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Abstract Aim: The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze the feasibility of the intervention and measures of a six-week land- and aquatic-based plyometric training on spike and block reaches in young volleyball athletes. Methods: Twelve female players were divided into a land group (LG) (n = 6, 12.4 ± 0.3 years, 1.61 ± 0.04 m, 57.0 ± 9.3 kg) and a water group (WG) (n = 6, 12.5 ± 0.5 years, 1.57 ± 0.06 m, 48.9 ± 8.5 kg). The spike and block (without step, with slide step, and with crossover step) reach and countermovement jump height were evaluated before and after a 6-week plyometric training protocol. Duration (total and of each session), adhesion and adherence, and safeness of the intervention; completion of assessments, within-trial reliability, and variability of the outcome measures and preliminary results were the variables of interest. To analyze the effect of the training on jump performance, the Wilcoxon test was used (p < 0.05), and effect sizes (r) were calculated. Results: All participants concluded the intervention and the assessments as planned. No dropouts or adverse events were registered during the study. The within-trial reliability for all assessment tests was considered excellent (ICC ≥ 0.9). Preliminary results indicate that LG improved the reach of the spike and block with the slide step; and that WG improved the spike, block with the slide step to the left, and block without movement reaches (p < 0.05; large effect size). Conclusion: An intervention of six weeks of plyometric training on land and in water is feasible, and preliminary results indicate that both training protocols may benefit the performance of spike and block in young volleyball athletes.
RESUMO
Abstract Introduction: Low back pain is one of the most common injuries in sailors. Findings in the literature indicate that poor trunk endurance, flexibility and muscle strength are common in individuals with low back pain (LBP). Objective: Analyze trunk muscle endurance, lumbar spine mobility and hip flexibility in windsurfers with and without low back pain. Method: Sailors of both sexes with at least three years' experience in the sport answered the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and were submitted to Schober's test, the passive straight leg raise (PSLR), the modified Thomas test, and isometric endurance assessment of the flexor, extensor and lateral flexor muscles of the torso. The sailors were divided into two groups (with and without LBP) and compared using the Student's t-test or Mann Whitney U test. Results: Participants were 22 national-level sailors, 11 with low back pain (LBP) and 11 without (NLBP). The LBP group obtained longer holding times for the trunk extensors (p=0.028) and a greater difference in endurance between the right and left sides for lateral trunk muscles (p=0.030). Both groups obtained results below normative values in most of the tests performed. Conclusion: Sailors with low back pain exhibited greater trunk extensor endurance and a larger imbalance between lateral trunk muscles when compared to those with no LBP. Spinal mobility and hip flexibility were similar between groups.
Resumo Introdução: A dor lombar é uma das lesões que mais afeta os velejadores. Achados na literatura mostram que a deficiência de força do tronco, flexibilidade e resistência muscular é comum em indivíduos com dor lombar. Objetivo: Analisar a resistência muscular do tronco, a mobilidade da coluna lombar e a flexibilidade do quadril em velejadores com e sem dor lombar. Método: Velejadores de ambos os sexos e com no mínimo três anos de prática responderam ao questionário nórdico de lesões osteomusculares e realizaram os testes de Schöber, de Elevação Passiva da Perna Estendida, de Thomas Modificado e de resistência isométrica dos músculos flexores, extensores e laterais do tronco. Os velejadores foram divididos em dois grupos (com e sem dor lombar), comparados por meio do teste t de Student para amostras independentes ou U de Mann Whitney. Resultados: 22 velejadores de nível nacional, 11 com dor lombar (CDL) e 11 sem dor lombar (SDL), participaram do estudo. O grupo CDL apresentou maior tempo de permanência no teste de resistência dos extensores do tronco (p=0,028) e maior diferença entre os lados direito e esquerdo no teste de resistência dos músculos laterais do tronco (p=0,030). Na maioria dos testes realizados, os dois grupos apresentaram resultados abaixo dos valores normativos. Conclusão: Velejadores com dor lombar apresentaram maior resistência dos extensores do tronco, porém maior desequilíbrio entre as cadeias laterais do tronco, em comparação a velejadores sem dor lombar. A mobilidade da coluna e a flexibilidade do quadril foram semelhantes entre os grupos.