Correlação entre o nível de flexibilidade e desempenho em saltos verticais de adultas jovens e idosas praticantes de esportes de quadra

Abstract

A optimum level of flexibility can allow for greater speed, fluidity and range of motion, this fact demonstrates that flexibility is fundamental in different motor gestures and even for other physical capacities. In performing vertical jumps, it can be crucial to maximize the response of the stretch reflex and the storage of potential elastic energy derived from the stretching- shortening cycle. These mechanisms significantly increase performance in vertical jumps. In addition, it can allow practitioners or athletes to reach lower depths in the eccentric phase of the jumps that cause muscle lengths suitable for strength production. Based on these facts, the objective of the present study is to correlate and verify the levels of flexibility, performance and power in the vertical jumps of young adult female practitioners of handball (GH) and elderly female practitioners of volleyball (GV). 16 young adult female handball players and 10 elderly female volleyball players were evaluated. Initially, the body mass and height were measured, in sequence, the players were requested to fill in an anamnesis form to obtain demographic data. Subsequently, the protocol for evaluating vertical jumps was performed, using countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) on a contact mat. Three attempts were made for each type of vertical jump, with an angle of 90 ° of knee flexion, using the attempt with the best performance for analysis purposes. In the GH, strong correlations were found between flexibility and the height jumped (0.615, p = 0.011), and also between power (0.718, p = 0.002) and the power normalized by body mass (0.618, p = 0.011) in the SJ. However, in the CMJ, only the correlation between power and flexibility was found (0.688, p = 0.003). For the GV, no significant correlations were found. When the groups were compared, the GV obtained superior performance in all tests (p ≤ 0.002). In conclusion, it was possible to observe a correlation of the flexibility with the performance and power in the vertical jumps in young adult female handball players, however, this correlation was not found for elderly female volleyball players. The lack of correlation for the elderly can be associated with the decline in muscle power of the lower limbs caused by the aging process.