Kinematic Analysis Of Upper And Lower Body Movements In Volleyball Players During Ball-Entry Actions: Insights Into Performance And Injury Prevention

Аннотация

This study analyzes the upper body kinematics of volleyball players during ball-entry actions, focusing on the shoulders and elbows. Utilizing maximum and mini-mum flexion, extension, and abduction/adduction values, the research highlights the functional asymmetry between the dominant and non-dominant arms during serving and spiking. The results show that the right shoulder and elbow, as dominant joints, are responsible for generating most of the force needed for effective ball entry, while the left arm stabilizes and balances the body. The findings provide insights into per-formance optimization and injury prevention strategies, particularly for managing overuse injuries in the dominant arm. Keywords: Volleyball kinematics, shoulder flexion/extension, elbow flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, pelvis rotation, ball-entry biomechanics, functional asymmetry, gait-run parameters, injury prevention, sports biomechanics. Introduction: Volleyball is a sport that demands a high level of coordination, precision, and power, particularly during ball-entry actions like serving and spiking. These actions require the integration of both upper and lower body movements, especially involving the shoulders and elbows for force generation, as well as the lower limbs for stability and explosive jumps. The complexity of these movements presents challenges for op-timizing performance and minimizing the risk of injury. European International Journal of Pedagogics 89 https://eipublication.com/index.php/eijp European International Journal of Pedagogics Understanding the kinematic patterns of volleyball- Abduction and adduction also play key roles in specific actions is essential for improving athletes' maintaining stability during dy-namic movements. This biomechanics, enhancing efficiency, and preventing is essential for keeping balance while adjusting to the overuse injuries, particularly in the dominant arm. In high-speed, lateral movements required for spiking or overhead sports such as volleyball, it is common for the blocking (Chang et al., 2019). While the dominant dominant arm to exhibit a higher range of motion, shoulder focuses on force generation, the non- contributing to greater power output during actions dominant shoulder pro-vides the necessary stability, like spiking or serving. However, this functional and symmetrical movement between the two helps asymmetry can lead to increased strain on the main-tain postural balance. dominant shoulder and elbow, making injury The lower body also plays a critical role in volleyball, prevention a critical aspect of training programs. particularly in terms of generating the initial push-off for Previous research has shown that the asymmetry in jumps and stabilizing the player during landing. Pelvis joint function, especially be-tween the dominant and rotation is vital for transmitting force from the lower non-dominant limbs, plays a significant role in both body to the upper body during serves and spikes perfor-mance and injury risk (Ford et al., 2003; (Bobbert et al., 1990). Asymmetries in lower body Schneiders et al., 2011). The repetitive use of the kinemat-ics, such as hip flexion/extension and knee dominant arm for spiking and serving often results in movement, can also affect performance, with the greater strength and mobili-ty on that side, while the dominant leg typically generating more force, while the non-dominant arm stabilizes the body. This imbalance, non-dominant leg stabilizes the body (Pappas & Carpes, while beneficial for performance, can increase the 2012). likelihood of overuse injuries, in-cluding rotator cuff The analysis of flight and support times, as well as step tendinitis and elbow strain. length during volleyball-specific movements, provides The present study focuses on analyzing the kinematic further insights into how players use their lower limbs indicators of volleyball players during ball-entry to optimize performance. For instance, shorter step actions. By employing advanced 3D motion analysis lengths, combined with efficient cadence and support tech-nology, we assess both upper and lower body times, help athletes maintain balance and agility, movements to gain a comprehensive understanding of allowing for rapid changes in direction during ball-entry the biomechanical forces involved. Specifically, this actions (Lees et al., 2004). study examines shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, The literature supports the importance of and adduction, alongside lower body mechan-ics such understanding both upper and lower body kinematics in as pelvis rotation, hip flexion/extension, and knee and volleyball players. The functional asymmetry between ankle movements. the domi-nant and non-dominant limbs, while crucial Previous research on volleyball biomechanics has for optimizing performance, presents po-tential risks for extensively examined the role of the shoulders and overuse injuries, particularly in the shoulders and elbows in overhead actions such