Effects of Kettlebell Mass on Lower Extremity Joint Kinetic During Overhead Kettlebell Swings in Women

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2016

Publication Title

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Supplement

ISSN

1533-4287

Abstract

While previous kettlebell swing research has examined the mechanical demands from a whole body perspective through ground reaction force study, with the exception of examining spinal loads, the contribution of the lower extremity to kettlebell swings has not been conducted. Yet, kettlebell swings are frequently incorporated into programs with the goal of promoting hip extension muscle performance. In addition, the effects of increasing kettlebell mass on lower extremity joint kinetics are unknown. Purpose: To determine the effect of kettlebell mass on ankle, knee, and hip net joint moment impulse (NJMI), peak power, and work in women while performing overhead kettlebell swings. Methods: Eighteen women (29.2 ± 5.3 years, 69.7 ± 9.2 kg, 1.66 ± 0.05 m) experienced in kettlebell swings performed 15 overhead swings with 3 different masses (8, 12, 16 kg) in a between subject randomized order. Participants completed a standardized warm up and were allotted 2 minutes rest between sets. Three dimensional kinematics and ground reaction forces were used to compute outcome measures. Separate joint by kettlebell mass analyses of variance were conducted on NJMI, peak power and work. Results: Significant interactions were revealed for all 3 kinetic variables (p < 0.001). To identify the effects of kettlebell mass, post hoc analyses were limited to within joint trend analyses. Statistically similar results were revealed for NJMI, peak power and work. Significant linear trends were identified for both the ankle (p < 0.012, η2 = 0.32 − 0.46) and hip (p < 0.003, η2 = 0.4 2 − 0.54), whereas significant quadratic trends existed for the knee (p < 0.019, η2 = 0.28 − 0.38). Direct comparisons revealed the hip trends to be significantly greater than the ankle (p < 0.017, η2 = 0.29 − 0.50) suggesting that the effect was greater at the hip than the ankle. Conclusions: Increasing kettlebell mass had the greatest effect on the hip kinetics, whereas the ankle had little change in its contribution to the swings. This supports the common practice of using kettlebell swings to stimulate hip extensor activation. The changes at the knee, specifically the slight decrease in kinetics at 12 kg, were unexpected. They may be the result of a technique shift from the 8 kg kettlebell, which was lighter than the training masses typically used by the participants. Because power had not plateaued between the 12 and 16 kg kettlebells, future research should consider the kinetics with greater kettlebell mass. Practical Applications: Increased NJMI, peak power, and work at the hip with increased mass, indicates that out of the 3 masses, 16 kg is the most appropriate training weight for power production in women with similar kettlebell training experience.

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Copyright © 2016 by the National Strength & Conditioning Association.

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