THE INFLUENCE OF WEARING A LUMBAR SUPPORT BELT UPON JAVELIN THROWING PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Six male javelin throwers (mean ±SD age 25 ± 4 years: height 1.82 ± 0.06 m; weight 891 ± 105 N) were filmed at 150 Hz throwing an 800g javelin from a polyflex athletic track with and without a lumbar support belt, to allow three- dimensional kinematic analysis. Two typical throws at similar run up velocities were analysed. Wearing the belt was associated with significantly greater peak velocity at the shoulder relative to the hip when the hyperextended torso flexed forwards to release the javelin (P=0.046). With the belt there was not a significant increase in the velocity of the arm segments or javelin release velocity, attitude angle, release height, though an insignificant increase of 1.45m in mean distance occurred (P>0.05) possibly due to javelin aerodynamic factors.