The purpose of my diploma thesis was to determine whether the speed of a 15-metre run with a flying start can be increased by gripping a relay baton tightly, thus producing the Jendrassik maneuver effect. The study participants performed the Jendrassik maneuver while receiving the baton in two ways: with their fingers and with their fist.
The study involved seven athletes (six men and a woman), their average age was of 19.13 ± 1.55 years. The subjects performed a 15-metre sprint run with a flying start in three ways: without a baton, by holding a baton in their fist, and by holding a baton with their fingers. In all three running conditions we measured: (1) the average speed of the 15-metre run, (2) the average frequency and (3) the length of the steps, and (4) the contact time of the support phase during the 15-metre run. The strength of the fist clenching was monitored indirectly by the amplitude (RMS) of the EMG signal m. adductor pollicis.
The results show that the sprint runs in which the subjects were gripping the baton tightly with their fingers were significantly faster than those without a baton. On the other hand, the differences in the kinematic parameters are not statistically significant. Likewise, the correlation between EMG amplitude size m. the adductor policis and the speed of running is not significant. Therefore, it can be concluded that the gripping of a baton with fingers is not an important factor in achieving a higher speed of running.
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