Abstract
Jumping is a foundational movement pattern developed during childhood that is widely used in the assessment of human performance. For any given multi joint, dynamic movement, there is typically a consensus regarding the pattern of movements which leads to optimal performance. The more segments involved in the movement, and reliance of precise coordination of segments, the more difficult it is to identify specific coordination patterns correlated to peak performance, using current accessible technology. Emerging methods in statistical analysis allowing comparison of time-series data provides new opportunities to explore the rich information encompassed in high frequency force data with the potential to capture variations in the execution of movement previously overlooked. As such, the aim of this thesis was to determine whether differences in proximal to distal jump coordination were identifiable in force-time curves in a cohort of runners.Thirty endurance runners and triathletes (18-40 years, height 168.1 ± 32.0 cm, body mass 68.7 ± 12.3 kg, age 22.2 ± 4.3 yr, n = 16 women) completed five maximal countermovement jumps (CMJs) and five standing broad jumps (SBJs) while force and motion capture data were collected. The magnitude of the time interval between peak hip and peak knee extension velocity (H-K) and the magnitude of the time interval between peak knee and peak ankle extension velocity (K-A) were calculated for both CMJ and SBJ. Participants were ranked from largest interval to smallest interval for each of H-K CMJ, K-A CMJ, H-K SBJ and K-A SBJ before dividing each rank into tertiles to give HIGH, MOD and LOW groups for each condition. Individuals were removed from a group if left and right leg resulted in different grouping. A one-way Statistical non-Parametric Mapping ANOVA (p<0.05), with iterations at 10,000, were used to compare vertical ground reaction force (CMJ and SBJ), horizontal ground reaction force (SBJ), and resultant ground reaction force (SBJ) between the H-K and K-A joints for each of the three groups.
Several regions of the force-time curves were identified as statistically significant (p<0.001) for the H-K and K-A grouping in both CMJ and SBJ force-time curves. Most notably under the K-A grouping conditions, the vertical ground reaction force of CMJ and SBJ was significantly greater in the final stages of the movement prior to take-off (57 - 97%, p < 0.001 and 44- 87% p < 0.001). Further post-hoc analysis revealed the differences were driven by the low interval delay between the peak knee and peak ankle extension velocities.
The results suggest there is potential for Statistical Parametric Mapping analysis to detect differences in individual movement coordination patterns from force-time curves when grouped according to a pre-determined coordination pattern. Equally, the results provide further evidence supporting the role of rapid transfer of momentum from the knee to the ankle in production of high force in the latter stages of jumping movements. Finally, the HIGH and LOW H-K groups produced similar force-curves, significantly greater than the MOD group, suggesting that different movement strategies are capable of producing comparable forces. It is apparent that movement coordination should be taken into account when evaluating jumping performance for training or injury monitoring.
This thesis proposes a novel approach to investigating force-time curves and the role of coordination, specifically joint timing on the observable movement, as opposed to focusing solely on the outcome for understanding jump execution. Further research into the coordination of movement in force-time curves could be applied to areas such as fatigue and performance monitoring, rehabilitation, and motor learning for performance.
| Date of Award | 3 Dec 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Anna Lorimer (Supervisor) & Vernon Coffey (Supervisor) |