Effects of plyometric training on skill and physical performance in healthy tennis players: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Plyometric training (PT) has been researched extensively in athletic populations. However, the effects of PT on tennis players are less clear.Methods: We aim to consolidate the existing research on the effects of PT on healthy tennis players’ skill and physical performance. On 30th May 2022, a comprehensive search of SCOPUS, PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus (via EBSCOhost) databases was performed. PICOS was employed to define the inclusion criteria: 1) healthy tennis players; 2) a PT program; 3) compared a plyometric intervention to a control group or another exercise group, and single-group trials; 4) tested at least one measures of tennis skill or physical performance; and 5) non-randomized study trials and randomized control designs. Individual studies’ methodological quality was evaluated by using the Cochrane RoB-2 and ROBINS-I instruments. Using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE), the certainty of the body of evidence for each outcome was assessed, and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software was employed for the meta-analysis.Results: Twelve studies comprising 443 tennis players aged 12.5–25 years were eligible for inclusion. The PT lasted from 3 to 9 weeks. Eight studies provided data to allow for the pooling of results in a meta-analysis. A moderate positive effect was detected for PT programs on maximal serve velocity (ES = 0.75; p < 0.0001). In terms of measures of physical performance, small to moderate (ES = 0.43–0.88; p = 0.046 to < 0.001) effects were noted for sprint speed, lower extremity muscle power, and agility. While no significant and small effect was noted for lower extremity muscle strength (ES = 0.30; p = 0.115). We found no definitive evidence that PT changed other parameters (i.e., serve accuracy, upper extremity power and strength, reaction time, and aerobic endurance). Based on GRADE, the certainty of evidence across the included studies varied from very low to moderate.Conclusion: PT may improve maximal serve velocity and physical performance components (sprint speed, lower extremity muscular power, and agility) for healthy tennis players; however, more high-quality evidence about the effects of PT on the skill and physical performance of tennis players merits further investigation.Systematic Review Registration: [https://inplasy.com/], identifier [INPLASY202250146].

Effects of plyometric training on skill-related physical fitness in badminton players: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Our meta-analysis revealed that agility performance was significantly improved after PT (ES = 0.96, moderate). This result aligns with findings from prior meta-analytic studies examining the impact of PT on agility among tennis [ 23 ], volleyball [ 25 ], and basketball players [ 17 ]. Enhancements in agility demand rapid force generation [ 70 ], and evidence indicates that PT may enhance the factor [ 71 ].…”

“…A great number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses have provided evidence for the efficacy of PT in enhancing physical fitness among athletes across various sports disciplines such as tennis [ 23 ], soccer [ 24 ], volleyball [ 25 ], handball [ 26 ], and basketball [ 17 ]. However, to our knowledge, no systematic review and meta-analysis have addressed the effects of PT on skill-related physical fitness in badminton players.…”

Effects of a neuromuscular training program on the performance and inter-limb asymmetries in highly trained junior male tennis players

“…Fernández-Fernández et al asserts that NMT prior to regular tennis training proves effective in enhancing speed [ 26 ]. A meta-analysis corroborates the positive impact of PT on sprint speed for healthy tennis players [ 63 ]. In relation with the above results, the 20-m sprint ( p = 0.04; ES: 0.66) showed a significant improvement in the present study.…”

Effects of plyometric training on measures of physical fitness in racket sport athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Meta-analyses were performed when a minimum of three studies provided sufficient data to calculate effect sizes (ES) ( Deng et al, 2022 ; Ramirez-Campillo et al, 2023 ). Mean and standard deviation data from pre- and post-intervention measures were used to compute effect sizes for performance outcomes in both the PT and control groups ( i.e ., Hedges’ g).…”

“…Therefore, this meta-analysis aims to fill the gap by analyzing the distinct effects of PT compared to control conditions on various components of physical fitness that are relevant to racket sport athletes. Concerning prior meta-analyses ( Sole et al, 2021 ; Deng et al, 2022 ), we hypothesized that PT would yield greater effects than a control condition in enhancing the physical fitness of athletes involved in racket sports.…”