Research Paper: Selected Kinematic Characteristics Analysis of Knee and Ankle Joints During Block Jump Among Elite Junior Volleyball Players

Purpose: The present study examined selected kinematic characteristics analysis of knee and ankle joints during block jump in elite junior volleyball players. Methods: Thirty male junior elite volleyball players (Mean±SD age: 18.14±1.12 y, height: 197.10±3.16 cm, sports history: 4.39±0.95 y, & weight: 771.20±59.83 N) participated in this study. A time-synchronized 5-camera sampling at 100 Hz was used to determine the Three Dimensional (3D) coordinates of markers. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, linear regression, and magnitude of coefficient were used in SPSS to analyze the obtained data (P<0.05). Results: The Mean±SD height of block jump was 45.5±2.06 cm, and the Mean±SD angles of knee and ankle flexion were 93.37±4.75 and 21.25±2.98 cm, respectively. Moreover, there was a negative relationship between knee and ankle flexion angle and block jump height (-0.051, -0.054, respectively) (P<0.05). However, smaller knee flexion angles had more negative effect on block jump height (0.741) (P<0.05). Conclusion: The study results could be used by coaches as a simple tool in jumping performance among junior volleyball players. The obtained data could also be beneficial in the efficient control of applied training procedures.