Neuromuscular responses of the lower limb muscles during vertical jumping in volleyball athletes

The purpose of this study was to analyze the performance and the electromyographic responses of the muscles Rectus Femoris, Biceps Femoris and Gastrocnemius Medialis during vertical jumping protocol. Participated 13 female volleyball players (15,6 +/- 0,9 years). Initially was performed a protocol of maximum power (three maximum jumps), followed by resistance jumps protocol (cycles of three maximum jumps in about 10 seconds (s) - one jump every three s, with recovery of 15s. The duration of resistance protocol was 20 minutes. Technique used was countermovement jump without the aid of arms on a mat of contact. The data collected during the jumps were divided into four periods containing 12 cycles each. The results showed a decrease in the height of the jumps of about 1,3cm between the periods from 1 to 4, and this decrease was more significant in the 3rd and 4th periods compared with the 1st and 2nd. However, with respect to the variables RMS and FM, a change did not occur in the electromyographic responses between muscles and periods. It was concluded that fatigue may depend of the psychophysiological variables, the level of the CNS, which also influence the performance.