Upper-body kinematics in team-handball throw, tennis serve, and volleyball spike.
Overarm movements are essential skills in many different sport games; however, the adaptations to different sports are not well understood. The aim of the study was to analyze upper-body kinematics in the team-handball throw, tennis serve, and volleyball spike, and to calculate differences in the proximal-to-distal sequencing and joint movements. Three-dimensional kinematic data were analyzed via the Vicon motion capturing system. The subjects (elite players) were instructed to perform a team-handball jump throw, tennis serve, and volleyball spike with a maximal ball velocity and to hit a specific target. Significant differences (P < 0.05) between the three overarm movements were found in 17 of 24 variables. The order of the proximal-to-distal sequencing was equal in the three analyzed overarm movements. Equal order of the proximal-to-distal sequencing and similar angles in the acceleration phase suggest there is a general motor pattern in overarm movements. However, overarm movements appear to be modifiable in situations such as for throwing or hitting a ball with or without a racket, and due to differences at takeoff (with one or two legs).
Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Rif, Salzburg, Austria.
H
H
Wagner
J
J
Pfusterschmied
M
M
Tilp
J
J
Landlinger
S P
SP
von Duvillard
E
E
Müller
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D012399:Rotation; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D013715:Tennis / Q000502:physiology*; D060726:Torso / Q000502:physiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D054798:Volleyball / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult