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Relationship Between Drop Jump Training-Induced Changes in Passive Plantar Flexor Stiffness and Explosive
Ryosuke Ando1, Shinya Sato2, Naoya Hirata2
1Department of Sports Research, Japan Institute of Sports Sciences (JISS), Tokyo, Japan.
Frontiers in Physiology
|January 17, 2022
Summary
Eight weeks of drop jump training reduced passive muscle stiffness in the medial gastrocnemius, but did not enhance explosive performance. Changes in muscle stiffness did not correlate with performance improvements.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Sports Science
- Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Passive muscle stiffness is linked to explosive performance.
- Drop jump training is a potential method to enhance muscle stiffness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of 8-week drop jump training on plantar flexor muscle passive stiffness.
- To determine the association between changes in passive muscle stiffness and explosive performance.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial with 24 healthy young men.
- Drop jump training group (3 days/week, 8 weeks) vs. control group.
- Measured medial gastrocnemius and soleus shear moduli (passive stiffness) via shear wave elastography.
- Assessed maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexion and drop jump performance.
Main Results:
- Drop jump training significantly decreased medial gastrocnemius shear modulus.
- No significant changes were observed in soleus shear modulus or rate of torque development.
- Drop jump performance improved in the training group.
- No correlation found between changes in passive stiffness and performance improvements.
Conclusions:
- Drop jump training can decrease passive stiffness in the medial gastrocnemius.
- Improvements in explosive performance following drop jump training are not attributable to changes in passive muscle stiffness.
