The contribution of upper or lower extremity of male athletes differs as distances of overhead volleyball pass increase

This study aimed to assess the roles and contributions of various joint (ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist) during overhead volleyball passing across different distances. Eight male college volleyball players performed passes into a floating target set at 2.53 meters height from three different distances (2.5, 5 and 7.5 meters) with their feet remaining on the ground. Motion and force data were collected from three successful passes per player. Using inverse dynamics methods, we analyzed kinetic variables at each joint to determine energy generation and transfer. The findings revealed that the energy transfer through the shoulder joint to the arm varied with distance, with significant differences in the upper limb energy generation between the short and medium distances (p < 0.001). The study concluded that precise control and adjustment of the upper limb are crucial for short and medium distance passes, while lower limb contributions, including stabilization and extension play a vital role in executing long-distance passes.