JOINT SPECIFIC MECHANICAL POWER DURING VERTICAL JUMPS OF ELITE BOBSLEIGH ATHLETES

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to quantify jumping mechanics of elite male bobsleigh athletes (N=10; 28?3 yrs; 193?5 cm; 99?8 kg) performing two different kinds of vertical jumps (squat and countermovement). Kinetics and kinematics were measured with two force platforms (one per leg, 1080 Hz) and eight high-speed infrared cameras sampled at 120 Hz. Detection of the joint specific mechanical power generation pattern between legs and across athletes was realized via inverse-dynamic calculation. The results show an average jumping height of about 50 cm, which is associated with average body mass of almost 100 kg. An average joint specific contribution of mechanical power generation during squad and countermovement jumps could be determined close to one third per joint (hip, knee, ankle).