A SCHOOL in Dorset has received international acclaim from scientists after their new Performance Sport suite help to produce “game-changing” research.
A major research programme organised by specialists in the Department of Health at Bath University has shown how targeted muscular training could mitigate the risk of one of the most common and serious injuries for aspiring young athletes.
Using the equipment in Bryanston School and 35 pupil volunteers at the School, the research investigated the risk factors of knee ligament damage in adolescent female athletes who are up to eight times more likely to suffer such injuries than their male counterparts.
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Bryanston’s Director of Sport Alex Fermor-Dunman said: “We were delighted to be approached and to host such an important research project as the outcomes are of great significance to all young female athletes and their coaches.
“Our aim is always to help aspiring young sportsmen and women fulfil their full potential and we deliver personalised training and support to reflect the specific requirements of each pupil within our Performance Sport Programme.
“This is particularly important as children develop and mature during their adolescent years, when the Strength and Conditioning provision should always reflect the precise development needs of individuals.
“The research team at the University of Bath was keen to capitalise on our facilities and the specialist skills of our Performance Sport team led by Jack Phillips as there are few, if any, other academic environments with such resources. And, of course, we also have a large group of willing volunteers on hand to participate in such a research project.”
The ground-breaking results from the research have now been published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, the world’s most respected peer-reviewed sports science publication.
Significantly, the research data has helped to explain why there is heightened risk of knee ligament injuries as young female athletes mature and pinpoints the training exercises that can help to minimise the risk of such injuries.
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