title: Hamstrings injury incidence, risk factors, and prevention in Rugby Union players: a systematic review

authors: Chavarro-Nieto, Christian

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background
Hamstring strain injuries are one of the most common injuries in Rugby Union, representing up to 15% of all injuries sustained. We aimed to systematically review and summarize the scientific literature that addressed hamstring strain injury incidence, risk factors, injury prevention or strengthening strategies, and strength or asymmetry measures in Rugby Union.

Methods
We conducted a systematic search to locate published peer-reviewed articles from PubMed, SPORTDiscusTM, Web of Science®, and Scopus® e-databases. Studies included were original research conducted in Rugby Union that evaluated hamstring strength, hamstring strengthening interventions, and/or hamstring injury outcomes. Included studies were quality assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results
Twenty-four studies met inclusion and altogether involved 2866 participants. Isokinetic testing was the most common method used to quantify hamstring strength and imbalances in Rugby Union; with data indicating that professionals are stronger than amateurs, and forwards are stronger than backs. Regarding risk factors, we identified playing position, fatigue, previous injuries, between leg strength imbalances, lack of readiness to return to play post injury, and game actions (i.e. running). There is evidence to support the use of Nordic eccentric strength measures to inform practice, with strength and imbalances useful in predicting injuries. Strengthening programs with Nordic exercises significantly increased hamstring strength, increased muscle thickness, and decreased imbalance ratios in female and male players. A significant reduction in injury incidence and severity in professional players has been observed in players performing routines incorporating progressive Nordic exercises.

Conclusion
The etiology of hamstring strain injuries is multifactorial, with playing position, fatigue, previous injuries, leg imbalances, lack of readiness to return to play, and running actions identified as contributing factors across levels. Combining strategies to prevent hamstring injuries and recurrences, and to inform return to play, is likely worthwhile and should include Nordic strength assessment and Nordic exercises.

text: Hamstrings injury incidence, risk factors, and prevention in Rugby Union players: a systematic review Background
Hamstring strain injuries are one of the most common injuries in Rugby Union, representing up to 15% of all injuries sustained. We aimed to systematically review and summarize the scientific literature that addressed hamstring strain injury incidence, risk factors, injury prevention or strengthening strategies, and strength or asymmetry measures in Rugby Union.

Methods
We conducted a systematic search to locate published peer-reviewed articles from PubMed, SPORTDiscusTM, Web of Science®, and Scopus® e-databases. Studies included were original research conducted in Rugby Union that evaluated hamstring strength, hamstring strengthening interventions, and/or hamstring injury outcomes. Included studies were quality assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results
Twenty-four studies met inclusion and altogether involved 2866 participants. Isokinetic testing was the most common method used to quantify hamstring strength and imbalances in Rugby Union; with data indicating that professionals are stronger than amateurs, and forwards are stronger than backs. Regarding risk factors, we identified playing position, fatigue, previous injuries, between leg strength imbalances, lack of readiness to return to play post injury, and game actions (i.e. running). There is evidence to support the use of Nordic eccentric strength measures to inform practice, with strength and imbalances useful in predicting injuries. Strengthening programs with Nordic exercises significantly increased hamstring strength, increased muscle thickness, and decreased imbalance ratios in female and male players. A significant reduction in injury incidence and severity in professional players has been observed in players performing routines incorporating progressive Nordic exercises.

Conclusion
The etiology of hamstring strain injuries is multifactorial, with playing position, fatigue, previous injuries, leg imbalances, lack of readiness to return to play, and running actions identified as contributing factors across levels. Combining strategies to prevent hamstring injuries and recurrences, and to inform return to play, is likely worthwhile and should include Nordic strength assessment and Nordic exercises.

year: 2021

title: Survival of the species vs survival of the individual

authors: Barbour, Robert H.

subjects: survival

abstract: This paper examines the relationships between human and computing entities. It develops the biological ethical imperative towards survival into a study of the forms inherent in human beings and implied in computer systems. The theory of paradoxes is used to show that a computer system cannot in general make a self-referential decision. Based upon this philosophical analysis it is argued that human and machine forms of survival are fundamentally different. Further research into the consequences of this fundamental difference is needed to ensure the diversity necessary for human survival.

text: Survival of the species vs survival of the individual This paper examines the relationships between human and computing entities. It develops the biological ethical imperative towards survival into a study of the forms inherent in human beings and implied in computer systems. The theory of paradoxes is used to show that a computer system cannot in general make a self-referential decision. Based upon this philosophical analysis it is argued that human and machine forms of survival are fundamentally different. Further research into the consequences of this fundamental difference is needed to ensure the diversity necessary for human survival.

year: 1994-08

title: The social meaning potential of loanwords: Empirical explorations of lexical borrowing as expression of (social) identity

authors: Zenner, Eline

abstract: The use of loanwords is not merely a lexical act (filling a lexical gap in a given language, or using a shorter word in place of a longer expression) but also a socially meaningful one – a contextual expression of self, social identity and language regard. Recent lexical borrowing research has drawn attention to this social meaning potential of loanwords. What motivates language users to select a borrowed form over a receptor language equivalent, what is the (perceived) social meaning of this choice and how can we empirically address these questions? This special issue seeks to bring into debate the interface between speakers (the social dimension) and language (the linguistic dimension) with regard to lexical borrowing, and to probe how language regard and speaker identity influence and explain the use of loanwords. In a bid to better understand this complex interface, the special issue includes papers that explore a range of empirical methodologies drawn from different subfields of (socio)linguistics and closely related scientific domains (linguistic anthropology, conversation analysis, corpus linguistics, social psychology and psycholinguistics) and documents a variety of contact situations: English loans into French and Finnish, Māori loanwords into New Zealand English, German loans into Dutch. Together, the different perspectives presented in this issue help advance our understanding of the relationship between lexical change on the one hand, and language regard and (social) identity on the other hand.

text: The social meaning potential of loanwords: Empirical explorations of lexical borrowing as expression of (social) identity The use of loanwords is not merely a lexical act (filling a lexical gap in a given language, or using a shorter word in place of a longer expression) but also a socially meaningful one – a contextual expression of self, social identity and language regard. Recent lexical borrowing research has drawn attention to this social meaning potential of loanwords. What motivates language users to select a borrowed form over a receptor language equivalent, what is the (perceived) social meaning of this choice and how can we empirically address these questions? This special issue seeks to bring into debate the interface between speakers (the social dimension) and language (the linguistic dimension) with regard to lexical borrowing, and to probe how language regard and speaker identity influence and explain the use of loanwords. In a bid to better understand this complex interface, the special issue includes papers that explore a range of empirical methodologies drawn from different subfields of (socio)linguistics and closely related scientific domains (linguistic anthropology, conversation analysis, corpus linguistics, social psychology and psycholinguistics) and documents a variety of contact situations: English loans into French and Finnish, Māori loanwords into New Zealand English, German loans into Dutch. Together, the different perspectives presented in this issue help advance our understanding of the relationship between lexical change on the one hand, and language regard and (social) identity on the other hand.

year: 2019