Effects of plyometric training on Electromyographic changes and jump shoot performance among female handball players

Abstract

Success in many sports depends heavily on the athlete's explosive power and muscular strength. The athlete must be able to use strength as quickly and forcefully as possible. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a 4-week plyometric training program on motor unit number and response time of muscles (upper and lower limbs) during jump shoot performance among female handball players. Three female handball players from the ELSHAMS club participated in this study. Subjects performed 4 – 6 sets of 20 repetition jumps from a 40-cm box and medicine ball exercises for three days a week for four weeks. The EMG activities in the lower extremity muscles, which include the vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF) vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), gastrocnemius – medial part(GMe), gastrocnemius lateral part (GLa), soleus (S) and tibialis anterior (TA), and upper extremity muscles, which include biceps brachi (BB), deltoid – anterior (BAn), deltoid - medial part (DMe), deltoid – rear part (DRe), extensors of the wrist (EW), erector spinae (ES), infras pinatus (IP) and latissimus dorsi (LD) muscles, during jump shoot performance were assessed pre- and post-training. The results showed significant increases in the EMG activities (IEMG) of all muscles following plyometric training (P < 0.05). The high increase was due to the motor units of the biceps femoris muscle (BF), 332%. In conclusion, plyometric training can significantly improve EMG activity and power among female handball players.