Effects of a short-term osteopathic intervention on vertical jump and reach height in female recreational overhead athletes : a cross-over design

Abstract

Lower body training to improve jump height for sport performance has been extensively researched. However, no research has investigated improving shoulder range of motion through osteopathic techniques in order to achieve optimal overhead jump reach. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an osteopathic intervention for shoulder and thoracic range of motion in female athletes on overhead reach during vertical jumping. Participants were 17 healthy, active women (aged 18– 37 years) who were involved in basketball (n=9), netball (n=7) or volleyball (n=1). In a crossover design, they received an upper and lower body osteopathic intervention, in randomised order, 1 week apart. Jump reach and maximum ground reaction force (GRF) with and without arm swing were recorded prior to and immediately following each intervention using a Swift YardstickTM Vertical Jump Tester and force plate. There was no meaningful difference between interventions in the change in jump height following each intervention (P=0.96). However, there was a significant change in standing reach height following the upper body intervention (P=0.04), from 211.0±6.5 cm to 214.0±6.4 cm (mean±SD). An arm swing increased GRF during jumping from 1473 N [95% confidence interval 1328 to 1619 N] to 1660 N [1466 to 1854 N]. Overhead jump reach did not improve with osteopathic techniques for shoulder mobility in young, active women. Despite this, a significant increase in standing reach height was observed, suggesting that osteopathic techniques may be beneficial when used to improve joint ROM.