Differences in accuracy and consistency in elite lawn bowlers.

The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the accuracy and consistency of repeated lawn bowl deliveries between different bowling conditions and to describe the bias of bowls that missed the target (jack). Twenty-seven elite lawn bowl athletes were recruited to partake in the study. Participants delivered 16 bowls in four conditions: (i) forehand and (ii) backhand towards a target 23 metres away and (iii) forehand and (iv) backhand towards a target 27 metres away. The resting position of each bowl relative to the jack was described in terms of absolute displacement, width displacement and length displacement. For each participant and each condition, the average absolute displacement of deliveries was calculated as a measure of accuracy; the average width and length displacement was used to describe the bias of deliveries; and the bivariate variable error of absolute displacement was calculated as a measure of consistency. The forehand towards a target 23 metres away was significantly less accurate and consistent when compared with other conditions. There was a bias for greater width displacement of both forehand deliveries (p < 0.001). Analysing lawn bowls in this detail provides specific areas for coaching to improve lawn bowling performance.

The impact of previous musculoskeletal injury on running gait variability: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that identifying movement variability alterations in pathological vs. healthy gait may further understanding of injury mechanisms related to gait biomechanics; however, in the context of running and musculoskeletal injuries the role of movement variability remains unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the impact of a previous musculoskeletal injury on running gait variability? METHODS: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane library and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception until February 2022. Eligibility criteria were (a) included a musculoskeletal injury group, (b) compared running biomechanics data to a control group, (c) measured movement variability for at least one dependent variable, (d) provided a statistical between-group comparison of variability outcomes. Exclusion criteria were neurological conditions impacting gait, upper body musculoskeletal injuries and age < 18 years old. A summative synthesis was performed instead of a meta-analysis due to methodological heterogeneity. RESULTS: Seventeen case-control studies were included. The most common deviations in variability observed among the injured groups were: (1) high and low knee-ankle/foot coupling variability and (2) low trunk-pelvis coupling variability. Significant (p < 0.05) between-group differences in movement variability were identified in 8 of 11; 73% of studies of runners with injury-related symptoms, and 3 of 7; 43% of studies of recovered or asymptomatic populations. SIGNIFICANCE: This review identified limited to strong evidence that running variability is altered in adults with a recent history of injury for specific joint couplings only. Individuals with ankle instability or pain employed altered running strategies more often than those who have recovered from injury. Altered variability strategies have been proposed to contribute to future running-related injuries, therefore these findings are relevant to clinicians managing active populations.