Evaluating the effects of an immediate stretch-shortening cycle protocol on neuromechanical parameters in male and female players

Repetitive Stretch-Shortening Cycle (SSC) actions induce fatigue with a bimodal recovery process, causing an immediate performance decrease post-exercise, followed by recovery within 1-2 hours and then a secondary decline lasting 3-7 days, accompanied by muscle soreness. This fatigue leads to acute and delayed changes in proprioceptive and neuromuscular parameters, involving metabolic, structural, and biochemical factors. To best of our knowledge, the effect of acute SSC fatigue on different jumping types e.g squat and countermovement jump has not been conducted between male and female athletes, hence the aim of the study to assess the changes in kinetic and neuromuscular parameters after an immediate SSC protocol and its impact on jumping performance. Methods: Total sample size n=40, both males (n=20) & females (n=20) university- level players were recruited. Kinetic variables were assessed using a forceplate (Quattro Jump, Kistler, model 9290DD, Winterthur, Switzerland), muscle activity was evaluated through EMG (NoraxonUSA, MR3 3.8.30), and peripheral fatigue was measured using the Lactate Scout sensor (EKF diagnostics, Senslab). Paired t-test was used to assess pre and post-data following the acute SSC fatigue protocol. Results: We observed different kinetic and muscle activity changes during squat and counter-movement jump among male and female players. Results showed the significant (p<0.05), diverse changes in the various parameters of kinetics and muscular activity while comparing the pre and post readings of jump parameters.

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