Monitoring Stress and Recovery in Youth Rugby Players

Background: Rugby is a full contact sport played between two teams of 15 players on each team. Rugby is related to football because it is played by hand and kicking is also permitted. The ball can be thrown backwards but can be kicked in any direction. The game has powerful moves played by the players to win the match or the session; so a small distraction in the game may cause severe injuries. Several studies have examined intrinsic (injury and age) and extrinsic (physical and psychological stress) risk factors for injuries. Moreover physical stress plays a role in causing injury due to excessive practice session, so psychosocial stress may also plays an important role in causing injuries in players or athletes. Hence, no research that monitors the stress- recovery balances in rugby players. Aim: To monitor stress and recovery in youth rugby player. Study Design: Cross sectional observational analysis. Procedure: Total of 51 youth rugby players between 13-18 years (both male and female) was included in the study based on inclusion criteria. Recovery stress questionnaire for athletes (RESTQ-Sports) was given to the subjects and explanation about the questionnaire has be given they were asked to fill it. The doubts regarding the terminologies in the questionnaire will be explained then and there. According to the answers given, scoring will be done. These scores will be related with the stress and recovery. Results: Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 20 software. The results were analysed with players of stress due to strenuous activity while playing rugby. Conclusion: From the data results it is evident that recovery has an increased factor than stress among the players. Hence from the study it is suggested that recovery plays a major role among rugby players.