Effect of Plyometric Training on Sport Performance in Adolescent Overhead Athletes: A Systematic Review
When the pitcher goes into the late cocking position, the muscle spindle and the PEC and SEC of the shoulder internal rotator muscles are pre‐stretched, in order to enhance the acceleration phase of the pitching motion. The necessity of plyometrics for the shoulder complex can be illustrated in the context of the incredible demands placed on the shoulder with different sporting activities. For example, overhead throwing produces angular velocities that exceed 5000‐7000 degrees per second,37 which makes the SSC necessary to help generate the forces required. With a short amortization phase, the time from the cessation of the eccentric pre stretch to the onset of the concentric muscle action, the SSC permits stretching (eccentric lengthening) to contribute to the maximal explosive shortening (concentric contraction). Is Plyometrics Calisthenics, both calisthenics and plyometrics offer distinct benefits, making them valuable components of any fitness routine.
THEORETICAL TRAINING BENEFITS OF PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES28
The quality analysis found that all studies were either of good or fair methodological quality (grades 5-7). All included studies scored negative for blinding of the subjects and therapists. Except for one study (Khlifa et al. 2010) they did not specify that the assessors were blinded to group allocation. With one exception (Kibele et al., 2015), all studies fulfil the criteria of the obtained outcome data for at least 85% of subjects initially allocated to groups. Two studies (Arazi et al., 2012; Argus et al., 2011) did not report both point measures and measures of variability for vertical jump performance.
Recently, Lesinski et al. [58] observed small-to-medium effects of plyometric training on muscle power of lower limbs in children and adolescent athletes. Other studies also support that plyometric training is an effective training method to improve exercise performance in non-athlete young people [68]. However, moderating factors, such as maturity, sex and age in the youth group, appear to modulate the effects following plyometric training [58, 59]. In one study, female endurance runners who underwent ten weeks of in-season combined plyometric and resistance training increased their cross-country performance and running economy61. Therefore, future research should examine the effect of a combined plyometric and strength training program.
Photos that detail each phase of plyometric exercises are also included to ensure you’re performing each exercise correctly. Some people may want to avoid plyometrics or connect with their doctor or physical therapist before incorporating plyometric training into their routine. A plyometric exercise is any activity that elicits what is known as a stretch-shortening cycle, sometimes abbreviated as SSC, says Mike Young, PhD, CSCS, founder and director of Athletic Lab, a sports performance facility in Cary, North Carolina. An SSC is where a muscle lengthens (known as an eccentric muscle contraction) and then immediately and explosively shortens (known as a concentric muscle contraction), Dr. Young explains. Allow sufficient recovery time between each plyometric training session to prevent overuse injuries. Plyometrics place significant stress on the muscles and joints, so it’s crucial to give your body time to repair and strengthen before your next session.
Change in Power in Response to Intervention

Plyometrics and calisthenics are performed to improve health and performance. While they’re often used interchangeably, they should be seen as different training methods with various applications and benefits. The SW116 Weight Bench enhances both training styles with elevated surface options for decline push-ups, step-ups, and plyometric depth jumps. Its rock-solid construction handles dynamic movements safely while providing the versatility needed for comprehensive bodyweight training progressions. The SOLE Equipment Mat is essential for both training styles, offering superior cushioning for floor exercises like push-ups, planks, and burpees while providing the stability needed for explosive plyometric movements like jump squats and mountain climbers.
These are the main focuses of each training method, with each working the others to a lesser extent. Plyometrics places significant stress on joints, particularly the ankles, knees, and hips, due to the impact forces generated during landings. These forces can reach 4–10 times your bodyweight during intense plyometric exercises. However, that’s not to say that calisthenics are useless for developing muscle strength.
Study identification and selection
Additionally the rate of the muscle stretch is more important than the length of the stretch. During the training session, if the quality of the movement performance deteriorates and is not able to be performed correctly, then the athlete is probably experiencing fatigue and the plyometric portion of the exercise session should be terminated. Based on the rest, recovery and reparative phase following high intensity resistive plyometric exercises, there should be increased recovery time when compared to other types of exercise. Although no evidence exists regarding the optimum rest period between high intensity plyometric workouts, the authors recommend 48‐72 hours between sessions. Is Plyometrics Calisthenics, they are often confused due to their similarities in using body weight for resistance training, but they serve different purposes and involve distinct techniques.
Take Your Workout to the Next Level
No need to be a pro in order to do any of the exercises; you can work your way up. With a little bit of effort and discipline, you will be able to build a harmonious physique while building real strength. It’s also important to consider your fitness level and any pre-existing injuries or conditions before starting a new exercise program.
Benefits of bodyweight movements
Alternatively, exercisers can also make use of padded mats and similar impact-cushioning materials that make plyometrics more friendly to the joints of its practitioners. Calisthenics is arguably the most convenient form of resistance training available, with a very low bar of entry and no equipment requirement until the later stages of calisthenic training. Not only does this burn a lot of calories – which results in weight loss and a much leaner physique – but the constant use of muscles allows them to break down and rebuild over and over which will help you get ripped in the long run. Check out the International Sports Sciences Association’s 20-Minute Plyometric Workout for Power and Explosiveness.
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Talk to a personal trainer, exercise physiologist, or exercise professional if you’d like to learn more about this type of training. It may be beneficial to have at least a few one-on-one or group sessions to help you get started. RLK, LBRO, JAD, JDP and DD did planning, searching, data extraction, KDP and RM planning, search, data extraction and correction the document; RLK, LBRO, JAD, KDP, RM, GST, JDP and DD done article review and writing contributions. KDP, RM, GST, JDP and DD contributed to article review and writing contributions in the final version of the manuscript. If you have diabetes, you may need to make some changes to your diabetes treatment plan, based on how many calories you are burning. Plyometrics isn’t for you if you have any diabetes-related nerve damage, as this will make you more likely to get injured.
Can I combine calisthenics and plyometrics in my workout routine?
Due to the high intensity and explosiveness of plyometric exercises, it is unlikely that the exerciser will be able to perform high volume sets, or place their muscles under a significant length of time under tension – two major causes of muscle mass development. Rock climbers, bodybuilders or other types of athletes that require muscular control and endurance will benefit more from calisthenics, whereas combat sports athletes and those requiring high rate of force development will benefit from plyometrics instead. To summarize these differences, plyometrics is a high-impact power-based, bodyweight training modality, whereas calisthenics is a low-impact, strength-based, bodyweight training modality. Among the various classifications of bodyweight exercises, few are as frequently used as that of plyometrics and calisthenics – two highly intense training disciplines with distinctly different end goals.
Examples of Plyometric Exercises:
- It is obvious that including sprints in an endurance training program can result in better running performance.
- In many court and field sports like basketball, rugby, and soccer, elite versus sub-elite athletes are characterized by better muscle strength and power, balance, linear sprint, and reactive change-of-direction (CoD) performances (Asadi et al., 2017).
- As such, for bodybuilders or those wishing to improve the size of their muscles, calisthenics is the more appropriate choice.
- What separates calisthenics from other training methodologies is its emphasis on progression through leverage rather than simply adding weight.
- Naturally, these actions occurred in slow motion with an iconic vibrating electronic sound effect.
- Greater agility — the ability to change direction efficiently and quickly — is another perk of plyometric training.
One study that was published in 2018 and compared progressive calisthenic push-up training to traditional bench press training found that both forms of exercise can increase both muscle strength and thickness in the upper body (3). If you wish to combine these two, we suggest that you first become familiar with calisthenic exercises before you incorporate plyometrics. The latter has a higher injury risk and is more damaging to both lower-body joints and bones, so you should use calisthenics to build strength and endurance first before doing plyometrics.
Examples Of Plyometric Exercises

The primary objective of ballistic exercises is to enhance power and explosiveness by utilizing the body’s natural stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). This cycle involves the pre-stretching of muscles (eccentric phase), followed by a rapid transition to the shortening of muscles (concentric phase) to generate force. Forest plot summarizing the effects of traditional vs. resisted plyometrics on vertical jump height, including training status (subgroup analysis). Jumping ability has been considered best nutrition apps as fundamental for successful performance in many sports (Sheppard et al., 2008). Depending on the sport, the importance of jumping ability can be affected by the direction of the jump. Considering the tactical nature of jumping activities in team sports like basketball, football (soccer) and volleyball, a vertical jump height is often considered to be critical performance outcome (Sattler et al., 2012).
You will move in different directions and broaden your range of motion. When you run, your hips flex and extend a minimal amount, Wickham says. Doing a workout that contains, for example, dumbbell thrusters, multi-directional lunges, and lateral bear crawls increases the amount of flexion and extension in the hips, knees, and ankles, while also engaging the core and upper body. “If you move your joints in a larger range of motion and add more variability to your training, that’s going to make you a more well-balanced and resilient runner,” Wickham says. While the technology has evolved from a series of .pdf workouts to a hyper-personalized AI-powered digital Coach, the calisthenics-based exercises remain. They performed movements that improved their combat skills and physical abilities.
