National Rugby League athletes and tendon tap reflex assessment: a matched cohort clinical study.
Limited research suggests elite athletes may differ from non-athletes in clinical tendon tap reflex responses.



In this matched cohort study, 25 elite rugby league athletes were compared with 29 non-athletes to examine differences in tendon reflex responses. Relationships between reflex responses and lengths of players' careers were also examined. Biceps, triceps, patellar and Achilles tendon reflexes were clinically assessed.



Right and left reflexes were well correlated for each tendon (rS= 0.7-0.9). The elite rugby league athletes exhibited significantly weaker reflex responses than non-athletes in all four tendons (p < 0.005). Biceps reflexes demonstrated the largest difference and Achilles reflexes the smallest difference. Moderate negative correlations (rS= -0.3-0.6) were observed between reflex responses and lengths of players' careers.



Future research is required to further elucidate mechanisms resulting in the observed differences in tendon reflexes and to ensure clinical tendon tap examinations and findings can be interpreted appropriately in this athletic population.
Physiotherapy, Bond University, 2 Promethean Way, Robina, Queensland, Australia, 4226.
James
J
Maurini
Gold Coast Titans, Gold Coast, Australia.
Paul
P
Ohmsen
Gold Coast Titans, Gold Coast, Australia.
Greg
G
Condon
Physiotherapy, Bond University, 2 Promethean Way, Robina, Queensland, Australia, 4226.
Rodney
R
Pope
Physiotherapy, Bond University, 2 Promethean Way, Robina, Queensland, Australia, 4226. whing@bond.edu.au.
Wayne
W
Hing
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012026:Reflex, Stretch; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Elite athlete; Monosynaptic reflex; Stretch reflex; Tendon tap reflex