Effects of Drop Jumps Added to the Warm-Up of Elite Sport Athletes With a High Capacity for Explosive Force Development

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate influence of eccentric muscle action on vertical jump performance in athletes performing sports with a high demand of explosive force development. In this randomized, controlled crossover trial, 13 Swiss elite athletes (national team members in ski jump, ski alpine, snowboard freestyle and alpine, ski freestyle, and gymnastics) with a mean age of 22 years (range 20-28) were randomized into 2 groups. After a semistandardized warm-up, group 1 did 5 jumps from a height of 60 cm, landing with active stabilization in 90 degrees knee flexion. One minute after these modified drop jumps, they performed 3 single squat jumps (SJ) and 3 single countermovement jumps (CMJ) on a force platform. The athletes repeated the procedure after 1 hour without the modified drop jumps. In a crossover manner, group 2 did the first warm-up without and the second warm-up with the modified drop jumps. Differences of the performance (jump height and maximal power) between the different warm-ups were the main outcomes. The mean absolute power and absolute height (without drop jumps) were CMJ 54.9 W.kg(-1) (SD = 4.1), SJ 55.0 W.kg(-1) (SD = 5.1), CMJ 44.1 cm (SD = 4.1), and SJ 40.8 cm (SD = 4.1). A consistent tendency for improvement with added drop jumps to the warm-up routine was observed compared with warm-up without drop jumps: maximal power CMJ +1.02 W.kg(-1) (95% confidence interval [CI] = +0.03 to +2.38), p = 0.045; maximal power SJ +0.8 W.kg(-1) (95% CI = -0.34 to +2.02), p = 0.148; jump height CMJ +0.48 cm (95% CI = -0.26 to +1.2), p = 0.182; SJ +0.73 cm (95% CI = -0.36 to +1.18), p = 0.169. Athletes could add modified drop jumps to the warm-up before competitions to improve explosive force development.

Use of video observation and motor imagery on jumping performance in national rhythmic gymnastics athletes

“…It has also been shown that the use of internal and external perspectives, and the switching from one to another, improves sport performance (Smith & Collins, 2004). Finally, considering that jumping performance in gymnastic is especially improved by eccentric muscle action (Hilfiker, Hubner, Lorenz, & Marti, 2007), the improvement in the HT and DJ reinforces the concept that mental training (video observation and PETTLEP) can be used to enhance jumping performance, to limit an excessive physic work load and post-exercise fatigue. Vertical jumps are commonly used to evaluate jumping capacity because they are highly correlated with explosive leg strength, power (Bosco et al, 2002) and stiffness (Arampatzis et al, 2001).…”

Effect of Potentiating Exercise Volume on Vertical Jump Parameters in Recreationally Trained Men

“…A warm-up prior to physical activity, training, and competition has been shown to optimize performance (9,18,22). To elucidate ideal preparation for specific activities, studies have investigated the effect of various warm-up protocols on parameters of athletic performance including speed (17,26), power (9,18,28), and agility (18).…”

The effect of heavy resistance exercise on repeated sprint performance in youth athletes

“…These physiological enhancements lead to intensified type-II motor unit recruitment, increased actin-myosin cross-bridge activity within muscle fibres and decreased inhibition of the Golgi apparatus (Chiu et al, 2003;Hilfiker et al, 2007;Sale, 2004;Xenofondos et al, 2010) causing a more powerful contraction of the muscle and observed improvement in anaerobic sprint speed. The improved performance in adolescent population used in the present investigation is contrary to the PAP and repeated sprint performance 3 findings reported in similar aged populations (Arabatzi et al, 2014;Till & Cooke, 2009).…”

“…Strategies to maximise sprint performance are viewed as essential by both coaches and athletes (Bishop & Claudius, 2005;Okuno et al, 2013). One way in which sprint performance can be improved is through the generation of greater muscular power, leading to improved peak acceleration and increased maximal force output, muscle-twitch force, H-reflex amplitude, and rate of force development (Chiu et al, 2003;Hilfiker, Hubner, Lorenez, & Marti, 2007;Hodgson, Docherty, & Robbins, 2005;Sale, 2004;Xenofondos et al, 2010).…”