Plyometric Exercises During the Winter Pre-season in Sprinters

NCT07488000 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: VelPli
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background. Plyometric training is an effective strategy to improve power and performance in sprint-based sports; however, evidence regarding its actual effects in athletes during the winter season and its potential influence on the occurrence of health problems remains limited. Objective. To analyse the association between participation in a plyometric exercise programme during the winter pre-season and competitive performance, as well as the occurrence of lower-limb health problems in sprinters. Methods. This will be a prospective observational cohort study with fully online data collection. Federated sprinters or athletes affiliated with athletics clubs will be included. The main exposure will be participation in a plyometric exercise programme (≥2 sessions per week in January). Outcomes will be winter competitive performance (best official time) and lower-limb health problems assessed using the OSTRC-H2 questionnaire. Control variables will include sleep quality (PSQI), internal training load (session-RPE), injury history, and competitive level. Statistical analyses will include linear and logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Expected results. A positive association is expected between engagement in plyometric training and competitive performance, along with a lower frequency of lower-limb health problems, particularly among athletes with adequate sleep quality and a well-balanced training load.

Conditions

Running

Keywords

Plyometric Exercise; Running; Athletic Performance; Sports Injuries; Workload; Sleep Quality

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Assessment of changes in winter competitive performance at baseline, after the winter pre-season, and after the competitive season

  Winter competitive performance will be measured using the best official time recorded by each athlete in their main event (60, 100, 200, or 400 metres) during the winter season. The value will be expressed in seconds and will be obtained via self-report in the final questionnaire, together with the competition in which it was achieved. This continuous variable will represent the primary performance outcome.

  Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month

• Assessment of changes in the occurrence of lower-limb health problems at baseline, after the winter pre-season, and after the competitive season

  The occurrence of lower-limb health problems will be assessed using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire (OSTRC-O), Spanish validated version. Based on the weekly reports, two indicators will be derived: the presence of at least one substantial lower-limb health problem (dichotomous variable: yes/no) and the total number of weeks with any health problem in this location (discrete variable).

  Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Assessment of changes in sleep quality at baseline, after the winter pre-season, and after the competitive season

  Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month

• Assessment of changes in the internal training load at baseline, after the winter pre-season, and after the competitive season

  Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month

• Assessment of the previous performance at baseline

  Baseline

• Assessment of lower-limb injury history at baseline

  Baseline

Other Outcomes (5)

• Assessment of main sprint event at baseline

  Baseline

• Assessment of the athlete's competitive level at baseline

  Baseline

• Assessment of years of experience in sprint athletics at baseline

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Observational group with intervention

Athletes undertaking plyometric training

Other: Plyometric training

Observational group without intervention

Athletes not undertaking plyometric training

Other: Training without plyometric exercises

Interventions

Plyometric training OTHER

Participation in a structured plyometric exercise programme during the winter pre-season (≥2 sessions per week)

Observational group with intervention

Training without plyometric exercises OTHER

Winter pre-season training programme without plyometric exercises

Observational group without intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Athletes meeting all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be recruited through the Athletics Federation of the Region of Murcia.

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥16 years
• Regular participation in sprint events (60-400 m)
• Planned participation in winter competitions
• Membership of an athletics club
• Provision of digital informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Recent acute lower-limb injury preventing training
• Medical contraindication to plyometric training
• Inability to complete follow-up
• Low questionnaire completion rate (\<70%).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

Murcia, Principality of Asturias, 33006, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Athletic Injuries; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Interventions

Plyometric Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Wounds and Injuries; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders

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

• Rubén Cuesta-Barriuso, PhD

  Universidad de Oviedo

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2025
• First Posted: March 23, 2026
• Study Start: December 15, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 13, 2026
• Study Completion: April 20, 2026
• Last Updated: April 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)