2022 Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 109-117
The purpose of this study was to clarify differences due to volleyball experience in movement of the radiocarpal (RC) and second metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints during overhand volleyball passes. Subjects were 20 healthy young women (age range, 19-22 years), grouped into 10 volleyball players and 10 non-volleyball players. Three-dimensional motions of these joints were analyzed during overhand passes in a sitting posture. Reflective markers were attached to the nail of the second digit, second metacarpal head, dorsal central point of RC joint, and lateral epicondyle of the humerus on the right side. Each RC and MP joint angle and the total angle (RC + MP angle) were measured. Volleyball players had a longer contact time with the ball, and larger angles of extension and flexion motions than non-volleyball players. In volleyball players, after the onset of contact with the ball, the RC joint started flexion first, followed by MP joint flexion. In non-volleyball players, these joints started flexion at almost the same time. In volleyball players, angular velocity of flexion was significantly faster for the MP joint than for the RC joint. These results suggest that volleyball players can greatly absorb the impact from the ball by continuous extension of the MP joint, and effectively apply larger force to the ball using the elastic energy obtained by the phase difference in each joint movement.
