The effects of aerobic fatigue on jump shot kinematics in team handball players

Abstract

Background: Aerobic fatigue from running may contribute to altered kinematics and as a result the possibility of injury exists. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic fatigue on jump shot kinematics in team handball players.

Methods: Ten male team handball players (23.60 ± 3.06 years; 184.68 ± 8.78 cm; 84.76 ± 9.23 kg) volunteered. An electromagnetic tracking system was used to examine the kinematics of the jump shot prior to and following aerobic fatigue. The fatiguing protocol consisted of running to exhaustion at a speed that corresponded with 80% of their heart rate maximum.

Results: Significant pelvis and trunk kinematic differences were observed following the aerobic fatigue protocol. For both the trunk (F_{6, 54} = 5.10; P < .01; power = 0.99) and pelvis (F_{3, 27} = 14.47; P < .01; power = 1.00) a three-way interaction of event x time x direction was observed. At foot contact, significant differences were observed for pelvis lateral flexion, pelvis rotation, and trunk flexion. The pelvis was positioned with greater lateral flexion to the contralateral side (-1.25° ± 3.41° to -3.39° ± 4.14°) and increased contralateral pelvis rotation was observed (-43.07° ± 12.92° to -50.79° ± 12.26°). Pelvis lateral flexion towards the contralateral side was also significantly greater at ball release following fatigue (-21.90° ± 5.99° to -25.55° ± 7.79°). Trunk rotation significantly increased from -6.80° ± 10.07° to -12.55° ± 10.97° at maximum external rotation following fatigue.

Conclusion: Altered mechanics were observed at the pelvis and trunk and these alterations may contribute to injury in team handball players as a player reaches fatigue.