Principal components analysis to characterise fatigue-related changes in technique: Application to double under jump rope

Abstract

The upper extremities play an important role in managing the rope-turning technique required to perform continuous double unders. However, acute adaptions in this technique may occur as a jumper fatigues. The purpose of this study was to examine how turning technique is adapted with fatigue. Three-dimensional kinematic data of the upper extremity were collected from 10 trained athletes as they performed consecutive double unders to volitional fatigue. Time series wrist, elbow and shoulder joint angles were calculated where joint angle waveforms representing 10 unique trials from the beginning ("fresh") and end ("fatigued") of the continuous jumping protocol for all participants were analysed using principal component analysis. Participants reported stopping due to cardiovascular and shoulder muscular fatigue. From a kinematics perspective, with fatigue athletes used a more internally rotated range of motion at the shoulder, which we believe prompted a series of more distal adaptions in order to maintain rope turning, preserving consecutive double under performance. The presence of a maladaptive adaptation at the shoulder may increase the risk of developing shoulder injuries. Coaches should consider helping jumpers develop appropriate shoulder muscle endurance such that they can continue to maximise their training and proficiency, while protecting against potential fatigue-related maladaptation.

Keywords: Rope skipping; kinematic analysis; principal components analysis; upper extremity.