The effect of blood flow restriction and plyometric training methods on dynamic balance of Taekwondo athletes

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Taekwondo (TKD) is a combat sport emphasizing on kicking techniques and dynamic footwork. Specialized balance ability is crucial for Taekwondo practitioners. Nowadays balance could be improved with specific strength training such as blood flow restriction and plyometric training. Thus, the aim of this study was to understand the effect of blood flow restriction (BFR) and pliometric training methods on the development of dynamic balance at the martial art of Taekwondo.
 Material and Methods. Totally 31 TKD athletes between 15-19 ages participated voluntarily and were divided into three groups as blood flow restriction (n=11), plyometric training (n=10) and control groups (n=10). In addition to normal taekwondo training, 8 week training programs were applied to the pliometric and blood flow restriction groups, and no training program was applied to the control group. At the beginning and after the trainings, dynamic balance ability measured with Prokin Tecnobody equipment for 30 seconds slalom test. 
 Results. The difference between pre-test and post-test values of BFR group’s dynamic balance (antero-posterior sway) was found to be statistically different (p<.05) while according to the pliometric training results, there was no statistically significant difference (p>.05). Also, there was not any difference in terms of gender (p>.05).
 Conclusions. Strength development is neccessary for dynamic balance improvement in athletes. Since taekwondo athletes use strength and balance ability for rapid kicking and change direction, these motor abilities are important for success. Based on the findings of this study; it is recommended that BFR method may be useful and so it can be included in training programs.

Effects of Plyometric Jump Training on Balance Performance in Healthy Participants: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

“…Forty-two studies were included for qualitative assessment: (Witzke and Snow, 2000 ; Myer et al, 2006 ; McLeod et al, 2009 ; Asadi and Arazi, 2012 ; Asadi, 2013 ; Chaouachi et al, 2014a , b ; Faigenbaum et al, 2014 ; Huang et al, 2014 ; Piirainen et al, 2014 ; Asadi et al, 2015 ; Ramírez-Campillo et al, 2015a , b ; Trecroci et al, 2015 ; Benis et al, 2016 ; Karadenizli, 2016 ; Kim and Park, 2016 ; Hopper et al, 2017 ; Nobre et al, 2017 ; Arabatzi, 2018 ; Makhlouf et al, 2018 ; Ritzmann et al, 2018 ; Alikhani et al, 2019 ; Cherni et al, 2019 ; Hammami et al, 2019a , b , c , 2020a , b , c ; Jlid et al, 2019 , 2020 ; Lovecchio et al, 2019 ; Meszler and Váczi, 2019 ; Tay et al, 2019 ; Akin and Kesilmiş, 2020 ; Bouteraa et al, 2020 ; Cigerci and Genc, 2020 ; Drouzas et al, 2020 ; Lee et al, 2020 ; Surakhamhaeng et al, 2020 ; Porrati-Paladino and Cuesta-Barriuso, 2021 ).…”

Acute effects of different external compression with blood flow restriction on force-velocity profile during squat and bench press exercises

“…The BFR application methodology to improve sports performance has focused on guidelines for improving strength and hypertrophy [ 54 ]. Recently, it has been proven the effects of the use of BFR applied in specific movements of sports, aiming at the effects of greater specificity and transfer [ 61 , 62 , 63 ]. However, when aiming to train velocity-based RT-BFR it seems that it would be better to train at a load of 60–70% RM with a wide cuff and at occlusion levels above ˜80% AOP for the BP and close to ˜100% AOP for SQ.…”

A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Plyometric-Jump Training on the Physical Fitness of Combat Sport Athletes

“…Further, after 6 weeks of PJT intervention among young (age, 17.8 y) male fencers, PJT induced similar improvements in physical fitness (in 13 of 19 measures) when compared to accentuated eccentric training [ 44 ]. However, the numbers of CoSAs participating in PJT studies are usually ten or less per group [ 37 , 45 , 46 ], precluding robust conclusions [ 47 ]. Moreover, contrasting findings have been reported regarding the athletic performances of CoSAs after PJT [ 10 , 48 ].…”