| Adaptations in Kinematic Variables Following a Six-Week Speed Training Intervention in Female Pole Vaulters |
| Paper ID : 1383-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Mahsa Mirzatabibi *1, Seyed Hamed Mousavi2, Elham Shirzad Araghi Shirzad Araghi2 1University of Tehran 2Department of Sport Injuries and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Kinematic analysis provides valuable insight into how specific training programs influence technical performance and movement efficiency in pole vaulting. This study aimed to examine the effects of a six-week speed training intervention on selected kinematic parameters in female pole vaulters. Understanding these adaptations can help coaches design more targeted and effective training programs to improve technical execution (1). Methods: Twelve trained female pole vaulters from Tehran with at least six months of experience and personal bests below 3.20 meters participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 6) and a control group (n = 6). In the pre-test, each athlete performed five maximal-effort pole vaults using a 12-step approach. Kinematic variables—including sagittal joint angles of the ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow in the take-off leg, as well as the final and penultimate stride lengths—were measured using high-speed video analysis. The experimental group then underwent a six-week speed training program consisting of short sprints, mini-hurdle runs, and combined track-and-field drills, while the control group maintained their usual training. Following the intervention, the same tests were repeated. Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA, with time (pre- and post-test) as the within-subject factor and group (experimental vs. control) as the between-subject factor. Results: The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between pre- and post-tests for any of the measured kinematic variables (P > 0.05). Specifically, the sagittal joint angles of the take-off leg and the final and penultimate stride lengths showed minimal variation. These findings suggest that a six-week period of speed training did not substantially modify the kinematic pattern of the take-off phase in female pole vaulters. Conclusion: Short-term speed training alone does not appear to produce notable biomechanical adaptations in joint movement or stride characteristics during the take-off phase of pole vaulting. |
| Keywords |
| Pole vault, speed training, kinematics, joint angles, stride length, female athletes |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
