Factors Influencing Team Performance:What Can Support Teams in High-Performance Sport Learn from Other Industries? A Systematic Scoping Review

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of our systematic scoping review was to explore the factors influencing team function and performance across various industries and discuss findings in the context of the high-performance sport support team setting. These outcomes may also be used to inform future research into high-performance teamwork in sport. METHODS: A systematic scoping review of literature published in English since 2000 reporting team-based performance outcomes and included a performance metric that was ‘team outcome based’ was conducted using search of the Academic Search Ultimate, Medline, Business Source Ultimate, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Military database (ProQuest) using the terms: ‘team’, ‘function’ OR ‘dysfunction’, ‘Perform*’ OR ‘outcome’. RESULTS: Application of the search strategy identified a total of 11,735 articles for title and abstract review. Seventy-three articles were selected for full-text assessment with the aim to extract data for either quantitative or qualitative analysis. Forty-six of the 73 articles met our inclusion criteria; 27 articles were excluded as they did not report a performance metric. Eleven studies explored leadership roles and styles on team performance, three studies associated performance feedback to team performance, and 12 studies explored the relationship between supportive behaviour and performance. Team orientation and adaptability as key figures of team performance outcomes were explored in 20 studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings identified 4 key variables that were associated with team function and performance across a variety of industries; (i) leadership styles, (ii) supportive team behaviour, (iii) communication, and (iv) performance feedback. High-performance teams wishing to improve performance should examine these factors within their team and its environment. It is widely acknowledged that the dynamics of team function is important for outcomes in high-performance sport, yet there is little evidence to provide guidance. This inequality between real-world need and the available evidence should be addressed in future research. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40798-021-00406-7

Nanotechnology and Biotechnology: Two Way Traffic

Editorial overview for special issue of Current Opinion in Biotechnology on Nanobiotechnolog

Exploring Finger Digit Ratios (2D:4D) in Surgeons, Professional Rugby Players, and Political Journalists to Form a Directional Hypothesis: Could Finger Length Predict Attention and Focus?

In this short report we explore the predictive nature of finger digit ratio (i.e., second/index finger length divided by fourth/ring finger length; 2D:4D) and achievement. This research, with niche and specialized populations, was intended to support and grow on knowledge obtained from other large population 2D:4D studies and help form a directional hypothesis for future work exploring finger digit ratio and "success." Twenty-nine professional rugby players aged 25.1 ± 4.2 years, height 185.2 ± 6.3 cm and weight 101.9 ± 11.8 kg; n = 16 orthopedic surgeons aged 55.3 ± 9.3 years with height 183.8 ± 10.2 cm and weight 90.8 ± 14.0 kg; and n = 18 political journalists with age, height and weight of 38.8 ± 7.3 years, 182.8 ± 7.8 cm, and 84.4 ± 11.4 kg, respectively, were recruited. Three experiments were conducted where we (1) explored relationships for 2D:4D with testosterone and cortisol responsiveness to low stress exercise, (2) explored relationships for 2D:4D with pupil constriction and pupil constriction latency (pupillometry measures related to testosterone and cortisol responsiveness and to attentiveness), and (3) compared 2D:4D between rugby players, surgeons, and journalists. Our results revealed 2D:4D was not predictive of testosterone and cortisol responsiveness to low-level exercise stress. However, relationships exist for 2D:4D and pupillometry measures (p

Knee Joint Strength Ratios and Effects of Hip Position in Rugby Players

Measures of knee joint function, although useful in predicting injury, can be misleading because hip position in traditional seated isokinetic tests is dissimilar to when injuries occur. This study aimed to determine the differences between seated and supine peak torques and strength ratios and examine the interaction of position with joint velocity. This was a cross-sectional, repeated measures study. Isokinetic knee extensor and flexor concentric and eccentric peak torque was measured seated and supine (10 degrees hip flexion) at 1.04 and 3.14 rad.s(-1) in 11 Rugby players. Repeated measures analysis of variance and paired t-tests were used to analyze peak torques and strength ratios. Bonferroni post hoc, limits of agreement, and Pearson's correlation were applied. Seated peak torque was typically greater than that for supine for muscle actions and velocities. The values ranged from 109 +/- 18 N.m (mean +/- sigma) for supine hamstring concentric peak torque at 1.04 rad.s(-1) to 330 +/- 71 for seated quadriceps eccentric peak torque at 1.04 rad.s(-1). There was a significant position x muscle action interaction; eccentric peak torque was reduced more than concentric in the supine position. Knee joint strength ratios ranged from 0.47 +/- 0.06 to 0.86 +/- 0.23, with a significant difference in means between supine and seated positions for functional ratio at 3.14 rad.s(-1) observed; for seated it was 0.86 +/- 0.23; and for supine, it was 0.68 +/- 0.15 (p < 0.05). Limits of agreement for traditional and functional ratios ranged from 1.09 x/divided by 1.37 to 1.13 x/divided by 1.51. We conclude that hip angle affects isokinetic peak torques and knee joint strength ratios. Therefore, the hip angle should be nearer 10 degrees when measuring knee joint function because this is more ecologically valid. Using similar protocols, sports practitioners can screen for injury and affect training to minimize injury

Vertical stiffness is not related to anterior cruciate ligament elongation in professional rugby union players

Background: Novel research surrounding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is necessary because ACL injury rates have remained unchanged for several decades. An area of ACL risk mitigation which has not been well researched relates to vertical stiffness. The relationship between increased vertical stiffness and increased ground reaction force suggests that vertical stiffness may be related to ACL injury risk. However, given that increased dynamic knee joint stability has been shown to be associated with vertical stiffness, it is possible that modification of vertical stiffness could help to protect against injury. We aimed to determine whether vertical stiffness is related to measures known to load, or which represent loading of, the ACL. &#13; Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of 11 professional Australian rugby players. Knee kinematics and ACL elongation were measured from a 4-dimensional model of a hopping task which simulated the change of direction manoeuvre typically observed when non-contact ACL injury occurs. The model was generated from a CT scan of the participant's knee registered frame by frame to fluoroscopy images of the hopping task. Vertical stiffness was calculated from force plate data. &#13; Results: There was no association found between vertical stiffness and anterior tibial translation (ATT) or ACL elongation (r=−0.05; p=0.89, and r=−0.07; p=0.83, respectively). ATT was related to ACL elongation (r=0.93; p=0.0001).&#13; Conclusions: Vertical stiffness was not associated with ACL loading in this cohort of elite rugby players but a novel method for measuring ACL elongation in vivo was found to have good construct validity

Is There a Potential Relationship Between Prior Hamstring Strain Injury and Increased Risk for Future Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury?

Hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) are the most prevalent injury in a number of sports, and while anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are less common, they are far more severe and have long-term implications, such as an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life. Given the high incidence and severity of these injuries, they are key targets of injury preventive programs in elite sport. Evidence has shown that a previous severe knee injury (including ACL injury) increases the risk of HSI; however, whether the functional deficits that occur after HSI result in an increased risk of ACL injury has yet to be considered. In this clinical commentary, we present evidence that suggests that the link between previous HSI and increased risk of ACL injury requires further investigation by drawing parallels between deficits in hamstring function after HSI and in women athletes, who are more prone to ACL injury than men athletes. Comparisons between the neuromuscular function of the male and female hamstring has shown that women display lower hamstring-to-quadriceps strength ratios during isokinetic knee flexion and extension, increased activation of the quadriceps compared with the hamstrings during a stop-jump landing task, a greater time required to reach maximal isokinetic hamstring torque, and lower integrated myoelectrical hamstring activity during a sidestep cutting maneuver. Somewhat similarly, in athletes with a history of HSI, the previously injured limb, compared with the uninjured limb, displays lower eccentric knee flexor strength, a lower hamstrings-to-quadriceps strength ratio, lower voluntary myoelectrical activity during maximal knee flexor eccentric contraction, a lower knee flexor eccentric rate of torque development, and lower voluntary myoelectrical activity during the initial portion of eccentric contraction. Given that the medial and lateral hamstrings have different actions at the knee joint in the coronal plane, which hamstring head is previously injured might also be expected to influence the likelihood of future ACL. Whether the deficits in function after HSI, as seen in laboratory-based studies, translate to deficits in hamstring function during typical injurious tasks for ACL injury has yet to be determined but should be a consideration for future work

Testosterone and cortisol are more predictive of choice behavior than a social nudge in adult males on a simple gift give-get task

Reproducibility of social research is ambitious, and evidence supporting this argument is increasing in psychology and social science research. This may be attributed to, in part, the high volume of qualitative research methodology used in social research along with difficulties in the reliability of measurement techniques. Therefore, use of more and better objective measures to complement existing techniques in social research are necessitated. To highlight this point we explored the success of give-get nudge in adults. Nudge being a subtle intervention to influence choice, without restricting choice. We also wanted to explore whether testosterone and cortisol, as objective psychophysiological markers, could explain nudge outcome. Participants were asked what they would like to get for Christmas, or what they would like to give. They were then presented with two chocolates, one big and one small, and instructed to take as a "reward" for their participation with the knowledge there was one other participant to take chocolate after them. It was hypothesized that those asked to give something for Christmas would take the smaller reward and vice versa. Salivary testosterone and cortisol were measured prior to, and 10 min after completing the exercise. The nature of the nudge itself did not predict behavior, but the hormone measures did. We speculate that testosterone may focus an individual on the nature of the question (nudge), while cortisol encourages self-focus. These results support the need to combine existing social research techniques with more objective markers

Does stress affect nonverbal engagement in teams? A case study in professional team sport

Purpose Team effectiveness is often predicated by a group’s ability to communicate. However, the effect of stress response on communication success, particularly nonverbal engagement, and how this might affect team performance, is not clear; a “phenomenon” this study sought to explore. Design/methodology/approach This was an observational study in a cohort of professional rugby players. Participants gave presentations to their peers on two separate occasions during a “live-in” camp designed to have psychologically stressful elements. Presentations were video recorded and audience engagement was measured. Testosterone and cortisol were used as biomarkers of stress response, with a high testosterone–cortisol ratio considered positive. A team training session followed the presentations and participants were rated for training quality. Findings A small decline in testosterone was observed each day after waking. Conversely, cortisol rose after waking, with the rise being the highest on the first day. A decline in testosterone–cortisol ratio was also seen each day after waking; the decline was greatest on the first day. Presentation duration and audience engagement was greatest for the second presentation; when the testosterone-cortisol ratio decline and the cortisol increase after waking was smaller. Training quality was also better that day. Pooled data revealed a moderate inverse relationship and weak positive relationships for audience engagement with post-meeting cortisol and post-meeting testosterone–cortisol ratio, respectively. Training quality was related to testosterone and testosterone–cortisol ratio, but inversely related to cortisol. Originality/value This study suggests that in stressful conditions, as suggested by an awakening hormone response, communication and team performance could become compromised with reduced ability to engage with others