The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of aquatic plyometric exercise on kinematic and electromyographic parameters of drop jump. We investigated muscle activity in drop jump and the resulted changes in parameters after a certain period of aquatic plometric exercise. To exlplore the study area, 11 participants performed drop jumps in the water, the first week 5 series of 6 jumps from a height of 30 cm, the second week 5 series of 6 jumps from a height of 40 cm, and then another two weeks 5 series of 8 jumps from a height of 40 cm. The cycle of drop jumpswas 5 minutes. Before the start of practice in the water we executed a test where we measured maximum intentional muscle contraction of: m. tibialis anterior, m. soleus, m. gastrocnemius caput mediale and m. vastus lateralis The test also included 3 drop jumps of 20 cm and 3 of 40 cm. The same test was repeated after the end of four weeks of aquatic plyometric exercise. Results showed both, negative and positive changes of parameters. The average height of jumps was in both cases decreased, but was not statistically significant. There were no statistically significant changes, only changes in the reflex and conscious phase of activation were indicated. In the reflex phase of activation, the activation of m. soleus at drop jump of 20 cm, was decreased (0,088) and activation of m. gastrocnemius caput mediale at drop jump of 40 cm was increased (p=0,079). In the conscious phase of activation, activation of m. tibialis anterior was increased at both drop jumps, of 20 cm (p=0,085) and of 40 cm (p=0,087). However in the same phase, activation of m. vastus lateralis at drop jump of 40 cm was decreased (p=0,084).
|