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THE EFFECT OF HANDHELD PERCUSSION TREATMENT ON VERTICAL JUMP HEIGHT

Abstract

R.P. Kujala,C.D. Davis, L. Young

The University of Montana Western, Dillon, MT

A dynamic warm up serves a variety of purposes from activating muscle groups, increasing mental preparedness, and raising muscle temperature to ideal conditions for increased firing rates. Handheld percussion devices have become increasingly popular tools, often used in warm up routines for many athletic populations. The effectiveness handheld percussion devices in promoting dynamic warm up benefits has not been evaluated. PURPOSE: To examine the differences in vertical jump height after administration of lower body handheld percussion treatment, compared to passive rest. METHODS: Adult trained males (N=12, 21 ±2 yr., 84.25 ± 12.19 kg, 188 ± 7.59 cm) volunteered for this study. On Day 1, participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. All participants completed a 15-minute dynamic warm up consisting of light jogging, calisthenics, plyometrics, and dynamic stretching. After the warm up, the experimental group received five minutes of treatmentfrom a handheld percussion device before performing a vertical jump test. Treatment via the device was concentrated on lower body muscle groups: gluteals, quadriceps, calves, and hamstrings. The control group was asked to passively rest for 5 minutes prior to performing a vertical jump test. Vertical jump height was assessed using an electronic jump mat. The best of three jumps was recorded. The next day, participants returned for a second assessment of vertical jump height. Participants who completed the experimental protocol on Day 1, completed the control protocol on Day 2 and vice versa. A Student’s paired t-test was used to compare vertical jump height with and without treatment. RESULTS: Vertical jump height without treatment was 70.61 ± 6.78 cm compared to 70.36 ±6.66 cm with treatment. Six participants increased in vertical jump height after treatment, while six participants decreased in vertical jump height after treatment. Vertical jump height for all participants was not increased with administration of treatment (p=0.85). CONCLUSION: Handheld percussion treatment does not affect vertical jump height in this sample population. Larger sample sizes are needed to determine the effects of handheld percussion on lower body power and its benefits to dynamic warm up routines.

Equipment for this research was provided by TheraGun.

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