Abstract
It is often presumed that after performing plyometric exercises muscle fatigue and delayed onset muscle soreness occur resulting in an overall decline in athletic performance. For this reason many coaches do not employ plyometric training within 24 hours of competition, however, very little of the plyometric research has been performed on plyometrically trained athletes. PURPOSE: To evaluate muscle fatigue in female athletes accustomed to plyometric training immediately after and 24 hours after an acute bout of plyometric exercises. METHODS: Twenty-three females aged 18-22 years (165± 2.59 cm; 65.9± 10.53 kg) from the Syracuse University soccer and field hockey teams participated in this study. The subjects completed 10 plyometric exercises consisting of various forms of squat jumps, lateral jumps, box jumps and skipping with one minute rest periods between exercises. Force production of the knee extensors (KE) and knee flexors (KF), vertical jump height, and the Illinois Agility Test were used to assess muscle fatigue and athletic performance. Additionally, surface electromyogram (EMG) signals were collected from the thigh muscles and analyzed for root mean square (RMS) alterations during maximal and submaximal contractions. These tests were completed prior to, immediately after and 24 hours after the plyometric exercises. RESULTS: KE and KF force production decreased 14 and 10% respectively immediately after the exercise (p=0.000 and p=0.001) and KE force remained 7% lower than pre-exercise at 24-hours post exercise (p=0.032). During the submaximal contractions, RMS EMG was significantly elevated immediately after the exercise in the rectus femoris (p=0.026) and vastus medialis (p=0.001)muscles only. Immediately after the exercise the time to complete the Illinois Agility Test increased 3% (p=0.006) and vertical jump ability declined 6% (p=0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Decrements in performance were seen immediately after exercise indicating that fatigue had occurred, but most measurements (with the exception of KE strength) returned to pre-exercise values at 24-hours after exercise. An intense bout of plyometrics should not be performed the day before competition because muscle strength may not be fully recovered the following day.
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