Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine


ISSN: 2300-9705     eISSN: 2353-2807    OAI    DOI: 10.18276/cej.2017.4-11
CC BY-SA   Open Access   DOAJ  DOAJ

Issue archive / Vol. 20, No. 4/2017
The Effects of a Six-week Plyometric Training Program on the Stiffness of Anterior and Posterior Muscles of the Lower Leg in Male Volleyball Players

Authors: Dariusz Mroczek
Department of Biological and Motor Sport Bases, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland

Edward Superlak
Department of Biological and Motor Sport Bases, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland

Tomasz Seweryniak
Department of Communication and Management in Sport, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland

Krzysztof Maćkała
Department of Track and Field, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland

Marek Konefał
Department of Biological and Motor Sport Bases, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland

Paweł Chmura
Department of Sport Team Games, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland

Dorota Borzucka
Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Opole, Poland

Zbigniew Rektor
Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Opole, Poland

Jan Chmura
Department of Biological and Motor Sport Bases, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland
Keywords: plyometric training muscle stiffness volleyball
Whole issue publication date:2017
Page range:9 (107-115)
Cited-by (Crossref) ?:

Abstract

The study assesses the effects of a six-week plyometric training program (PT) on muscle stiffness in the dominant and non-dominant leg in male collegiate volleyball players. The study group comprised 16 volleyball players who had played collegiate volleyball for at least four years. For six consecutive weeks, twice a week, the players undertook a plyometric program of 60-min training sessions, each preceded with a specialist warm-up. The analysis of the anterior muscles of the right and the left lower leg revealed a significant increase in stiffness in the muscles of the right leg and the left leg. No significant differences were found between the anterior muscles of the left lower leg and the right lower leg in particular weeks of the training program. The analysis of the posterior lower leg muscles revealed no significant differences, either in the consecutive weekly training microcycles or between the left leg and the right leg. The measurement of muscle tone and biomechanical properties of muscles can be used as a fast and direct assessment of plyometric training-related muscle fatigue. A similar level of muscle stiffness in both lower legs (symmetry) is a reflection of the appropriate selection of plyometric training loads.
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