The Effects of Plyometric Training on Balance, Joint Position Sense, and Explosive Strength

NCT07351539 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: SelcukU--SBF-AEB-AOK-2025-002
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of plyometric training on balance, joint position sense, and explosive strength in young taekwondo athletes. A total of 20 taekwondo athletes aged between 15 and 18 years from Konya province voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group consisting of 10 athletes (5 female, 5 male) and a control group consisting of 10 athletes (5 female, 5 male). In addition to regular taekwondo training, the experimental group performed a plyometric training program three days per week for eight weeks, whereas the control group continued only their regular taekwondo training. Paired-sample and independent-sample t-tests were used for group comparisons.

Conditions

Effects of Plyometric Training on Balance, Joint Position Sense, and Explosive Strength in Healthy Young Taekwondo Athletes

Keywords

Explosive Strength; Balance; Joint Position Sense; Plyometric Training; Taekwondo

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Balance Test

  After determining leg dominance, athletes were positioned on the platform standing on the dominant leg with the knee slightly flexed at approximately 45°, while the non-dominant leg was flexed at 90° at the knee. Participants maintained their arms crossed over the chest throughout the test. During the assessment, visual feedback from the screen was eliminated, and athletes were instructed to focus on a fixed point located approximately 1 m away at eye level. For postural control assessment, the platform stability was set at Level 8 under eyes-open (EO) conditions and Level 10 under eyes-closed (EC) conditions. Measurements were conducted under both EO and EC conditions. Before formal testing, participants performed three familiarization trials, each lasting 30 s. Subsequently, balance tests were conducted eight times under EO and EC conditions, with each trial lasting 30 s. A 5-min rest interval was provided between tests.

  [Time Frame: For 8 weeks from the start of the study]

• Knee Joint Position Sense Assessment

  Participants were provided with three familiarization trials before data collection to ensure adaptation to the isokinetic dynamometer. During testing, the knee joint of both the dominant and non-dominant limbs was positioned at maximum flexion and then slowly moved toward extension. At flexion angles of 30°, 45°, and 60°, the movement was paused for 10 s at each angle to allow participants to learn the target positions. Subsequently, the knee was returned to maximum flexion, and participants were instructed to actively reproduce the previously learned target angles (30°, 45°, and 60°) by extending the knee. Each angle was tested three times for both the dominant and non-dominant legs. A 2-min rest period was provided between trials. The mean absolute error from the target angles was calculated, and the average deviation was recorded as the knee joint position sense value for both the dominant and non-dominant legs.

  [Time Frame: For 8 weeks from the start of the study]

• Vertical Jump Test

  Vertical jump performance was assessed using a TKK 5406 jump meter. Prior to testing, participants were allowed sufficient practice trials to become familiar with the testing device. During the test, athletes stood on the measurement mat with both feet and were instructed to jump as high as possible at a self-selected time following the visual signal from the device. Arm and leg swing were permitted during the jump. Participants were instructed to land on the mat with both feet simultaneously after the jump. Vertical jump height was displayed on the device screen and recorded immediately after each trial. The test was repeated three times with a 1-min rest interval between trials. The highest value obtained from the three trials was recorded as the participant's vertical jump performance.

  [Time Frame: For 8 weeks from the start of the study]

• Standing Long Jump Test

  Athletes were positioned with their toes just behind the starting line, feet at a normal width, and with their arms extended forward and knees bent in a pre-jump stance. They were instructed to jump as far as possible, using their arms for momentum, and both feet were to land simultaneously. The distance from the starting line to the athlete's heels was measured in centimeters and recorded. Athletes were given two attempts, and the best result was taken for analysis.

  [Time Frame: For 8 weeks from the start of the study]

Study Arms (1)

Plyometric

EXPERIMENTAL

A total of 20 club-level taekwondo athletes aged between 15 and 18 years from Konya province voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group consisting of 10 athletes (5 female, 5 male) and a control group consisting of 10 athletes (5 female, 5 male). Inclusion criteria required that participants had no current injuries or any recent injuries that could adversely affect their performance. A pre-test-post-test research design was employed.

Other: Plyometric

Interventions

Plyometric OTHER

A total of 20 club-level taekwondo athletes aged between 15 and 18 years from Konya province voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group consisting of 10 athletes (5 female, 5 male) and a control group consisting of 10 athletes (5 female, 5 male). Inclusion criteria required that participants had no current injuries or any recent injuries that could adversely affect their performance. A pre-test-post-test research design was employed. Following the measurement of anthropometric characteristics (height and body mass), assessments of balance, knee joint position sense, standing long jump, and vertical jump were conducted. After the completion of pre-test measurements, the experimental group performed a plyometric training program in addition to their regular taekwondo training for eight weeks, three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), whereas the control group continued only their regular taekwondo training.

Plyometric

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• When forming the groups, care was taken to ensure that none of the athletes were currently undergoing injury rehabilitation or had any recent injuries that could affect their performance. Additionally, all voluntary participants underwent health screening to verify their current health status.

You may not qualify if:

• Athletes with injuries or illnesses were not included in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Selcuk University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Alaeddin Keykubat Yerleşkesi Akademi Mah. Yeni İstanbul Cad. Selçuklu

Konya, 42150, Turkey (Türkiye)

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 Officials

• Ali Osman Kıvrak, Associate Professor

  Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Selçuk University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Ahmet Mücahit Özcan, MSc

  Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Selçuk University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 29, 2025
• First Posted: January 20, 2026
• Study Start: January 18, 2021
• Primary Completion: October 21, 2021
• Study Completion: December 27, 2022
• Last Updated: January 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

TU (1)