Effects of direction specific exercise training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Movement patterns and force-vector specificity in training are theorized to enhance skill transfer.
• The principle of directional specificity suggests training should mimic the target movement for optimal performance gains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if direction-specific exercise training leads to observable adaptations in athletic performance.
• To compare the effects of horizontally versus vertically oriented resistance and plyometric training.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE.
• Included studies compared acute and short-term effects of horizontal training (HT) versus vertical training (VT) on athletic performance.
• Effect sizes were calculated using a robust variance estimation random-effects model (Hedge's g).

Main Results:

• Twenty-two studies were included in the review.
• Acute effects showed a small, non-significant trend favoring HT for sprint performance.
• Short-term studies revealed non-significant differences between HT and VT across various performance metrics, including jumps, maximal strength, and sprint times.

Conclusions:

• Horizontal and vertical training appear equally effective for improving both vertical and horizontal athletic performance.
• The findings potentially challenge the established theory of directional specificity in training for athletic outcomes.