rugby union athletes (age [mean ± SD)] 24 ± 2 years) performed two experimental trials separated by one week. Each trial assessed measures of ankle dorsiflexion using a unilateral weight bearing lunge test (WBLT), bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) height and 20m sprint times. These assessments were made at baseline and at 5 and 30 minutes following the application of floss bands on both ankles.
Analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant interactions between treatment (FLOSS or CON) and time (pre / 5 min post / 30 min post) for any of the measured variables (p > 0.05). Effect size analysis revealed small benefits for the FLOSS condition in comparison to CON for CMJ performance 5 mins post and for 10m and 15m sprint time, 30 mins post. All other measures resulted in trivial or unclear effect sizes. In conclusion, the findings from this study suggest limited support for the use of tissue flossing for improved athletic performance measures, for up to 30 minutes post application in a professional rugby union population.

text: The effect of tissue flossing on ankle range of motion, jump and sprint performance in elite rugby union athletes The anecdotal use of floss bands amongst athletic populations is becoming a popular strategy to increase joint range of motion (ROM), enhance both injury prevention and rehabilitation and improve overall athletic performance, despite limited evidence for its efficacy. Such a technique has been described as ‘tissue flossing’ and involves wrapping a thick band of rubber (floss band) tightly around a joint or muscle group, to partially occlude blood flow to the area. Recently, research has been conducted regarding the use of tissue flossing to acutely enhance the athletic qualities of ankle mobility and jumping and sprinting performance in a recreationally trained population. Research from our laboratory (see appendices), expanded on this work by investigating the time-course of potential benefits following floss band application, also in recreationally trained athletes. The work in this thesis aimed to add knowledge to current literature and to further investigate the use of tissue flossing for improved sport performance in an elite-athlete setting.
The study contained in Chapter 2 of this thesis is the first to investigate the use of tissue flossing on athletic performance in an elite setting. As part of the study, a counterbalanced crossover design was implemented whereby fourteen professional rugby union athletes (age [mean ± SD)] 24 ± 2 years) performed two experimental trials separated by one week. Each trial assessed measures of ankle dorsiflexion using a unilateral weight bearing lunge test (WBLT), bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) height and 20m sprint times. These assessments were made at baseline and at 5 and 30 minutes following the application of floss bands on both ankles.
Analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant interactions between treatment (FLOSS or CON) and time (pre / 5 min post / 30 min post) for any of the measured variables (p > 0.05). Effect size analysis revealed small benefits for the FLOSS condition in comparison to CON for CMJ performance 5 mins post and for 10m and 15m sprint time, 30 mins post. All other measures resulted in trivial or unclear effect sizes. In conclusion, the findings from this study suggest limited support for the use of tissue flossing for improved athletic performance measures, for up to 30 minutes post application in a professional rugby union population.

year: 2018

title: Demography of nineteenth century New Zealand education: gender and regional differences in school retention

authors: Hodder, Catherine

subjects: demography

abstract: This thesis examines the progress of pupils through New Zealand schools in the last two decades of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth century. The purpose of this study was to apply demographic techniques to primary historical education data to enable the progress of pupils to be quantified and to allow comparisons to be made among different Education Districts and longitudinally over a period of some three decades.

The present work applies demographic methods using cohort and period analyses to overcome difficulties in direct comparisons of historical education data because of differences in population structure and differing examination pass rates in various Education Districts. This approach allows the determination of retention rates of pupils both by age and by level from Standard 4 to Standard 6 using primary data from the nineteenth century. In addition, gender differences in retention by age are analysed from the 1880s to the end of the first decade of the twentieth century. Previous published work considered school attendance only in general terms and usually on a national basis, but generally without analysing specific educational data on gender differences. 

Studies prior to the present work have suggested that in the nineteenth century Education Districts differed in school enrolments (Hodder, 1996) and it is thus likely that there were differences in school retention of pupils between various Education Districts. Pilot research to the present work developed demographic methods for studying retention of pupil populations allowing for changes in the number and structure of the pupils populations over time (Hodder, 2005). These pilot methods are applied in the present research to study pupil retention in all thirteen Education Districts over the approximately 30 years from the 1880s. In addition to age and level cohorts, gender differences are analysed. Direct comparisons among all Education Districts and over time are now possible.

This study has used a novel approach to the analysis of historical education data. The results enable comparisons to be made among all thirteen Education Districts and across several decades; such comparisons have not previously been possible and will facilitate future research on the possible factors affecting pupil retention particularly in relation to employment opportunities for school leavers and differences according to gender.

References:
Hodder, C. (1996). Cambridge District High School and its community, 1880 - 1888. Unpublished Master of Arts thesis, Department of Education Studies, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Hodder, C. (2005). Old data, new methods: the use of demographic methods to study historical education data. Unpublished Directed Study, Department of Societies and Cultures, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.

text: Demography of nineteenth century New Zealand education: gender and regional differences in school retention This thesis examines the progress of pupils through New Zealand schools in the last two decades of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth century. The purpose of this study was to apply demographic techniques to primary historical education data to enable the progress of pupils to be quantified and to allow comparisons to be made among different Education Districts and longitudinally over a period of some three decades.

The present work applies demographic methods using cohort and period analyses to overcome difficulties in direct comparisons of historical education data because of differences in population structure and differing examination pass rates in various Education Districts. This approach allows the determination of retention rates of pupils both by age and by level from Standard 4 to Standard 6 using primary data from the nineteenth century. In addition, gender differences in retention by age are analysed from the 1880s to the end of the first decade of the twentieth century. Previous published work considered school attendance only in general terms and usually on a national basis, but generally without analysing specific educational data on gender differences. 

Studies prior to the present work have suggested that in the nineteenth century Education Districts differed in school enrolments (Hodder, 1996) and it is thus likely that there were differences in school retention of pupils between various Education Districts. Pilot research to the present work developed demographic methods for studying retention of pupil populations allowing for changes in the number and structure of the pupils populations over time (Hodder, 2005). These pilot methods are applied in the present research to study pupil retention in all thirteen Education Districts over the approximately 30 years from the 1880s. In addition to age and level cohorts, gender differences are analysed. Direct comparisons among all Education Districts and over time are now possible.

This study has used a novel approach to the analysis of historical education data. The results enable comparisons to be made among all thirteen Education Districts and across several decades; such comparisons have not previously been possible and will facilitate future research on the possible factors affecting pupil retention particularly in relation to employment opportunities for school leavers and differences according to gender.

References:
Hodder, C. (1996). Cambridge District High School and its community, 1880 - 1888. Unpublished Master of Arts thesis, Department of Education Studies, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Hodder, C. (2005). Old data, new methods: the use of demographic methods to study historical education data. Unpublished Directed Study, Department of Societies and Cultures, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.

year: 2006

title: “Seeing” Kāpō Māori: Making visible the experiences of Kāpō Māori during and after COVID-19

authors: Masters-Awatere, Bridgette

abstract: A scoping project focused on the intersection of Māori and the framing of vision impairments (disability) within the context of a pandemic response (in this instance COVID-19). Specifically, we were interested in the experiences of kāpō Māori during and post COVID-19 in order to centre the cultural and health needs of kāpō Māori in a culturally responsive manner. We highlight the aspirations that kāpō Māori have for themselves and their whānau, and to identify the facilitators and barriers that kāpō Māori and their whānau face in achieving these

text: “Seeing” Kāpō Māori: Making visible the experiences of Kāpō Māori during and after COVID-19 A scoping project focused on the intersection of Māori and the framing of vision impairments (disability) within the context of a pandemic response (in this instance COVID-19). Specifically, we were interested in the experiences of kāpō Māori during and post COVID-19 in order to centre the cultural and health needs of kāpō Māori in a culturally responsive manner. We highlight the aspirations that kāpō Māori have for themselves and their whānau, and to identify the facilitators and barriers that kāpō Māori and their whānau face in achieving these

year: 2021