Power Parameters Appear Less Important To Water Polo Success Than Motor Control

Document Type

Conference Presentation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

Conference Title

American College of Sports Medicine - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise conference

Organization

American College of Sports Medicine

Location

Virtual

Date of Presentation

5-27-2020

Journal Publication

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

ISSN

0195-9131

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000676392.00305.f9

Volume

52

Issue

7S

First Page

261

Abstract

Conditioning programs for water polo players typically focus on muscular power to enhance the wrestling and shooting components of play. While improvements in strength training are easily quantifiable, the relationship between upper limb power and in-game performance has yet to be established. PURPOSE: To test the effect of upper limb force parameters on offensive performance in women’s water polo players. METHODS: We conducted biomechanical testing on 12 D1 women’s water polo players using Proteus (Proteus Motion, USA). After completing a familiarization and warm-up protocol, subjects performed a single set of 10 repetitions at 3lb of magnetic resistance in 3 different exercises: shoulder adduction, internal rotation of the shoulder while in horizontal abduction, and a throw motion. Proteus calculated peak power (PP), peak force development rate (PFDR), and consistency (accuracy of movement replication in 3D space during successive repetitions). The corresponding season statistics (2018-2019) were tabulated for assists, goals scored, and shooting percentage. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample; linear regressions tested the effect of PP, PFDR, and consistency on in-game performance. RESULTS: During the test season, players scored 23.1±19.9 goals, had a shooting percentage of 41.6±12.1%, and accomplished 10.5±10.9 assists. In the throw motion, Proteus calculated a PP of 59.2±15.5 watts, PFDR of 104.3±33.0 watts/sec, and consistency of 81.0±8.7%. PFDR exhibited negative relationships with goals scored (p=0.021) and shooting percentage (p=0.049), and a non-significant negative relationship with assists (p=0.111). Similar relationships were found with throw PP as well as PP and PFDR in shoulder adduction and internal rotation; all corresponded to worse performance in every performance metric. Consistency in all motions had a positive, non-significant relationship with all performance metrics; statistical trends were reached with horizontal shoulder adduction in which consistency predicted 7.1% more goals (p=0.062) and 8.8% more assists (p=0.050). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide preliminary evidence that skill-based fine motor coordination may be more valuable than power development in offensive performance in women’s water polo.

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