Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 55-67 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Aug 2020 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Purpose: The effectiveness of the whip-like coordination in throwing might be influenced by the inertial properties of the athlete’s arm. This preliminary study investigated the acute effect of attaching mass to the upper arm on the distance achieved in a modified javelin throw. The aim was to identify the optimum upper arm mass that maximizes throw distance. Methods: Three well-trained adult male athletes performed maximum-effort throws with an 800-g javelin training ball. A wide range of masses (0–1.5 kg) were attached to the upper arm and a 2D video analysis was used to obtain measures of the projection variables for each attached mass. Results: All three athletes showed an effect of attached arm mass on throw distance, and with the optimum mass the athlete’s throw distance was increased by 2.2 m, 1.2 m, and 0 m (7%, 4%, and 0%) respectively. The optimum mass was specific to the athlete (0.6 kg, 0.2 kg, and 0 kg) and changes in throw distance were mostly due to changes in release velocity rather than changes in release angle or release height. The experimental results were broadly similar to those obtained from a simple 2D mathematical model of throwing. Conclusions: These results indicate that some javelin throwers might see an increase in throwing performance when a mass is attached to their upper arm. However, the relationship between upper arm mass and throwing performance should be investigated further with studies on more athletes, projectiles of different mass, and other throwing events.
Keywords
- Biomechanics, Motion analysis, Sport performance, Throwing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biophysics
- Chemical Engineering(all)
- Bioengineering
- Materials Science(all)
- Biomaterials
- Engineering(all)
- Biomedical Engineering
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In: Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics, Vol. 22, No. 2, 18.08.2020, p. 55-67.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Attaching mass to the upper arm can increase throw distance in a modified javelin throw
AU - Linthorne, Nicholas
AU - Heys, Martin
AU - Reynolds, Tomas
AU - Eckardt, Nils
PY - 2020/8/18
Y1 - 2020/8/18
N2 - Purpose: The effectiveness of the whip-like coordination in throwing might be influenced by the inertial properties of the athlete’s arm. This preliminary study investigated the acute effect of attaching mass to the upper arm on the distance achieved in a modified javelin throw. The aim was to identify the optimum upper arm mass that maximizes throw distance. Methods: Three well-trained adult male athletes performed maximum-effort throws with an 800-g javelin training ball. A wide range of masses (0–1.5 kg) were attached to the upper arm and a 2D video analysis was used to obtain measures of the projection variables for each attached mass. Results: All three athletes showed an effect of attached arm mass on throw distance, and with the optimum mass the athlete’s throw distance was increased by 2.2 m, 1.2 m, and 0 m (7%, 4%, and 0%) respectively. The optimum mass was specific to the athlete (0.6 kg, 0.2 kg, and 0 kg) and changes in throw distance were mostly due to changes in release velocity rather than changes in release angle or release height. The experimental results were broadly similar to those obtained from a simple 2D mathematical model of throwing. Conclusions: These results indicate that some javelin throwers might see an increase in throwing performance when a mass is attached to their upper arm. However, the relationship between upper arm mass and throwing performance should be investigated further with studies on more athletes, projectiles of different mass, and other throwing events.
AB - Purpose: The effectiveness of the whip-like coordination in throwing might be influenced by the inertial properties of the athlete’s arm. This preliminary study investigated the acute effect of attaching mass to the upper arm on the distance achieved in a modified javelin throw. The aim was to identify the optimum upper arm mass that maximizes throw distance. Methods: Three well-trained adult male athletes performed maximum-effort throws with an 800-g javelin training ball. A wide range of masses (0–1.5 kg) were attached to the upper arm and a 2D video analysis was used to obtain measures of the projection variables for each attached mass. Results: All three athletes showed an effect of attached arm mass on throw distance, and with the optimum mass the athlete’s throw distance was increased by 2.2 m, 1.2 m, and 0 m (7%, 4%, and 0%) respectively. The optimum mass was specific to the athlete (0.6 kg, 0.2 kg, and 0 kg) and changes in throw distance were mostly due to changes in release velocity rather than changes in release angle or release height. The experimental results were broadly similar to those obtained from a simple 2D mathematical model of throwing. Conclusions: These results indicate that some javelin throwers might see an increase in throwing performance when a mass is attached to their upper arm. However, the relationship between upper arm mass and throwing performance should be investigated further with studies on more athletes, projectiles of different mass, and other throwing events.
KW - Biomechanics
KW - Motion analysis
KW - Sport performance
KW - Throwing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084794666&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.37190/abb-01558-2020-02
DO - 10.37190/abb-01558-2020-02
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85084794666
VL - 22
SP - 55
EP - 67
JO - Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics
JF - Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics
SN - 1509-409X
IS - 2
ER -