Effect of Eight Weeks of Plyometric and Resistance Training Methods on Selected Biomechanical Variables of Adolescent Male Runners

Running sport is one of the basic and medal-winning sports. For success in this sport, it requires to improve the performance of athletes in young ages. This study aims to assess the effect of eight weeks of two plyometric and resistance training methods on selected biomechanical variables (flexibility, balance, power, and speed) of adolescent male runners.

This is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design using a control group. The study population consists of all adolescent male runners aged 12-17 years attending the training sessions of youth teams active in the league competitions in Tehran, Iran. Of these, 45 were selected and randomly divided into three groups of plyometric training (n=15), resistance training (n=15) and control (n=15). The training programs were presented to the training groups for eight weeks, three sessions per week, each for 45 minutes, while the control group participated in their routine training of their teams. The Sargent jump test was used to evaluate their power; the 30-m sprint test was used to evaluate their speed; the star excursion balance test was used to evaluate their dynamic balance, and the sit and reach test was used to evaluate their flexibility. To analyze the collected data, descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post hoc test were used in SPSS software, version 24.

The eight weeks of two plyometric and resistance training methods had a significant effect on the selected biomechanical variables of adolescent male runners in the training groups compared to the control group. The results of post hoc test showed that the plyometric training was more effective than the resistance training.

Plyometric and resistance training methods can be helpful in improving the physical performance of adolescent male runners and increase their records.