Repeatability of the lunge test for competitive épée fencers

INTRODUCTION International literature presents a great deal of research on fencing. However, no studies highlighting the repeatability of a test dedicated to the fencing lunge have been found. AIM To measure the repeatability of a specific technical test on the lunge reaction time of the competitive fencer (Time Lunge, TL). The sample group Consists of N 10 fencers (age 19 ± 6 years, weight of 67 ± 7 kg, 176 ± 7 cm high, 10 ± 6 years of training). Fencers at the time of the tests were free of bone, joint, muscle or skin lesions That could have affected the test results. The TL foresees tests fencing lunge performed as quickly as possible: the athlete performs the test wearing a fencing uniform, a body cord (a cable connecting the weapon to the detection system) and a glove. The athlete uses His Own épée During the tests. The fencer is positioned facing the target (width 30 cm., Height 50 cm). The athlete starts in an en garde position and the distance between the heels is chosen by the athlete. The lunge distance was misurate with the fencer positioned with place "weapon in the line": upper limb in extension with the tip of the épée sword pointing towards the target. The distance from the tip of the épée to the target is equal to 2/3 of the lower limb length as in Uiou and Do (2000) and Tsolakis et al. (2010). In order to have the same distance between the target and the en garde position fencing in the various tests, the distance between the target and the inside of the foot behind the en garde position and the distance between the heels was Calculated. The evaluations were tested over three days, three times a day with a rest day between the different functional assessments (Rainoldi et al. 1999). The fencer executed an attack as quickly as possible hitting the target. Lunge Time (TL) was misurate from the moment the foot moved forward on takeoff from the platform (Ergo Jump TM Boscosystem TM) until the moment thrust Reached its target. Three lunges were performed and the best evidence for statistical purposes was used. The repeatability of the Lunge Test Time (TL) was Calculated through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) using the Matlab software (Math Works Inc., Massachusetts, USA). RESULTS The results demonstrate a high repeatability (ICC, 98,20), a SEM within (SEM W) of 1,49 and an SEM between (SEM B) of 9,60. CONCLUSIONS The differences observed in the test are mainly due to individual differences in the subjects SEM B, while the high repeatability was confirmed emphasing the value of SEM W. CONCLUSIONS The differences observed in the test are mainly due to individual differences in the subjects SEM B, while the high repeatability was confirmed emphasing the value of SEM W. REFERENCES Rainoldi A., Galardi G., Maderna L., Comi G., Lo Conte L., Merletti R., Repetability of surface EMG variables during voluntary isometric contractions of the biceps brachii muscle, Journal of Electromyocraphy and Kinesiology 1999;9:105-19. Tsolakis C. and Bogdanis G., Acute effects of two different warm-up protocols on flexibility and lower limb explosive performance in male and female high level athletes, J Sports Sci Med. 2012 Dec; 11(4): 669–675. Yiou E., Do MC., In fencing, does intensive practice equally improve the speed performance of the touche when it is performed alone and in combination with the lunge? Int J Sports Med. 2000 Feb;21(2):122-6.