Snatch lift kinematics and bar energetics in male adolescent and adult weightlifters

AIM: The aim of the present study was compare linear kinematics and energy changes of the barbell, along with the angular kinematics of the leg movement during the snatch technique, between male adolescent and adult weightlifters. METHODS: Two S-VHS cameras operating at 60 fields per second recorded the heaviest lifts of 14 male adolescent and 9 adult top-level weightlifters under competitive conditions. The spatial co-ordinates of selected points on the body and the barbell were calculated using the direct linear transformation procedure. A low pass digital filter with 4 Hz cut-off frequency was used for the smoothing of raw co-ordinate data. The 't'-test for independent samples was used for the statistical treatment of data. RESULTS: The results revealed that there were no significant differences between the adolescent and the adult weightlifters in the majority of the kinematic variables. However, adolescent weightlifters extended their knees significantly slower (t21 = 4.211, p < 0.05) during the 1st pull and their ankles during the 2nd pull (t21 = 2.440, p < 0.05) than the adult weightlifters did. Moreover, the average relative power output was significantly greater for the adult weightlifters during both the 1st (t21 = 2.303, p < 0.05) and the snd pull (t21 = 2.611, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the adolescent weightlifters were characterised from a high level of snatch technique and differentiated from the adults predominantly at the less powerful execution of the movement.