Effect of Resisted Sprint and Plyometric Training on Lower Limb Functional Performance in Collegiate Male Football Players: A Randomised Control Trial

Shahnaz Hasan; Gokulakannan Kandasamy; Danah Alyahya; Asma Alonazi; Azfar Jamal; Radhakrishnan Unnikrishnan; Hariraja Muthusamy; Amir Iqbal

doi:10.3390/ijerph18136702

Effect of Resisted Sprint and Plyometric Training on Lower Limb Functional Performance in Collegiate Male Football Players: A Randomised Control Trial

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 22;18(13):6702. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18136702.

Authors

Shahnaz Hasan¹, Gokulakannan Kandasamy², Danah Alyahya¹, Asma Alonazi¹, Azfar Jamal³, Radhakrishnan Unnikrishnan¹, Hariraja Muthusamy¹, Amir Iqbal⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiotherapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
² School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK.
³ Health and Basic Science Research Centre, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11443, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the short-term effects of resisted sprint and plyometric training on sprint performance together with lower limb physiological and functional performance in collegiate football players. Ninety collegiate football players participated in this three-arm, parallel group randomized controlled trial study. Participants were randomly divided into a control group and two experimental groups: resisted sprint training (RST) (n = 30), plyometric training (PT) (n = 30), and a control group (n = 30). Participants received their respective training program for six weeks on alternate days. The primary outcome measures were a knee extensor strength test (measured by an ISOMOVE dynamometer), a sprint test and a single leg triple hop test. Measurements were taken at baseline and after 6 weeks post-training. Participants, caregivers, and those assigning the outcomes were blinded to the group assignment. A mixed design analysis of variance was used to compare between groups, within-group and the interaction between time and group. A within-group analysis revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) when compared to the baseline with the 6 weeks post-intervention scores for all the outcomes including STN (RST: d = 1.63; PT: d = 2.38; Control: d = 2.26), ST (RST: d = 1.21; PT: d = 1.36; Control: d = 0.38), and SLTHT (RST: d = 0.76; PT: d = 0.61; Control: d = 0.18). A sub-group analysis demonstrated an increase in strength in the plyometric training group (95% CI 14.73 to 15.09, p = 0.00), an increase in the single leg triple hop test in the resisted sprint training group (95% CI 516.41 to 538.4, p = 0.05), and the sprint test was also improved in both experimental groups (95% CI 8.54 to 8.82, p = 0.00). Our findings suggest that, during a short-term training period, RST or PT training are equally capable of enhancing the neuromechanical capacities of collegiate football players. No adverse events were reported by the participants.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04837300.

Keywords: function performance; plyometric training; resisted sprint training; strength; young football players.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Athletic Performance*
Football*
Humans
Lower Extremity
Male
Muscle Strength
Physical Functional Performance
Plyometric Exercise*
Running*
Soccer*

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04837300