Question

*Please answer all parts of the question. Thank you!

Would you be able to kinematically analyze the entire body during a volleyball attack/spike? Could you provide the phases and within each phase, could you provide the plane of motion, axis of rotation(s), joints involved, joint type, muscle action, and muscle contraction type?

Answer 1

Spikes/attacks are described as high velocity shots in which upper extremities and lower extremities both are equally contributing their muscle actions.there are 4 phases in volleyball spike .they are- approach phase( preparation phase), arm cocking phase(arm swing) ,acceleration phase and follow through phase.

In approach phase,muscles involved are - shoulder girdle muscles, trapezius,deltoid (anterior and posterior) ,biceps ,triceps and latissimus dorsi.wheras Lower limb muscles involved in this phase are- gluteus maximus,quadriceps ,hamstrings,tibialis anterior.

In arm swing phase, all the muscles are same as first phase. Movements occurring in arm swing phase are - trunk forward flexion,shoulder forward flexion and elbow extension .

In acceleration phase,movements are shoulder downward rotation,elbow flexion,shoulder Abduction.

In follow through phase,muscles involved are pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi,rectus abdominis,external oblique,triceps,biceps.

In upper extremities,shoulder joint and elbow joint are mostly used .whereas in lower limb extremities hip joint ankle joint and knee joint are involved.

Starting from upper extremities,shoulder joint is the most used joint.movements involved involved are shoulder external rotation, internal rotation,shoulder adduction and abduction.

Whereas in elbow - elbow flexion and extension are involved .