Andrew Barnes

• PhD
• Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University

Background/aim Concussions in rugby union pose a major threat to player welfare. Research has found protective headgear offers no significant protection against concussions but suggests a large proportion of players perceive headgear to be effective in preventing concussions. This study aimed to explore UK rugby union players’ attitudes towards wea...

The vertical treadmill (VertiRun) is an unresearched, partial weight-bearing exercise mode for lower limb rehabilitation. The user undertakes a “running-like” action whilst body weight is supported by a bench and the limb is drawn downwards against overhanging resistance cables on a vertically hung nonmotorised treadmill. This study sought to descr...

Small sided football is the most popular area of adult football in the UK, with an estimated 1.5m adults playing every week. Matches are played on smaller pitches using different rules to the 11-a-side game; this results in less stoppage time and a higher volume of ball activity per player. Despite these established differences in playing style and...

To systematically review published articles investigating the association between structural foot characteristics and tibial stress injuries, and to suggest possible future avenues of research in this area. Literature was identified, selected and appraised in accordance with the methods of a systematic review. Articles potentially relevant to the r...

Human locomotion contains innate variability which may provide health insights. Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) has been used to quantify the temporal structure of variability for treadmill running, although it has been less commonly applied to uncontrolled overground running. This study aimed to determine how running gait complexity changes i...

The aim of this study was to compare the interlimb coordination, asymmetry, and variability between older adults who participated in sports ( n = 25; age = 72.6 ± 6.46 years) and sedentary older adults ( n = 20; age = 70.85 ± 3.82 years). The sport participants were selected from tennis and badminton clubs, whereas the sedentary participants were r...

An increment in peak tibial acceleration (PTA) may be related to an increased risk of running-rated injury. Many authors believe that reducing PTA through improved shock-absorption could, therefore, help prevent injury. The aim of the current study was, therefore, to investigate the individual responses of participants to a biofeedback intervention...

Mobility and gait performance have been characterised as indicators of functional declines in older adults and are associated with increased frailty and risk of falls. In addition, an active lifestyle has positive effects on healthy ageing. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of mobility-related parameters and physical activity as predic...

Twenty expert coaches were interviewed exploring their conceptions of the fastbowling technique and how they coached it. Coaches noted highly individualised techniques, that altered at varying times, due to game structure and tactical imperatives, which often required technical intervention. Previous have failed to identify these changes; however,...

This study aimed to review the scope of overuse injury prevention programs in young players through the lens of application of motor learning principles. From 280 studies found in the initial search, 13 studies were selected based on a series of inclusion criteria. The selected studies were categorized based on the type of intervention resulting in...

Velocity-based training (VBT) is a contemporary prescriptive, programming, and testing tool commonly utilised in strength and conditioning (S&C). Over recent years, there has been an influx of peer-reviewed literature investigating several different applications (e.g. load-velocity profiling, velocity loss, load manipulation, and reliability of tec...

Musculoskeletal overuse injuries in volleyball account for 2.5 injuries per 1000 hours exposure, with the shoulder joint the most common site of injury accounting for 12% of all the overuse injuries (Asker et al. [2018]. British journal of sports medicine, 52(20), 1312-1319). There is a lack of incidence, prevalence, and aetiology data of volleybal...

The study aim was to compare kinetics and kinematics of two, lower-body free-weight exercises, calculated from concentric and propulsion sub-phases, across multiple loads. Sixteen strength trained men performed back squat one-repetition maximum tests (1RM) (visit 1), followed by two incremental back squat and jump squat protocols (visit 2) (loads =...

The study aim was to compare different predictive models in one repetition maximum (1RM) estimation from load-velocity profile (LVP) data. Fourteen strength-trained men underwent initial 1RMs in the free-weight back squat, followed by two LVPs, over three sessions. Profiles were constructed via a combined method (jump squat (0 load, 30–60% 1RM) + b...

Purpose: This study compared pooled against individualized load–velocity profiles (LVPs) in the free-weight back squat and power clean. Methods: A total of 10 competitive weightlifters completed baseline 1-repetition maximum assessments in the back squat and power clean. Three incremental LVPs were completed, separated by 48 to 72 hours. Mean and p...

This study investigated the inter-day and intra-device reliability, and criterion validity of six devices for measuring barbell velocity in the free-weight back squat and power clean. In total, 10 competitive weightlifters completed an initial one repetition maximum (1RM) assessment followed by three load-velocity profiles (40–100% 1RM) in both exe...

Background: Optimal prescription of resistance exercise load (kg) is essential for the development of maximal strength. Two methods are commonly used in practice with no clear consensus on the most effective approach for the improvement of maximal strength. Objective: The primary aim of this review was to compare the effectiveness of percentage...

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Joint kinetics of the lower limb (hip, knee, ankle, midfoot and metatarsophalangeal joints) were investigated during the acceleration phase of bend sprinting and straight-line sprinting. Within the bend sprinting literature, it is generally accepted that sprint performance on the bend is restricted by moments in the non-sagittal plane preventing th...

Purpose: This study compared pooled against individualized load-velocity profiles (LVPs) in the free-weight back squat and power clean. Methods: A total of 10 competitive weightlifters completed baseline 1-repetition maximum assessments in the back squat and power clean. Three incremental LVPs were completed, separated by 48 to 72 hours. Mean an...

The aims of this study were to examine the effects of task and environmental constraints on axial synergies and to find an association between synergies and arm acceleration as a performance variable. Participants of this study were 10 expert tennis players (age: 34.4 ± 7.46) who voluntarily took part and executed 60 serves under two different cond...

A decrease in speed when sprinting on the bend compared with the straight has been attributed to kinetic, kinematic and spatiotemporal modifications. Although maximal speed is dependent on an athlete’s ability to accelerate, there is limited research investigating the acceleration phase of bend sprinting. This study used a lower limb and trunk mark...

This paper investigated horizontal force production, foot kinematics and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint push‐off axis use during acceleration in bend (anti‐clockwise) and straight‐line sprinting. It was hypothesised that bend sprinting would cause the left step push‐off to occur about the oblique axis, resulting in a decrease in propulsive force....

The aims of this study were to examine the effect of different environmental constraints on kinematic multi-segment coordination patterns during the service and its coordination with service time variability. Ten expert tennis players (Age: 34.1 ± 5.3) volunteered to take part in this study. Participants served 30 times in 3 different conditions: c...

Sprint velocity decreases on the bend when compared with the straight, therefore understanding technique during bend sprinting could have important implications for aiding race performance. Few bend sprinting studies have used optoelectronic cameras to investigate kinematic variables. Limited published evidence regarding the reliability of marker s...

Background: Biofeedback seems to be a promising tool to improve gait outcomes for both healthy individuals and patient groups. However, due to differences in study designs and outcome measurements, it remains uncertain how different forms of feedback affect gait outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to review primary biomechanical literatu...

Real-time monitoring and feedback of tibial acceleration using wireless skin mounted sensors may reduce the risk of tibial stress fractures in runners. The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement between a wireless accelerometer and a gold standard reference accelerometer, both skin mounted, in measuring peak axial tibial acceleration whe...

The vertical treadmill (VertiRun) is an unresearched mode of exercise where users engage in a “running-like” action whilst body weight is supported by a recumbent bench and overhanging resistance cables are tethered to the user’s ankles. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of training on a VertiRun and any cross-training effect o...

Increased tibial acceleration has been found to be an important risk factor for tibial stress fractures. Interventions aimed at reducing this variable which found a beneficial effect include the use of biofeedback in gait retraining. However, no studies have focused on the time participants take to modify tibial acceleration, therefore we aimed to...

Increased tibial acceleration has been found to be an important risk factor for tibial stress fractures. Interventions aimed at reducing this variable which found a beneficial effect include the use of biofeedback in gait retraining. However, no studies have focused on the time participants take to modify tibial acceleration, therefore we aimed to...

Exploiting joint variability is one of the main principles of motor control theory and has been used to explain mechanisms related to expert performance (Lee, 1984, Journal of Motor Behaviour, 16, 135–170). The tennis serve is a complex motor skill that requires synchronisation among active body parts for an effective utilisation of the kinetic cha...

This study aimed to identify performance indicators that discriminate winning and losing in elite men’s and women’s Rugby Union during the latest World Cup competitions. The knockout stages of the men’s 2015 Rugby World Cup (n = 8) and women’s 2014 Rugby World Cup (n = 8) were compared. Findings suggest that in the men’s game, winning teams kicked...

Small sided football is the most popular and fastest growing area of adult football in the UK with an estimated 1.5m adults playing every week. The sport's popularity has led to an influx of commercial football centers offering organized 5, 6 and 7-a-side leagues on third generation artificial pitches.

Real time visual gait-retraining can be an effective intervention for modifying risk factors associated with overuse injuries in runners (Noehren et al., 2011, Br J Sports Med, 45, 691-696). A more vertical orientation of the shank at contact has been linked to the development of overuse injuries (Ahn et al., 2014, J Sport Health Sci, 3, 102-112)....

Background and Purpose: Tournament and match situation as environmental constraint are changed as the importance of the game increases, that in turn changes players' behaviours according to dynamic system theory (Newell, 1986; Renshaw et al., 2010). Attacking strategies as a part of behaviour can predict the probability of tactical actions in a tim...

Background: Identifying factors that discriminate successful and unsuccessful performance in elite Rugby Union allows coaches to adopt effective tactical strategies for success. Previous research has identified performance indicators that determine success in elite male rugby (Bishop and Barnes 2013), but limited research exists on the female game....

Gait-retraining using real time visual feedback is an effective intervention for modifying factors associated with overuse injuries in runners (Noehren et al., 2011, Br J Sports Med, 45, 691-696). Decreased knee flexion at initial contact has been associated with increased vertical loading rates, an identified risk factor for tibial stress fracture...

The effect of the new scrum engagement sequence introduced at the start of the 2013/2014 season on scrum performance has not been evaluated. This study compared scrum performance indicators pre-(2012/2013 season) and post-law change (2013/2014). Several performance indicators at the scrum were identified in 20 games from each season of the English...

The identification of performance indicators critical for success will allow the development of effective tactical approaches suited to the modern game. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance indicators that discriminate winning and losing teams in the knockout stages of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Winning and losing teams from the...

Differences in the location and incidence of lower extremity injuries have been reported between high and low arched individuals. These differences might be related to functional differences between the two foot types. In particular, the characteristics of the medial longitudinal arch may influence foot function. The purpose of this study was to in...