ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2013 June;172(6):449-55

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Evaluation of physical capacity in athletic female volleyball players using the TW20meters test

Do Nascimento T. A., Verlengia R., Crisp A. H., Cesar M. C., Ferrari H. G., Sindorf M. A. G., Pelligrinotti Í. L.

Human Performance Research Group -, Master in Physical Education, College of Health Science Methodist University of Piracicaba (UNIMEP) Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Aim: The purpose of this study was to characterize the physical capabilities of volleyball players using the TW20meters test, a physical evaluation tool based on the motor movements of the volleyball modality.
Methods: Nine regionally ranked female athletes (22±2 years) volunteered to participate in the study. The participants were submitted to the following tests: the TW20meters test (to determine the maximum distance running, the peak heart rate [HRpeak], the number of jumps and the peak lactate concentration), the cardiopulmonary test (to determine the peak oxygen consumption [VO2peak] and the HRpeak), the Wingate test (to determine the peak and mean relative anaerobic power) and the vertical jump test. The data obtained from the cardiopulmonary, Wingate and vertical jump tests were correlated and compared with the results of the TW20meters test.
Results: There was no correlation (P>0.05) between the variable maximum distance running in the TW20meters test and VO2peak, the peak anaerobic power or the mean relative anaerobic power. Positive correlations were found between the maximum distance running in the TW20meters test and between the height reached in the Vertical Jump test (P≤0.05) and the HRpeak measurements obtained from the cardiopulmonary and TW20meters tests (P≤0.01). The peak blood lactate concentration was 6.5 mmol/L after the TW20meters test, and there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the HRpeak measurements from the cardiopulmonary and TW20meters tests.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the HRpeak and the peak lactate concentration indicate that the TW20meters test was performed at a high intensity. The TW20meters test was effective for investigating the explosive strength of the lower limbs (vertical jump), as indicated by the positive correlation between the maximum distance running and the vertical jump height.