Vertical Jump Performance
Conditions
Brief summary
The study involves comparison of an 8-week plantar flexor stretching program to a shoulder stretching program for improving vertical jump performance in adolescent athletes.
Detailed description
Increasing flexibility may improve vertical jump performance. For example, being able to go deeper into a squat before jumping may allow for greater force development through the range of movement and this may transfer to greater vertical jump height. The study compares plantar flexor stretching to shoulder stretching for improving vertical jump performance in adolescent athletes. Athletes are being stratified by sex and maturity status (before or after estimated age at peak height velocity) and randomized to one of two groups: Plantar flexor stretching (2 sets of 6 stretches, 5 times per week) or the same volume of shoulder stretching. Before and after training, participants are being assessed for vertical jump and landing performance.
Interventions
OTHERStretching
Stretching of the plantar flexors or the shoulder joint
Sponsors
University of Saskatchewan
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
Participants are being masked as to the study hypothesis
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Currently involved in a sport training program
Exclusion criteria
* Current or past injuries that might affect jumping performance or stretching the plantar flexors or shoulder joint
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Counter movement jump height | Change over 8 weeks | Counter movement jump height assessed on a force plate |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Take-off velocity | Change over 8 weeks | Take-off velocity assessed on a force plate in the right and left limbs |
| Ground reaction force on take off | Change over 8 weeks | Ground reaction force on take off from a counter movement jump on a force plate in right and left limbs |
| Ground reaction force on landing | Change over 8 weeks | Ground reaction force when landing from a jumping on force plate in right and left limbs |
| Ground reaction force when landing from a standard height | Change over 8 weeks | Ground reaction force when landing from a height (150% of baseline counter movement jump height) |
| Functional dorsiflexor range of movement | Change over 8 weeks | Functional dorsiflexor range of movement assessed with an inclinometer in left and right limbs |
| Active dorsiflexor range of movement | Change over 8 weeks | Active dorsiflexor range of movement assessed with a goniometer in right and left limbs |
| Passive dorsiflexor range of movement | Change over 8 weeks | Passive dorsiflexor range of movement assessed with a goniometer in right and left limbs |
| Shoulder flexibility | Change over 8 weeks | Shoulder flexibility assessed with a goniometer in right and left limbs |
Countries
Canada
Contacts
CONTACTPhilip Chilibeck, PhD
Outcome results
None listed