Effectiveness of Traditional Strength vs. Power Training on Muscle Strength, Power and Speed with Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Numerous national associations and multiple reviews have documented the safety and efficacy of strength training for children and adolescents. The literature highlights the significant training-induced increases in strength associated with youth strength training. However, the effectiveness of youth strength training programs to improve power measures is not as clear. This discrepancy may be related to training and testing specificity. Most prior youth strength training programs emphasized lower intensity resistance with relatively slow movements. Since power activities typically involve higher intensity, explosive-like contractions with higher angular velocities (e.g., plyometrics), there is a conflict between the training medium and testing measures. This meta-analysis compared strength (e.g., training with resistance or body mass) and power training programs (e.g., plyometric training) on proxies of muscle strength, power, and speed. A systematic literature search using a Boolean Search Strategy was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed, SPORT Discus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar and revealed 652 hits. After perusal of title, abstract, and full text, 107 studies were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed small to moderate magnitude changes for training specificity with jump measures. In other words, power training was more effective than strength training for improving youth jump height. For sprint measures, strength training was more effective than power training with youth. Furthermore, strength training exhibited consistently large magnitude changes to lower body strength measures, which contrasted with the generally trivial, small and moderate magnitude training improvements of power training upon lower body strength, sprint and jump measures, respectively. Maturity related inadequacies in eccentric strength and balance might influence the lack of training specificity with the unilateral landings and propulsions associated with sprinting. Based on this meta-analysis, strength training should be incorporated prior to power training in order to establish an adequate foundation of strength for power training activities.

Keywords: boys; children; girls; plyometric training; resistance training.

Figure 1

Flow chart illustrating the different phases of the search and study selection.

Figure 2

Power training effects on jump measures for trained and untrained subjects. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 3

Power training effects on jump measures for children and adolescents. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 4

Strength training effects on jump measures for trained and untrained subjects. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 5

Strength training effects on jump measures for children and adolescents. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 6

Power training effects on sprint measures for trained and untrained subjects. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 7

Power training effects on sprint measures for children and adolescents. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 8

Strength training effects on sprint measures for trained and untrained subjects. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 9

Strength training effects on sprint performance for children and adolescents. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 10

Power training effects on lower body strength for adolescents only. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 11

Strength training effects on lower body strength for trained and untrained subjects. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.

Figure 12

Strength training effects on lower body strength for children and adolescents. Positive SMD values indicate performance changes from pre to post related to training effects, while negative SMDs are indicative of non-effective changes from pre to post. SMD, Standardized mean difference expresses the size of the intervention effect relative to the variability observed in that study. SE, Standard Error. Weight, proportional weight or contribution of each study to the overall analysis.