The effect of plyometric training on the performance of cyclists

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of plyometric exercise trainingon the aerobic and anaerobic capacities of well-trained cyclists.Twenty male competitive cyclists (age: 24 ± SD 5 years, height: 180 ± SD 6 cm andbody mass: 77 ± SD 6 kg), including 12 mountain bikers and eight road cyclists wererandomly divided into an experimental (n = 13) and a control group (n = 7). Testingincluded kinanthropometric measurements, vertical jump test, bench pull test,maximal aerobic capacity test, indoor 5-kilometer time trial (TT), anaerobic capacitytest (30-second Wingate test) and an outdoor 4.4-kilometer time trial (field test).The plyometric training program had no statistically significant effect on the maximalaerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, time trial performance (laboratory and field) andvertical jump performance of the experimental group. Selected outcome variables, i.e.VO2max, PPO and MP during the Wingate test and time to complete the laboratory TT,bordered on statistical significance. The experimental group significantly improvedtheir upper body strength. There was also a strong correlation between the outdoorTT and upper body strength (r = 0.72).Although the plyometric training program did not significantly improve theperformance of the cyclists, indications were that the experimental group improvedtheir anaerobic power and upper body strength. One previous study in the literaturesuggested that the effects of a plyometric training program may only become evidenta few weeks after completion of the program. It is therefore possible that the cyclistsin this study would have experienced the benefits of plyometric training only later, i.e.closer to the competition season when the aim of their training program is to improvepower and speed.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University