Relationship between lower limb neuromuscular and functional performance tests and sprint and agility in female volleyball players: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between vertical and horizontal neuromuscular and functional jump tests applied to the lower extremities of female volleyball players and their agility and sprint performance.

METHODS

22 women aged 18-25 (average age 20.18, average height 173 cm, average weight 58.36 kg, and average body mass index (BMI) 19.63 kg/m²) voluntarily participated in the study. The sprint test (10m-30m) and 505 Agility tests were used to determine participants' sprint and agility skills, respectively. Additionally, the countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ), and five different single-leg hop tests (SLHTs)-single-leg hop for distance (SH), triple hop for distance (TH), crossover hop for distance (CH), medial side triple hop (MSTH), and medial rotation hop (MRH)-were used to determine lower-extremity neuromuscular and functional jump performance.

RESULTS

The results of the study revealed a moderate to high negative correlation between CMJ and DJ and sprint tests (p<0.05). A negative and moderately significant correlation was observed between CMJ and agility (p<0.05), but the correlation between DJ and agility was not significant (p>0.05). A moderate to high negative correlation was found between SLHTs and sprint and agility (p<0.05). Also, there was no significant difference between participants' dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) side SLHT jump distances (p>0.05), and limb symmetry indices (LSI) were within the normal range.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, it was determined that lower extremity neuromuscular and functional vertical and horizontal (neuromuscular and functional) strength plays a critical role in linear acceleration and change of direction performance in female volleyball players. It has been suggested that not only vertical jump tests but also horizontal functional jump tests such as SLHTs should be more comprehensively investigated in relation to sprinting and agility in female volleyball players.