Email this article Effectiveness of Combined Agility and Plyometric Training on Lower Extremity Muscle Strength among University Students
Abstract
Lower extremity muscle strength plays a crucial role in university student physical performance and injury prevention. Combined agility and plyometric training that incorporate agility, speed, and plyometric exercises may provide an effective approach to improve muscular strength. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of integrated training modalities in university students remains limited. For this reason, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a program consisting of combined agility and plyometric training on lower extremity muscle strength in university students aged 18–23 years. A pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach design was conducted involving 231 university students aged 18–23 years who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Lower extremity muscle strength was assessed using a leg dynamometer before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the intervention program. Participants performed the training program three times per week for 12 weeks (36 sessions). Data were analyzed to assess changes in muscle strength. The descriptive analysis showed that the pre-test mean of lower extremity muscle strength was 119.9±15.73 (min=102.2; max=137.7), while the post-test mean value increased to 133.9 ± 13.18 (min=113.9; max=153.9), indicating an overall improvement of 28%. Normality testing demonstrated that both pre-test (p=0.341) and post-test (p=0.237) data were normally distributed (p>0.05). The paired sample t-test revealed a significant difference between pre-test and post-test values with a mean difference of 16.31±5.28 and p<0.001, indicating a statistically significant improvement in lower extremity muscle strength following the training intervention. A 12-week combined agility and plyometric training program consisting of shuttle run, sprint, squat jump, and zig-zag exercises significantly improved lower extremity muscle strength in university students. These findings suggest that integrated speed, agility, and plyometric training is an effective strategy for enhancing muscular strength and functional performance in young populations.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/jpjo.v11i2.99712
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