Abstract
Introduction
One game-changing parameter in handball is explosive power during jumping or sidecutting. In order to improve game performance, more knowledge about the physical demands of the different joints and muscle groups during sports specific movements may help trainers to implement specific exercises for enhancing performance in these movements. The aim of the study was to describe the kinematics and kinetics of the ankle, knee and hip joint during jumping and sidecutting, and investigate their relation to optimal performance.
Methods
54 young female handball players, aged 16.8 yrs (SD: 1.3), selected for youth national teams participated. Three-dimensional movement analysis was used to investigate maximal counter movement jump (CMJ) and the subjects’ individual sidecutting maneuvers. The maximal flexion of the knee and hip joint during the tests was obtained, and the joint eccentric and concentric powers of the ankle, knee and hip joints was calculated to describe the performance demands of the different joints. In sidecutting, an optimal performance may be a movement characterized by a high sagittal approach velocity that is translated into a high transverse velocity during a short ground contact. Based on this assumption, sidecutting is graded as the sum of sagittal approach velocity and transverse take-off velocity, divided by ground contact time. For CMJ, jump height was chosen as dependent parameter. Backwards multiple regression analyses were then used to investigate which joint powers were primary determinants of jump height, and velocity change of direction for CMJ and sidecutting, respectively.
Results
During CMJ the maximal knee and hip flexion were 92 (12) and 97 (9) deg., respectively. During sidecutting, maximal flexion angles were 55 (6) and 52 (11) deg. for the knee and hip joint, respectively. The regression analyses showed that during CMJ the knee joint concentric power was the only joint power of significant influence on jumping height (adjusted R2: 0.44, β=0.67, p<0.001). The sidecutting performance was determined only by ankle joint concentric power (adjusted R2: 0.21, β=0.47, p=0.001).
Conclusions
The results show that different muscle groups may be performance dependant in different handball specific movements. While vertical jumping is mostly depending on high knee joint power, peak concentric ankle joint power is the most important parameter during sidecutting. This may indicate need of specific power training of the plantar flexors to improve sidecutting in handball, and power training of the knee extensors for improving vertical jump performance.
One game-changing parameter in handball is explosive power during jumping or sidecutting. In order to improve game performance, more knowledge about the physical demands of the different joints and muscle groups during sports specific movements may help trainers to implement specific exercises for enhancing performance in these movements. The aim of the study was to describe the kinematics and kinetics of the ankle, knee and hip joint during jumping and sidecutting, and investigate their relation to optimal performance.
Methods
54 young female handball players, aged 16.8 yrs (SD: 1.3), selected for youth national teams participated. Three-dimensional movement analysis was used to investigate maximal counter movement jump (CMJ) and the subjects’ individual sidecutting maneuvers. The maximal flexion of the knee and hip joint during the tests was obtained, and the joint eccentric and concentric powers of the ankle, knee and hip joints was calculated to describe the performance demands of the different joints. In sidecutting, an optimal performance may be a movement characterized by a high sagittal approach velocity that is translated into a high transverse velocity during a short ground contact. Based on this assumption, sidecutting is graded as the sum of sagittal approach velocity and transverse take-off velocity, divided by ground contact time. For CMJ, jump height was chosen as dependent parameter. Backwards multiple regression analyses were then used to investigate which joint powers were primary determinants of jump height, and velocity change of direction for CMJ and sidecutting, respectively.
Results
During CMJ the maximal knee and hip flexion were 92 (12) and 97 (9) deg., respectively. During sidecutting, maximal flexion angles were 55 (6) and 52 (11) deg. for the knee and hip joint, respectively. The regression analyses showed that during CMJ the knee joint concentric power was the only joint power of significant influence on jumping height (adjusted R2: 0.44, β=0.67, p<0.001). The sidecutting performance was determined only by ankle joint concentric power (adjusted R2: 0.21, β=0.47, p=0.001).
Conclusions
The results show that different muscle groups may be performance dependant in different handball specific movements. While vertical jumping is mostly depending on high knee joint power, peak concentric ankle joint power is the most important parameter during sidecutting. This may indicate need of specific power training of the plantar flexors to improve sidecutting in handball, and power training of the knee extensors for improving vertical jump performance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 2014 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |