Differences between the elite and subelite sprinters in kinematic and dynamic determinations of countermovement jump and drop jump

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between selected variables of lower extremities explosive power measured via countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) and sprinting ability over 60- and 100-m dash. Twelve national-level Slovenian sprinters were assigned to 2 groups: elite (n = 6) and subelite (n = 6). The grouping criterion was performance in 60 and 100 m in official competition. Biomechanical parameters of both jumps were measured with the use of bipedal force platform and a system of 9 infraspectral charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras with a 200 Hz frequency. Differences between the groups of sprinters were examined with the use of repeated-measures analysis of variance. In CMJ, the differences (p < 0.05) between the groups were revealed in take off velocity (elites = 3.23 m · s, subelites = 2.94 m·s), height of the jump, vertical velocity of body center of gravity, and the impulse of force in the concentric phase of the jump (concentric impulse: elites = 123.91 N · s; subelites = 108.06 N · s). In the DJ, elite and subelite sprinters differentiated in the realization of movement velocity in the eccentric and concentric phases (take off velocity: elites = 3.18 m · s, subelites = 2.87 m · s; eccentric velocity: elites = 3.05 m · s, subelites = 2.81 m · s). This investigation provides evidence that vertical jumps and DJs are very important tools to meet the demands of sprint training according eccentric-concentric muscular work. The DJ showed better quality than CMJ in the neuromuscular specificity.