VOLLEYBALL SERVE STORYBOARD

Use the video controls to watch the slow motion serve:

You will select to analyze forces that are acting at either the knee joint or the lumbar vertebral joints and answer the following questions.  Your selection will be referred to as “the joint” in the questions below.

Depict the joint at maximal different degrees of  flexion and extension.
• Adjust the size of the image to-scale (eg. 1:5).
• Find a way to add relevant anatomical structures to the image.
• Mark centers of rotation for the involved joint as well as external force vectors.
• For each situation, compute the static external torque, the muscle force, the compression load in the selected joints. Depict the joint compression vectors for detection of shearing forces.
• Compare muscle force to joint compression.
• Critically analyze forces upon the joint during landing in the player pictured.  What injuries to either skeleton, ligament, or tendon are most likely acutely?  Chronically?
• Repeat your analysis with a different volleyball player that you will select to perform in the motion capture laboratory.
• Propose an alteration in technique to prevent injury based on your findings.
• Use biomechanical analysis to justify your proposed alteration.  Is this a feasible change?