Effect of plyometric training on sand versus grass

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The below may be of interest:

Effect of plyometric training on sand versus grass on muscle soreness

and jumping and sprinting ability in soccer players

F M Impellizzeri1, E Rampinini1, C Castagna2, F o3, S Fiorini3,

U Wisloff4,5

Objective: The lower impact on the musculoskeletal system induced by

plyometric exercise on sand compared to a firm surface might be

useful to reduce the stress of intensified training periods or during

rehabilitation from injury. The aim of this study was to compare the

effects of plyometric training on sand versus a grass surface on

muscle soreness, vertical jump height and sprinting ability.

Design: Parallel two-group, randomised, longitudinal (pretest–post-

test) study.

Methods: After random allocation, 18 soccer players completed 4 weeks

of plyometric training on grass (grass group) and 19 players on sand

(sand group). Before and after plyometric training, 10 m and 20 m

sprint time, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and

eccentric utilization ratio (CMJ/SJ) were determined. Muscle soreness

was measured using a Likert scale.

Results: No training surface x time interactions were found for

sprint time (p>0.87), whereas a trend was found for SJ (p = 0.08),

with both groups showing similar improvements (p<0.001). On the other

hand, the grass group improved their CMJ (p = 0.033) and CMJ/SJ (p =

0.005) significantly (p<0.001) more than players in the sand group.

In contrast, players in the sand group experienced less muscle

soreness than those in the grass group (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Plyometric training on sand improved both jumping and

sprinting ability and induced less muscle soreness. A grass surface

seems to be superior in enhancing CMJ performance while the sand

surface showed a greater improvement in SJ. Therefore, plyometric

training on different surfaces may be associated with different

training-induced effects on some neuromuscular factors related to the

efficiency of the stretch-shortening cycle.

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Carruthers

Wakefield, UK