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Effects of a 12% carbohydrate beverage on tackling technique and running performance during rugby league activity: A randomised, placebo-controlled trial - PubMed

  • ️Sat Jan 01 2022

Randomized Controlled Trial

. 2022 Jan 19;17(1):e0262443.

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262443. eCollection 2022.

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Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of a 12% carbohydrate beverage on tackling technique and running performance during rugby league activity: A randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Nick Dobbin et al. PLoS One. 2022.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12% carbohydrate (CHO) beverage on tackling technique and running performance during rugby league activity. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, crossover design, 15 academy rugby league players ingested a 250 ml bolus of a 12% CHO solution (30 g maltodextrin and 30 g sucrose in 500 ml) 15 minutes before two bouts of rugby activity. The rugby league match simulation for interchange players was used to standardise the movement patterns of activity and provide reliable outcome measures, whilst also reflecting the duration of a typical field-based conditioning session. Measures of tackling technique, external responses (e.g., fatigue index from sprint data) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded throughout. Gut discomfort was measured before each bout. The interaction effect was largely compatible with the hypothesis for relative distance (P<0.001, η2 = 0.217) and fairly compatible for tackling technique (P = 0.068, η2 = 0.0640). The time effect for tackling technique, relative and high-intensity distance, sprint, and sprint to contact velocity, time at high metabolic power, PlayerLoad™, and RPE (all P<0.05; η2 = 0.131-0.701) was compatible with the hypothesis. Data for tackling technique, relative and high-intensity distance, sprint, and sprint to contact velocity, sprint, and sprint to contact fatigue index (all P<0.05; η2 = 0.189-0.612) was compatible with a supplement effect overall despite few differences in the pattern of change (interaction). Minimal gut discomfort was reported for the CHO (bout 1 = 27 ± 17; bout 2 = 23 ± 17 AU) and placebo (bout 1 = 23 ± 18 AU; bout 2 = 24 ± 13) trials. This study shows that a 12% CHO beverage before two bouts of standardised rugby activity is a practical and effective strategy for retaining tackling technique, increasing external responses, and reducing RPE without compromising gut comfort.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Schematic overview of the study design.
Fig 2
Fig 2

Mean (SD) tackle technique score for CHO (white bars) and placebo (grey bars) across quarters of the RLMSP-i. * indicates significantly difference to Q1 in the first bout.

Fig 3
Fig 3

Mean (± SD) relative distance (A), high-intensity distance (B), sprint velocity © and sprint to contact velocity (D) with CHO (solid line) and placebo (dashed line) at each quarter of the RLMSP-i. *, #, †, ‡ and • indicate a time-effect compared to Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 of the first half and Q1 second half, respectively.

Fig 4
Fig 4

Mean (± SD) HMP time (A), PlayerLoadTM (B), sprint fatigue index (C), sprint to contact fatigue index (D) and rating of perceived exertion (E) with CHO (solid line) and placebo (dashed line) at each quarter of the RLMSP-i. *, #, †, ‡ indicate significant difference compared to Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 of the first half respectively. • and + indicate a significant difference compared to Q1 and Q3 of the second half, respectively.

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