Abstract des Autors

This study used the techniques of biomechanical analysis to determine the effect of a high arousal activity on performance of a sports skill. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of brief, high intensity activity immediately before shot putting on the kinematics of throwing performance in 16 skilled throwers. The hypothesis of the study was that the performance of a maximum intensity activity, such as sprinting, would improve performance in a subsequent high intensity activity, the shot put. This enhancement could be due to one of several physiological/psychological processes which would trigger increases in muscle force output and mechanical efficiency. The design consisted of a pretest, followed by a six-week training program and a post test. The testing battery consisted of height, weight, limb segment length; grip strength; 6 filmed throws; and two timed 40-m sprints. The pretest testing sequence consisted of the anthropometric measurements, grip strength, the 6 filmed throws, and the timed sprints. The post test sequence differed in that the maximal sprints were performed immediately before the throws in one-half of the trials. The film analysis consisted of digitizing each frame of film for the best throw for each set of trials (pre/post test; sprint-before (SB)/sprint-after (SA)). The following kinematic parameters were determined for the best trial in the SB and SA trials: distance thrown, CG velocity, segment velocities, and release velocity. T-tests were calculated between the SB and SA variables, and only two significant differences were found: both in favor of the SA trials. An ANOVA was calculated between the means of the pretest, and the post test SB and SA trials, and no additional significant differences in means were found. High intensity activity prior to the shot put did not significantly improve performance, nor alter the kinematics of the performance. Verf.-Referat