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. 2020 Dec 16:11:604983.
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.604983. eCollection 2020.

Effects of Elastic Band Based Plyometric Exercise on Explosive Muscular Performance and Change of Direction Abilities of Male Team Handball Players

Ghaith Aloui  1 , Souhail Hermassi  2 , Mehrez Hammami  3 , Yosser Cherni  1   3 , Nawel Gaamouri  1 , Roy J Shephard  4 , Roland van den Tillaar  5   6 , Mohamed Souhaiel Chelly  1   3
Affiliations

Effects of Elastic Band Based Plyometric Exercise on Explosive Muscular Performance and Change of Direction Abilities of Male Team Handball Players

Ghaith Aloui et al. Front Physiol. .

Abstract

This study examined the effects of incorporating 8 weeks of bi-weekly lower limb elastic band based loaded plyometric training into the in-season regimen of junior handball players. Participants were assigned between control (n = 15, age: 18.1 ± 0.5 years, body mass: 73.7 ± 13.9 kg, height: 1.82 ± 0.06 m, body fat: 14.4 ± 6.0%) and experimental groups (n = 14, age: 17.7 ± 0.3 years, body mass: 76.8 ± 10.7 kg, height: 1.83 ± 0.04 m, body fat: 13.4 ± 3.8%). Measures obtained before and after the intervention included a cycle ergometer force-velocity test, squat and countermovement jump characteristics, sprints times, repeated change of direction and change of direction tests (COD), a 1-RM half-back squat, and anthropometric estimates of limb volumes. Gains in the experimental group relative to controls included absolute muscle power (W) (Δ 23.1%; p < 0.05; ES = 0.565), relative muscle power (W.kg-1) (Δ 22.1%; p < 0.05; ES = 0.573), sprint times over 5 and 30 m (Δ-8.7%; p < 0.01; ES = 0.921 and Δ-7.2%; p < 0.05; ES = 0.573, respectively), COD times (Δ-9.2%; p < 0.05; ES = 0.561) and all repeated COD parameters except the fatigue index. However, a significant improvement by time interaction was observed in both groups on some anthropometric parameters (leg muscle volume and surface section thigh max), 1-RM half- back squat and vertical jump performance. We conclude that bi-weekly elastic band-loaded plyometric training improves the ability to sprint, COD and repeated COD relative to regular training, and thus it can be recommended to young male team handball players as a new method of plyometric training to improve important elements of their physical performance.

Keywords: peak power; sprinting; stretch-shortening cycle; team sports; turning.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Phases of countermovement jump. (A) Starting position, (B) Drop countermovement phase, (C) Flight phase, and (D) Reption phase.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Phases of split squat jump. (A) Starting position, (B) Drop countermovement phase, (C) Flight phase, and (D) Reption phase.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
(A–D) T-half test design.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Repeated change-of-direction test design.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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