Biomechanical Assessment of Throwing Gesture and Performance in Female Water-Polo Players
Water-polo is an aquatic sport based on the high level of coordination of several body movements, frequent changes in positions, speeds, and directions. Considering technical and tactical aspects, the power, the force, and the shot accuracy have been identified as important skills and specific train...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7856 |
| _version_ | 1797414533919145984 |
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| author | Elisa Panero Valentina Agostini Laura Gastaldi |
| author_facet | Elisa Panero Valentina Agostini Laura Gastaldi |
| author_sort | Elisa Panero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water-polo is an aquatic sport based on the high level of coordination of several body movements, frequent changes in positions, speeds, and directions. Considering technical and tactical aspects, the power, the force, and the shot accuracy have been identified as important skills and specific training programs can be scheduled with the attempt to improve them. Moreover, the biomechanical investigation of kinematic parameters during the shot can contribute to the evaluation of player’s throwing performance and to the description of gesture. The principal aim of the current study is the comparative analysis of throwing kinematics in three different types of shots. Eleven female players were evaluated before and after 45 days of a specific water-polo training. In the experimental tests, three types of shots were performed, shoulder and elbow angles and throwing velocity were analyzed. In addition, power and precision parameters were estimated to describe players’ throwing performance. During the passing-feint shot, a significant lower maximum velocity (before: 14.7 m/s; after: 13.9 m/s; <i>p</i>-value = 0.005) and a higher shoulder angle (before: 56.7°; after: 63.9°; <i>p</i>-value = 0.003) were observed. During the passing-spontaneous shot, players’ precision showed a tendency to increase after the training (score before: 9.0; score after: 11.0 score; <i>p</i>-value = 0.05). This study proved the feasibility of an objective biomechanical assessment of the throwing kinematics and throwing performance of water-polo players, in ecological conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:34:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9f2cdc127844fc29f138484a45bf912 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:34:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9f2cdc127844fc29f138484a45bf9122023-12-03T12:29:50ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-08-011215785610.3390/app12157856Biomechanical Assessment of Throwing Gesture and Performance in Female Water-Polo PlayersElisa Panero0Valentina Agostini1Laura Gastaldi2Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, ItalyWater-polo is an aquatic sport based on the high level of coordination of several body movements, frequent changes in positions, speeds, and directions. Considering technical and tactical aspects, the power, the force, and the shot accuracy have been identified as important skills and specific training programs can be scheduled with the attempt to improve them. Moreover, the biomechanical investigation of kinematic parameters during the shot can contribute to the evaluation of player’s throwing performance and to the description of gesture. The principal aim of the current study is the comparative analysis of throwing kinematics in three different types of shots. Eleven female players were evaluated before and after 45 days of a specific water-polo training. In the experimental tests, three types of shots were performed, shoulder and elbow angles and throwing velocity were analyzed. In addition, power and precision parameters were estimated to describe players’ throwing performance. During the passing-feint shot, a significant lower maximum velocity (before: 14.7 m/s; after: 13.9 m/s; <i>p</i>-value = 0.005) and a higher shoulder angle (before: 56.7°; after: 63.9°; <i>p</i>-value = 0.003) were observed. During the passing-spontaneous shot, players’ precision showed a tendency to increase after the training (score before: 9.0; score after: 11.0 score; <i>p</i>-value = 0.05). This study proved the feasibility of an objective biomechanical assessment of the throwing kinematics and throwing performance of water-polo players, in ecological conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7856biomechanicswater-poloGoPro camerathrowing performanceupper-body angular kinematicsshot power |
| spellingShingle | Elisa Panero Valentina Agostini Laura Gastaldi Biomechanical Assessment of Throwing Gesture and Performance in Female Water-Polo Players Applied Sciences biomechanics water-polo GoPro camera throwing performance upper-body angular kinematics shot power |
| title | Biomechanical Assessment of Throwing Gesture and Performance in Female Water-Polo Players |
| title_full | Biomechanical Assessment of Throwing Gesture and Performance in Female Water-Polo Players |
| title_fullStr | Biomechanical Assessment of Throwing Gesture and Performance in Female Water-Polo Players |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biomechanical Assessment of Throwing Gesture and Performance in Female Water-Polo Players |
| title_short | Biomechanical Assessment of Throwing Gesture and Performance in Female Water-Polo Players |
| title_sort | biomechanical assessment of throwing gesture and performance in female water polo players |
| topic | biomechanics water-polo GoPro camera throwing performance upper-body angular kinematics shot power |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7856 |
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