BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of incorporating specific upper-body plyometric training for the spike into the competitive season of a women`s professional volleyball team. METHODS: A professional team from the Spanish first division participated in the study. An A-B-A` quasi-experimental design with experimental and control groups was used. The independent variable was the upper-body plyometric training for eight weeks during the competitive season. The dependent variables were the spiked ball`s speed (km/h); the player`s body weight (kg), BMI (kg/m2), and muscle percentage in arms (%); 1 repetition maximum (1RM) in the bench press (kg); 1RM in the pullover (kg); and overhead medicine ball throws of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 kg (m). Inter-player and inter-group statistical analyses of the results were carried out (Wilcoxon test and linear regression model). RESULTS: The experimental group significantly improved their spike speed 3.8% from phase A to phase B, and they maintained this improvement after the retention phase. No improvements were found in the control group. The experimental group presented a significant improvement from phase A to phase B in dominant arm muscle area (+10.8%), 1RM for the bench press (+8.41%), 1RM for the pullover (+14.75%), and overhead medicine ball throws with 1 kg (+7.19%), 2 kg (+7.69%), and 3 kg (+5.26%). The control group did not present differences in these variables. CONCLUSIONS: Data showed the plyometric exercises that were tested could be used by performance-level volleyball teams to improve spike speed. The experimental group increased their upper-body maximal strength, their power application, and spike speed.
© Copyright 2018 The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. Edizioni Minerva Medica. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. / Übersetzt mit https://www.DeepL.com/Translator