Effect of pubertal developmental stages and lower limb kinetics during vertical jump task in Sepak Takraw sport

Sepak Takraw is a sport which actively involves the lower limb. A cross sectional study was performed to investigate the lower limb kinetics (ground reaction force, flight time and contact time) involved during the vertical jumping and landing task between the early pubertal and late pubertal stages in National level Sepak Takraw athletes in Malaysia. Twenty athletes (8 pre pubertal and 12 late pubertal) with no previous history of any physical injuries were taken for the study. The kinetics data of the vertical jump task was calculated using a force platform 3-AMTI Biomechanics Force Platform. The Silicon ProCoach (Chart 5 software) was used to collect the ground reaction force signals, flight time and contact time. The results showed a non-significant decrease in peak ground reaction force in the post pubertal group as compared to the pre pubertal group (t(18)=0.659, p=0.518,CI(95)(-2.54, 4.86). Comparison of flight time between the two age groups showed a significant increase in the post pubertal group with mean and SD (0.7773 + or - 0.03) as compared to the pre pubertal group mean and SD (0.7296 + or - 0.05), which was statistically considered significant (p<0.05) (t(18)=-2.401, p<0.05,CI(95)(-0.089, -0.005). The findings from this study demonstrated that the flight time of the vertical jump task differed between the pre and post pubertal athletes with the post pubertal group having an improved ability in maintaining longer duration of flight phase.