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. 2023 Feb 8;23(4):1906.
doi: 10.3390/s23041906.

Efficacy of Proprioceptive Training on Plantar Pressure and Jump Performance in Volleyball Players: A Proof-of-Principle Study

Affiliations

Efficacy of Proprioceptive Training on Plantar Pressure and Jump Performance in Volleyball Players: A Proof-of-Principle Study

Nicola Marotta et al. Sensors (Basel). .

Abstract

Volleyball players are often subject to micro-traumatisms of the heel fat pad and ankle injuries. Recently, mat-based proprioceptive training has assumed a key role in recovery from these disorders. Therefore, this proof-of-principle study aimed to assess the efficacy of proprioceptive mat training on plantar pressures and athletic performance in volleyball players. The participants included adult semi-professional volleyball players allocated into two groups: an experimental group, with mat-based proprioceptive and balance training, and a control group, with a sham protocol. For the outcome, we evaluated the barefoot plantar pressure, performing an analysis on a baropodometric resistive platform. The countermovement jump and squat jump were measured using an inertial measurement unit. Nineteen subjects were included in the two groups: the active proprioceptive group (n = 10) or the control group (n = 9). The results show a more uniform redistribution of loads with pressure hindfoot relief in the experimental group compared to the control group (p = 0.021, RBC = 0.67). Moreover, we observed a significant increase in peak landing force and high concentric power development in the experimental group compared to the controls. Focused proprioceptive management provided hindfoot load attenuation by stimulating higher peaks of concentric force in the experimental group compared to the sham group. Even though the study included a small sample, the results obtained in this proof-of-principle study suggest a positive role of proprioceptive stimulation in the inter-seasonal scenario for volleyball players to improve their jump performance and reduce the micro-traumatisms of the heel fat pad and the ankle injury rate. However, further studies performed on larger samples are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

Keywords: baropodometric analysis; inertial sensor; mat-based; performance; proprioception; rehabilitation; volleyball.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mat proprioceptive protocol. (A1) Tandem gait, performed two-sided on the 4 surfaces for 3 min. (A2) Walking lunges, performed two-sided on the 4 surfaces for 3 min with therapist disturbances. (A3) Calf-raise gait, performed two-sided on the 4 surfaces for 2 min. (A4) Monopodial stabilization, with stationary single stance support on 4 different surfaces for a period of at least thirty or forty seconds and with the therapist who performed small perturbations. (A5) Quarter-movement pistol squat, with 3 sets of 8–10 reps per leg on 4 surfaces. (A6) Countermovement jump from unstable platforms on the different 4 surfaces (1 set of 10 jumps for each mat). (A7) athletic gesture—monopodial support on 4 different surfaces with the performance of a volley athletic gesture (4 sets of 2 min). (B1) Tandem gait, exclusively forward for 1 min. (B2) Walking lunges performed only forward on the foam surface for 1 min. (B3) Calf-raise gait performed only forward on the foam surface for 2 min. (B4) Monopodial stabilization, subject stationary on single stance support surface for a period of at least thirty or forty seconds. (B5) Quarter-movement pistol squat, 3 sets of 8–10 reps per leg on foam surface. (B6) Countermovement jump (CMJ) from unstable platforms on foam surface; one set of 10 jumps on the foam mat. (B7) Athletic gesture—monopodial support on foam surface with the performance of a volley athletic gesture (1 set of 2 min).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pressure distribution 10-zone plot. * = significant difference (p < 0.05). Abbreviations: A1—area of the hallux; A2–5—area between the second and fifth metatarsal heads; M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 areas—zone of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal heads, respectively; midfoot: MF—midfoot area; hindfoot: LH—lateral heel zone and MH—medial heel zone). Data are described as pressure loads in kPa, quantified as mean (Pmean) pressures.

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This research received no external funding.
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