Validity and reliability of a novel impulse-based method to analyse human striking performance

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Science
• Human Performance Analysis

Background:

• Accurate assessment of human striking performance is crucial for sports science and biomechanics research.
• Existing methods may lack comprehensive measurement capabilities or have limitations in reliability.
• A novel, validated, and reliable method is needed to quantify striking dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the criterion validity of the Impulse Block Method for human striking performance.
• To determine the within- and between-day reliability of the Impulse Block Method for key striking variables.
• To establish the Impulse Block Method as a dependable tool for performance analysis.

Main Methods:

• Criterion validity was assessed using drop tests, comparing predicted and measured velocity and initial momentum via linear regression and Bland-Altman plots.
• Ten healthy adults performed palm strikes against the Impulse Block on two separate occasions.
• Within- and between-day reliability was calculated for impulse, initial momentum, velocity, effective mass, kinetic energy, and power.

Main Results:

• Experiment 1 showed a strong linear relationship and high agreement between measured and predicted velocity and initial momentum.
• Experiment 2 revealed within-day coefficients of variation ranging from 4.95-10.2% and between-day from 6.15-12.1% for all variables.
• Intraclass correlation coefficients indicated moderate to excellent reliability (0.72-0.99 within-day, 0.92-0.99 between-day).

Conclusions:

• The Impulse Block Method is a valid and reliable tool for analyzing striking performance.
• The method accurately quantifies variables such as impulse, momentum, velocity, and power.
• Findings support its use for well-targeted, perpendicular linear strikes in research and applied settings.