Efeito da pistola de percussão sobre a performance do salto em atletas universitários: um ensaio controlado aleatorizado

Abstract

Basketball, handball and volleyball are sports that combine explosive movements with short recovery periods and in common, they all have a predominant movement: the jump. Recent research suggests that mechanical vibrations of low amplitude and frequencies provide a safe and effective way to improve the neuromuscular system and cause adaptations in a short period of time. Thus, the aim of the study was to analyze the immediate and late effects of the percussion pistol on the jumping performance of university athletes. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at the Centro Esportivo Universitário of the Federal University of Ceará from March to September 2022. Percussion therapy was performed on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius muscle groups. The application time was two minutes in each of the muscle groups with a frequency of 56Hz (high vibration level), being applied in the dominant limb in the experimental group and in the control group applied in the non-dominant limb, that will not be considered for the purposes of statistical analysis of the comparison between groups. For the evaluation of the jump, the Single Hop Test and Countermovement Jump Test were applied. Eighty-one university sports athletes from the Federal University of Ceará were recruited. Of these, 73 agreed to participate and were included according to the eligibility criteria. No significant differences were found between groups or over time, either in the horizontal or vertical jump outcome.