title: Use of an overhead goal alters vertical jump performance and biomechanics.
abstract: This study examined whether an extrinsic motivator, such as an overhead goal, during a plyometric jump may alter movement biomechanics. Our purpose was to examine the effects of an overhead goal on vertical jump height and lower-extremity biomechanics during a drop vertical jump and to compare the effects on female (N = 18) versus male (N = 17) athletes. Drop vertical jump was performed both with and without the use of an overhead goal. Greater vertical jump height (p = 0.002) and maximum takeoff external knee flexion (quadriceps) moment (p = 0.04) were attained with the overhead goal condition versus no overhead goal. Men had significantly greater vertical jump height (p < 0.001), maximum takeoff vertical force (p = 0.009), and maximum takeoff hip extensor moment (p = 0.02) compared with women. A significant gender x overhead goal interaction was found for stance time (p = 0.02) and maximum ankle (p = 0.04) and knee flexion angles (p = 0.04), with shorter stance times and lower angles in men during overhead goal time. These results indicate that overhead goals may be incorporated during training and testing protocols to alter lower-extremity biomechanics and can increase performance.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Sports Medicine Biodynamics Center, and Human Performance Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Myer
authors.forename: Rose L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Robyn N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Byrnes
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dopirak
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Hewett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D019876:Sports Equipment; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis