Mentor/s
Jonathan Hudak
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
This project examines the off-season strength and conditioning program for a sophomore Division I rugby athlete transitioning from rehabilitation to full recovery following a compound tibia-fibula fracture. After completing surgical intervention and physical therapy, the athlete's primary goals now center on improving ankle stability for cutting movements, minimizing discomfort during running, and restoring lower-body strength and power to support optimal on-field performance. Initial assessments identified asymmetries in unilateral mobility and power, alongside movement inefficiencies related to landing mechanics and joint stability. This program prioritizes progressive strength training and low level plyometrics to address the strength needs and optimal mechanics to allow for a progression into explosive movements in later phases that are more important for the sport of rugby. The findings highlight the importance of tailored programming for athletes in post-rehabilitation phases to achieve functional recovery and performance optimization.
College and Major available
Exercise Science BS
Academic Level
Undergraduate student
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-25-2025 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-25-2025 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Off-Season Strength and Conditioning Program for a Collegiate Rugby Athlete Post-Rehabilitation from Tibia-Fibula Fracture
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
This project examines the off-season strength and conditioning program for a sophomore Division I rugby athlete transitioning from rehabilitation to full recovery following a compound tibia-fibula fracture. After completing surgical intervention and physical therapy, the athlete's primary goals now center on improving ankle stability for cutting movements, minimizing discomfort during running, and restoring lower-body strength and power to support optimal on-field performance. Initial assessments identified asymmetries in unilateral mobility and power, alongside movement inefficiencies related to landing mechanics and joint stability. This program prioritizes progressive strength training and low level plyometrics to address the strength needs and optimal mechanics to allow for a progression into explosive movements in later phases that are more important for the sport of rugby. The findings highlight the importance of tailored programming for athletes in post-rehabilitation phases to achieve functional recovery and performance optimization.
Students' Information
John Campbell,
Exercise science
Honors student
Graduation: May 2025