EFFECTS OF MAXIMAL STRENGTH ON GROUND REACTION FORCE PATTERNS DURING COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMPS

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of maximal strength on ground reaction force (GRF) patterns during countermovement jumps (CMJ). Nineteen female lacrosse players performed CMJ and isometric mid-thigh pulls (IMTP) on force plates. Principal components analysis was used on the CMJ time series data to extract GRF patterns. Maximum GRF during the IMTP were extracted and used as a measure of maximal strength. Spearman’s rho correlations were used to analyse the relationship between maximal strength and GRF patterns during the CMJ. Results suggest that maximal strength is positively correlated to a GRF CMJ pattern characterised by greater rate of force development and peak force as well as less of a decrease in GRF immediately after the end of the eccentric phase (i.e., absence of bimodal GRF profile)