Biomechanic Differences Between Anticipated and Unanticipated Volleyball Block Jump: Implications for Lower Limb Injury Risk
Volleyball is a high-intensity sport characterized by repetitive jumping, sudden directional changes, and overhead movements, all of which significantly increase the risk of injuries, particularly to the shoulders, knees, and ankles. Despite the frequency of injuries caused by actions like blocking...
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| author | Hongxin Zhao Xiangyu Liu Linfei Dan Datao Xu Jianshe Li |
| author_facet | Hongxin Zhao Xiangyu Liu Linfei Dan Datao Xu Jianshe Li |
| author_sort | Hongxin Zhao |
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| description | Volleyball is a high-intensity sport characterized by repetitive jumping, sudden directional changes, and overhead movements, all of which significantly increase the risk of injuries, particularly to the shoulders, knees, and ankles. Despite the frequency of injuries caused by actions like blocking and spiking, there has been limited research focused on the specific biomechanical risk factors unique to volleyball. This study aimed to investigate the lower limb biomechanics during block jumps in both the dominant and non-dominant directions, under both anticipated and unanticipated conditions, in fifteen elite male volleyball players. Kinematic and kinetic data from the ankle, knee, and hip joints were recorded. Our results revealed statistically significant differences between the dominant and non-dominant directions at the ankle, knee, and hip joints. The non-dominant direction exhibited a greater ankle dorsiflexion angle and velocity, as well as higher knee flexion angle, velocity, moment, power, and abduction moment, along with increased hip flexion angle and power. Additionally, unanticipated movements led to increases in vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), hip extension moment, and flexion power, while ankle dorsiflexion plantarflexion velocity and knee flexion power decreased. It appears that movements in the dominant direction were stiffer and less cushioned, potentially increasing the risk of injury. While the non-dominant direction provided better shock absorption, it also elevated the knee valgus moment, which could increase the load on the knee. Furthermore, in unanticipated situations, athletes with short reaction times, unable to quickly adjust their automated movement patterns, faced a higher risk of limb overuse, thereby increasing the likelihood of injury. In practice, coaches should consider differences in limb coordination and movement direction, incorporating unilateral preventive exercises to reduce the risk of injury. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
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| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj-art-6e9d4f3ea5e541a38f4fd4b9af36c04c2025-08-20T02:48:03ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292024-10-011411135710.3390/life14111357Biomechanic Differences Between Anticipated and Unanticipated Volleyball Block Jump: Implications for Lower Limb Injury RiskHongxin Zhao0Xiangyu Liu1Linfei Dan2Datao Xu3Jianshe Li4Department of Physical Education, Zhejiang Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower, Hangzhou 310000, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Zhejiang Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower, Hangzhou 310000, ChinaFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, ChinaFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, ChinaFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, ChinaVolleyball is a high-intensity sport characterized by repetitive jumping, sudden directional changes, and overhead movements, all of which significantly increase the risk of injuries, particularly to the shoulders, knees, and ankles. Despite the frequency of injuries caused by actions like blocking and spiking, there has been limited research focused on the specific biomechanical risk factors unique to volleyball. This study aimed to investigate the lower limb biomechanics during block jumps in both the dominant and non-dominant directions, under both anticipated and unanticipated conditions, in fifteen elite male volleyball players. Kinematic and kinetic data from the ankle, knee, and hip joints were recorded. Our results revealed statistically significant differences between the dominant and non-dominant directions at the ankle, knee, and hip joints. The non-dominant direction exhibited a greater ankle dorsiflexion angle and velocity, as well as higher knee flexion angle, velocity, moment, power, and abduction moment, along with increased hip flexion angle and power. Additionally, unanticipated movements led to increases in vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), hip extension moment, and flexion power, while ankle dorsiflexion plantarflexion velocity and knee flexion power decreased. It appears that movements in the dominant direction were stiffer and less cushioned, potentially increasing the risk of injury. While the non-dominant direction provided better shock absorption, it also elevated the knee valgus moment, which could increase the load on the knee. Furthermore, in unanticipated situations, athletes with short reaction times, unable to quickly adjust their automated movement patterns, faced a higher risk of limb overuse, thereby increasing the likelihood of injury. In practice, coaches should consider differences in limb coordination and movement direction, incorporating unilateral preventive exercises to reduce the risk of injury.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1357team sportslower limb injurydirectionunanticipated tasksbiomechanics |
| spellingShingle | Hongxin Zhao Xiangyu Liu Linfei Dan Datao Xu Jianshe Li Biomechanic Differences Between Anticipated and Unanticipated Volleyball Block Jump: Implications for Lower Limb Injury Risk Life team sports lower limb injury direction unanticipated tasks biomechanics |
| title | Biomechanic Differences Between Anticipated and Unanticipated Volleyball Block Jump: Implications for Lower Limb Injury Risk |
| title_full | Biomechanic Differences Between Anticipated and Unanticipated Volleyball Block Jump: Implications for Lower Limb Injury Risk |
| title_fullStr | Biomechanic Differences Between Anticipated and Unanticipated Volleyball Block Jump: Implications for Lower Limb Injury Risk |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biomechanic Differences Between Anticipated and Unanticipated Volleyball Block Jump: Implications for Lower Limb Injury Risk |
| title_short | Biomechanic Differences Between Anticipated and Unanticipated Volleyball Block Jump: Implications for Lower Limb Injury Risk |
| title_sort | biomechanic differences between anticipated and unanticipated volleyball block jump implications for lower limb injury risk |
| topic | team sports lower limb injury direction unanticipated tasks biomechanics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1357 |
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