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Effects of off-season strength and plyometric training programmes on isokinetic strength and javelin throwing performance
Abstract
A challenge created by the school environment is to develop a training programme for athletes with continuous progression in order to achieve improved performance. This lack of continuous progression leads to overtraining, overuse injuries, limited performance capabilities and
ineffective maintenance of sport-specific seasonal programmes. As such, the aim of the study was to determine whether an off-season strength and plyometric training programme could enhance isokinetic strength and javelin throwing performance in high-school athletes. Twenty athletes, aged 16 to 19 years, who had at least one year of throwing technique training, were assigned to either a control group (n = 10) or a progressive, three-times a week, six-week training strength and plyometric training programme (n = 10). The best throwing performance from the
previous season’s athletic competitions was recorded in metres (m) to the nearest 0.1 centimetres and compared to the best throwing performance recorded following the training programme. The results of the present study showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase of 10.1 ft•lbs-1 in isokinetic shoulder flexion strength, a mean 1.7 ft•lbs-1 increase in elbow flexion strength, a 3.7 ft•lbs-1 increase in knee flexion strength, a 3.2 ft•lbs-1 increase in knee extension strength and a 1.66 m increase in throwing performance. However, while the training programme had no significant effect on isokinetic shoulder internal/external rotation strength, isokinetic shoulder and elbow extension strength declined. The findings of the study indicated that the implementation of an off-season strength and plyometric training programme not only improved most measures of
strength, but also throwing performance in high-school athletes.
ineffective maintenance of sport-specific seasonal programmes. As such, the aim of the study was to determine whether an off-season strength and plyometric training programme could enhance isokinetic strength and javelin throwing performance in high-school athletes. Twenty athletes, aged 16 to 19 years, who had at least one year of throwing technique training, were assigned to either a control group (n = 10) or a progressive, three-times a week, six-week training strength and plyometric training programme (n = 10). The best throwing performance from the
previous season’s athletic competitions was recorded in metres (m) to the nearest 0.1 centimetres and compared to the best throwing performance recorded following the training programme. The results of the present study showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase of 10.1 ft•lbs-1 in isokinetic shoulder flexion strength, a mean 1.7 ft•lbs-1 increase in elbow flexion strength, a 3.7 ft•lbs-1 increase in knee flexion strength, a 3.2 ft•lbs-1 increase in knee extension strength and a 1.66 m increase in throwing performance. However, while the training programme had no significant effect on isokinetic shoulder internal/external rotation strength, isokinetic shoulder and elbow extension strength declined. The findings of the study indicated that the implementation of an off-season strength and plyometric training programme not only improved most measures of
strength, but also throwing performance in high-school athletes.
