Abstract
A flexible ankle joint is suggested to be a contributing factor for vertical squat jump (SQJ) performance. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of the active (ACT) and passive (PAS) ankle joint range of motion (ROM) on SQJ performed by adolescent female volleyball players. ACT and PAS ankle ROM at knee extension angles of 90, 140, and 180 degrees (180 degrees: full extension) were measured with a video analysis method for 35 female post-pubertal volleyball players (16.3 ± 1.1 yrs, 1.80 ± 0.04 m, 68.8 ± 6.8 kg). Additionally, the players fulfilling previously recommended criteria were assigned to the flexible (n = 10) and inflexible (n = 8) groups and executed SQJ with and without an arm swing on a force-plate. Results of the 2 × 2 × 3 MANOVA revealed a significant (p < 0.05) flexibility type and knee angle effect, as ankle ROM was larger in PAS compared to ACT and as the knee joint progressed from 90 to 180 degrees extension. The 2 × 2 ANOVA revealed a significant (p < 0.05) group effect, as flexible players jumped higher in the arm swing SQJ, along with a significant arm swing effect on key SQJ kinetic parameters. In conclusion, a more flexible ankle joint result in improved SQJ performance. Therefore, ankle flexibility training should be implemented in youth volleyball players.
Highlights
Published: 3 February 2021Jumping is considered to be a crucial element in volleyball [1], as it is demonstrated in a variety of skills, such as the spike jump, the block jump, the jump service, and the overhead set with a jump
The most common tests are the squat jumps (SQJ), the countermovement jumps (CMJ), the drop jumps (DJ), and series of repetitive jumps [3]. Out of these vertical jump tests, the SQJ was found to be highly correlated with the height achieved in a block jump, while the spike jump height, namely the offensive action to hit the ball with a dynamic arm swing during a maximal vertical jump aiming to give the ball high velocity and a steep ball trajectory in the opponents’ court, had a large correlation with CMJ height [5]
The arm swing is effectively used by adolescent female volleyball players with large ankle dorsiflexion, as a larger gain in performance was presented
Summary
Published: 3 February 2021Jumping is considered to be a crucial element in volleyball [1], as it is demonstrated in a variety of skills, such as the spike jump, the block jump, the jump service, and the overhead set with a jump. The most common tests are the squat jumps (SQJ), the countermovement jumps (CMJ), the drop jumps (DJ), and series of repetitive jumps [3]. Out of these vertical jump tests, the SQJ was found to be highly correlated with the height achieved in a block jump, while the spike jump height, namely the offensive action to hit the ball with a dynamic arm swing during a maximal vertical jump aiming to give the ball high velocity and a steep ball trajectory in the opponents’ court, had a large correlation with CMJ height [5]. This enhancement in SQJ performance results from the augmented work done
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