University researchers examining injury risks associated with 'Tush Push' play

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- As debate over the 'Tush Push' heats up once again, a team of biomedical engineers at the University of Rochester is studying the infamous Eagles play.

"I think the 'Tush Push' has the most controversy around it for football moves, especially with quarterback sneaks. So I feel like if we could add some input to that biomechanically, I feel like it would be really interesting," Tina Kyriacou, an undergraduate research assistant at the University of Rochester, told Action News.

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In their lab this summer, Kyriacou and other researchers started examining potential injuries associated with the play, affectionately known as the 'Brotherly Shove.'

They say they are using technology like high-speed cameras, pressure-sensing insoles, and advanced data analysis to determine if there is a safer way to execute the play.

Aly March, a postdoctoral associate at the University of Rochester, said they use a software that allows them to take a video recording of a person standing.

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"It uses a lot of complex computer science to develop a model of that person's skeleton," March explained. "We, as a lab, lined up in tush push formation a couple of times to see if we could record multiple people and see if we could overlay their skeletons."

When the university's football team got involved, March said researchers set up their high-speed cameras on the football field to record the team as they ran several plays. As they ran them, the quarterback wore the pressure-sensing insoles in his cleats.

Researchers took the data compiled from those plays to their lab for processing. They analyzed the players' movements, measuring the power and work generated in each joint during the play.

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This team is now using that information to assess injury risks associated with the unstoppable play.

"I think safety is definitely a question," March said. "The ultimate goal would be if eventually somebody finds out there is a part of the play that isn't necessarily safe, finding a way to modify that."

The NFL tried to ban the play following a proposal from the Green Bay Packers in the offseason, but fell two votes short of eliminating it.