A comparison of the effects of six weeks oftraditional resistance training, plyometric training, and complex training on measures of power

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this work was to compare the effects of resistance, plyometric, and their combination (complex training) on countermovement vertical jumps (CMVJ) and broad jumps (BDJ). Design: Longitudinal study design with repeated measures and group comparisons. Methods: Thirty four recreationally trained college aged males trained using one of three methods; resistance (RT; n = 13), plyometric (PT; n = 11), or complex (CT; n = 10) training twice weekly for six weeks and were assessed pre (W1), mid (W5), and post (W9) training. Measures included: CMVJ height (cm), CMVJ peak ground reaction force (pGRF; N), peak power (Watts), peak power per kilogram (Watts/kg), peak power per kilogram of fat free mass (Watts/kg FFM), BDJ distance (cm), and BDJ peak ground reaction force (pGRF; N). Results: Body mass significantly increased from W1 (83.85 ± 20.54 kg) – W5 (85.26 ± 20.29 kg) for RT and from W1 (81.25 ± 10.43 kg) – W9 (82.49 ± 10.19 kg) for PT. Body fat percentage significantly increased from W5 (18.0 ± 8.0 %) – W9 (20.0 ± 7.0 %) and W1 (18.0 ± 8.0 %) – W9 (20.0 ± 7.0 %) for RT and from W5 (18.0 ± 5.0 %) – W9 (22.0 ± 4.0 %) for PT. Results indicated no statistical differences between groups for any measure at any testing time point. Statistical increases in CMVJ pGRF (PT: W1 (2059.97 ± 314.83 N) – W5 (2145.02 ± 317.00 N); CT: W1 (2255.48 ± 375.79 N) – W5 (2323.19 ± 340.61 N)), CMVJ peak power/kg FFM (PT: W5 (78.32 ± 4.86 Watts/kg FFM) – W9 (82.09 ± 5.59 Watts/kg FFM)), and BDJ distance (PT: W1 (202.0 ± 27.0 cm) – W9 (214.0 ± 19.0cm)) were identified. Conclusions: The significant increase in pGRF and peak power/kg FFM in PT and CT suggests increased force/power production in the muscle mass of their lower limbs. The significant increase in BDJ distance for the PT is likely a transfer of training effect.