Has Strength And Conditioning Been Detrimental To The Game Of Rugby?

Over the past century strength and conditioning has become more and more predominant in contact sports and athletes have significantly grown in terms of muscle hypertrophy.  In the professional game of rugby today, the average player is 6 foot 2 inches in height and 16 stone, 5 pounds in weight. (Peters, S. 2014)

Strength training brings a number of benefits to rugby players, such as:

- Prevention of injury through the strengthening of muscles, ligaments and tendons surrounding the joints.

- Increase in muscle hypertrophy resulting in an increase in strength, producing a more explosive, powerful athlete.

(Official Site of the RFU, Governing Body of Rugby Union in England.)

Since 1974, the average back line rugby player has increased in height by 3 inches and by 31 pounds in weight. As players have increased in size, the number of injuries that occur has also drastically increased. In 1974, there was approximately an injury every 3.4 matches. Forty years on, an injury occurs every 59 minutes on average. 

(Garraway, W M., Lee, A J., Hutton, S., Russell, E B A W., Macleod, D A D. (2000).

So do the benefits strength training brings to the game outweigh its detrimental effect that sees injury rates increasing across all levels of play? Some would argue yes commenting that it has enhanced the level of intensity the game is played at.

Despite the risks associated with weight training, top-level teams have various experts at hand who run injury prevention clinics with the players. What has to be remembered is that rugby is a contact sport and injuries will always occur. Strength training has produced more powerful, all round athletes. Some consider that this has benefited the sport with rugby becoming faster and every player (even twenty stone men) required to be in peak condition to meet the demands of the physical game.  For the spectator they would argue, the game is now more enjoyable to watch.

References

Garraway, W M., Lee, A J., Hutton, S., Russell, E B A W., Macleod, D A D. (2000). Impact of Professionalism on Injuries in Rugby Union. Abstract from the paper. (http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/34/5/348.abstract

Official Site of the RFU, Governing Body of Rugby Union in England. What is Strength Training? (http://www.rfu.com/takingpart/fitness/fitnessattributes/strength)

Peters, S (2014). Rugby’s obsession with strength and power is forcing the game to the brink of crisis. Mail Online.  (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2571061/Rugbys-obsession-size-power-forcing-game-brink-crisis-concussion-campaign.html)

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil

What is it?

An edible oil extracted from the kernel of coconuts.  It is a naturally occurring saturated fat that provides a number of health benefits.

What can it be used for?

It can be used for cooking and for cosmetic purposes.

Many of us cook our foods in vegetable oils, which are genetically modified consisting of more than 90% canola, soy and corn oils. When these oils are exposed to extremely high temperatures, much like that of which occurs when cooking, the antioxidants in the oils are destroyed, oxidizing the oil. When ingested this is very detrimental to your health.

Coconut oil is one of the few oils that maintain its chemical structure when subject to high temperatures.

In addition, it can also be of great benefit when directly applied to your hair and skin.  

Health benefits to Coconut Oil

Increase metabolism to aid in fat loss.

Improve heart health. (1)

Support your immune system. (2)

Many of us use extra virgin olive oil to cook with thinking it is healthy. Olive oil is a very healthy monounsaturated fat that provides numerous health benefits. However, when it is subject to high temperatures it suffers oxidative damage due to its chemical structure, which reduces its health properties.

So whether your goal is to increase muscle mass, reduce body fat, or simply become a healthier individual…

Coconut oil is an extremely useful tool in helping you achieve your goal.

GS

(1)  Kaunitz H, Dayrit CS. Coconut oil consumption and coronary heart disease. Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine, 1992;30:165-171

(2) Dr. Mary G. Enig, Ph.D., F.A.C.N. Source: Coconut: In Support of Good Health in the 21st Century