Acute effects of plyometric conditioning activities on sprint performance in sports individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Objective: . >30 m). Methods: A systematic search was conducted across four electronic databases. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed in accordance with the Cochrane guidelines. Outcome measures were analyzed using R software (version 4.3.0, R studio). A total of fourteen studies involving 198 participants(78.8% male) were included, comprising randomized controlled trials (RCTs), parallel-group trials, crossover trials, and pre-post-test experimental designs. All effect sizes were derived exclusively from within-condition pre-post comparisons. Results: Plyometric conditioning activities elicited a moderate acute improvement in sprint performance [SMD = 0.51, 95% CI (0.24, 0.79), P < 0.001], with moderate heterogeneity (I²= 51%). Subgroup analyses showed that complex protocols tended to produce larger effects than single protocols, although heterogeneity was substantial for complex training (I²= 80%). Longer rest intervals were associated with significant performance gains [SMD = 0.42, 95% CI (0.16, 0.68), P = 0.002]. Sprint distance moderated the effect: benefits were significant for ≤30 m tests [SMD = 0.73, 95% CI (0.34, 1.13), P = 0.0003], but not for >30 m tests [SMD = 0.17, 95% CI (-0.15, 0.49), P = 0.31], with a significant subgroup difference (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Plyometric conditioning activities were associated with acute changes in sprint performance, with statistically significant pooled effects observed in shorter sprint distances (≤30 m). Larger pooled effect sizes appeared in complex protocols and longer rest intervals, although responses varied across studies. These findings suggest that protocol characteristics and recovery duration may influence acute sprint performance outcomes.
Source: Frontiers in Physiology
Authors: Hangxin Chen, Dongxu Gao
Institutions: Shanghai University of Sport, Tsinghua University
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7140143351