University of Bedfordshire: Muscle Quality in Rugby and Football

This dissertation, titled 'Muscle Quality: The analysis of muscle quality in the Rectus Femoris of university Rugby and Football players,' conducted by Reinaldo Camuimba at the University of Bedfordshire, investigates the differences in muscle quality between rugby and football players. The study aimed to identify components of muscle quality and determine which group exhibited a higher level of muscle quality. Using ultrasound to assess the cross-sectional area of the rectus femoris and correlating it with peak force measured during a seated leg extension test, the research found significant differences in muscle quality between the two sports, with rugby players showing higher muscle quality. The results also highlighted significant differences in non-dominant leg values for muscle quality and peak force. The dissertation includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions, references, and acknowledgements, providing a comprehensive analysis of muscle quality in athletes and exploring the relationship between muscle size, force production, and athletic performance.