Comparative Analysis of Landing Biomechanics Between Male and Female Volleyball Players

Volleyball demands more jump-landing cycles than nearly any other sport. Every spike ends with a violent collision between athlete and ground. The basic mechanics involved in this process is very crucial for achieving the purpose of landing. The process of absorbing shock must be effectively manipulated for avoiding injury and improving performance. The purpose of the present study was to compare the landing mechanics between male and female volleyball players after spiking in volleyball. Ten male national volleyball players and seven female national volleyball players were selected as subjects as per availability. The selected mechanical parameters were distance between two knees during landing, distance between two ankles during landing, lowering of c.g during landing, angle at hip joint during landing, angle at knee joint during landing, angle at ankle joint during landing, horizontal distance between gravity line and point of touch during landing and duration of landing. Video graphic technique was used to record the movement. Analysis of technique for the selected parameters was done by freeze frame technique. Results revealed that inter-knee distance for male volleyball players was greater than female players at final phase of landing. Angle at hip joint at final phase of landing was greater for female than male volleyball players. Ankle angle at final phase of landing was greater for male than female subjects. There was not found statistical significance gender difference for all other parameters.