Use Of Plyometric Training To Offset Fatigue In Division I Collegiate Female Volleyball Players

Abstract

Volleyball is a demanding sport consisting of multiple passages of play with a high priority on jumping, including attacking, blocking, jump serving and setting. Heavy resistance training and plyometric training have been shown to increase vertical jump in volleyball players, as well as high intensity interval training to increase conditioning, however, there is a lack of information on the use of plyometric training to decrease indexes of fatigue. PURPOSE: To determine if plyometric training can decrease repeated jump fatigue in NCAA Division I female college volleyball players METHODS: 8 female collegiate volleyball players (Age: 18.4 ± 0.7, height: 179.7 ± 9.2cm, weight: 71.8 ± 10.0kg), cleared of injuries completed a vertical jump test, squat jump test, repeat squat jump, and repeat block jump test while wearing velocity and height measuring devices. Participants were split into a control group (CON) and a plyometric group (PLYO), which completed a 3 day a week/ 8 week program consisting of dot drill and box drop jump exercise variations. After 8 weeks, participants were retested. Fatigue Index for the repeat tests were analyzed for statistical significance, [(Initial Jump-Final Jump)/Initial Jump)] x 100. RESULTS: Significant differences were seen in the PLYO group in the repeat squat jump test at posttest compared to the CON (10.98 ± 4.69 vs -5.41 ± 4.65 p<.015), and in the repeat block jump test compared to pretesting values within the PLYO group (6.41 ± 8.47 vs-4.24 ± 14.77, p<.042). CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of plyometric training may help offset fatigue as seen in multiple jump bouts in volleyball players, potentially attributing to increased athletic performance.