Female Volleyball Players Research Articles

Postural control and ankle joint functions: an investigation on collegiate female volleyball players

PurposeAnkle injuries are common in volleyball players and are linked to the athlete’s postural control. The aim of the report is to investigate the differences between ankle functions and postural control ability of volleyball players and controls, and also the relationship between the variables in order to understand the factors affecting postural control.Methods40 female participants (age: 21.18 ± 0.27, volleyball players/controls: 20/20) were included in the study. Ankle functions (joint range of motion (ROM), joint position sense (JPS), vibration and isometric muscle strength) and postural control variables (anterior-posterior and medial-lateral sway velocity, ellipse area and perimeter) were evaluated by static stability test. The differences between the groups and the correlation between variables were analysed.ResultsSignificant differences favoured the volleyball group in ankle dorsiflexion, inversion, and eversion ROM, JPS, dorsiflexor and plantar flexor isometric muscle strength, and postural control variables (p < 0.05). However, the control group demonstrated superior vibration sensitivity on the 1st and 5th metatarsal heads (p < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between the anterior-posterior sway velocity and dorsiflexion ROM, medial-lateral sway velocity and sway area with inversion ROM, sway area and vibration threshold in the 1st and 5th metatarsal heads (p < 0.05).ConclusionsVolleyball players showed better results in ankle ROM, JPS, muscle strength and postural control. In addition to the similarities in ankle plantar flexion ROM, invertor and evertor isometric muscle strength between the groups, the controls showed better vibration sensitivity; which reveals potential causes of ankle injuries in volleyball players. Ankle function variables are found to be linked to postural control, highlighting the need to evaluate these functions for injury prevention.

Starters vs. non-starters differences in vertical jump force-time metrics in female professional volleyball players.

As one of the fundamental volleyball skills, countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) has been commonly implemented in the applied sports setting as a non-invasive and time-efficient assessment of athletes' lower-body neuromuscular function. The purpose of the present study was to examine the differences in CMJ characteristics between starters and non-starters within a cohort of professional female volleyball players. Nineteen athletes competing in one of the top European leagues (i.e., SuperLeague) volunteered to participate in the present investigation. Following the completion of a warm-up protocol, each athlete performed three maximal-effort CMJs with no arm swing while standing on a uni-axial force plate system sampling at 1,000 Hz. The following force-time metrics were used for performance analysis purposes: braking phase duration and impulse, eccentric and concentric duration, mean and peak force and power, contraction time, jump height, and reactive strength index-modified. Mann-Whitney U and independent t-tests revealed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) during both eccentric and concentric phases of CMJ between the players included in the starting lineup (n = 9) and their substitutions (n = 10), with the effect sizes being small to moderate in magnitude (g = 0.053-0.683). While further research is warranted on this topic, these results suggest that securing a position in a starting lineup at the professional level of volleyball play may be more contingent on the player's ability to proficiently execute sport-specific skills (e.g., blocking, attacking), rather than the performance on the CMJ assessment, considering that the observed values for both groups fall within the desired ranges for this specific population of athletes.

Assessing Jump Performance: Intra- and Interday Reliability and Minimum Difference of Countermovement Jump and Drop Jump Outcomes, Kinetics, Kinematics, and Jump Strategy

Understanding the reliability of jump testing is essential to determine the neuromuscular progress of athletes and make informed decisions. This study aimed to assess the reliability of several countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) test metrics in female volleyball players. Sixteen (n = 16) semi-professional female volleyball players participated in this test-retest study. Intrasession and intersession reliability of CMJ and DJ metrics were evaluated using a randomized cross-over design. A dual force platform was used to collect CMJ and DJ data, and several dependent variables were calculated using forward dynamics. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficients of variation (CV), and minimum difference (MD) were calculated to assess intra- and interday reliability. During the same testing, the third attempt consistently yielded the highest values for both tests in jump height but presented excellent reliability (CMJ: ICC [95%CI] = 0.97 [0.93–0.99]; CV [95%CI] = 4.1% [1.2–7.0]; MD95 = 3.5 cm; MD90 = 2.9 cm; DJ: ICC [95%CI] = 0.91 [0.77–0.97]; CV [95%CI] = 6.7% [1.9–11.5]; MD95 = 6.0 cm; MD90 = 5.0 cm). CMJ height exhibited excellent reliability between sessions (ICC [95%CI] = 0.93 [0.81–0.97]; CV [95%CI] = 3.8% [1.1–6.4]; MD95 = 3.5 cm; MD90 = 3.0 cm), whereas DJ height demonstrated slightly lower but still acceptable intersession reliability (ICC [95%CI] = 0.81 [0.55–0.93]; CV [95%CI] = 6.1% [1.7–10.4]; MD95 = 5.2 cm; MD90 = 4.4 cm). Intersession reliability for CMJ kinetics and kinematics was excellent for 13 of the 24 metrics assessed. For DJ, only concentric (ICC [95%CI] = 0.91 [0.76–0.97]; CV [95%CI] = 3.0% [0.9–5.2]; MD95 = 15 Ns; MD90 = 12.6 Ns) and eccentric impulses (ICC [95%CI] = 0.99 [0.96–0.99]; CV [95%CI] = 1.7% [0.5–2.9]; MD95 = 9.2 Ns; MD90 = 7.7 Ns) demonstrated excellent intersession reliability. Most CMJ variables showed excellent reliability within sessions, while DJ had lower reliability in most metrics. These findings provide valuable information to physical trainers to select the metrics to assess athletes’ performance as well as to identify a minimum cut-off value that serves as a reference for each of the metrics reported in both tests.

The effect of flywheel complex training with eccentric-overload on muscular adaptation in elite female volleyball players.

This study aimed to compare the effects of 8 weeks (24 sessions) between flywheel complex training with eccentric overload and traditional complex training of well-trained volleyball players on muscle adaptation, including hypertrophy, strength, and power variables. Fourteen athletes were recruited and randomly divided into the flywheel complex training with an eccentric-overload group (FCTEO, n=7) and the control group (the traditional complex training group, TCT, n=7). Participants performed half-squats using a flywheel device or Smith machine and drop jumps, with three sets of eight repetitions and three sets of 12 repetitions, respectively. The variables assessed included the muscle thickness at the proximal, mid, and distal sections of the quadriceps femoris, maximal half-squats strength (1RM-SS), squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and three-step approach jump (AJ). In addition, a two-way repeated ANOVA analysis was used to find differences between the two groups and between the two testing times (pre-test vs. post-test). The indicators of the FCTEO group showed a significantly better improvement (p<0.05) in CMJ (height: ES = 0.648, peak power: ES = 0.750), AJ (height: ES = 0.537, peak power: ES = 0.441), 1RM-SS (ES = 0.671) compared to the TCT group and the muscle thicknes at the mid of the quadriceps femoris (ES = 0.504) after FCTEO training. Since volleyball requires lower limb strength and explosive effort during repeated jumps and spiking, these results suggest that FCTEO affects muscular adaptation in a way that improves performance in well-trained female volleyball players.

An Analysis Comparing Aggression Levels among Female National Volleyball and Netball Athletes in Sri Lanka

Aggression is an important psychological component that cannot be overlooked when it comes to increasing physical performance, particularly in invasion sports. This research was conducted with the intention of determining the extent of the violent behavior exhibited by the female national netball and volleyball players belonging to Sri Lanka. For the purpose of this study, fifteen female volleyball players and ten female netball players from national teams participated. The data was collected through the use of a standardized and systematic questionnaire, and the findings were analyzed through the application of statistical analysis using SPSS. A two-sample t-test and descriptive statistics were utilized in order to conduct the analysis of the data. The study found that the mean aggressiveness scores for the two national teams were 84.06 and 88.9, respectively. These values were based on aggression. According to the findings of the study, the levels of hostility exhibited by the female players on the country's national teams for netball and volleyball did not differ substantially from one another (p-value = 0.577). According to the findings of the study, the levels of aggressiveness exhibited by both teams were satisfactory, and there was no obvious difference in the levels of aggression exhibited by the female national members of Sri Lanka's netball and volleyball teams. An examination of the psychological situations of athletes and the implementation of strategies to optimize player psychology in order to increase athletic performance are both highlighted by the findings, which show the relevance of these two aspects.

Voleybolcularda Addüktör Kas Grubuna Uygulanan Kinezyolojik Bantlamanın Endurans, Güç ve Çeviklik Üzerine Akut Etkisi

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the acute effect of kinesiology taping (KT) to the hip adductor muscle group (AMG) on endurance, strength and agility in female volleyball players (VP). Materials and Methods: Thirty female VP, with an average age of 17.53±2.55 years, who played licensed volleyball for at least two years were included in our study. KT was applied longitudinally to the athletes between the pubis and lower border of the tuberositas tibia, including the AMG using the facilitation technique (25% stretching). Evaluations were repeated before taping and 20 minutes after taping. The athletes' Adductor muscle endurance was evaluated using the Copenhagen adduction exercise, vertical jump test for lower extremity strength, and Edgren side step test for agility. Results: When the results of the study were evaluated, it was found that there was a statistically significant increase in the endurance (p&amp;lt;0.001), strength (p&amp;lt;0.001) and agility (p&amp;lt;0.001) values of the athletes after KT application. Conclusions: KT applied to the adductor area can be used by physiotherapists during competitions or training due to its positive effects on the performance of VP.

Ground reaction forces better than center of pressure differentiate postural control between young female volleyball players and untrained peers

A comprehensive explanation of the relationship between postural control and athletic performance requires compare body balance in athletes with their never training counterparts. To fill this gap in relation to volleyball, the aim of this study was to compare the balance of intermediate adolescent female players (VOL, n = 61) with inactive peers (CON, n = 57). The participants were investigated in normal quiet stance during 20 s trials on a Kistler force plate. The traditional spatial (amplitude and mean speed) and temporal (frequency and entropy) indices were computed for ground reaction forces (GRF) and center-of-pressure (COP) time-series. The spatial parameters of the both time-series did not discriminate the two groups. However, the temporal GRF parameters revealed much lower values in VOL than in CON (p < .0001). This leads to three important conclusions regarding posturography applications. First, GRF and COP provide different information regarding postural control. Second, measures based on GRF are more sensitive to changes in balance related to volleyball training and perhaps to similar training and sports activity regimens. And third, the indicators calculated based on these two time series can complement each other and thus enrich the insight into the relationship between balance and sports performance level.

Effects of shoe collar height and limb dominance on landing knee biomechanics in female collegiate volleyball players

ABSTRACT Volleyball-specific footwear with higher collar heights (a mid-cut shoe) are worn to restrict ankle motion. Reduced ankle dorsiflexion has been associated with increased frontal plane motion and injury risk at the knee. With the high frequency of unilateral landings in volleyball, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of volleyball-specific shoes and limb dominance on knee landing mechanics in collegiate volleyball players. It was hypothesized that participants would exhibit smaller sagittal plane and greater frontal plane knee joint mechanics in mid-cut and dominant limb and that vertical and posterior directed ground reaction forces would be greater wearing mid-cut, yet similar between limbs. Seventeen female volleyball players performed unilateral landings on each limb in mid-cut and low-top volleyball shoes. For shoe main effects, smaller peak dorsiflexion angle and internal peak plantarflexion moment and greater peak medial ground reaction force were found in the mid-cut but with no impact on knee mechanics. For limb main effects, the internal peak knee abduction moment was greater in the dominant limb. Greater peak lateral ground reaction force was found in the interaction between the non-dominant limb and low-top. Further research is warranted to better understand shoe and limb impact in volleyball players.

Applicability of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool in Elite Volleyball Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

The ease of administration of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) could represent a methodology for periodically evaluating athletes, preventing ankle instability injuries. This study aimed to achieve three objectives: (a) to evaluate the applicability of the CAIT scale in volleyball; (b) to explore whether ankle instability presents a greater risk in lower-level volleyball categories and whether elite athletes demonstrate an ability to mitigate this risk; and (c) to identify potential predictors of ankle instability. Eighty female volleyball players participated in this cross-sectional observational study. The CAIT was administered to evaluate the athletes belonging to some teams in Series A, B, and C. The Spearman's ranks correlation coefficient showed significant correlations between CAIT items. Additionally, the Cronbach's α showed a high internal consistency. Our results showed a significant difference between athletes who reported pain and those who did not (p < 0.001). The multiple linear regression model analysis showed that pain was a predictor of ankle instability (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that the CAIT can be used to evaluate ankle stability in volleyball players. This scale could represent a valuable tool for implementing specific intervention programs to prevent ankle injuries in athletes.

Mechanical differences between three block jump approaches in NCAA DII college volleyball players

The purpose of the study was to examine the kinematics and kinetics differences between three common block approaches used in volleyball games: (1) shuffle block, (2) chicken wing block, and (3) swing block, from a fixed distance of 1.8 m. Ten female collegiate volleyball players from NCAA DII participated in the study. They performed, in a randomized order, a total of 18 blocks equally distributed among the three block types. Noraxon MyoResearch 3 software was used to analyze the block approaches. The statistical analysis was performed by running a Repeated Measurement ANOVA on Jamovi statistical software 2.3.24. The results showed that there was a significant main effect for time to take off, jump height, max knee flexion angles, peak power, relative peak power, net impulse, reactive strength index, max rate of force development, peak force, and relative peak force between the three types of blocks (p &lt; .05). While max valgus knee angles and max flexion hip angles did not show any effect (p &gt; .5). To cover a distance of 1.8m, it was clear that shuffle block was the weakest option for good block performances, while chicken wing and swing blocks were similar in many aspects. Both chicken wing and swing blocks can be used to elevate the block effectiveness of volleyball players compared to shuffle block.

Examining the relationship between body composition and jumping parameters in female volleyball players

Özet&#x0D; Amaç: Voleybol branşında artan ilgi ve profesyonel başarı arayışları doğrultusunda, sporcuların fiziksel ve fizyolojik ihtiyaçlarının ve bunların performans çıktılarına etkilerinin bilinmesi, bu etkilere göre optimal düzeyde çalışmalar oluşturulması, performansın yükseltilmesi ve başarının elde edilmesi için önem taşımaktadır. Bu durum göz önüne alındığında bu çalışmanın amacı elit kadın voleybolcularda vücut kompozisyonu ile sıçrama parametreleri arasındaki ilişkinin incelemesidir. Materyal &amp; Metot: Araştırmanın modeli tarama modellerinden ilişkisel tarama modelidir. Araştırma grubunu toplamda 9 gönüllü profesyonel kadın voleybolcu oluşturmuştur. Katılımcıların boy uzunluğu, vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ), yağ ağırlığı ve vücut yağ yüzdesi (VYY) ölçülmüş, Squat Sıçrama (SS), aktif sıçrama (AS) ve eller serbest sıçrama testleri uygulanmıştır. İstatistiksel analiz değerlendirmesi için, vücut kompozisyonun dikey sıçrama parametreleriyle ilişkisini karşılaştırmada korelasyon analizi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: VKİ ile VYY arasında orta düzeyde pozitif yönde (p=,667; r=,050) VKİ ile yağ ağırlığı (kg) arasında pozitif yönde çok düşük düzeyde (p=,820; r=,007) ilişkiye rastlanılmıştır. VKİ ile Squat Sıçrama ve Aktif Sıçrama Güç farkı (W/kg) arasında ise negatif yönde zayıf düzeyde (p=-,672; r=0,047) ilişki tespit edilirken, diğer parametreler arasında ise istatistiksel olarak bir ilişkiye rastlanmamıştır. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, yapılan çalışmanın bulguları değerlendirildiğinde vücut kitle indeksi ve vücut yağ yüzdesi ile sıçrama parametreleri arasında negatif yönlü bir ilişkiye rastlanmıştır. Bu durum yağ yüzdesinin artması ile sporcuların sıçrama performanslarının azaldığı düşüncesini ortaya çıkartmaktadır. Kadın voleybolcuların en çok en çok kullandığı performans parametrelerinden birinin sıçrama olduğu düşünüldüğünde, çalışmadaki sonuç vücut kompozisyonun performansı arttıracak düzeyde iyileştirilmesinin başarıya katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.

Analysis of the comparison between concentric and eccentric muscle strength in the bilateral knee joint of elite female volleyball players

&lt;p&gt;目的：本研究目的為探討優秀女子排球選手在雙側膝關節伸展與屈曲動作肌力與肌力平衡特徵之差異。方法：以等速肌力測量儀檢測參與者雙側膝關節之力矩，研究參與者為 16 名大專公開一級女子排球選手。統計分析以成對樣本t-tset比較女子排球選手在雙側膝關節伸屈肌力矩之差異及傳統式腿後肌與四頭肌比值 (hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio, H/Q 比值) 與功能性 H/Q 比值的差異，顯著水準訂為&amp;alpha; ＝ .05。結果：排球選手在雙側膝關節的伸屈肌向心最大力矩中，只有在 60 &amp;deg;/s 時的伸肌未達顯著差異，其餘向心最大力矩皆有達顯著差異，且慣用側大於非慣用側；在雙側膝關節肌力之伸屈肌離心最大力矩與傳統式 H/Q 比值皆未達顯著差異，傳統式 H/Q 比值雖未達顯著差異，但都低於理想的安全值；在功能性比值方面，60 &amp;deg;/s 時伸、屈動作皆未達顯著差異，而 180 &amp;deg;/s 時伸展與屈曲動作則皆達到顯著差異，且非慣用側大於慣用側。結論：參與者應加強雙側的腿後肌群向心力矩，以提高傳統式 H/Q 比值，降低受傷的風險。功能性比值在伸展與屈曲動作的爆發力矩皆出現差異，這與排球攻擊動作落地時以非慣用側著地緩衝的特性有關。因此，應重視非慣用側的肌力訓練，以降低受傷的風險，更進一步提升選手攻擊的能力。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in muscular strength and muscle balance characteristics in bilateral knee joint flexion-extension movements of elite female volleyball players. Methods: The study utilized the isokinetic dynamometer to measure the torque of the knee joint in 16 collegiate division Ⅰ female volleyball players. Statistical analysis was us-ing paired sample t-tests to compare the differences in knee joint flexion-extension torque, tradi-tional H/Q ratio(hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio, H/Q ratio) and functional H/Q ratio be-tween the dominant and non-dominant sides, with a significance level set at &amp;alpha; = .05. Results: The study found that in the concentric maximum torque of knee joint flexion-extension muscles, sig-nificant differences were observed at all angular velocities except for the extension muscle at 60&amp;deg;/s. The dominant side exhibited greater torque than the non-dominant side. However, there were no significant differences in eccentric maximum torque and traditional H/Q ratio of knee joint muscles. Although the traditional H/Q ratio did not show significant differences, it remained below the ideal safety value. Regarding functional H/Q ratio, there were no significant differences in both flexion and extension movements at 60&amp;deg;/s, while at 180&amp;deg;/s, significant differences were observed in both flexion and extension movements, with the non-dominant side exhibiting greater values than the dominant side. Conclusion: Participants should enhance the concentric force of the traditional H/Q ratio to reduce the risk of injury. Discrepancies in functional ratios are evident in the torque generated during extension and flexion movements, attributed to the characteristic landing pattern, which involves buffering on the non-dominant side during volleyball attacking actions. Therefore, prioritizing strength training on the non-dominant side is crucial to mitigate injury risks and further enhance athletes’ attacking capabilities.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Peculiarities of Adolescent, Qualified Female Volleyball Players’ Shoulder Girdle

Peculiarities of Adolescent, Qualified Female Volleyball Players’ Shoulder Girdle

Evaluation of Lower Extremity and Core Strength in Young Female and Male Volleyball Players

Volleyball is an anaerobic team sport that involves various complex movements and requires adequate body position sense. Therefore, volleyball players' most important physical characteristics are balance, agility, endurance, reaction speed, explosive strength, and quick strength. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between core strength and functional performance of lower extremities in male and female volleyball players. A total of 19 (11 female, eight male) volleyball players aged 16-20 years (11 female, eight male) who were students of Ondokuz Mayıs University Yaşar Doğu Faculty of Sports Sciences participated in the study voluntarily. The inclusion criteria were determined as athletes with at least three years of active sports history and regular training. Height, weight, and Body Mass Index measurements were taken at the first visit. Then, shuttle test, plank test, push-up, single hop for distance (SH), triple hop for distance (TH), crossover triple hop for distance (CH), medial side triple hop for distance (MSTH), and medial rotation ( ) with hop for distance (MRH) and Y Balance Test were performed with randomized practice cards. When the push-up, sit-up, and plank tests were compared between men and women, a significant difference was found in the shuttle parameter (p 0.05). When the athletes' Single Leg Hop test parameters were evaluated, there was no significant difference, only in SH between the sides in men. At the same time, there was no significant difference only in medial rotation ( ) with hop in women (p 0.05). While there was a significant difference in triple hop for distance, crossover triple hop for distance, medial side triple hop for distance (MSTH) and medial rotation ( ) with hop between the parties in men, a statistically significant difference was found in single hop for distance, triple hop for distance, crossover triple hop for distance, medial side triple hop for distance parameters in women (p 0.05). When single-leg hop Tests LSIs were compared between male and female groups, no statistically significant difference was found in all parameters (p 0.05). When the findings of our study were examined, it was determined that although there was a significant difference in Single Leg Hop test parameters between dominant and non-dominant sides in the groups, the LSI values seen in male and female groups were between normal values, and there was no limb asymmetry. However, there was no difference between genders in LSIs, and similar results were found for men and women. In the core strength tests, while similar results were seen between genders in push-up and plank parameters, the significant difference in the shuttle test revealed that men had better core strength than women.

Hormonal and psychological influences on performance anxiety in adolescent female volleyball players: a multi-approach study.

The neuroendocrine system has important implications for affiliation behavior among humans and can be used to assess the correlation between social relationships, stress, and health. This can be influenced by social closeness; this aspect is the closeness towards another individual or a group of individuals such as a sports team. Sports performance anxiety is considered an unpleasant emotional reaction composed of physiological, cognitive, affective, and behavioral components. This motivates us to learn about the process that can influence the outcome of competition. Hormones and genetics would seem to influence outcome and performance. In this regard, many studies have focused on the exercise response as a function of ovarian hormones and it has been observed that progesterone is a hormone that plays a key role in reducing anxiety, and thus stress, in humans and other animals. On the other hand, high cortisol concentrations are known to contribute to increased anxiety levels. However, the salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) enzyme has been suggested as marker of acute stress than cortisol. Genetics also seem to influence anxiety and stress management as in the case of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and striatal dopamine transporter (DAT). Therefore, the study aims to investigate social closeness, as a measure of sports team cohesion that can influence athletes' performance results, and its ability to influence the secretion of hormones, such as progesterone and cortisol, that affect the management of sports anxiety while also taking into account genetic background during a volleyball match. Twenty-six female volleyball players who volunteered participated in this study (mean ± SD: age, 12.07 ± 0.7 years), and played in the final of the provincial volleyball championship in Palermo. All girls were during the ovarian cycle, in detail between the follicular and early ovulatory phases. The results showed a significant decrease in salivary cortisol only in the winning group (p < 0.039). In fact, whilst in the latter the pre-match level was 7.7 ng/ml and then decreased to 4.5 ng/ml after the match, in the losers group change was not statistically significant (7.8 ng/ml vs 6.6 ng/ml pre- and post-match). As to the sAA concentration, the winning team showed a statistically significant variation between pre- and post-match than the losers (166.01 ± 250 U/ml vs 291.59 ± 241 U/ml) (p = 0.01). Analyzing the results of the SAS-2 psychological test it is highlighted that, on average, the loser group was more anxious than the winning group, and this contributed to the final result. In conclusion, there is strong evidence supporting the state of the art that many factors can affect performance anxiety and thus the performance itself.

The effect of plyometric training and moderating variables on stretch-shortening cycle function and physical qualities in female post peak height velocity volleyball players.

Purpose: Although several studies investigated the effect of plyometric training on physical performance, there is a lack of clarity regarding the effectiveness of plyometric training or its moderator variables in youth female volleyball players. The primary aim of this study was to explore the effect of horizontal plyometric training on explosive stretch-shortening cycle hops and jumps in the vertical and horizontal directions in female post peak height velocity (PHV) volleyball players. The secondary aim was to assess the influence of participant and training related moderators on horizontal plyometric training in post-PHV volleyball players. Methods: A total of 23 post-PHV volleyball players participated in this 8-week intervention with horizontal plyometric exercises, twice a week. Pre-testing and post-testing included bilateral and unilateral vertical sub-maximal hopping, horizontal jumping and hopping, and a drop jump test. The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed using a paired t-test. The influence of internal moderators such as age, maturity and body mass and external moderators such as training volume were assessed using regression and correlation analysis. Results: An 8-week plyometric training improved sub-maximal hopping at 2.5Hz left by 4.4%, bilateral sub-maximal hopping at 2.0Hz by 9.5% and bilateral sub-maximal hopping at 2.2Hz by 6.8% in post-PHV female volleyball players. Horizontal jumping and hopping, reactive strength index and other sub-maximal hopping conditions did not improve significantly. Body mass had a large moderating effect on vertical unilateral sub-maximal hopping at 2.5Hz right (p = 0.010, η 2 = 0.314), vertical unilateral hopping at 3.0Hz right (p = 0.035, η 2 = 0.170), and vertical unilateral hopping at 3.0Hz left (p = 0.043, η 2 = 0.203). Training volume together with generalized joint hypermobility moderated right leg triple broad hop performance, whereas maturity and age did not moderate any variables. Conclusion: This study determined that 8weeks of horizontal plyometric training can improve unilateral absolute leg stiffness in post-PHV female volleyball players, and this training effect can be moderated by body mass. Furthermore, the training effect on triple hopping performance on the right leg can be moderated by combined training volume with generalized joint hypermobility.

Competitive Season-Long Changes in Countermovement Vertical Jump Force-Time Metrics in Female Volleyball Players.

Cabarkapa, DV, Cabarkapa, D, Philipp, NM, and Fry, AC. Competitive season-long changes in countermovement vertical jump force-time metrics in female volleyball players. J Strength Cond Res 38(2): e72-e77, 2024-Although force plates remain one of the most widely used tools for neuromuscular performance assessment in applied sports-specific settings, there is still a lack of scientific literature focused on studying changes in countermovement vertical jump (CVJ) performance in team sports such as volleyball, especially within the female athlete population. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine season-long neuromuscular performance changes in volleyball players. Eighteen National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division-I collegiate female athletes performed 3 maximal-effort CVJs while standing on a uniaxial force plate system sampling at 1,000 Hz at 5 different testing timepoints throughout a competitive season span (∼11 weeks). The testing sessions were separated 2-3 weeks apart and performed at the approximately same time of the day (12:00 hours). Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that both concentric and eccentric force-time metrics remain relatively unchanged throughout a regular season span (e.g., concentric peak force and power, eccentric impulse and duration). However, the eccentric metrics such as peak and mean power and peak velocity displayed a slight improvement after a brief tapering period purposely implemented before the post-season competition to optimize the athlete's recovery (∼15, 18, and 14% increase, respectively). In addition, the outcome metrics such as vertical jump height and reactive strength index-modified did not display notable fluctuations across the competitive season span. These findings can help coaches, sports scientists, and strength and conditioning practitioners to obtain a deeper insight into collegiate female athletes' force-time characteristics that may aid with developing adequate training regimens targeted toward optimizing on-court performance.

Analysis of the Relationship between Certain Biokinematic and Goniometric Variables of the Linear Smash with Explosive Force Upwards, Forwards, and in Volleyball Shooting

Linear smash, a potent offensive weapon in volleyball, demands complex biomechanical coordination and techniques. This study aimed to identify the biokinematic and goniometric variables of a linear smash and explore their relationship with explosive strength during performance. The research sample comprised 11 female volleyball players from the Sanharib Club. Physical tests measured explosive strength through vertical/forward jumps and medicine ball throws. The biokinematic variables included center of mass elevation/displacement, arch depth, movement time, and velocities. Goniometric variables measured the joint angles during execution. The video analysis software extracted variable values during players' smash attempts. Key findings revealed significant inverse correlations between explosive vertical jump strength and horizontal center-of-mass distance (-0.911) and between explosive medicine ball throw strength and horizontal distance (0.891). Additionally, a positive correlation existed between medicine ball throw strength and shoulder joint angle at the maximum arch (0.82). The vertical center of mass elevation was inversely correlated with the forward jump distance (-0.776). Strong but insignificant relationships emerged between variables such as horizontal speed/medicine ball throw and takeoff-landing distance/jump time. The results highlight the importance of the explosive strength for upward/forward propulsion and proper joint angles for efficient energy transfer during smashing. Recommendations include focusing on correlated variables through targeted training, utilizing joint ranges of motion, and incorporating additional biodynamic factors. This study provides insights into optimizing the linear smash through biomechanical analysis and training interventions.

Diagnostic value of shear-wave elastography for patellar tendinopathy in female volleyball and basketball athletes: a cross sectional case control study

ABSTRACT Objectives We aim to investigate the accuracy of shear-wave elastography (SWE) in diagnosing patellar tendinopathy in female volleyball and basketball players. In addition, we compared different parts of the patellar tendon and investigated the effects of different knee angles on elastography measurements. Methods This cross-sectional case–control study evaluated 63 female athletes from professional basketball and volleyball teams (NCT06199583). Patellar tendinopathy diagnoses were made using clinical and ultrasonographic criteria. SWE measurements were taken at 30-degree knee flexion and extension. Rectangular regions of interest boxes were placed in three different parts of the tendon (proximal, middle, distal). The global SWE value was calculated by taking the mean of measurements in the three parts. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify significant cutoff points for SWE, and 2 × 2 tables were generated to determine sensitivity and specificity. Results Thirteen (20.6%) of the 63 athletes were diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy. The ROC curves have identified different cutoff scores for SWE measurements. The SWE score of 130.75 from the proximal part showed the highest sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 80% (p < 0.001) with a 4.45 likelihood ratio at the 30-degree knee flexion. The likelihood ratio is 1.5 at a 30-degree angle and 1.65 at a 0-degree angle when measuring the entire tendon, whereas other portions indicate a ratio ranging from 1.12 to 1.73. Conclusions Shear-wave elastography is a reliable evaluation method for diagnosing patellar tendinopathy. It has more accuracy when applied to the proximal part and at 30-degree knee flexion compared to measurements taken at knee extension and other parts of the tendon.

Training stress, neuromuscular fatigue and well-being in volleyball: a systematic review

BackgroundVolleyball, with its unique calendar structure, presents distinct challenges in training and competition scheduling. Like many team sports, volleyball features an unconventional schedule with brief off-season and pre-season phases, juxtaposed against an extensive in-season phase characterized by a high density of matches and training. This compact calendar necessitates careful management of training loads and recovery periods. The effectiveness of this management is a critical factor, influencing the overall performance and success of volleyball teams. In this review, we explore the associations between training stress measures, fatigue, and well-being assessments within this context, to better inform future research and practice.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted in databases including PsycINFO, MEDLINE/PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria were original research papers published in peer-reviewed journals involving volleyball athletes.ResultsOf the 2535 studies identified, 31 were thoroughly analysed. From these 31 articles, 22 included professional athletes, seven included collegiate-level volleyball athletes, and two included young athletes. Nine studies had female volleyball players, while the remaining 22 had male volleyball athletes.ConclusionsInternal training load should be collected daily after training sessions and matches with the session rating of perceived exertion method. External training load should also be measured daily according to the methods based on jump height, jump count, and kinetic energy. If force platforms are available, neuromuscular fatigue can be assessed weekly using the FT:CT ratio of a countermovement jump or, in cases where force platforms are not available, the average jump height can also be used. Finally, the Hooper Index has been shown to be a measure of overall wellness, fatigue, stress, muscle soreness, mood, and sleep quality in volleyball when used daily.