Triple Jump Performance Parameters and Inter-Limb Asymmetry in the Kinematic Parameters of the Approach Run in International and Paralympic-Level Class T46/T47 Male Athletes
Adrián García-Fresneda,
Vassilios Panoutsakopoulos,
Mariana C. Kotzamanidou,
Josep-Maria Padullés Riu,
Miguel Angel Torralba Jordán,
José Luís López-del Amo,
Xavier Padullés,
Petros Athanasakis,
Timothy A. Exell,
Apostolos S. Theodorou
Affiliations
Adrián García-Fresneda
Research Group in Tecnologia Aplicada a l’Alt Rendiment i la Salut (TAARS), Department of Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, TecnoCampus Park Mataró-Maresme, 08302 Mataró, Spain
Vassilios Panoutsakopoulos
Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Mariana C. Kotzamanidou
Faculty of Health Sciences, Metropolitan College of Thessaloniki, 54624 Thessaloniki, Greece
Josep-Maria Padullés Riu
National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
Miguel Angel Torralba Jordán
Department of Applied Didactics, University of Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
José Luís López-del Amo
National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
Xavier Padullés
Chronojump Boscosystem, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
Petros Athanasakis
Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Timothy A. Exell
School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2ER, UK
Apostolos S. Theodorou
School of Physical Education and Sport Science—SEFAA, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece
Background/Objectives: The triple jump is included in the Paralympic Athletics competition. The aim of the research was to examine the relationship of the phase ratios and the inter-limb asymmetry in the spatiotemporal parameters of the approach run in Paralympic and international-level Class T46/T47 triple jumpers. Methods: Eleven Class T46/T47 male athletes were recorded during the examined competitions. Step length (SL), frequency (SF), and average velocity (ASV) for the late approach run as well as the length and the percentage distribution of each jumping phase (hop, step, jump) were measured using a panning video analysis method. The inter-limb asymmetry was estimated using the symmetry angle. Results: No significant inter-limb asymmetry was found (p > 0.05). In addition, SL, SF, and ASV were not different (p > 0.05) between the steps initiated from the ipsilateral and the contralateral leg regarding the impaired arm. However, the direction of asymmetry for SF was towards the ipsilateral leg to the impaired arm in the majority of the examined athletes. The maximum speed of the approach was correlated with the triple jump distance and the magnitude of asymmetry for AVS was correlated with the vertical take-off velocity and angle for the step. Conclusions: Since the distance of the triple jump related with the peak approach speed added the negative correlation of peak approach speed with the magnitude of the symmetry angle for SL, it is suggested to minimize the asymmetries in the step characteristics during the approach run to improve triple jump performance in Class T46/T47 jumpers.
