Date of Graduation

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

Michelle A. Sandrey

Abstract

Context: Plyometric exercise has been shown to increase strength and explosiveness in athletes participating in football, tennis, golf, soccer, volleyball, running, and basketball. Aquatic exercises have been noted to have beneficial effects, however there has been little research conducted comparing plyometrics in a land-based and an aquatic-based setting. Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of a plyometric-training program in a land-based and an aquatic-based setting on power, peak torque, agility, and muscle soreness. Design: There were four 2x3x3 factorial designs for the KinCom tests, two 2x3 factorial designs for vertical jump and the LEFT tests, and one 3x7 factorial design for the VAS test with two experimental groups and a control group. Patients and Other Participants: This study included 18 healthy, volunteer, college-aged subjects who met the inclusion criteria set at the beginning of the study. Intervention: The six-week protocol for the experimental groups was conducted following a specific program twice a week for an average of 30-minutes. Both groups experienced a training program that included plyometric exercises that advanced from week to week. The focus of the exercises was placed on hops and jumps forwards, backwards, or laterally. All subjects performed the KinCom test, Vertical Jump test, and the Lower Extremity Functional test for pretest and post-test measurements. Also, all subjects recorded measurements with the Visual Analogue test for a baseline test, as well as after the last session of each week for the six weeks. Main Outcomes Measures: The KinCom machine was used for the quadriceps and hamstrings concentric and eccentric contractions to measure peak torque values. Also, the vertical jump was used to measure power, the LEFT was used to measure agility, and the VAS along with a body chart, were used subjectively to measure muscle soreness. Results: For VAS, there was a significant main effect for test (F1,17 = 17.696, P=.000, ES= .541, β= 1.000) and for group (F1,17 = 10.702, P=.001, ES= .588, β= .969) for the land by aquatic and land by control groups at the P=0.006 and P=0.002 level, respectively. A significant main effect was found with vertical jump for test (F1,17 = 10.834, P=.005, ES= .419, β= .868). There were no other significant results found within or between groups. For the KinCom test for flexion and concentric contraction at all three speeds, a significant interaction was found for test by group (F1,17 = 7.855, P=.005, ES = .512, β = .902). For extension and concentric contraction at all three speeds, a main effect was found within subjects for speed (F1,17 = 11.127, P=.000, ES = .426, β = .985). No differences were recorded for the measures of flexion and eccentric contraction or extension and eccentric contraction at all three speeds or for the LEFT test. Conclusion: In conclusion, aquatic therapy may help to decrease muscular soreness while performing exercises. However, more research needs to be conducted to determine the affects of plyometric training in the aquatic setting.

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