Plyometric Training on Sand vs Firm Ground in Young Adults

NCT07489404 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PTU-19012026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 57
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Summary The purpose of this interventional study is to determine whether the type of training surface used during plyometric training influences neuromuscular performance, dynamic postural balance, and muscle soreness in young active males. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

• Does plyometric training performed on sand improve dynamic postural balance more than training performed on a firm surface?
• Does plyometric training performed on sand reduce lower-limb muscle soreness compared with training performed on a firm surface? Researchers will compare a firm-ground plyometric training group, a sand-surface plyometric training group, and a control group to evaluate the effects of training surfaces on physical performance and recovery. Participants will:
• Perform plyometric training sessions three times per week for eight weeks (experimental groups).
• Complete performance tests, including vertical jumps, sprint tests, change-of-direction speed tests, and the Y-Balance Test, before and after the intervention.
• Report perceived lower-limb muscle soreness following training sessions.

Conditions

Lower Limb Injuries

Keywords

Equilibre; Force; Vitesse; Surface

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (13)

• Change in Squat Jump (SJ) height (cm)

  Squat Jump height is measured in centimeters using the Optojump infrared optical measurement system. The mean of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after the 8-week training intervention

• Change in Countermovement Jump (CMJ) height (cm)

  The countermovement jump height was measured in centimetres using the Optojump infrared optical measurement system. The mean of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in Standing Long Jump distance (cm)

  Standing long jump performance is measured as horizontal jump distance in centimetres. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in 10-meter sprint time (s)

  Sprint performance was measured as the time in seconds to complete the 10-meter split using photoelectric timing gates. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in 20-meter sprint time (s)

  Sprint performance was measured as the time in seconds to complete the 20-metre sprint using photoelectric timing gates. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in T-test time (s)

  Change-of-direction speed is measured as the time in seconds it takes to complete the T-test using electronic timing gates. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in Y-Balance Test anterior reach distance on the dominant leg (cm)

  Dynamic postural balance is assessed as a maximal anterior reach distance on the dominant leg, measured in centimeters. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in Y-Balance Test posteromedial reach distance on the dominant leg (cm)

  Dynamic postural balance is assessed as a maximal posteromedial reach distance on the dominant leg, measured in centimeters. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in Y-Balance Test posterolateral reach distance on the dominant leg (cm)

  Dynamic postural balance is assessed as a maximal posterolateral reach distance on the dominant leg, measured in centimeters. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in Y-Balance Test anterior reach distance on the non-dominant leg (cm)

  Dynamic postural balance assessed as maximal anterior reach distance on the non-dominant leg, measured in centimeters. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in Y-Balance Test posterolateral reach distance on the non-dominant leg (cm)

  Dynamic postural balance was assessed as maximal posterolateral reach distance on the non-dominant leg, measured in centimetres. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Change in Y-Balance Test posteromedial reach distance on the non-dominant leg (cm)

  Dynamic postural balance assessed as maximal posteromedial reach distance on the non-dominant leg, measured in centimeters. The best of three trials will be used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Mean lower-limb muscle soreness score (7-point Likert scale)

  Lower-limb muscle soreness was assessed using a 7-point Likert scale after each plyometric training session. The mean score across all training sessions will be used for analysis.

  After each training session over 8 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Sand-Surface Plyometric Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants performed a multidirectional plyometric training program on dry sand three times per week for eight weeks.

Behavioral: Plyometric Training on Sand

Firm-Ground Plyometric Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants performed a multidirectional plyometric training program on a firm surface three times a week for eight weeks.

Behavioral: Plyometric Training on Sand

control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants continued their usual activities and did not perform additional plyometric training during the eight-week study period.

Interventions

Plyometric Training on Sand BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed a multidirectional plyometric training program on dry sand three times a week for eight weeks. The training sessions included forward bounding jumps, lateral hurdle jumps, and forward hurdle jumps with progressive increases in training volume throughout the intervention period.

Also known as: Sand-Based Plyometric Training

Firm-Ground Plyometric Training; Sand-Surface Plyometric Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 20 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male university students aged between 19 and 20 years
• Physically active and regularly participating in practical sport science activities
• Free from lower-limb injuries during the previous six months
• Provided written informed consent to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of any musculoskeletal injury affecting the lower limbs or lower back
• Any neurological or balance disorder that could affect test performance
• Participation in another structured strength or plyometric training program during the study period
• Failure to complete the training intervention or testing sessions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Manouba: lead

Study Sites (1)

Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, University of Manouba

Manouba, Manouba, 2010, Tunisia

Location

Study Officials

• Mohamed UM jlid, Assoc. Prof.

  University Manouba

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Salah Mohammed Abuzaid

  University Manouba

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups: a firm-ground plyometric training group, a sand-surface plyometric training group, or a control group. The two experimental groups performed identical plyometric training programs three times per week for eight weeks on different surfaces (firm ground or sand), while the control group maintained their usual activities without additional training. Performance outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 14, 2026
• First Posted: March 24, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: November 15, 2024
• Study Completion: December 1, 2024
• Last Updated: March 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)