ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Dedicated fitness training has greatly influenced many qualities required of volleyball players, but specific upper limb training is still poorly documented.
Objective:
Study the impacts of fitness training on upper limb strength and functional impacts during volleyball players’ ball throws.
Methods:
Twenty volleyball students were randomly divided into experimental and control groups for a six-week experiment. The experimental group mainly performed a training protocol involving ball throws while the control group continued with traditional training methods. The data regarding functional kinematics and fitness performance were collected and statistically compared.
Results:
In the experimental group, shoulder flexor strength evidenced an increase from 0.41±0.19 J/kg to 1.29±0.19 J/kg; elbow flexor strength elevated from 0.38±0.23 J/kg to 1.61±0.02 J/kg. On the specific functional performance, the peak score increased from 4.84±1.44 to 7.47±1.43; The overall score increased from 9.05±1.70 to 13.31±1.72. It was noted that the rate of increase of each index was more significant than that of the control group.
Conclusion:
Dedicated fitness training can improve the upper limb strength and hitting effect of volleyball players, and its combination with special strength training is recommended to improve the overall skills of athletes. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.
Keywords:
Volleyball; Physical Education and Training; Upper Extremity; Physical Fitness