Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University Department of Athletics, in conjunction with the women's basketball program, have partnered with the Department of Allied Health and Kinesiology at Hofstra for a study to monitor fatigue using Hawkin Dynamics HD Force Plates testing. 

The study is being overseen by Dr. Jamie Ghigiarelli, professor and department chair of Allied Health and Kinesiology at Hofstra, and he is working with Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dominick Saldutti.

The purpose of the study is to monitor lower body neuromuscular fatigue using the countermovement rebound jump test. 

Members of the team will perform jump testing twice per week (Wednesday and Saturday) before any activity that is scheduled on that day. The student-athletes will be asked to perform two consecutive countermovement jumps on two force plates that provide data on neuromuscular performance. Baseline measures were established during the preseason, and neuromuscular fatigue will be deemed present if the decrement in-season metrics relative to preseason metrics is greater than the smallest worthwhile change.   

Athlete-monitoring systems measure neuromuscular fatigue throughout the season to provide insight into the physical demands of practice, competition, travel, and in-season training.  Coaches and sports scientists use this data to make informed decisions to enhance performance, minimize injury, and prevent overtraining.