Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 11(27), p. 3001-3010, 2013
DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0b013e31828c32de
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different volumes of plyometric exercise (i.e., 100, 200, or 300 hurdle jumps) on acute strength and jump performance as well as on the acute hormonal and lactate responses in rugby players. Eleven young male elite rugby players (age, 23.5 ± 0.9 years; height, 173 ± 4.8 cm) volunteered for the study. Maximal isometric peak torque (PT), maximal rate of force development (RFD), and squat jump (SJ) and drop jump (DP) performance were assessed before and 5 minutes, 8 hours, and 24 hours after 100, 200, or 300 jumps. In addition, total testosterone, cortisol, and lactate were measure before and after the three different plyometric exercise volumes. There were significant decreases in the PT (P<0.02) and maximal RFD (P<0.001) 5 minutes, 8 hours, and 24 hours after 100, 200 and 300 jumps, with no differences between the exercise volumes. Additionally, there were significant decreases in the SJ (P<0.001) and DJ (P<0.01) performances 24 hours after 100, 200, and 300 jumps, with no differences between the exercise volumes. However, there were significant increases in the total testosterone (P<0.001), cortisol (P<0.05), and lactate (P<0.001) after 100, 200, and 300 jumps, with no differences between the exercise volumes. All plyometric exercise volumes (100, 200, and 300 jumps) resulted in similar neuromuscular, metabolic, and hormonal responses.