In this study, we used tensiomyography (TMG) to assess muscle status immediately after an ultra-endurance triathlon. Maximal radial displacement or deformation of the muscle belly, contraction time, delay time, sustain time, and relaxation time were measured for both legs, and dependent t-tests were used to compare means between the beginning and end of the race. The 19 men assessed (age 37.9 ± 7.1 years; height 177.5 ± 4.6 cm; weight: 73.6 ± 6.5 kg) participated in the 2009 edition of the Lanzarote Ironman. Deterioration in the neural response was observed for contraction time (P = 0.008) and relaxation time (P = 0.011), with a moderate decrease in the response time (sustain time) and a loss in muscle stiffness (deformation of the muscle belly). The effect of muscle fatigue on the rectus femoris and biceps femoris was different. Barely any changes in contraction time, relaxation time, sustain time, and deformation of the muscle belly were observed, while only the contraction response time decreased to a significant extent (reduction in delay time; P = 0.003). The considerable loss in contractile capacity induced by a long-distance race was reflected in changes in the neuromuscular response and fluctuations in the contractile capacity of the muscle. These modifications, derived from a prolonged, exhausting effort, can be assessed in a simple, non-aggressive, non-invasive way using tensiomyography.

This study analyzes the terminating actions (serve, attack, block and opponent error) resulting in point scoring for each team. These actions are then taken as reference indicators for observing the possibility of winning or losing a set in an elite men's volleyball competition. A total of 45 matches were studied at the European Men's Volleyball Championship held in September 2009 in Izmir and Istanbul (Turkey). Recordings were made of a number of game actions in a total of 168 sets. Analysis of these sets showed 132 ending in 25 points (78.57 percent) and 36 sets in more even matches (21.43 percent): 27 ending in more than 25 points (16.07 percent) and nine fifth or tie break sets (5.36 percent). Statistical analysis showed attacking to be the highest point-scoring technical action, but as matches became more even (sets with more than 25 points, or fifth and tie break sets), points scored by blocking became decisive for attaining victory in top-level competition. The number of errors made by each team is considerably lower at this level and points achieved through serving tend to be even.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the in-game role of players (setter, outside, middle, or opposite player) in elite women's volleyball is significantly related to the characteristics of their service. The sample consisted of 1,300 service deliveries (total serves for all matches) made by players in the 8 teams participating in 2 Final 4 stages of the Indesit European Champions League. The variables recorded were in-game role of the server, service type, speed of delivery, service area, target zone, and effectiveness of delivery. Results showed a significant relation between the server's in-game role and service type (p

The aim of the present study was to analyse differences in muscle response and mechanical characteristics of the vastus medialis, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and biceps femoris in elite volleyball players of both sexes using tensiomyography. To this end, 47 players of nine nationalities playing for teams in the men's and women's Spanish Superleagues were assessed. The sample comprised 22 women (age 24.694.3 years; weight 72.14910.06 kg; height 178.4098.50 cm) and 25 men (age 25.094.3 years; weight 88.7699.07 kg; height 194.7197.84 cm). Tensiomyography was used to assess muscular response and muscular mechanical characteristics. For this purpose, the following variables were analysed: maximum radial displacement of muscle belly and normalized response speed. The findings show, both in men and women, a higher normalized response speed score in the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis compared with the rectus femoris and biceps femoris. A marked lateral symmetry of maximum radial displacement of the muscle belly was also observed in the musculature of the lower limbs, with no statistically significant differences being detected in either men or women. There were, however, clear differences in terms of normalized response speed between male and female volleyball players: women displayed a more pronounced difference in the normalized response speed of the musculature responsible for extension (vastus medialis, rectus femoris, and vastus lateralis) and flexion (biceps femoris) of the knee joint than men. Moreover, tensiomyography proved to be a highly sensitive tool for detecting such changes.

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