Effects of Medicine Ball Load on Chest Pass Performance and Selected Underlying Kinematics

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-3-2011

Publication Title

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

DOI

10.1249/01.MSS.0000402226.83506.66

ISSN

1530-0315

Abstract

The medicine ball (MB) chest pass (CP) is an upper extremity functional performance test commonly used, however the ideal MB load to use remains unknown.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of MB load on CP performance and to examine the relationship between CP performance and selected underlying kinematics.

METHODS: Twenty-seven healthy collegiate-level baseball players (20.5±1.5yrs; 181.5±6.2cm; 84.7±8.7kg) performed three CP trials using 2kg, 3kg, and 4kg MB loads Instructions were given to hold MB at shoulder level with feet shoulder width apart and knees straight, and to press the MB for maximal distance without countermovement. Initial impact sites of each trial determined horizontal range (HR). Dominant hand and thorax kinematics (Motion Monitor, IST, Inc) were captured while a synchronized hand trigger indicated ball release (BR). Release height (RH), was defined as the vertical hand position at ball release. Additionally, anterior displacement (AD), vertical displacement (VD), anterior peak velocity (APV) and vertical peak velocity (VPV) of the hand relative to thorax were computed. All measures were averaged across the three trials.

RESULTS: As expected, MB load had a potent significant effect on HR (P<.001), however the difference between the 2kg and 3kg was the same as 3kg and 4kg (P=.176). Similarly, MB load had a significant effect (P=.023) on RH, with RH being significantly higher for the 3kg (P=.031) and 4kg (P=.030) compared to 2kg. Overall, AD was significantly greater than VD (P=.003) with load having no effect on either measure. For peak velocity, a significant load by direction interaction was revealed (P=.020). At each load, APV was significantly greater than VPV (P<.001). For APV, 2kg was significantly greater than 3kg (P=.001) and 4kg (P<.001), whereas for VPV 2kg was only significantly greater than 4kg (P=.004). Only RH demonstrated a significant relationship with HR (2kg: r=.62, P=.001; 3kg: r=.44, P=.021; 4kg: r=.530, P=.004).

CONCLUSION: The 2kg appears to be the optimal load to use because it was associated with the highest peak velocities and a slightly lower RH. These suggest it is associated with greater power and being a more efficient and direct movement. Because only RH correlated with HR, further research is needed to understand the underlying factors contributing to MB CP performance.

Comments

© 2011 American College of Sports Medicine

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