Effects of Upper and Lower Limb Plyometric Training Program on Components of Physical Performance in Young Female Handball Players

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a 10-week combined upper and lower limb plyometric training (ULLPT) programs on components of physical performance in young female handball players. Methods: Participants aged 15.8 ± 0.2 years were randomly assigned between the experimental (EG; n = 17) and control (CG; n = 17) groups. Two-way analyses of performance (group × time) assessed changes in handgrip force, back extensor strength; medicine ball throwing, 30-m sprint times, change of direction (CoD) [Modified Illinois test (Illinois-MT)], four jumping tests [squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), CMJ with arms (CMJA) and 5 jump test (5JT), static and dynamic balance, and repeated sprint T-test scores (RSTT)]. Results: After 10 weeks of plyometric training (two sessions per week), group × time interactions showed significant changes in EG relative to CG in right and left handgrip force, back extensor strength and medicine ball throwing [p < 0.001, d = 1.51 (large); p < 0.0001, d = 0.85 (large); p < 0.001, d = 0.90 (large); p < 0.0001, d = 0.52 (medium), respectively]. Group × time interactions also showed improvements of EG relative to CG in sprint times [5 m (p = 0.02, d = 0.80 (large)); 10 m (p < 0.0001, d = 1.00 (large)); 20 m (p = 0.02, d = 1.41 (large)); and 30 m (p = 0.02, d = 2.60 (large))], CoD [Illinois-MT (p < 0.001, d = 1.58 (large))] and jumping [(SJ, CMJ, CMJA, and 5JT, p = 0.001, d = 0.87 (large); p < 0.001, d = 1.17 (large); p < 0.001, d = 1.15 (large); and p = 0.006, d = 0.71 (medium)) respectively]. Further, all RSTT scores (best time, mean time, total time, and fatigue index) improved significantly in the experimental group, with group × time interactions varying between p < 0.001 and p = 0.049 (d value large to medium). However, balance did not differ significantly between EG and CG. Conclusion: We conclude that 10 weeks of ULLPT improved many measures of physical performance in young female handball players.

Study of Physical Fitness, Bone Quality, and Mediterranean Diet Adherence in Professional Female Beach Handball Players: Cross-Sectional Study

“…It seems that the reasons, as demonstrated in female volleyball players [46], are that these differences may be directly related to neuromechanical adaptations because of the repeated actions taking place in training and matches. However, it has also been shown that the results of these tests improved, and therefore, improving physical abilities (jumping, reaction speed, and running speed), when a Plyometric Training Program training was performed [21,22]. This data is of special interest for all the coaches.…”

“…One of these tests is the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 [13], widely applied in recent decades by researchers in indoor handball [14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Another of the tests, the use of which is widespread, is the Abalakov Jump Test, used to determine the lower body power and fatigue of athletes [21][22][23][24]. In this case, we used the research of Sánchez-Sáez et al [7] as a reference study of BH, which determined that there were no significant decreases in jumping ability during the tournament in female beach handball players (p > 0.05).…”

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 ).…”

“…Regarding the reporting of adverse health effects of PJT, 12 studies (Myer et al, 2006 ; Ramírez-Campillo et al, 2015a , b ; Benis et al, 2016 ; Nobre et al, 2017 ; Makhlouf et al, 2018 ; Hammami et al, 2019b , c , 2020a , b , c ; Jlid et al, 2019 ) reported no adverse health events due to PJT. Two studies (Kim and Park, 2016 ; Porrati-Paladino and Cuesta-Barriuso, 2021 ) reported drop outs due to injuries.…”

Recent Progress in Applicability of Exercise Immunology and Inflammation Research to Sports Nutrition

“…HMB has a positive impact on the body by decreasing the effectiveness of intracellular proteolytic pathways and enhancing the membrane integrity of myocytes, such as the sarcolemma. HMB forms a partnership with a protein called ubiquitin because of its antagonistic effect on protein breakdown processes [101][102][103]. Activation of the mTOR kinase pathway by HMB, on the other hand, can contribute to muscle protein anabolism by boosting the transcription level of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) gene [101].…”