Review
Sport Sciences
Jason Moran, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Bernard Liew, Helmi Chaabene, David G. Behm, Antonio Garcia-Hermoso, Mikel Izquierdo, Urs Granacher
Summary: Horizontal plyometric training is more effective at improving horizontal performance compared to vertical plyometric training, but both are similar in enhancing vertical performance. Longer programs, more training sessions, and combined bilateral and unilateral training were found to be most effective for horizontally orientated outcomes.
Article
Neurosciences
Nijia Hu, Jarmo M. Piirainen, Dawson J. Kidgell, Simon Walker, Janne Avela
Summary: Sensorimotor training and strength training can improve balance control. Little is known about how repeated balance perturbation training affects balance performance and its neural mechanisms. This study found that balance perturbation training led to less body sway and a potential increase in spinal-level involvement, indicating possible movement automaticity after perturbation training.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Behdad Tahayori, Bahman Tahayori, Alireza Mehdizadeh, David M. Koceja
Summary: This study examines a new method of inducing internal neuromuscular perturbation and provides biomarkers for balance control during perturbation. The method is safe and reliable, making it suitable for individual assessment and intervention evaluation, free from confounding factors.
Review
Sport Sciences
Rafael L. L. Kons, Lucas B. R. Orssatto, Jonathan Ache-Dias, Kevin De Pauw, Romain Meeusen, Gabriel S. Trajano, Juliano Dal Pupo, Daniele Detanico
Summary: This systematic umbrella review examined 29 meta-analyses on the effects of plyometric training. The findings suggest that plyometric training has positive effects on physical fitness and sports performance. However, caution is needed due to the lack of studies with control groups.
SPORTS MEDICINE-OPEN
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Carlos Marta, Ana R. Alves, Natalina Casanova, Henrique P. Neiva, Daniel A. Marinho, Mikel Izquierdo, Celia Nunes, Mario C. Marques
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of suspension training (ST) and plyometric training (PT) on strength and power in untrained children. The results showed that both ST and PT were effective in improving these variables, suggesting that they can be alternatives to traditional resistance training.
JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Antonio Garcia-Hermoso, Jason Moran, Helmi Chaabene, Yassine Negra, Aaron T. Scanlan
Summary: The study found that plyometric jump training (PJT) has positive effects on muscle power, linear sprint speed, change-of-direction speed, balance, and muscle strength in basketball players. Older players show greater improvements in horizontal jump distance, linear sprint time >10 m, and change-of-direction performance time <40 m. The duration, frequency, and total number of sessions completed in the PJT program did not predict the effects on physical fitness attributes.
JOURNAL OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Betul Coskun, Dicle Aras, Cengiz Akalan, Settar Kocak, Michael J. Hamlin
Summary: The study found that plyometric training under hypoxic conditions can significantly improve some jump measures such as drop-jump and squat-jump, while training in normoxia only showed significant improvement in some jump measures like countermovement-jump and 20-m sprint performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Mengzi Sun, Fangtong Zhang, Kelsey Lewis, Qipeng Song, Li Li
Summary: In individuals with peripheral neuropathy (PN), impaired plantar sensation leads to adaptive changes in the central nervous system (CNS), affecting standing postural control and resulting in variability of standing output signals. This study examined the relationship between CNS adaptability and severe PN, focusing on center of pressure (COP) variability. The results showed that individuals with severe PN had reduced complexity in COP variability compared to those without PN. There was a significant negative correlation between standard deviation (SD) and sample entropy in all groups. The complexity of COP variability in individuals without PN was inversely correlated with H-reflex. The findings suggest that the CNS modulation of standing postural control is diminished in people with PN.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Zhenxiang Guo, Yan Huang, Zhihui Zhou, Bo Leng, Wangcheng Gong, Yixiong Cui, Dapeng Bao
Summary: The study found that combined balance and plyometric training can enhance the change of direction (COD) performance of badminton athletes more effectively than plyometric training alone, with higher improvement magnitude and effect size.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Leila Alizadehsaravi, Ruud A. J. Koster, Wouter Muijres, Huub Maas, Sjoerd M. Bruijn, Jaap H. van Dieen
Summary: Training can improve balance control in older adults, with a single session showing improvement in balance robustness while multiple sessions are needed to enhance balance performance. Changes in co-contraction and excitability of ankle muscles are not the sole causes of improved balance in older adults.
HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Limingfei Zhou, Wangcheng Gong, Shixian Wang, Zhenxiang Guo, Meng Liu, Samuel Chuang, Dapeng Bao, Junhong Zhou
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of combined balance and plyometric training on knee function and proprioception of elite badminton athletes. The results showed that the combined training group had significantly greater improvements in certain knee function and proprioception measures compared to the plyometric training group. This suggests that combined balance and plyometric training may have greater benefits for knee function in elite badminton players. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ghaith Aloui, Souhail Hermassi, Lawrence D. Hayes, Roy J. Shephard, Mohamed Souhaiel Chelly, Rene Schwesig
Summary: The study found that incorporating biweekly upper limb loaded plyometric training using elastic bands into the in-season regimen of handball players significantly improved muscle power and throwing velocity. Therefore, such training method should be adopted as part of handball training program.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
S. Phu, D. L. Sturnieks, S. R. Lord, Y. Okubo
Summary: This review found that muscle activation after postural perturbation is significantly delayed in older adults compared to young adults. Regular exercisers have faster muscle activation compared to sedentary/untrained participants. Short-term uncontrolled clinical trials did not show changes in onset latency, but longer-term randomized control trials indicated that postural reflexes are responsive to training.
MECHANISMS OF AGEING AND DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Everton C. do Carmo, Renato Barroso, Saulo Gil, Natalia R. da Silva, Romulo Bertuzzi, Carl Foster, Valmor Tricoli
Summary: The effects of plyometric training (PT) on pacing behavior were evaluated in this study. The results showed that PT improved drop jump performance and running economy, but did not directly affect pacing behavior, ratings of perceived exertion, or affective feelings during a 10-km time trial run.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SPORT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Charlotte H. Pion, Melissa St-Pierre Bolduc, Zoe Miranda, Maureen MacMahon, Dorothy Barthelemy
Summary: Individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) exhibit altered postural reactions, potentially due to delayed and reduced spinal reflex processing, which could contribute to impaired balance control and increased risk of falls.
EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ra'ad M. Khair, Lauri Stenroth, Neil J. Cronin, Aleksi Reito, Juha Paloneva, Taija Finni
Summary: Achilles tendon rupture can change the stiffness and length of the tendon, affecting its function in force transmission and energy storage and recovery. The study found that the post-rupture tendon was longer and thicker, with changes in the medial gastrocnemius. Although the stiffness of non-surgically treated and uninjured tendons was similar 1-year post rupture, there was still a plantar flexion strength deficit, possibly due to the shorter medial gastrocnemius fascicle length.
CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Razie J. Alibazi, Ashlyn K. Frazer, Alan J. Pearce, Jamie Tallent, Janne Avela, Dawson J. Kidgell
Summary: The study found that a training-intensity threshold is required to adjust corticospinal excitability and short-interval cortical inhibition following strength training in the lower limb.
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Josh Walker, Athanassios Bissas, Barney Wainwright, Brian Hanley, Neil J. Cronin
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the inter-session repeatability of passive stiffness measurements in the triceps surae in athletes and non-athletes, showing that passive stiffness tests can detect inter-group differences but have some inter-session variation. Quiet standing affects passive stiffness parameters by reducing ankle joint range of motion, although mechanical resistance to stretch in the muscle-tendon unit remains relatively unaffected.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Hanna-Kaarina Juppi, Sarianna Sipila, Vasco Fachada, Matti Hyvarinen, Neil Cronin, Pauliina Aukee, Jari E. Karppinen, Harri Selanne, Urho M. Kujala, Vuokko Kovanen, Sira Karvinen, Eija K. Laakkonen
Summary: Menopausal progression in women is associated with increased body adiposity, particularly in the central body region, as well as changes in serum adiponectin, leptin, and resistin levels. Healthy lifestyle habits such as higher diet quality and physical activity level can help delay the onset of severe metabolic conditions during menopause.
Article
Physiology
Taija Finni, Annamaria Peter, Ra'ad Khair, Neil J. Cronin
Summary: The tracking point location has an effect on the displacement of MG MTJ during isometric plantar flexion contractions. Tracking a point on the aponeurosis consistently exaggerates estimates of tendon displacement, and this effect is dependent on the intensity of the contraction.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Gashaw Garedew Woldeamanuel, Ashlyn K. Frazer, Annemarie Lee, Janne Avela, Jamie Tallent, Juha P. Ahtiainen, Alan J. Pearce, Dawson J. Kidgell
Summary: This meta-analysis found that young participants exhibited greater cross-transfer of ballistic motor performance compared to older participants following ballistic motor training. However, there were no significant age-related differences in motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and surface electromyography (sEMG) for both hands following ballistic motor training.
JOURNAL OF MOTOR BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Neil J. Cronin, Maedeh Mansoubi, Erin Hannink, Benjamin Waller, Helen Dawes
Summary: Advances in computer vision enable biomechanical measures of body function and rehabilitation programs to be performed anywhere. This study evaluated the accuracy and concurrent validity of a computer vision system for estimating clinically relevant biomechanical measures. The results showed a significant correlation between computer vision estimates and clinician measures.
CLINICAL REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Koen van Dijk, Raad M. Khair, Maria Sukanen, Neil J. Cronin, Taija Finni
Summary: This study examined the length of medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicles during a heel-rise at 6 and 12 months after non-operative Achilles tendon rupture treatment. The findings showed that fascicle shortening was smaller on the injured side, and increased from 6 to 12 months in both bi-and unilateral heel-rise. The length of the tendon was longer in the injured limb and decreased over time, correlating with fascicle shortening.
CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Ra'ad M. Khair, Lauri Stenroth, Neil J. Cronin, Ville Ponkilainen, Aleksi Reito, Taija Finni
Summary: This study aims to explore the interconnections between structural, mechanical, and neuromuscular parameters and their associations with factors that could explain good recovery in patients with non-surgically treated Achilles tendon rupture. The results suggest that the differences in subtendon lengths are associated with stiffness differences, and the differences in subtendon lengths of tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles explain the variability in EMG amplitude. These findings are important for the design of rehabilitation programs.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Samuli Nevanpera, Nijia Hu, Simon Walker, Janne Avela, Jarmo M. Piirainen
Summary: The excitability of motoneurons can be measured using H-reflex and V-wave responses. The organization of motor control, the modulation of H-reflex and V-wave responses, and their repeatability during dynamic balance perturbations are unknown. In this study, the repeatability of H-reflex and V-wave measurements during dynamic balance perturbations was assessed. The results showed that the V-wave was significantly enhanced at 70 ms after the ankle movement and remained at this level at later latencies. The repeatability of V-wave was moderate-to-substantial, while the repeatability of H-reflex was fair-to-substantial. These findings suggest that changes in descending drive may contribute to the increased activation of motoneurons.
EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Gonzalo Gomez-Guerrero, Janne Avela, Miro Enroth, Ella Haekkinen, Paul Ansdell, Glyn Howatson, Simon Walker
Summary: This study investigated the reliability of motor evoked potentials and lumbar evoked potentials at different stimulation intensities and contraction levels in m.rectus femoris. The results showed that MEPs and LEPs elicited in m.rectus femoris appear to be reliable to assess changes at different segments of the cortico-spinal tract during different contraction levels and stimulator output intensities. Furthermore, the TMS- and LS- elicited SP was a reliable tool considered to reflect inhibitory processes at spinal and cortical levels.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Nijia Hu, Jarmo M. Piirainen, Dawson J. Kidgell, Simon Walker, Janne Avela
Summary: Sensorimotor training and strength training can improve balance control. Little is known about how repeated balance perturbation training affects balance performance and its neural mechanisms. This study found that balance perturbation training led to less body sway and a potential increase in spinal-level involvement, indicating possible movement automaticity after perturbation training.
Article
Physiology
Gonzalo Gomez-Guerrero, Paul Ansdell, Glyn Howatson, Janne Avela, Simon Walker
Summary: This study investigated spinal excitability during the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) silent period (SP) at different time delays in m.rectus femoris. The results showed that reduced spinal excitability was extended during 50% and 75% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). In the future, paired TMS-lumbar stimulation (LS) could be a valuable method for studying changes in spinal excitability during SP and testing various neurophysiological phenomena.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)