Internet Survey of Risk Factors Associated With Training and Competition in Dogs Competing in Agility Competitions

Objective: To describe risk factors associated with training and competition in relation to frequency and severity of injuries experienced by agility dogs.Procedures: An internet-based survey collected data on competition level variables and training level variables. The primary outcome was history of any injury and a secondary outcome considered history of severe injury (injury lasting > 3 months). Logistic regression was used to estimate associations and final models were obtained via backward selection to identify the strongest associations within variables.Results: There were 4,197 dogs included in this analysis. Injury was reported for 1,737 (41.4%) dogs and severe injury was reported for 629 (15.0%). In the model with competition level factors, jumping 4” (OR: 1.50) or 2–4” (OR: 1.31) over shoulder height compared to jumping 0–2” lower and competing at national events was associated with increased injury risk, while competing 6+ times on rubber matting was associated with lower risk (OR: 0.62). Training level variables associated with injury risk were age starting jump, teeter, and weave training, with the highest risk observed for dogs starting jump training between 3 and 18 months but starting weave and teeter training after 18 months of age.Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Many variables thought to be associated with injury risk were not significant in the final model. Starting jump training at an earlier age was associated with greater risk of injury relative to starting after 18 months. It is possible that the high impact of jump training before skeletal maturity may increase the risk of injuries or musculoskeletal conditions. The increased risk of injury in dogs that jump 2–4, or 4+ inches higher than shoulder height may be due to increased biomechanical forces during takeoff and landing. Faster dogs may be at higher risk of injury; handlers planning competition around big events or competing at the national level are likely to have faster dogs, and may be less likely to compete on rubber matting. These data provide valuable current insight into the possible effects that training and competition variables may have on injury risk in agility dogs.

Effects of Plyometric Jump Training in Sand or Rigid Surface on Jump-Related Biomechanical Variables and Physical Fitness in Female Volleyball Players

Background: This study aims to assess the effects of 8 weeks of plyometric jump training (PJT) conducted on sand or a rigid court surface on jump-related biomechanical variables and physical fitness in female indoor volleyball players. Methods: Seventeen participants were randomly divided into a sand surface group (SsG, n = 8) and rigid surface group (RsG, n = 9). Both groups completed equal indoor volleyball training routines. Participants were assessed pre and post the 8-week PJT for jump-related biomechanical variables (countermovement jump (CMJ) RSI; drop jump (DJ) reactive strength index (RSI); spike jump (SJ) height; CMJ height; CMJ rate of force development (RFD); CMJ velocity at take-off; DJ height and CMJ peak force), 20 m linear sprint time, t test for change-of-direction sprint (CODs) time, Wingate test peak power (PP), cardiorespiratory endurance, and leg-press one-repetition maximum (1RM). Results: A two-way mixed analysis of variance (group × time) revealed that there was a significant group × time interaction between DJ height (p = 0.035) and CMJ peak force (p = 0.032) in favour of RsG and SsG, respectively. A significant interaction was also observed for cardiorespiratory endurance (p = 0.01) and 1RM (p = 0.002), both favouring the SsG. No other group × time interaction was observed. Conclusions: The type of surface used during PJT induced specific adaptations in terms of jump-related biomechanical variables and physical fitness in female indoor volleyball players. Based on the individual needs of the athletes, practitioners may prescribe one type of surface preferentially over another to maximize the benefits derived from PJT.

Relationship Between Drop Jump Training–Induced Changes in Passive Plantar Flexor Stiffness and Explosive Performance

Passive muscle stiffness is positively associated with explosive performance. Drop jump training may be a strategy to increase passive muscle stiffness in the lower limb muscles. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 8-week drop jump training on the passive stiffness in the plantar flexor muscles and the association between training-induced changes in passive muscle stiffness and explosive performance. This study was a randomized controlled trial. Twenty-four healthy young men were divided into two groups, control and training. The participants in the training group performed drop jumps (five sets of 20 repetitions each) 3days per week for 8weeks. As an index of passive muscle stiffness, the shear moduli of the medial gastrocnemius and soleus were measured by shear wave elastography before and after the intervention. The participants performed maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexion at an ankle joint angle of 0° and maximal drop jumps from a 15cm high box. The rate of torque development during isometric contraction was calculated. The shear modulus of the medial gastrocnemius decreased for the training group (before: 13.5±2.1kPa, after: 10.6±2.1kPa); however, such a reduction was not observed in the control group. There was no significant group (control and training groups)×time (before and after the intervention) interaction for the shear modulus of the soleus. The drop jump performance for the training group improved, while the rate of torque development did not change. Relative changes in these measurements were not correlated with each other in the training group. These results suggest that drop jump training decreases the passive stiffness in the medial gastrocnemius, and training-induced improvement in explosive performance cannot be attributed to change in passive muscle stiffness.

Vertical Jump in National Volleyball-Basketball Team’s Women's in Albania

Volleyball and Basketball women’s have different performances from each other due to their special specifics of the game. From the specificity of their training, there are differences in the physical qualities of individual and team sports performance, where one of the elements is vertical jumping. This study is concentrated on two teams: Women’s Volleyball Team (V) and Women’s Basketball Team (B) 15 members each, focusing on 30 subjects. Players were measured in physical parameters; Age (V-24: B-27), Body Height (V-180.4cm; B-173.4cm), Body Weight (V-70.37kg; B-63.88kg), BMI (V-21.67 percent; B-20.93 percent). The players performed the test DJ60cm in the platform Leonardo® Ground Force Reaction Plate (GRFP) which expresses Force max (kN), Power max (w/kg), Time Contact (TCs), Air Time (TAs), TA/TCs. The results obtained by GRFP showed different team values of the two sports in the parameters of Fmax V65.19-B74.07n/kg, Pmax V31.26-B23.06w/kg, TCs V0.231-B0.198, TAs V0.436-B0.34 and TA/TCѕec V1.96ѕ-B1.71ѕec. Results revealed that V players jumped higher (p, 0.001) than B players. Finally, the Drop Jump60cm test has different performance between individual players, despite the fact that in the team average it turned out that Volleyball players is higher in this test. Drop Jump is the typical plyometric test. Furthermore, tests such as DJ can be a useful method for assessing differences and monitoring vertical jump training programs from collective sports.

The Effect of Plyometric Training up and downstairs and obstacle jumping on the improvement of squat style long jump results for male participants in the DKI Jakarta Athletic Club

The objectives of this study were 1) To improve the hurdle jumping training on the long jump results of the squat style in the male participants of the DKI Jakarta club. 2) Increasing the plyometric training up and downstairs to the results of the squat-style long jump in the male participants of the DKI Jakarta club. 3) This is more influential between the plyometric training of hurdle jumping and plyometric training up and downstairs to improve the squat style long jump results for male participants in the DKI Jakarta club. The method to be used is an experimental method, namely the research design using "(Pre-Test and Post Test Two Group Design (pretest-posttest randomized group design)", namely to determine the independent and dependent variables (Ronny, 2007: 138). The initial and final tests using the hurdle jump obtained an average deviation of MD = 0.26 standard deviation SD = 0.07 and the standard error mean SEMD = 0.03 these results produce at-table at degrees of freedom (DK) = 5-1 = 4 with a significant level 5% obtained the critical value of t-table = 2.776 with these results, then H0 is rejected because t-count = 7.63 which means that t-count ≥ t-table then H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted, where the hypothesis is Ha = there is an increase in obstacle jump training to the long jump results squat style on club athletes in DKI Jakarta.

Effects of Plyometric Training on Soft and Hard Surfaces for Improving Running Economy

The present study investigated the effects of plyometric jump training on hard and soft surfaces on running economy (RE), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), running performance and the rate of force development in orienteers. Nineteen orienteers (11 women and 8 men, body mass 61.1 ± 7.3 kg, age 21 ± 5.8 yrs) were randomly stratified based on sex, age, VO2max and RE to plyometric jumping training (8 sessions over 4 weeks) on either a hard or a soft surface. RE, VO2max and running performance were assessed on a treadmill and outdoor on- and off-trail loops. Moreover, ground reaction forces and force development were assessed during a one leg drop-jump test. The training intervention led to an overall 2-7% improvement in treadmill and off-trail RE, independent of the jumping surface and running velocity assessed. These improvements were not explained by force development during drop jump tests, which remained unchanged following the intervention. The changes in time-trial performance were associated with changes in RE. Plyometric training improved RE with no difference between the hard or the soft training surface and improved RE was also independent of the running speed assessed. Furthermore, improved running performance was associated with changes in RE after the intervention.

DOUBLE LEG SPEED HOP AND HALF SQUAT JUMP IMPROVE LEG MUSCLE POWER

Leg muscle explosiveness is one of the factors that determine the stability of jumping techniques in football. This research aims to prove that the combined training of Double Leg Speed ??Hop and Half Squat Jump is better than the Hurdle Jump in increasing leg muscle explosive power in male students participating in extracurricular football at SMP Negeri 2 Kuta Utara. Type of this research was true experimental with randomized pre and post-test with control group design. The research subjects were 18 male extracurricular football students at SMP Negeri 2 Kuta Utara which were divided into two different treatment groups. Treatment group was given training in a combination of Double Leg Speed ??Hop and Half Squat Jump and control group was given hurdles training, with a frequency of training 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Measurement of leg muscle strength measured using a meter board with a vertical jump test. The results of the study in both groups obtained the average leg muscle explosive power before training in the combination of Double Leg Speed ??Hop and Half Squat Jump 38.49 ± 4.658 cm, while after training the combination of Double Leg Speed ??Hop and Half Squat Jump became 48.17 ± 4.305 cm. The average explosive power of leg muscles before the Skipping Jump training was 36.63 ± 3.953 cm, while after the skipping jump training was 40.79 ± 4.227 cm. The mean difference test in the increased leg muscle power in treatment group and control group using independent t-tests in the post-test data of the two groups showed that p = 0.00 (p <0.05). It was concluded that the exercises in Treatment Group and Control Group both had an increased effect and in Treatment Group increased leg muscle power more than in Control Group. This research suggestions are expected to coaches can provide training properly and use evaluation monitoring improves athlete achievement. Keywords: Leg Muscle Explosive Power; Double Leg Speed ??Hop; Half Squat Jump; Hurdles Jumping; Football Extracurricular Boys SMP N 2 Kuta Utara