Effect of in-season low-volume high intensity plyometric training on anaerobic performance and electromyographic activities of muscles of lower extremity

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of plyometric training on vertical jump height(VJ), peak power (PP), mean power (MP) and fatique index (FI), agility time (AT), electromyographic (EMG) activities of lower extremity muscles vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) and gastrocnemius (GAS) muscle in 13-16 age basketball and handball amateur male athletes. Twenty-four amateur male athletes volunteered to participate in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups [plyometric training group (PTG); n=12 and control group (CG); n=12]. PTG participated in a plyometric training program 2 times a week and basketball and handball training for 6 weeks and CG engaged in just basketball (basketball athletes) and handball (handball athletes) training. Pre-and post-tests were taken same order in 2 days before and after 6 weeks of plyometric training (first day: BF, height, BW, VJ and RAST; second day: EMG and agility, respectively). The results showed that; DS and MAG values of PAG and EMG values of VL, VM and GAS were significantly improved from pre-test to post-test (p≤0.05). No statistically significant change was observed in all values of KG from pre-test to post-test (p>0.05). Agility, OG and YI values of PAG were not statistically significant. As a result, this study suggested that plyometric training in 13-16 years old amateur male athletes improved lower extremity muscles, vertical jump height and anaerobic performance. Therefore, it is recommended to use plyometric training in annual training programs. Key Words:, vertical jump height, agility, Stretch shortening cycle, Root mean square