Selected Kinematic Characteristics Analysis of Knee and Ankle Joints During Block Jump Among Elite Junior Volleyball Players

The present study examined selected kinematic characteristics analysis of knee and ankle joints during block jump in elite junior volleyball players.

Thirty male junior elite volleyball players (Mean±SD age: 18.14±1.12 y, height: 197.10±3.16 cm, sports history: 4.39±0.95 y, & weight: 771.20±59.83 N) participated in this study. A time-synchronized 5-camera sampling at 100 Hz was used to determine the Three Dimensional (3D) coordinates of markers. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, linear regression, and magnitude of coefficient were used in SPSS to analyze the obtained data (P<0.05).

The Mean±SD height of block jump was 45.5±2.06 cm, and the Mean±SD angles of knee and ankle flexion were 93.37±4.75 and 21.25±2.98 cm, respectively. Moreover, there was a negative relationship between knee and ankle flexion angle and block jump height (-0.051, -0.054, respectively) (P<0.05). However, smaller knee flexion angles had more negative effect on block jump height (0.741) (P<0.05).

The study results could be used by coaches as a simple tool in jumping performance among junior volleyball players. The obtained data could also be beneficial in the efficient control of applied training procedures.