The Effect of Strength Training Neck Flexors and Extensors on the Biomechanics of Female's Football Players Heading

Abstract

Rumi Iqbal Doewes, Gunathevan Elumalai*, Waluyo W, Vadivelan Lohonathan, Kumaran Gengatharan and I Nyoman Sudarmada

The research purpose was determined the effect of strength training neck flexors and extensors on the biomechanics of female football players heading. This is an experimental research with one group pretestposttest design. The research participants are 3 female football players in midfield position. During the treatment, the samples underwent strength training neck flexors and extensors consisting of 3 exercises namely head-ball-head isometrics, partner-assisted neck resistance, and neck machine flexion and extension for 8 weeks (3 sessions per week). Data collection was carried out by testing of standing headers, jumping headers, and running headers. Data analysis was performed by paired t-test with the help of SPSS 16. The results showed that there was no significant effect of strength training neck flexors and extensors on the biomechanics of female football players heading with tcounts of all heading biomechanics variables in the standing, jumping and running tests < 4.303. Heading biomechanics, related to the angular acceleration of the head, the results of the heading motion analysis show that the highest angular head acceleration is produced in the running header test with a mean difference of 0.175 rad/s2 for running headers, 0.044 rad/s2 for jumping headers, and 0.004 rad/s2 for standing headers. With a running approach when heading, running generates a large force to jump, then when the body on top of the jump, forms a greater angle of hip and knee extension to transfer the force to the ball. As the head approaches the ball, the hips lean back at a greater angle then the trunk forwards at a smaller angle. Then the movement is fixed by less neck extension and greater neck flexion.