Acute effect of joint distraction exercises used in warm-up on jumping in volleyball players

Background and Study Aim. Jump performance is a common component of volleyball, as it contributes to both offensive and defensive actions. Explosive lower-limb strength is regularly developed and maintained in training and match preparation. Although various warm-up methods are applied to enhance jump performance, their relative effectiveness remains a subject of practical interest. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of joint distraction exercises incorporated during warm-up on jump performance in volleyball players. Material and Methods. The study involved 12 female and 11 male volleyball players from Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, who participated voluntarily. A convenience sampling method was used. Anthropometric data (height, weight, age) were collected, and jump performance was assessed with the My Jump 2 mobile application, a validated tool for measuring squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ). The testing protocol included a general warm-up, followed by joint distraction exercises using resistance bands applied to the ankle, hip, and shoulder joints. Jump performance was measured both after the general warm-up and following the joint distraction protocol. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0. As the sample size was below 50, normality was checked with the Shapiro–Wilk test. Because some data did not follow a normal distribution, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied, with the level of significance set at p<.05. Results. Statistically significant differences were observed in female athletes across all measured SJ and CMJ parameters, including height, flight time, strength, power, and speed (p values ranging from .00 to .02). In male athletes, improvements were more specific, with significant differences in SJ strength and power (p=.04) and in CMJ parameters (height, flight time, strength, power, speed; p values ranging from .00 to .01). These results indicate that joint distraction exercises produced a broader acute effect in females, while in males the improvements were more concentrated in strength- and power-related variables. Conclusions. Joint distraction exercises incorporated into warm-up routines can be regarded as a practical approach within volleyball training and rehabilitation contexts, providing applicable insights for coaches and clinicians.