Lower Body Plyometric Training Effects on Upper Body in Basketball Players

NCT07339436 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: Birjand-Plyometric-1403IR.BIRJAND.REC.1403.016
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The present study investigates effect of lower body plyometric training on upper body performance, muscle size, hormonal factors, and neuromuscular activity in male basketball players, with a focus on vertical strength transfer (VST). In this semi-experimental study, 50 male basketball players (aged 16-18 years, with at least 2 years of experience) were randomly divided into three groups: combined lower-upper body plyometric training (LUBPT), upper body training (UBPT), and control (CON). The 8-week training program, 3 sessions per week, included hurdle jumps, depth jumps, and dynamic push-ups. Assessments included serum levels of growth hormone and testosterone, muscle thickness (elastography), muscle electrical activity (EMG), and sports performance (overhead medicine ball throw, Sargent jump, long jump) in pre- and post-tests.

Conditions

Basketball Performance

Keywords

plyometric training; neuromuscular adaptation; hormonal factors; cross-education

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Overhead medicine ball throw

  Participants stood with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a 2 kg medicine ball at the abdomen with both hands, then brought the ball behind the head with slight knee bend, and performed an explosive and strong throw forward with full force. The distance was measured with a tape measure and considered as overhead medicine ball throw performance \[22\]. In the above test, electrical activity of pectoralis major, rectus abdominis, quadriceps femoris, Anterior Brachii, and triceps brachii muscles was recorded.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Overhead medicine ball throw

  Participants stood with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a 2 kg medicine ball at the abdomen with both hands, then brought the ball behind the head with slight knee bend, and performed an explosive and strong throw forward with full force. The distance was measured with a tape measure and considered as overhead medicine ball throw performance \[22\]. In the above test, electrical activity of pectoralis major, rectus abdominis, quadriceps femoris, Anterior Brachii, and triceps brachii muscles was recorded.

  pre and post intervention

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Growth hormone

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Combined Lower-Upper Body Plyometric Training (LUBPT) - n=17

EXPERIMENTAL

Combined Lower-Upper Body Plyometric Training (LUBPT) group received an 8-week plyometric program targeting both lower and upper body, 3 sessions per week (total 24 sessions). Lower body exercises included hurdle jumps (40-60 cm height) and depth jumps (from 40 cm box). Upper body exercises consisted of dynamic push-ups. Progression: Weeks 1-2 (sessions 1-6): 2 sets of 8 reps per exercise; Weeks 3-4 (sessions 7-12): 3 sets of 10 reps; Weeks 5-6 (sessions 13-18): 3 sets of 12 reps; Weeks 7-8 (sessions 19-24): 4 sets of 15 reps. Rest intervals: 60-90 seconds between sets, 3 minutes between exercises. Training was performed in addition to regular basketball practice. Pre- and post-tests assessed neuromuscular adaptations (EMG: pectoralis major, rectus abdominis, triceps brachii), hormonal factors (growth hormone, testosterone), muscle thickness (biceps brachii, pectoralis major via ultrasound elastography), and functional performance (overhead medicine ball throw, Sargent jump height/pow

Behavioral: Plyometric Training

Upper Body Plyometric Training (UBPT, n=18)

EXPERIMENTAL

Upper Body Plyometric Training (UBPT) group received an 8-week plyometric program targeting only upper body, 3 sessions per week (total 24 sessions). Primary exercise: dynamic push-ups. Progression: Weeks 1-2 (sessions 1-6): 2 sets of 8 reps; Weeks 3-4 (sessions 7-12): 3 sets of 10 reps; Weeks 5-6 (sessions 13-18): 3 sets of 12 reps; Weeks 7-8 (sessions 19-24): 4 sets of 15 reps. Rest intervals: 60-90 seconds between sets. Lower body training was not included; participants continued regular basketball practice. Assessments pre- and post-intervention: serum growth hormone and testosterone levels; muscle thickness of biceps brachii and pectoralis major (ultrasound elastography); EMG activity (RMS) of anterior brachii, pectoralis major, quadriceps femoris, rectus abdominis, triceps brachii; functional tests including overhead medicine ball throw distance, Sargent jump (height and power), and standing long jump.

Behavioral: Plyometric Training

Control (CON, n=15)

NO INTERVENTION

Control (CON) group did not receive any plyometric training intervention. Participants continued their regular basketball training routine (technical/tactical drills, scrimmages) for 8 weeks, 3-5 sessions per week, without additional structured plyometric exercises for lower or upper body. No changes to standard practice schedule. This group served as the non-intervention comparator to assess the specific effects of plyometric training. Pre- and post-assessments (48-72 hours before start and after week 8) included: hormonal measurements (serum growth hormone and testosterone via ELISA); muscle thickness (right/left biceps brachii and pectoralis major using ultrasound elastography); neuromuscular electrical activity (surface EMG RMS during standardized tasks for anterior brachii, pectoralis major, quadriceps femoris, rectus abdominis, triceps brachii); physical performance tests (overhead medicine ball throw distance in meters, Sargent vertical jump height and power in kg m/s, standing

Interventions

Plyometric Training BEHAVIORAL

8-week plyometric training program, 3 sessions per week. Lower body exercises: hurdle jumps (40-60 cm) and depth jumps (from 40 cm box). Upper body exercises: dynamic push-ups. Progression: increasing sets (2-4) and repetitions (8-15) over 8 weeks. Rest: 60-90 seconds between sets, 3 minutes between exercises. Administered in addition to regular basketball training.

Combined Lower-Upper Body Plyometric Training (LUBPT) - n=17; Upper Body Plyometric Training (UBPT, n=18)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 18 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: male basketball players
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male basketball players with at least 2 years experience

You may not qualify if:

• injury

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Birjand University of Medical Sciences: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Birjand

Birjand, South Khorasan Province, 9717434765, Iran

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Plyometric Exercise

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Birjand

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 5, 2026
• First Posted: January 14, 2026
• Study Start: September 20, 2024
• Primary Completion: November 29, 2024
• Study Completion: March 20, 2025
• Last Updated: January 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IR (1)