Upper‐body kinematics in team‐handball throw, tennis serve, and volleyball spike

TLDR

Overarm movements are essential in many sports, yet how they adapt to different contexts—such as with or without a racket or varying takeoff conditions—remains poorly understood. The study aimed to analyze upper‑body kinematics of team‑handball throw, tennis serve, and volleyball spike, and to quantify differences in proximal‑to‑distal sequencing and joint movements. Three‑dimensional kinematic data were collected with a Vicon motion‑capture system while elite athletes performed maximal‑velocity team‑handball jump throws, tennis serves, and volleyball spikes aimed at a target. Significant differences were observed in 17 of 24 kinematic variables, yet the proximal‑to‑distal sequencing order and acceleration‑phase angles were consistent across all three movements, indicating a common motor pattern.

Abstract

Overarm movements are essential skills in many different sport games; however, the adaptations to different sports are not well understood. The aim of the study was to analyze upper‐body kinematics in the team‐handball throw, tennis serve, and volleyball spike, and to calculate differences in the proximal‐to‐distal sequencing and joint movements. Three‐dimensional kinematic data were analyzed via the Vicon motion capturing system. The subjects (elite players) were instructed to perform a team‐handball jump throw, tennis serve, and volleyball spike with a maximal ball velocity and to hit a specific target. Significant differences ( P < 0.05) between the three overarm movements were found in 17 of 24 variables. The order of the proximal‐to‐distal sequencing was equal in the three analyzed overarm movements. Equal order of the proximal‐to‐distal sequencing and similar angles in the acceleration phase suggest there is a general motor pattern in overarm movements. However, overarm movements appear to be modifiable in situations such as for throwing or hitting a ball with or without a racket, and due to differences at takeoff (with one or two legs).