INTRODUCTION: A previous study reported that the lower back was the most common location of injury among collegiate pole vaulters. In addition, low back pain occurrence was associated with low hip flexion and extension range of motion among collegiate pole-vaulters and decathletes. Thus, large maximum hip flexion and extension range of motion is considered effective low back pain prevention. Moreover, we found that there was a significant positive correlation between range of motion and the maximum joint angle during pole vault in hip extension. However, it is unclear whether the improvement in hip flexion and extension ROM changes their hip joint angle during vaulting. The purpose of this study was to clarify the acute effects of interventions in hip flexion and extension range of motion for pole vaulters on the maximum hip joint angle during pole vaulting. METHODS: Seventeen male pole vaulters who underwent the same interventions for hip range of motion were included. We measured both active and passive hip flexion and hip extension ROM in participants lying on a bed and recorded video of pole vaulting motion at a rate of 240 fields/s pre and post interventions. The maximum hip joint angle during the pole vault from the touchdown of the last step of the run-up to the pole straightening was calculated from videos taken pre- and post-intervention and then compared. We used three types of self-massages to improve hip flexion and extension range of motion and active straight leg raise exercises. We completed the program in approximately 25 min on an experimental day and all interventions were monitored by the examiner. RESULTS: No significant differences between pre- and post-intervention hip range of motion were observed. No significant improvement in maximum hip joint angles was observed post-intervention. The magnitude of change in active hip flexion range of motion and the maximum hip flexion angle during pole vaulting pre-and post-intervention was significantly correlated (p=0.002, r=0.687). No significant correlations in the changes of other joitnts were observed between the ROM and maximum joint angle. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of change in maximum hip flexion angle on takeoff leg during the pole vaulting was not significantly correlated with the change in passive hip flexion range of motion, but there was a significant positive correlation with the change in active hip flexion range of motion. In order to change the vaulting motion to prevent injuries or improve, active ROM may need to be changed instead of passive ROM, and coaches and athletic trainers should keep assessing and improving active ROM. However, it is difficult to consider that an active ROM is greater than the passive ROM, and it is deemed necessary to acquire a large passive ROM as a basis.
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