Effects of Rugby Training Exposure on Knee-Jerk Reflex Magnitude: A Feasibility Study

Background This study aimed to quantify the patellar reflex and assess how rugby training level influences reflex magnitude, asymmetry, and sensitivity, using a novel and accessible method for patellar reflex quantification. Methods A novel force transducer and ankle-mounted accelerometer were used to measure raw acceleration, which was converted to lower-limb angular velocity in 64 male participants from four rugby player groups (control, amateur, semi-professional, and professional). Each participant underwent 20 reflex trials per leg. Reflex magnitude was derived from peak angular velocity. Asymmetry and sensitivity were assessed using repeated-measures ANOVA and distributional analyses. Results Reflex magnitude decreased progressively with increased rugby training (p