Effect of muscle tension type on lower limb blood flow and dynamics of lung volume rates when mastering punching technique in boxing

ˑ: 

PhD, Associate Professor S.N. Neupokoev1
PhD, Associate Professor Y.P. Bredikhina2
Dr. Hab., Professor V.G. Shilko1
1National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk
2National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk

Corresponding author: fizkult@teoriya.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to assess the influence of various types of muscle tension on lower limb blood flow and external respiration rates of skilled boxers when they perform punches.

Methods and structure of the study. Two equivalent groups were involved in the study: Experimental and Control one, consisting of 15 19-23 year-old boxers of the first category each.

The athletes were subjected to a loading test: a series of maximum-force straight blows on a boxing bag to be performed within one round (3 min) at 5-sec rest intervals between the series.

The following research methods were applied:

- Rheography. The rheographic complex "RHEO-SPECTRUM" was used to register the regional blood flow rates in the extensor muscles of both thighs and right shoulder before and after the loading test. The following indicators were recorded: rheographic index, amplitude-frequency indicator, Vmax, Vavg, dicrotic index, diastolic index;

- Spirography. The "Valenta" Computerized Test System was used to determine the subjects’ respiratory rates. The spirographic study was conducted before and after the loading test. Vital capacity and tidal volume were measured. The multifunctional spirometer "MAC-1" was used to determine the expiratory (ERV) and inspiratory (IRV) reserve volumes. The sports medicine formulas were applied to calculate the ratio of tidal volume to vital capacity (TV%), expiratory reserve volume to vital capacity (ERV%), and inspiratory reserve volume to vital capacity (IRV%).

The data obtained were processed using the Statistica 10.0 software package. The significance of differences was assessed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test.

Results and conclusions. The findings showed that the straight blow performance by means of the ballistic muscle tension type using the sports outfit that limits the traumatic impact on the hands contributes to the more adequate functioning of the external respiration system and regional blood flow. The improvement of the speed-strength capabilities of the muscles involved in the single punch movement using the standard sports outfit does not contribute to the optimal recovery and motor training of skilled boxers.

Keywords: lung volume rates, regional blood flow in muscles, sports training, muscle tension type.

Background. The boxing punching technique biomechanics and the choice of sports outfit determine whether a straight blow is performed using a ballistic or non-ballistic type of muscle tension. The use of the sports outfit that limits the traumatic impact on the hands (boxing gloves) facilitates the performance of a straight blow by means of the ballistic type of muscle tension, and the use of the standard sports outfit (bag gloves) – by the non-ballistic type [4, 6].

It is assumed that muscle tension type has a qualitative impact on the external respiration system and regional blood flow in the lower limbs [3, 4, 7].

Objective of the study was to assess the influence of various types of muscle tension on lower limb blood flow and external respiration rates of skilled boxers when they perform punches.

Methods and structure of the study. Two equivalent groups were involved in the study: Experimental (EG) and Control (CG), consisting of 15 19-23 year-old boxers of the first category each.

The athletes were subjected to a loading test: a series of maximum-force straight blows on a boxing bag to be performed within one round (3 min) at 5-sec rest intervals between the series.

The following research methods were applied:

- Rheography [3]. The rheographic complex "RHEO-SPECTRUM" was used to register the regional blood flow rates in the extensor muscles of both thighs and right shoulder before and after the loading test. The following indicators were recorded: rheographic index, amplitude-frequency indicator, Vmax, Vavg, dicrotic index, diastolic index;

- Spirography [1, 2]. The "Valenta" Computerized Test System was used to determine the subjects’ respiratory rates. The spirographic study was conducted before and after the loading test. Vital capacity and tidal volume were measured. The multifunctional spirometer "MAC-1" was used to determine the expiratory (ERV) and inspiratory (IRV) reserve volumes. The sports medicine formulas were applied to calculate the ratio of tidal volume to vital capacity (TV%), expiratory reserve volume to vital capacity (ERV%), and inspiratory reserve volume to vital capacity (IRV%) [2].

The data obtained were processed using the Statistica 10.0 software package. The significance of differences was assessed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test.

Results of the study. Given in Fig. 1 are the blood flow rates in the thigh and right shoulder of the boxers of the first category. The post-load rheographic index values in the EG exceeded those in the CG by 35% and increased relative to the resting values by 69% (p˂0.05). The amplitude-frequency indicator values obtained in the EG after the punches performance were higher by 60% than in the CG and exceeded the resting values by 85% (p˂0.05). In the CG, this indicator increased relative to the resting ones by 21% (p˂0.05). The post-load Vmax rates in the EG exceeded those in the CG by 60% (p˂0.05).

After the load testing, the rheographic index values in the left thigh in the EG were higher by 73% (p˂0.05) than in the CG. In the EG, these values increased relative to the resting ones by 107%. The post-load amplitude-frequency indicator values in the EG were higher by 41% than in the CG. These results exceeded the resting values by 66% (p˂0.05). The amplitude-frequency indicator values in the CG increased by 20% after the loading test (p˂0.05). In the EG, the post-load Vmax rates were higher by 64% than in the CG, exceeding the resting values by 90% (p˂0.05). Throughout the testing, there were no statistically significant differences in the Vavg rates dicrotic index and diastolic index between the boxers of the first category. At the same time, dicrotic index in the EG after the loading test increased relative to the resting values by 23% (p˂0.05).

The post-load rheographic index values in the right shoulder were higher by 23% in the EG than in the CG (p˂0.05). In the EG, the rheographic index values after the load testing were 4.6 times higher than at rest, and in the CG - 5.8 times higher (p˂0.05). The post-load amplitude-frequency indicator values in both groups increased relative to the resting values by 87% and 113%, respectively (p˂0.05). The Vmax rates in the EG after the loading test were 7 times higher than in the quiescent state, while in the CG - 7.6 times higher (p˂0.05). The Vavg rates after the loading test were 6.3 times higher than in the quiescent state for the EG and 6.4 times higher for the CG (p˂0.05). The post-load CG results exceeded the resting values by 43% (p˂0.05). The post-load dicrotic index rates in the EG were lower by 27% than in the CG (p˂0.05). In the EG, the results obtained after the motor task were higher by 33% than at rest, and by 80% than in the CG (p˂0.05). The post-load diastolic index rates in the EG were lower by 64% than the CG (p˂0.05). At the same time, the prevalence of the post-load values over the resting ones amounted to 22%  in the EG and to 94% in the CG (p˂0.05).

* – significance of differences between EG and CG, р˂0.05;

# – significance of the loading test data relative to the resting level, р˂0.05.

Fig. 1. Blood flow rates in the upper and lower limbs in boxers of the first category

The vital capacity values in the boxers did not differ statistically significantly before and after the loading test. The tidal volume rates after one round were lower by 21% in the EG than in the CG and by 23% in the EG (p˂0.05). In the CG, the test results increased by 56% relative to the baseline level (p˂0.05). The post-load expiratory reserve volume values in the EG were higher by 29% (p˂0.05) than in the CG (Fig. 2). In the CG, this indicator fell below the baseline level by 37% (p˂0.05). There were no statistically significant inter-group differences in the inspiratory reserve volume values. However, in the CG, this value increased by 30% after the loading test (p˂0.05, Fig. 2). After the test, the TV% ratio increased by 50% in the EG and by 76% in the CG. The post-load ERV% ratio was found to be higher by 22% in the EG than in the CG. Also in the CG, the resting values were higher by 30% than the post-load ones (p˂0.05). The post-load IRV% values in the EG were higher by 23% than at rest, and in the CG – by 45% (p˂0.05).

* – significance of differences between EG and CG, p˂0.05;

#  – significance of the loading test data relative to the resting level, p˂0.05.

Fig. 2. Spirographic test data in the boxers of the first category

Therefore, the data obtained indicate that it is more economical to perform physical loads by means of the ballistic type of muscle tension, which contributes to the more adequate functioning of the respiratory muscles during athletes’ recovery after motor activity. This contributed to the reduction of the functional tension of the external respiration system and regional blood flow.

Conclusions. The findings showed that the straight blow performance by means of the ballistic muscle tension type using the sports outfit that limits the traumatic impact on the hands contributes to the more adequate functioning of the external respiration system and regional blood flow. The improvement of the speed-strength capabilities of the muscles involved in the single punch movement using the standard sports outfit does not contribute to the optimal recovery and motor training of skilled boxers.

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