Effects of eccentric training on athletes' explosive power: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Eccentric training is frequently used to improve explosive performance in athletes; however, findings across different performance dimensions (e.g., jumping and sprinting) remain inconsistent, and intervention heterogeneity is substantial. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of eccentric training on explosive performance in athletes.

Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included according to the PICOS framework (healthy athletes; explicitly labeled eccentric training; conventional training as control; outcomes related to explosive performance, including countermovement jump (CMJ) and linear sprint performance over 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m). Only studies explicitly labeled as eccentric training were included; Nordic hamstring exercise and other interventions not explicitly labeled as eccentric training were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, and meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model.

Eleven RCTs (n = 348; 11-25 years; 6-24 weeks) were included. Pooled results showed that eccentric training significantly improved CMJ performance (MD = 2.92 cm, p = 0.0006). However, no significant improvements were observed for short-distance sprint performance: 10-m and 20-m sprint (MD = -0.10 s, p = 0.11) and 30-m sprint (MD = -0.42 s, p = 0.23). The 10-m sprint meta-analysis showed high heterogeneity, with two studies reporting significant effects and two reporting non-significant effects. Subgroup analysis indicated that eccentric training duration had a moderating effect on CMJ performance (MD = 1.91 cm, p = 0.009).

Eccentric training may improve CMJ, a component of jump performance, in athletes, but shows no significant effect on linear sprint performance (20 m and 30 m), with unstable evidence for 10 m. Due to the limited number of included studies, substantial heterogeneity, moderate-to-high risk of bias, and inclusion of only studies explicitly labeled as eccentric training, these conclusions should be interpreted cautiously and cannot be generalized to other explosive performance dimensions or all eccentric training modalities. Future high-quality studies are needed to standardize eccentric training protocols, intervention durations, and outcome measurements, and to perform stratified analyses by outcome dimension.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=1380375, identifier CRD420261380375.