Effect of Loaded Plyometric Training on Physical Fitness, Lower Extremity Isokinetic Muscle Function and Dynamic Balance

OBJECTIVES This study purposed to investigate the effects of an 8-week intervention of loaded plyometric training on physical fitness, lower limb isokinetic muscle function, and dynamic balance in healthy adults. METHODS The participants were 12 undergraduate students at K University in Chungcheong-do, South Korea, who had no experience of injury in the past year and who showed ≥250 peak torque/body weight(%) in the test of lower limb isokinetic muscle function. At pre-test and post-test, an identical set of tests was conducted to assess the physical fitness, lower limb isokinetic muscle function, and dynamic balance. RESULTS After exercise intervention, Loaded plyometric training group(LPTG) had significant differences in sit-ups, standing long jump, T agility test, extensor muscle strength-right(EMS-R), flexor muscle strength-right(FMS-R), extensor muscle power-left(EMP-L), flexor muscle power-left(FMP-L), flexor muscle power-right(FMP-R) and anterior-left(AN-L). Unloaded plyometric training gruop(UPTG) had significant differences in standing long jump, T agility test, EMS-R, EMP-L, and posterolateral-right(PL-R). Between the two groups, there were significant differences in standing long jump, extensor muscle strength-left(EMS-L), and EMP-L. CONCLUSIONS Thus, compared to the UPTG, the LPTG has been shown to exert a stronger effect on the standing long jump, muscle strength, and muscle power, and it is predicted to be a more effective method of exercise.