Acute Effects of Drop Jumps on Lower Limb Stiffness and Mechanical and Kinematic Parameters During High-Speed Treadmill Running

Acute Effects of Drop Jumps on Lower Limb Stiffness and Mechanical and Kinematic Parameters During High-Speed Treadmill Running

This study aimed to investigate the post-activation performance enhancement effects of drop jumps (DJs) on lower limb stiffness [leg stiffness (K<sub>leg</sub>); vertical stiffness (K<sub>vert</sub>)] and the related mechanical [maximal ground reaction force (F<sub>max&...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Panagiotis Pappas, Ioannis Stavridis, Giorgos Paradisis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
acute effect
running mechanics
running kinematics
stiffness
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/242
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Summary:This study aimed to investigate the post-activation performance enhancement effects of drop jumps (DJs) on lower limb stiffness [leg stiffness (K<sub>leg</sub>); vertical stiffness (K<sub>vert</sub>)] and the related mechanical [maximal ground reaction force (F<sub>max</sub>), vertical displacement of the centre of mass (Δy), and lower limb length (ΔL)] and kinematic parameters [step length (SL), step frequency (SF), flight time (FT), and contact time (CT)] during high-speed treadmill running. For this purpose, 18 male physical education students performed 10 s running bouts on a treadmill at a speed of 6.67 m·s<sup>−1</sup> in an experimental condition (EC) or in a control condition (CC). During the EC, following a 5 min treadmill running warm-up at 2.22 m·s<sup>−1</sup>, the participants were tested pre and 3 min post five DJs, while during the CC, the participants did not perform DJs. The study results revealed that EC significantly increased F<sub>max</sub>, Δy, SL, and FT, while SF decreased after performing drop jumps (mean differences: 0.026 ± 0.007 kN, <i>p</i> = 0.003; 0.001 ± 0.001 m, <i>p</i> = 0.025; 0.034 ± 0.013 m, <i>p</i> = 0.019; 0.05 ± 0.001 s, <i>p</i> = 0.005 and −0.057 ± 0.023 Hz, <i>p</i> = 0.026, respectively). K<sub>leg</sub> and K<sub>vert</sub> showed no significant differences (<i>p</i> > 0.05) following the preconditioning exercise. The findings suggest that a plyometric stimulus of low volume and a short recovery period prior to high-speed treadmill running may be beneficial to acutely improve running mechanical and kinematic parameters without affecting lower limb stiffness.
ISSN:2076-3417

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