RESULTS OF PLIOMETRY ON LOWER LIMB MOTOR FUNCTION IN SOCCER PLAYERS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Soccer is watched by hundreds of millions of fans worldwide, in more than 1.5 million teams and 300,000 clubs worldwide, by men and women, children and adults of all levels of expertise. Demanding high performance from its practitioners, achieved only with the strong scientific basis of its technicians by constantly updated research. Objective: Study the results of extensor strength training with plyometrics exercises on the motor function of soccer players' lower limbs. Methods: An experiment with 30 soccer players as research volunteers was performed by randomly dividing them into high load plyometric training group (PHL, 20% of body weight), low load plyometric training group (PLL, 10% of body weight), and control group (CON) for various physiological tests before and after training. Results: Lower limb muscle mass in the PHL group increased significantly; creatine kinase (CK) changes were not statistically significant; regarding isokinetic muscle strength performance, the PHL group showed a significant improvement in peak torque at 60°/s and 180°/s, while the PLL group obtained only a significant improvement at 180°/s. Conclusion: Plyometric exercise promoted a significant improvement in isokinetic muscle strength of the lower extremity of soccer players; its training with different weights did not cause muscle damage. A progressive training load is recommended for athletes with low muscle strength during the initial training phase. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.