Comparative effect of land plyometric and aquatic plyometric training on lower limb explosive strength of athletes

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the present study was to find out the Effect of Land Plyometric and Aquatic-based Plyometric Training on Lower Limb Explosive Strength of district level Athletes. Subject: Thirty six (N = 36) district level athletes were randomly selected as subjects for the present study from Nadia district of West Bengal. The age ranged from 12-18 years. Group division: All the subjects were divided into three equal groups: i) Land Plyometric training Group (N =12) as experimental group–I ii) Aquatic Plyometric Training Group (N=12) as experimental group–II and iii) Control Group (N=12). Equated group design was adopted in the present study. Experimental Protocol: Plyometric training was intervened for fourteen weeks on both the experimental groups. Experimental group-I underwent land Plyometric training whereas experimental group-II underwent aqua-based Plyometric training for fourteen weeks continuously for three days in a week and 90 min per day as per the structured training schedule. But the control group did not involve in the treatment program. During the training period participants of every group were allowed to do their routine activities as it was not under the control of the researchers. Variable Studied: In the present study explosive leg strength was measured through jumping ability along vertical as well as horizontal direction which was measured by Sargent jump and standing board jump respectively. Statistical analysis: To find out significant difference in lower limb explosive strength among the groups in pre and post intervention condition; analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted. To find out the exact location of the difference within different groups Tukey’s LSD test was adapted as post hoc test. The significance of means were tested at p<0.05 level. For statistical calculations Excel Spread Sheet of windows version 7 was used. Results: It was observed that the F value was significant at 0.05 level. Tukey’s post hoc test confirmed that both Land Plyometric and Aquatic Plyometric training groups improved significantly with respect to the control group in Leg Explosive Strength. But no significant difference was observed between land Plyometric training group (experimental group-I) and aquatic Plyometric training group (experimental group-II) which confirmed that both type of training was equally effective for developing explosive leg strength.