Neuromuscular Jumping Performance and Upper-Body Horizontal Power of Volleyball Players

Abstract Gonçalves, CA, Lopes, TJD, Nunes, C, Marinho, DA, and Neiva, HP. Neuromuscular jumping performance and upper-body horizontal power of volleyball players. J Strength Cond Res 35(8): 2236–2241, 2021—The aim of the current study was to characterize the neuromuscular jumping performance and upper-body horizontal power of elite and subelite volleyball players. In addition, those neuromuscular performances were compared between field positions. One hundred twenty-two male volleyball players participated in the study: 83 elite players (mean ± SD : 24.11 ± 5.57 years) and 39 subelite players (25.38 ± 6.19 years). They were divided according to their playing position: setters ( n = 22), opposite hitters ( n = 16), middle hitters ( n = 30), right-side hitters ( n = 38), and liberos ( n = 16). Each subject randomly performed 3 repetitions of medicine ball throwing (MBT), countermovement jump (CMJ), CMJ with free arms (CMJFA), and spike jump (SPJ). The results showed no significant differences between positions in the analyzed variables. However, there were differences between elite and subelite in the CMJ ( p = 0.000, = 0.12), the CMJFA ( p = 0.000, = 0.15), the SPJ ( p = 0.000, = 0.21), and MBT ( p = 0.001, = 0.09), showing a tendency for increased jumping performance and upper-body horizontal power for elite players. The elite opposite hitters and right-side hitters recorded greater CMJ performances ( d = 1.20 and d = 1.62, respectively). The right-side hitters were the only group that showed greater horizontal upper-body muscular power ( p = 0.000, d = 1.50). It is suggested that jumping performance is a determining factor for higher-level players, which was more relevant for the opposite hitters and right-side hitters. Nevertheless, the movement pattern of MBT seems to be relevant for the right-side hitters. Coaches should seek to develop jumping ability for the improvement of volleyball performances, without disregarding upper-body performances, depending on the position-specific demands.