The kinematical analysis of the spiked hand in volleyball

Four right handed 1st league female volleyball players (x(age)= 21.7±1.5 year , x(height)= 178±2.9 cm, x(body mass)= 66.3±0.9 kg, x(sports age)=11.75 ± 1.8year) volunteered to participated in this study. All participants were free from orthopedic and physical injury. Prior to data collection players warmed up with flexibility and special volleyball exercises during 20 minutes. Informed of content form was signed by the participants.Each player performed 5 successful spikes to the target area at the other court. The spikes were recorded with a stereoscopic view by using two digital cameras (Dragonfly Express Point Grey Research, 2006) with 60 fps. A calibration frame 1x2x1 m with 12 control points was used to calibrate area which the participants performed action. Markers were placed on the five sites (hip?s greater trochanter, glenohumeral joint, humerus lateral epicondyl, ulnar styloid process and distal side of the 5th metacarpal bone) of the body. The cameras were placed approximately 90° to each other. Photogrammetric restitutions were done by using Pictran Software (Technet GmbH, Germany).The data obtained were evaluated by SPSS statistical software. The shoulder, the elbow and the wrist joint angles? means and standard deviations which obtained from five views of each subject and twenty views of four subjects were calculated for each selected time.At the end of the study it was found that the shoulder joint angle decreased and the elbow joint angle increased during the spike action which from the acceleration phase of armswing to deceleration phase during the spike action. In addition to these findings, it was also found that the wrist joint angle decreased from the acceleration phase to the ball contact time and after increased from the ball contact time to deceleration time.In conclusion, this study showed the individual differences of the joint angles at the upper extremity during the spike action and it was thought these differences effected on the spike force. Therefore, further studies should be associated with spiked ball velocity and upper extremity joint angles during the spike action.