Effects of plyometric training on endurance and explosive strength performance in competitive middle- and long-distance runners

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Rodrigo Ramírez-Campillo
  • Cristian Álvarez
  • Henriquez Olguín, Carlos
  • Eduardo B Baez
  • Cristian Martínez
  • David C Andrade
  • Mikel Izquierdo

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a short-term plyometric training program on explosive strength and endurance performance in highly competitive middle- and long-distance runners. Athletes were randomly assigned to a control group (CG, n = 18, 12 men) and an explosive strength training group (TG, n = 18, 10 men). Drop jump (DJ) from 20 (DJ20) and 40 cm (DJ40), countermovement jump with arms (CMJA), 20-m sprint time, and 2.4-km endurance run time test were carried out before and after 6 weeks of explosive strength training. Also, the combined standardized performance (CSP) in the endurance and explosive strength test was analyzed. After intervention, the CG did not show any significant change in performance, whereas the TG showed a significant reduction in 2.4-km endurance run time (-3.9%) and 20-m sprint time (-2.3%) and an increase in CMJA (+8.9%), DJ20 (+12.7%), and DJ40 (16.7%) explosive performance. Strength training group also exhibited a significant increase in CSP, although the CG showed significant reduction. We conclude that properly programmed concurrent explosive strength and endurance training could be advantageous for middle- and long-distance runners in their competitive performance, especially in events characterized by sprinting actions with small time differences at the end of the race.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Volume28
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)97-104
Number of pages8
ISSN1064-8011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Concurrent training, Endurance performance, Explosive strength, Jump height

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