Effects of Plyometric Training on Lower Body Muscle Architecture, Tendon Structure, Stiffness and Physical Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 experimental studies
PubMed 35312884 · doi:10.1186/s40798-022-00431-0
What was done
Five electronic databases were searched for experimental studies investigating the effects of at least eight sessions of plyometric training in healthy adults. Four meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager software to evaluate muscle architecture, tendon structure, muscle and tendon stiffness, and physical performance.
What was found
From 32 eligible studies included in the meta-analysis, plyometric training showed: - Muscle thickness: SMD 0.59 (95% CI: 0.47 to 0.71) - Fascicle length: SMD 0.51 (95% CI: 0.26 to 0.76) - Pennation angle: SMD 0.29 (95% CI: 0.02 to 0.57) - Tendon stiffness: SMD 0.55 (95% CI: 0.28 to 0.82) - Jumping: SMD 0.61 (95% CI: 0.47 to 0.74) - Strength: SMD 0.57 (95% CI: 0.42 to 0.73)
Why it matters
This review demonstrates that plyometric training induces structural adaptations in muscle architecture and tendon stiffness alongside functional improvements in lower body strength and power.
Limits
The abstract does not report the total number of participants, participant demographics (e.g., sex, training status), or individual study risk of bias. Effect estimates for tendon structural variables other than stiffness and muscle stiffness are not reported in the abstract.
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