Effect of 8-week Incremental Elastic-Resistance Kick Training in Taekwondo Athlete's

Bruno Figueira

Status: Completed

Conditions: Performance; Strength

Treatments: Other: No Elastic-Resistance Kick Training; Other: Elastic-Resistance Kick Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06572969

#SA-EK-23-29

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aimed to assess the effects of an 8-week incremental elastic-resistance kick training program on the roundhouse kick quality and physical performance, in comparison to conventional training methods of youth Taekwondo athletes. A two-group parallel, randomized, quasi-experimental design was used, dividing Participants into experimental (n=11, age: 15.5 ± 1.5 years, stature: 169.5 ± 15.5 cm, body mass: 63.2 ± 26.2 kg; training experience: 7.0 ± 3.0 y) and control group (n=10, age: 14.8 ± 1.2 years, stature: 162.0 ± 14.0 cm, body mass: 53.15 ± 21.4 kg; training experience: 5.5 ± 1.5 y), undergoing tailored Elastic Resistance training alongside their regular Taekwondo regimen. The study measured various performance metrics including Roundhouse Kick velocity, impact scoring, isometric muscle strength, counter movement jump performance, and simple reaction times.

Enrollment: 37 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 14 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being part of a unified youth development program;
• Minimum of four weekly training sessions, each session lasting 90 minutes.

Exclusion criteria

• Musculoskeletal, neurological, or orthopedic injury that may impair their participation.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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37 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental

Experimental group

Description:

In the experimental group, participants performed the RHK exercises using incrementally resistive elastic tubing. The RHKs targeted shields (Adidas, Curved Kick Shield) held at chest height. Each athlete started with a 2.4 m elastic tubing, one end attached to the ankle and the other to a stable platform, ensuring the tubing's resistance reached 50 N at full kicked extension (Fig.1). After four weeks (12 sessions), resistance increased to 100 N by adding another tubing. Each session comprised three sets of 6 RHKs per leg, at maximum speed, with 30-second intervals between kicks and 3-minute rests between sets. This 8-week, three times weekly, training regimen involved incremental ER training.

Treatment:

Other: Elastic-Resistance Kick Training

Control

Other group

Description:

The control group undertook a similar RHK training regime in sequence and duration, mirroring the number of kicks performed by the experimental group, but without ER equipment. After each training session, a 5-minute rest allotted before resuming standard Taekwondo training. Post the 8-week training, both groups underwent a 2-week retention period with uniform training program.

Treatment:

Other: No Elastic-Resistance Kick Training