A Randomized Crossover Study on Diverse Training Methods to Enhance University Athletes' Performance and Health

University of Macau

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Healthy; Plyometric Exercise; Athletic Performance

Treatments: Behavioral: Functional Training; Behavioral: Plyometric Training; Device: Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06546605

HE-0151-2024

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this randomized crossover study is to investigate the effects of plyometric training, functional training, and whole-body electrical muscle stimulation (WB-EMS) on athletic performance and health in university basketball and volleyball players. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Which training modality (plyometric, functional, or WB-EMS) leads to the greatest improvements in athletic performance measures such as power, speed, and agility?
2. How do these training modalities compare in terms of their effects on overall health, injury risk reduction, and psychological well-being?

Researchers will use a crossover design, where each participant experiences multiple training modalities in a sequential manner, to provide a more rigorous and comprehensive evaluation of the interventions' effectiveness.

Participants will:

1. Be randomly assigned to one of four training sequences, each consisting of two 8-week intervention periods separated by a 4-week washout phase;
2. Experience at least two of the three training modalities (plyometric, functional, or WB-EMS) during the intervention periods;
3. Maintain their regular training routines if assigned to the control group;
4. Undergo assessments, including anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests, and questionnaires, at baseline, after each intervention period, and during a follow-up session.

The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the optimal sequencing and combination of training modalities to maximize athletic performance and promote health among university basketball and volleyball players.

Full description

Background: Enhancing athletic performance and reducing injury risk require effective training techniques. University athletes, often practicing only 2-3 times a week, need support to reach optimal fitness. This study examines the effects of plyometric, functional, and WB-EMS training on the health and performance of collegiate basketball and volleyball players.

Objective: The primary aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of these training modalities in improving athletic performance metrics such as strength, speed, agility, and endurance. Secondary aims include determining their influence on recovery and injury prevention and exploring potential differences in response among athletes from different sports disciplines.

Study Design: This is a randomized crossover study. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of four groups: plyometric training, WB-EMS training, functional training, or control group. The intervention will consist of two 8-week training periods separated by a 4-week washout period.

Participants: 120 male and female basketball and volleyball players aged 18-30 from University teams in Macau will be recruited. They should have at least 3-4 years of competitive experience in their respective sports.

Interventions: The plyometric group will focus on explosive movements and jumps. The WB-EMS group will perform exercises while receiving electrical stimulation. The functional training group will engage in sport-specific exercises. The control group will maintain their regular training. Each session will include a warm-up, specific exercises, and a cool-down.

Outcome Measures: Participants will undergo assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. These include anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests (e.g., Y-Balance Test, FMS, 1RM half-squat, leg muscle volume, vertical jump, agility, sprint), and questionnaires (e.g., ERQ, PSQI, SES, SWLS).

Statistical Analysis: Mixed-design ANOVA or ANCOVA will compare the effects across time points. Post-hoc tests will determine specific differences between groups and time points. Significance will be set at p value smaller than 0.05.

Enrollment: 120 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Team Membership: Participants must be officially registered members of the Macau universities' 's men's and women's basketball or volleyball teams.
2. Age Range: Participants must be aged between 18 and 30 years.
3. Health Status: Participants should be in good health, free from any chronic diseases, serious health conditions, or contraindications that could impair their athletic performance, preclude their safe participation in the study, or present undue risks when exposed to WB-EMS. Participants must provide informed consent and be willing to undergo WB-EMS training after being fully apprised of the potential risks and benefits.
4. Commitment: Participants must be able to engage fully in the intervention period and all associated assessments.
5. Experience: Participants are required to have a minimum of three to four years of competitive basketball or volleyball experience.

Exclusion criteria

1. Unable to provide informed consent.
2. Unwillingness to be allocated to one of the four groups.
3. Have suffered a lower extremity injury or required surgery within the past 6 months.
4. Have undergone electrical stimulation training for the previous six months.
5. Have been diagnosed with a cardiovascular or neurological disease or abnormality.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

120 participants in 4 patient groups

Plyometric Training to WB-EMS Training Group (PTG-ETG)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the PTG-ETG will undergo a progressive plyometric training program in the first 8-week intervention period, followed by a WB-EMS training program in the second 8-week intervention period after the crossover. The plyometric training will include exercises such as box jumps, depth jumps, split squat jumps, and single-leg hops to enhance lower extremity power, speed, and agility. After the crossover, participants will engage in a WB-EMS training program that combines dynamic exercises with concurrent electrical stimulation using the miha bodytec® device. Each WB-EMS session will consist of a warm-up followed by 4-6 exercises lasting 4-6 seconds each, with 4 seconds of rest between exercises. The intensity of the electrical stimulation will be set at 70-85% of the participant's maximal comfort level and adjusted based on individual tolerance. The WB-EMS training will be performed twice a week for 20-25 minutes per session during the second intervention period.

Treatment:

Device: Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Training

Behavioral: Plyometric Training

Functional Training to Plyometric Training Group (FTG-PTG)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the FTG-PTG will engage in a functional training program tailored to their specific sport in the first 8-week intervention period, followed by a progressive plyometric training program in the second 8-week intervention period after the crossover. The functional training will incorporate sport-specific movements, such as multidirectional lunges, rotational medicine ball throws, and single-leg balance drills. After the crossover, participants will undergo a progressive plyometric training program designed to enhance their lower extremity power, speed, and agility. The program will include a variety of plyometric exercises such as box jumps, depth jumps, split squat jumps, and single-leg hops. Each session will begin with a dynamic warm-up, then proceed to the main exercise, and then cool down with stretching.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Functional Training

Behavioral: Plyometric Training

WB-EMS Training to Functional Training Group (ETG-FTG)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the ETG will participate in a training program that combines dynamic exercises with concurrent WB-EMS. The WB-EMS device (miha bodytec®, Augsburg, Germany) will be used to apply electrical stimulation to major muscle groups while participants perform exercises such as squats, lunges, and trunk rotations. Each session will consist of a warm-up followed by 4-6 WB-EMS exercises lasting 4-6 seconds each, with 4 seconds of rest between exercises. The intensity of the electrical stimulation will be set at 70-85% of the participant's maximal comfort level and adjusted based on individual tolerance. The WB-EMS training will be performed twice a week for 20-25 minutes per session. After the crossover, participants will engage in a functional training program that simulates game-specific movements, such as multidirectional lunges, rotational medicine ball throws, and single-leg balance drills.The program will also include core stability and injury prevention exercises.

Treatment:

Device: Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Training

Behavioral: Functional Training

Control Group (CG)

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the CG will maintain their usual team training routines and practices throughout the study period, without receiving any additional training interventions. They will serve as a reference to compare the effects of the plyometric, functional, and WB-EMS training programs on athletic performance and health-related outcomes. Participants in this group will undergo all scheduled assessments at baseline, after each 8-week intervention period, and during the follow-up to track changes in their performance and health status over time. The control group will help determine the extent to which changes in the intervention groups can be attributed to the specific training programs, rather than other factors such as natural progression or regular team training.