Background:  A three week trial was designed and conducted to test the efficacy of using rotational exercises for the hips and shoulders against a strong rotational force, in a weight bearing stance.  Coach Rob Phillips, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, from The University of Louisiana, Lafayette (ULL), was the chief administrator of all training and testing.  Training was conducted on the ULL Campus and testing was performed at the ULL indoor facility.  Therefore, no wind or other weather conditions need be considered.  The strength, conditioning, and speed training for this study was conducted April 12-23, 2010, and testing was conducted April 26-30, 2010.  The study was conducted during the annual Spring Speed Camp under the auspices of Coach Phillips.  There were 82 football student athletes used for the study.  It was agreed prior to the study that all student athletes with chronic injuries would be placed in the Experimental Group to further test the efficacy of injury prevention using the above hypothesis. 

Experimental Group:  Half (41) of the student athletes were to participate in all Spring speed training and testing, to include strength, conditioning and speed training.  They would participate in an identical program, alongside the Control Group, except they were required to perform rotational exercises on Rotex prior to training in the morning and after training in the afternoon. 

Control Group:  The other half of the student athletes (41) were to participate in all Spring speed training and testing, to include strength, conditioning and speed training.  They would participate in an identical program as the Experimental Group, except they would not perform rotational exercises for the hips and shoulders against resistance on Rotex.

Execution:  Final testing was performed throughout a one-week period in the same order as in previous years.  Two to three tests were performed per day to accommodate the number of athletes and in order to assure the athletes were properly rested between drills. 

Testing:  All 82 student athletes were tested on the following drills and performance indicators: 10 yd dash, 20 yd dash, 40 yd dash, 5-10-5, L drill, vertical jump, broad jump and 225 rep test.  Three ULL coaches were used to perform the testing.  The same coach tested and recorded all athletes for a particular test assuring there was no inconsistency in timing.  All timed drills were timed with a handheld professional stop watch.  All average scores were compared to the 2009 Spring speed training for the same period, using the same 82 athletes and the same drills and indicators to compare performance. 

Objective Results:  Results are reported in bold for the Experimental Group and in standard print for the Control Group for easy comparison:
1.  10 yd Dash:  0.167s decrease vs. 0.034s (0.133 faster times for Experimental Group, a 490% relative gain).
2.  5-10-5:  0.219s decrease vs. 0.121s (0.098 faster times for Experimental Group, a 180% relative gain).
3.  L Drill:  0.322s decrease vs. 0.117s (0.205 faster times for Experimental Group, a 275% relative gain).
4.  Vertical Jump:  2.53 inch increase vs. 0.759 inch increase (1.771 inches higher for Experimental Group, a 333% relative gain).

No significant differences were found in 20 yd dash, 40 yd dash, broad jump distance or 225 rep test between the averages for Experimental vs. Control Group.  For clarity, it is significant that the Control Group did not out-perform the Experimental Group in any drill or performance indicator. 
Athletes who used Rotex more frequently than the specified requirements of Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday also recorded slightly better times.  A group of 9 athletes used the machine additionally on Wednesdays and Saturdays, whereas the other athletes in the study did not. They achieved slightly better 20 and 40 yd times (0.074s and 0.127s faster than the Control Group average, respectively). 
Of notable significance, all athletes who had chronic injuries were placed in the Experimental Group at the beginning of the study.  Of those, one hamstring, one quad and one hip flexor strain (all considered mild) were experienced among all the Experimental Group throughout the entire three weeks of training and testing. 
 

Subjective Findings:
1.  The majority of student athletes reported feeling noticeably better than usual in the morning upon rising and experienced improved quality of sleep (less sleep disturbance and enhanced recovery).
2.  Athletes with chronic back pain reported complete relief within three days and had no problems or visits to the trainer throughout the study.
3.  Athletes reported immediate improved ability to activate their hamstrings and glutes after using Rotex.  They reported being more explosive.
 

Analysis:  The Experimental Group significantly outperformed the Control Group.  With this large a number of athletes in the testing population, the degree of possible error is extremely low.  It is evident the student athletes in the Experimental Group performed exceptionally well in all drills which require maximum deceleration/acceleration and deep hip excursion to permit the student athlete to keep their body low and still maintain speed and power in that position.  In the case of the vertical jump, the level of hip excursion in a downward motion is directly transferred into an upward motion through the gluteals.  However, in the case of the broad jump, much of the energy is stored in the calves to bound outward, which is not affected by rotational training.
 

Conclusion:  
1.  The above hypothesis is supported and validated in this study. 
2.  Strong, highly functional muscles that provide rotation for the hips and shoulders produce greater deceleration and range of motion which is elemental in injury prevention for these joints and surrounding areas of the body.
3.  Agility and drills requiring quick changes of direction and/or deceleration/acceleration are greatly enhanced by strengthening the muscles which actively rotate the hips and shoulders. 
The above information is certified for both objective and subjective results and findings by Coach Rob Phillips.  A short bio of Coach Phillips includes:
-       Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2005-Present
-       Assistant Strength Coach, NFL Cleveland Browns, 2001-2005
-       Head Strength and Nutrition Coach, The University of Miami, 2000
-       Assistant Strength Coach, The University of Miami, 1999
-       Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Western Carolina, 1997-1999
-       Graduate Assistant, The University of Tennessee, 1995-1997

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*Rotex, used in this study as the only variant between the Experimental and Control Group, provides a superior platform to train and strengthen the muscles that rotate and stabilize the hips and shoulders.  It has proven to be an important component of strength training, targeting both the mechanical and neuromuscular systems.  Rotex has been tested and proved to restore range of motion to the hip and shoulder joint, as well as prevent or reduce several athletically induced injuries.  It has also been used in the reduction of Lower and Upper Crossed Syndromes with superior results.