Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Plyometric Training on Lower Limb Explosive Strength in Adolescent Athletes

Abstract

Background: Plyometric training is an effective training method to improve explosive strength. However, the ability to perform plyometric training in the adolescent population is still controversial, with insufficient meta-analyses about plyometric training on lower limb explosive strength in adolescent athletes. Objective: To investigate the influence of plyometric training on the explosive strength of lower limbs in adolescent athletes. Methods: We performed a search of six databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest databases, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan-fang database) from the starting year of inclusion in each database to April 4, 2022. The quality of the included literature was assessed using the Cochrane risk assessment tool, and data were analyzed using the Review Manager 5.4 software. Result: Plyometric training had significant effects on the performance of adolescent athletes in countermovement jump (MD = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.62, 3.85, p < 0.01), squat jump (MD = 4.37, 95% CI: 2.85, 5.90, p < 0.01), standing long jump (MD = 6.50, 95% CI: 4.62, 8.38, p < 0.01), 10-m sprint (MD = −0.04, 95% CI: −0.08, −0.00, p = 0.03), and 20-m sprint (MD = −0.12, 95% CI: −0.20, −0.04, p = 0.03); all had positive and statistically significant effects (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Plyometric training can significantly enhance the explosive strength of lower limbs in adolescent athletes.

Maximizing plyometric training for adolescents: a meta-analysis of ground contact frequency and overall intervention time on jumping ability: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In the case of SJ, HGCF seems to yield better results, followed by MGCF and LGCF. Similar to the results of most meta-analyses on the effects of plyometric training on jumping ability 8 , 9 , 25 , 26 , this study also found that plyometric training is an effective method for improving jumping performance in adolescents. Mark et al 27 conducted a similar experimental study to this one, where they divided all participants into low, moderate, and high-intensity training groups based on the different ground contact frequencies per week.…”

“…The results of the meta-analysis indicate that plyometric training is an effective method for improving jumping performance, which supports the view that plyometric training can improve lower limb explosiveness 8 , 24 , 25 . Subgroup analyses indicate that different TGCTs induce specific adaptations in each type of jump.…”

“…If the heterogeneity of the studies was less than 25%, a fixed-effect model was used for outcome indicator analysis. If the heterogeneity was greater than 25%, a random-effect model was used for outcome indicator analysis 8 . P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.…”

“…The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of all included studies, and each criterion was assessed as "low risk of bias," "unknown risk of bias," or "high risk of bias." The studies were classified into A, B, or C quality levels based on the number of "low risk of bias" criteria met: A level for four or more, B level for two to three, and C level for one or none 8 . Two researchers (C.L and H.Z) independently assessed the quality of all studies included in this meta-analysis.…”

“…Plyometric training is a commonly used method for physical conditioning 7 . It has been shown to effectively improve the jumping ability of adolescents 8 – 11 . This effectiveness is due to the effective utilization of both mechanical and neurophysiological models by the plyometric training.…”