Dermatoglifia y Somatotipo en Jugadores de Voleibol del Departamento del Huila en los XX Juegos Deportivos Nacionales Colombia (Dermatoglyphia and Somatotype in Volleyball Players from the Department of Huila in the XX National Sports Games Colombia)

El propósito del estudio fue establecer las características antropométricas y dermatoglíficas del equipo de voleibol masculino del Departamento del Huila que participó en los XX Juegos Deportivos Nacionales en Colombia y a su vez, determinar el nivel de correlación entre estos dos componentes. La investigación fue de enfoque cuantitativo y alcance correlacional. Participaron 13 jugadores del equipo de voleibol masculino del Departamento del Huila (edad 22.2 años ± 4.4; estatura 183.6 m ± 9.9; masa 79.6 kg ± 11.9; índice de masa corporal [IMC] 23.6 kg/m2 ± 3.4 y porcentaje de grasa 10.09% ± 3.26). Para estimar el somatotipo se aplicó el protocolo de Carter (2002) y para conocer el perfil dermatoglífico el protocolo de Cummins y Midlo (1961). Se realizaron correlaciones bivariadas con el coeficiente tau de Kendall (t) para determinar la correlación entre las variables. El equipo presenta un somatotipo mesomorfo-endomorfo y un perfil dermatoglífico de presillas (68.46% ± 17.4), verticilos (28.46% ± 18.64) y arcos (3.08% ± 6.30), con valores medios en el recuento del índice delta (12.54 ± 2.18) y la suma de la cantidad total de líneas (130.38 ± 46.00). El equipo de voleibol se clasifica en la clase IV del índice dermatoglífico y somático funcional; donde, la baja presencia de arcos y un mayor recuento de presillas son típicos de deportes por el dominio de fuerza rápida, coordinación y resistencia. No se encuentra relación directa o inversa significativa (p > .05) entre las características del perfil antropométrico y dermatoglífico en la población evaluada. Abstract. The purpose of the study was to establish the anthropometric and dermatoglyphic characteristics of the men's volleyball team from the Department of Huila that participated in the XX National Sports Games in Colombia and in turn, to determine the level of correlation between these two components. The research had a quantitative approach and correlational scope. 13 players participated from the men's volleyball team of the Department of Huila (age 22.2 years ± 4.4; height 183.6 m ± 9.9; mass 79.6 kg ± 11.9; body mass index [BMI] 23.6 kg/m2 ± 3.4, and fat percentage 10.09% ± 3.26). To estimate the somatotype, the protocol proposed by Carter (2002) was applied and the protocol established by Cummins and Midlo (1961) was used to determine the dermatoglyphic profile. Bivariate correlations were performed with Kendall's tau coefficient (t) to determine the correlation between the variables. The team presents a mesomorph-endomorphic somatotype and a dermatoglyphic profile of loops (68.46% ± 17.4), whorl (28.46% ± 18.64), and arches (3.08% ± 6.30) with mean values in the delta index count (12.54 ± 2.18) and sum of the full quantity of lines (130.38 ± 46.00). The volleyball team is classified in class IV of the dermatoglyphic and somatic functional index; where, the low presence of arches and a higher count of loops are typical of sports due to the dominance of power, coordination, and endurance. No significant direct or inverse relationship was found (p > .05) between the characteristics of the anthropometric and dermatoglyphic profile in the population evaluated.

Plasma microRNA-320a as a Potential Biomarker of Physiological Changes during Training in Professional Volleyball Players

A deeper insight into the mechanisms responsible for athlete performance that may serve as specific and detailed training indicators is still desired, because conventionally used biomarkers provide limited information about the adaptive processes that occur during exercise. The objective of our study was to assess insulin-like growth factor 1 receptors (IGF1R) gene expression and evaluate plasma concentration of selected microRNAs (miRNAs) during a 10-week training period (sampling times: week 1, 4, 7, and 10) in a group of 12 professional female volleyball players. Circulating miRNAs (miR-223, miR-320a, and miR-486) with established concentration in plasma and documented association with the IGF1 signaling pathway, which is involved in muscle development and recovery, were tested. The levels of analyzed miRNAs, tested by one-way ANOVA, were significantly different between four training periods during a 10-week training cycle (miR-223 p < 0.0001, miR-320a p = 0.00021, miR-486 p = 0.0037, respectively). The levels of IGF1R also appeared to be different (p = 0.00092), and their expression showed a trend to increase between the first and third periods. In the fourth period, the expression decreased, although it was higher compared with the baseline. Correlations between concentration levels of miR-223 and miR-320a (rs = 0.54, p < 0.001), as well as between miR-320a and miR-486 (rs = 0.73, p < 0.001) were also found. In the fourth period, a negative correlation between miR-223 plasma level and leucocyte IGF1R expression was found (rs = −0.63, p = 0.028). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that miR-320a (p = 0.024) and creatine kinase (p = 0.028) had the greatest impact on the expression levels of the IGF1R gene. Future studies are required to define whether these miRNAs, especially miR-320a, as well as IGF1R expression could be useful biomarkers of physiological changes during exercise and to discover their detailed biological roles in mode-specific exercise training adaptations of professional athletes.

The Effect of Age, Biological Maturation and Birth Quartile in the Kinanthropometric and Physical Fitness Differences between Male and Female Adolescent Volleyball Players

Background: Differences in kinanthropometric and physical fitness performance between boys and girls usually start during adolescence, as a result of the changes in the hormonal environment that occur with the advance of age and biological maturation; Methods: A total of 96 1st Regional Division players adolescent volleyball players, 48 males, (age = 14.17 ± 1.00 years-old) and 48 females (age = 14.41 ± 1.21 years-old) underwent a kinanthropometric assessment, were asked to perform different physical fitness test and to complete a questionnaire. Chronological age, maturity offset, age at peak height velocity (APHV), and birth quartile were calculated; Results: Statistical differences were observed between male and female players in the APHV (p < 0.001). Male players showed higher values in the bone and muscle-related variables (p < 0.001–0.040), as well as in the strength and power production-related physical tests (p < 0.001–0.012), while the female showed higher values in the fat-related variables (p = 0.003–0.013), and performed better in the flexibility tests. Age, maturity offset, and birth quartile showed to have statistical influence in the differences found between sex groups; Conclusions: There is a clear influence of age and biological maturation on the differences found between sexes in adolescent volleyball players that could be taken into account regarding grouping in early stages.

Patellar Tendon Force Differs Depending on Jump-Landing Tasks and Estimation Methods

Patellar tendinopathy is a chronic overuse injury of the patellar tendon which is prevalent in jump-landing activities. Sports activities can require jumping not only with a vertical component but also in a forward direction. It is yet unknown how jumping in the forward direction may affect patellar tendon forces. The main purpose of this study was to compare PTF between landings preceded by a vertical jump and a forward jump in volleyball players. The second purpose was to compare two different estimation methods of the patellar tendon force. Fifteen male volleyball players performed vertical and forward jump-landing tasks at a controlled jump height, while kinetics and kinematics were recorded. Patellar tendon forces were calculated through two estimation methods based on inverse dynamic and static optimization procedures, using a musculoskeletal model. Results showed that forward jump-landing generated higher patellar tendon forces compared to vertical jump-landing for both estimation methods. Surprisingly, although the static optimization method considered muscle co-contraction, the inverse kinematic method provided statistically significant higher patellar tendon force values. These findings highlight that limiting the forward velocity component of the aerial phase appears to reduce the load on the patellar tendon during landing and may help to prevent patellar tendinopathy.

Postactivation Performance Enhancement (PAPE) Increases Vertical Jump in Elite Female Volleyball Players

The purpose of this study was to verify if a conditioning activity was effective to elicit postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE) and to increase the performance in vertical jump (VJ) in elite female volleyball players. Eleven national Superliga-2 volleyball players (22.6 ± 3.5 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental and control group. Countermovement jumps (CMJ) were performed on eight occasions: before (Pre-PAPE) and after activation (Post-PAPE), after the match (Pre-Match), and after each of the five-match sets (Set 1 to 5). ANOVA showed significantly increased jump performance for the experiment between baseline (Pre-PAPE) and all the following tests: +1.3 cm (Post-PAPE), +3.0 cm (Pre-Match), +4.8 cm (Set 1), +7.3 cm (Set 2), +5.1 cm (Set 3), +3.6 cm (Set 4), and +4.0 cm (Set 5), all showing medium to large effect size (0.7 < ES < 2.4). The performance of the control group did not show significant increases until Set 3 (+3.2 cm) and Set 5 (+2.9 cm), although jump heights were always lower for the control group than the experimental. The use of conditioning activity generates increased VJ performance in Post-PAPE tests and elicited larger PAPE effects that remain until the second set of a volleyball match.

Physical Skills in Male Volleyball Players 14-18 Years Old

During the monitoring of volleyball teams in Albania during training, it was noticed that coaches pay more attention to technical elements and not to physical abilities to ages 14-18 years. The aim of this study was to find out the trend of improvement and differences with the age on physical abilities of male’s volleyball players in Albania. Methods: Participants in this study were N=43 volleyball players from two age categories; N=21, cadet (14-16 yrs.), N= 22 and junior (16-18 yrs.) Measurement for anthropometrics (body weight, body height) and physical abilities (push up test, curl-up test, standing long jump and vertical jump test) were assessed. Results: Analysis between two age categories shows significant differences. Showed results for anthropometrics and also for physical abilities showed differences between groups of volleyball players. Data of this study for jumping performance using vertical jump CMJ test between groups for cadet vs. junior data show (mean difference= 21.3 cm; Sig= 0.004) while for vertical jump Run up test between groups for cadet vs. junior data show (mean difference= 22.3 cm; Sig= 0.003). Conclusion: In the best interest of the study, it would be good if other teams were involved from different cities of Albania. Suggestions for other studies we recommend in comparing data by positions in the field. Trainers should plan training with these age groups different coordination programs not only technical. This study has limitations with regards to the sampling number of male volleyball players, which is justified for not having sufficient funds.