THE EFFECT OF TWO SORT TRAINING INTERVENTION PROGRAM OF RUNNING SPEED AND PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES ON RUNNING VELOCITY AND VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE, IN PREPUBERTAL BOYS

KOTZAMANIDOU M., TSADIMAS C., PANAGIOTIDOU K.,

ZAGGELIDIS G., GIANNAKOS A., GERODIMOS C.

Department of Physical Education and Sport Science,

Aristotle University of Thessalonica, Greece

Key words: Children, running velocity, vertical jump

Introduction

A variety of training methods have been commonly used in the past, in order to improve RV. Relevant studies have shown that RV was increased after over sprinting against light resistances but not after a high resistance training Delecluse (1997). However Kotzamanidis et al.,(2005) reported that a combination of resistance and running exercises in the same training session increased RV.

Conflicting results have reported concerning the effect of sprint training on RV. De Lecluse et al., (1995) reported an enhancement of RV after sprint training while Rimmer and Sleivert (2000) not. The difference of the reported data related with sprint training and RV can be explained on subjects training background since in Delecluse et al(1995) untrained subjects were used while Rimmer and Sleivert (2000) used well trained rugby players.

The plyometric (jumping) intervention programs showed a selective effect on RV. Some of the reported studies demonstrated no effect of plyometric training on RV (Wilson et al., 1993; Fry et al., 1991; Adams et al., 1992) while in other cases a positive effect was reported (Rimmer and Sleivert, 2000). The latter case (Rimmer and Sleivert, 2000) was explained on the fact that jumping exercises were specified to running technique (speed-bound exercise). More over a combination of jumping and running exercises caused an enhancement in RV as well (Delecluse 1997; Blazevitz et al., 2003).

 The effect of training on jumping performance (VJ) has been widely investigated in the adults. Specifically it has been reported that slow velocity with high resistance (Wilson et al., 1993; Fatouros et al., 2001) and high velocity with low resistance (Wilson et al., 1993) training increased VJ. More over plyometric exercise (Fatouros et al., 2000; Matavulli et al., 2001; Wilson et al., 1993) or the combination of resistance and plyometric training Fatouros et al.(2001), caused an improvement on VJ as well.

Specific studies related with adults have reported that within a minimum period from four to six weeks (Young et al., 1999; Adams et al., 1992) the plyometric exercise increase VJ, while for the RV a period of 5 weeks was required (Dowson et al., 1998). Reported studies related with developmental ages have shown that running (Kotzamanidis, 2002) and plyometric training (Diallo et al., 2001) increased running sprint and vertical jumping after nine and ten-week training program respectively.  

However to our knowledge there is a lack of the information concerning, the minimum period, which is required for the RV and jumping performance improvement, after intervention programs in prepubescent population. The importance of this issue can be based on the fact that distinctive differences in neurological and muscular performance have been reported between children and adults (Blimkie, 1989) which probably affect the time appearance of training adaptation For this reason the purpose of this study was to compare the influence of two-sort training period programs, including running and jumping exercises on sprint and jumping performance, in prepubescent untrained boys.

Methods

Participants

Forty-five non-athletic boys volunteered to participate in this study. The parents of those children were verbally informed and gave written informed, in order to allow their children to participate in the study. All children were classified as prepubertal according to Tanner's calcification (Tanner, 1962) after examination by medical doctor. More over they did not have history of chronic diseases and injuries identified after medical examination. The study was performed, according to the principles of the Ethic Committee of Aristotelian University of Thessalonica.

Boys were divided in three groups: the sprint group (SPR-group JUM-group, n=15, mean ±SD: age of 11.1±0.5 years; height 156.8±6.9 cm; and body mass 49.6±7.3 kg), the jumping group (n=15, mean ±SD: age 11.3±0.5 years; height 157.4±4.6 cm; and body mass 50.6±7.3 kg) and the control group (CONT-group, n=15, mean ±SD: age 10,9±0.7 years; height 154.2±5.8 cm; and body mass 48.7±9.9 kg).

Warm-up

All participants performed a standardized warm-up prior to testing. They jogged for 10 minutes. After that, they performed light stretching exercises for 5 minutes and a few sub maximal sprints and jumps.

Squat Jump testing

After warming up, participants performed three squat jumps from an initial position with feet flatted on the platform, and knees flexed at 90°. Three test jumps were completed and the highest of these was assessed. Furthermore, the subjects were instructed to keep their hands on the hips throughout the jump.

Sprint testing

The following distances 0-30m and the intermediated phases 0-10m,10-20m and 20-30m were assessed for RV. Participants performed two maximal sprints efforts over the distance of 30-m on a hard even surface, in an indoor facility. The better (according to the lowest time) of the two sprints, was used for further analysis. Boys were encouraged to sprint as fast as possible.

Both of the tests were performed in a closed sport hall area with a stable temperature 28° C.

Data selection procedure

Sprint times were recorded (with an accuracy of 0.001sec) by an electronic chronometer (Omega system) that was connected to four pairs of optic reflective switches (TAG HEUER), located at the start and then at 10-m, 20-m and 30-m marks of the whole 30-m distance sprint.

Vertical jumps: Vertical jumps were recorded using the ergo jump Bosco-System apparatus (Bosco et al., 1983). Participants were sitting on time switching mats, connected with an adaptor to the timer. In this instrument two switch mats for the timer were placed, side by side, and connected by an adaptor to the timer ('start on break contact' input). The timer was triggered by the feet of the subject at the moment of the release from the platform, and stopped at the moment of touch down. Thus, the flight time of the subject during the jump was recorded. This method of flight time calculation assumes that the positions of the jumper on the platform were the same in take-off and landing. The vertical displacement of the body was calculated by the flight time.

Training program

The sprint-training program was based on the recommendation of previous studies (Mero, 1998). It lasted 5 weeks and performed twice per week. Running distances ranged from 5 to 30m, with a rest interval of 3 min between repetitions. Rest interval between sets was 5 min in the sprint training. The initial sum of the distances per training session was initially 150m and gradually it was increased up to 200m.

The jumping training program included one and two legged vertical and horizontal jumping exercises. Boys executed two training session per week. They performed 60 jumps per training session and gradually they increased them up to 80.

The control group performed only their physical education program in the school.

The program in details is described on table 1.

Table 1 

Sprint and jumping training program for each session during training period

Week Sum of running distances per training session Total number of jumps per training session 1st 150m 60 2nd 150 60 3rd 180 70 4th 180 70 5th 200 80

Statistical analysis

Means and standard deviations were determined for the following variables: squat jump, running speed of 30m, 0-10m, 10-20m and 20-30m. For each dependent variable, a 2-way ANOVA (group test) with repeated measures on 1 factor (test) was used to determine whether differences existed across tests or between groups. Post-hoc sheffe tests were performed to determine specific differences. Significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

Within groups comparisons

No significant main effect of test was revealed (p>0.05) for all sprint variables tested (fig. 1,2,3,4). A significant main effect of test and an interaction effect of test group were revealed only for squat jump (p<0.05).

Within group comparisons revealed an improvement of performance for both experimental groups (SPR-group and JUM-group) in squat jump (Fig. 5, p<0.05) at the end of intervention program. An improvement of performance was also observed in running speed over 10-20m only for the jump group (Fig. 3, p<0.05). Control group showed no improvement in any of the variables tested (Fig. 1,2,3,4,5, p>0.05).

Figure 1 - The effect of jumping and sprint training on 30m-sprint performance

Figure 2 - The effect of jumping and sprint training on 10m-sprint performance

Figure 3 - The effect of jumping and sprint training on the distance between 10-20 m-sprint performance

Figure 4 - The effect of jumping and sprint training on the distance between 20-30m-sprint performance

Figure 5 - The effect of jumping and sprint training on the squat jump

Between groups comparisons

Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in all tested parameters before experimental procedure. Significantly better performances for the sprint group compared to the control group, in running speed over 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30m and 0-30 m sprint were observed after the training program was completed (Fig. 1,2,3,4,p<0.05). No differences between sprint group and control group was found in squat jump (Fig. 5, p>0.05). The jump group performed significantly better than the control group in running speed over the distances 0-10 and 20-30m (Fig. 1,2,3,4,p<0.05). No differences between jump group and control group was found in squat jump (Fig. 5, p>0.05). Also no statistically significant difference was observed between the two experimental groups in all the examined tests (Fig 1,2,3,4,5, p>0.05)

Discussion

The main findings of the current study indicated that two different training programs including sprint and jumping exercises for five weeks did not affect significantly RV in prepubertal boys. Moreover both of the two mentioned programs improved vertical jump in the same training period.

Previous studies in adults, have reported RV enhancement for various training periods after sprint (Delecluse et al., 1995; Dawson et al., 1998) or jumping (Rimmer and Sleivert, 2000) or combined sprint and jumping exercise (Blazevitz et al. 2003) interventions. Specifically Delecluse et al. (1995) reported an enhancement of RV after sprint training for nine weeks while Dawson et al. (1998) after five weeks. Rimmer & Sleivert (2000) applying jumping exercise and Blazevitz et al. (2003) combining sprint and jumping exercise reported that RV increased after eight and five weeks respectively.

Comparable data for the developmental period indicated that a 10 week sprint program Kotzamanidis (2002) in prepubertal and a nine week jumping exercises program in pubertal Diallo et al. (2001) influenced positively RV respectively. However the obtained results indicated that in a very short term training period the sprint and jumping exercises, could not cause significant enhancement on RV.

Previous reported studies showed that sprint training causes numerous adaptations such as transformation of slow to fast motor units (Dawson et al., 1998;Mero 1998), muscle mass hypertrophy (Sleivert et al. 1995), phosphate increase (Dawson et al. 1998) and changes in architectural parameters of muscle tendon complex (Kubo et al. 2000, Blazevitz et al. 2003). The obtained data indicate that probably the applied 5 weeks jumping and running training program cοuld not cause appropriate adaptations for RV enhancement. Probably longer duration training session or higher training volume per week for the certain training period would be more effective for RV enhancement.

Studies related with the effect of plyometric training in adults have shown that it can cause an enhancement of VJ in a sort period of 4 weeks (Young et al. 1999). Specific studies related with developmental ages have shown that plyometric training increased VJ in early pubertal boys in a period of nine weeks (Diallo et al. 2001). The obtained results indicated that prepubertal boys can increase their VJ after five weeks of jumping exercises being in agreement with adults studies (Young et al. 1999). In adults it was reported that VJ enhancement after jumping exercises can be caused due to elastic tissue stiffening (Young et al. 1999), learning transformation Bobert . (2001) or due to an increase in interlimb coordination (Dowling and Vamos, 1993). However according to our knowledge ,such adaptations have not been reported till now for prepubertal boys further research is necessary to be identified for the mentioned ages.

The unexpected results of the present study were that the VJ increased after five weeks of sprint training. The explanation that could be given for these results could be based on the properties of the supporting phase. Previous studies (Dietz et al., 1979; Mero, 1998) have shown that in sprint performance, during supporting phase a very high impact is developed which exceeds the activation of maximal isometric contraction Considering thus that during supporting phase of a sprint performance a high impact stretch-shortening cycle is repetitively performed then we can assume that sprint performance causes the same adaptations with jumping exercise on muscle tendons complex.(Kotzamanidis et al., 2005) This fact can potentially explain the effect of running sprint on VJ.

Conclusion

In conclusion, five weeks of short term training including jumping and running exercises affected only VJ in prepubertal boys, but not the RV. The present results indicated that probably for RV a higher training volume and extended duration of speed training is required for sprint enhancement.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of a five-week intervention program including sprint and jumping exercises on running velocity (RV) and vertical jump (VJ) in prepubescent boys. Forty-five (meanཏSD) pre-pubertal boys participated in the study. All the participants were divided in three equal groups. The first group (SPR,11.1±0.5 years) followed a specific running sprint program while the second group (JUM,11.2±0.5years) followed a program with jumping exercises A third group (CONT,10.9±0.7 years) followed only the physical education program and was the control group The running distances of0-30m, ,0-10m, 10-20m,and 20-30m and squat jump (SJ) were selected as testing variables to evaluate the running velocity (RV) and jumping performance respectively. The sprint-training program consisted of short sprints, 5 to 30m with a resting period of 3min between repetitions and 5 min between sets. The running distance per session was set initially at 150m and gradually increased up to 200m.The JUM group initially performed 60 jumps per session and during the 5^th week the jumps gradually were increased up to 80. After the five weeks intervention program, in both experimental groups, the SJ increased significantly, while no effect was observed for RV. The present results indicated that short term training period of five weeks in prepubertal boys, with jumping and running exercises can induce an improvement in jumping but not in running performance. Probably intervention programs with a higher volume or extended duration is required for the sprint enhancement.

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