title: Testing and Training of the Eggbeater Kick Movement in Water Polo: Applicability of a New Method.
abstract: In water polo, many of the technical actions and the contacts with the opponent take place in quasi-vertical floating position using 2 types of lower limb actions: the eggbeater kick is used most often in fighting and passing and the breaststroke kick in jumping and throwing. The aim of this study was to identify a new system to evaluate and to train the eggbeater kick movement and to verify its applicability. Twenty amateur players and 22 elite players participated in the study. A jacket, homemade and easy to make, allowing the application of an overload submerged in water but not hindering breathing or mobility, was used. Standard anthropometry and a test consisting of different trials of the eggbeater kick action until exhaustion with an increasing overload (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, and 17.5 kg) were collected. Time to exhaustion and the overload estimated maximum value (OEMV) at second 2 were determined for each load. Body weight, height, and lower limb muscle performance of the elite and nonelite players were significantly different from each other (p ≤ 0.05). The effectiveness of the different measured variables in both subgroups and that of the OEMV was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Areas under the ROC curve for the different overloads were 0.72 (0.53-0.92) for 5 kg, 0.80 (0.68-0.90) for 7.5 kg, 0.87 (0.77-0.91) for 10 kg, and 0.88 (0.84-0.92) for 12.5 kg overload. Our results show that the test is sensitive enough and therefore can be used to plan and control training and injury recovery.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Department of Systems Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 2Don Gnocchi Foundation IRCS, Milan, Italy; 3Ph.D. School University of Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 4Italian Swimming Federation, Rome, Italy; 5Applied Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Exercise and Sport Science Degree Course, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy; and 6Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melchiorri
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Viero
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Triossi
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tancredi
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galvani
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonifazi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult