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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07826104

Microdosed Versus Conventional Plyometric Training in Adolescent Basketball Players

This randomized controlled trial compared microdosed and conventional plyometric training in adolescent male basketball players. Forty participants aged 12-16 years were randomly assigned to either a microdosed training group or a conventional training group for 8 weeks. Both groups performed the same plyometric exercises and completed the same weekly training volume of 240 ground contacts. The microdosed group completed six sessions per week with 40 ground contacts per session, whereas the conventional group completed two sessions per week with 120 ground contacts per session. The study evaluated changes in jump performance, reactive strength, sprint performance, agility, and body composition.

The study was completed before registration on ClinicalTrials.gov and is being registered retrospectively for transparency.

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Key information

Conditions

Athletic Performance

Age range

12 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Chongqing University of Education

Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, 400065, China

About this study

This study was an 8-week, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial designed to compare the effects of microdosed and conventional plyometric training in adolescent male basketball players.

Forty male basketball players aged 12-16 years were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to a microdosed training group (MT, n=20) or a conventional training group (CT, n=20). Both groups continued their regular basketball training and performed the same plyometric exercises, including ankle hops, hurdle jumps, and drop jumps.

The total weekly plyometric training volume was matched between groups. The MT group completed six sessions per week with 40 ground contacts per session, whereas the CT group completed two sessions per week with 120 ground contacts per session. Therefore, both groups completed 240 ground contacts per week and 1,920 ground contacts over the 8-week intervention. Exercise technique, hurdle height, box height, and recovery intervals were standardized between groups.

Outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention. These included body mass, body fat percentage, countermovement jump height and concentric peak power, squat jump height and concentric peak power, eccentric utilization ratio, drop jump height, reactive strength index, three-quarter-court sprint time, and hexagon test completion time.

This study was completed before registration on ClinicalTrials.gov. Therefore, this record represents a retrospective registration based on the completed study protocol and collected study data.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male adolescent basketball players aged 12-16 years.
  • Regular participation in organized basketball training.
  • No lower-limb injury within the previous 3 months.
  • No systematic plyometric training within the previous 6 months.

Exclusion criteria

  • Injury or illness that prevented continued participation in the study.
  • Participation in additional structured lower-limb training during the intervention.
  • Failure to complete either the PRE or POST assessments.

Treatment and study plan

Microdosed Plyometric Training

Other

The intervention lasted 8 weeks. Participants completed six sessions per week with 40 ground contacts per session. Each session included ankle hops (2 sets × 10 repetitions), hurdle jumps over 70-cm hurdles (3 sets × 5 repetitions), and drop jumps from a 50-cm box (5 repetitions). Participants rested for 30 seconds between sets of ankle hops and hurdle jumps and 15 seconds between drop-jump repetitions. The total weekly volume was 240 ground contacts.

Conventional Plyometric Training

Other

The intervention lasted 8 weeks. Participants completed two sessions per week with 120 ground contacts per session. Each session included ankle hops (6 sets × 10 repetitions), hurdle jumps over 70-cm hurdles (9 sets × 5 repetitions), and drop jumps from a 50-cm box (15 repetitions). Participants rested for 30 seconds between sets of ankle hops and hurdle jumps and 15 seconds between drop-jump repetitions. The total weekly volume was 240 ground contacts.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Countermovement Jump Height

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Countermovement jump height was assessed using two portable three-dimensional force plates sampling at 1,000 Hz. Participants performed three valid maximal countermovement jumps with 60 seconds of rest between trials. The trial with the greatest jump height was retained for analysis. Jump height was recorded in centimeters (cm).

  2. Change in Countermovement Jump Concentric Peak Power

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Countermovement jump concentric peak power was assessed using two portable three-dimensional force plates sampling at 1,000 Hz. Participants performed three valid maximal countermovement jumps with 60 seconds of rest between trials. Concentric peak power was recorded in watts (W).

  3. Change in Squat Jump Height

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Squat jump height was assessed using two portable three-dimensional force plates sampling at 1,000 Hz. Participants started from a stationary squat position with approximately 90 degrees of knee flexion and jumped vertically without a preparatory countermovement. Three valid trials were completed with 60 seconds of rest, and the trial with the greatest jump height was retained. Jump height was recorded in centimeters (cm).

  4. Change in Squat Jump Concentric Peak Power

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Squat jump concentric peak power was assessed using two portable three-dimensional force plates sampling at 1,000 Hz. Participants completed three valid squat jumps with 60 seconds of rest between trials. Concentric peak power was recorded in watts (W).

  5. Change in Drop Jump Height

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Drop jump height was assessed using two portable three-dimensional force plates sampling at 1,000 Hz. Participants stepped from a 50-cm box, landed on the force plates, and immediately performed a maximal vertical rebound jump while attempting to minimize ground-contact time. Three valid trials were completed with 60 seconds of rest. Jump height was recorded in centimeters (cm).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Reactive Strength Index

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Reactive strength index was assessed during the drop jump test and calculated by dividing drop jump height in meters by ground-contact time in seconds. Three valid trials were completed, and the trial with the highest reactive strength index was retained for analysis. Reactive strength index was expressed in meters per second (m/s).

  2. Change in Eccentric Utilization Ratio

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    The eccentric utilization ratio was calculated by dividing countermovement jump height by squat jump height. Higher values indicate a greater contribution of the stretch-shortening cycle to jump performance.

  3. Change in Three-Quarter-Court Sprint Time

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Three-quarter-court sprint performance was assessed over 22.86 meters using an electronic timing-gate system. Participants started from a stationary split stance 0.5 meters behind the starting line and sprinted maximally through the finish line. Three trials were completed with 3 minutes of rest, and the fastest time was retained. Sprint time was recorded in seconds (s).

  4. Change in Hexagon Test Completion Time

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Agility was assessed using the hexagon test. Participants completed three clockwise circuits by jumping with both feet across each side of a hexagon and returning to the center while maintaining the same body orientation. Three valid trials were completed with 2 minutes of rest, and the fastest completion time was retained. Time was recorded in seconds (s).

  5. Change in Body Mass

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Body mass was assessed using a multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer (InBody 270). Participants were assessed barefoot and wearing light sports clothing after emptying their bladder. Body mass was recorded to the nearest 0.1 kilogram (kg).

  6. Change in Body Fat Percentage

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Body fat percentage was assessed using a multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer (InBody 270). Participants were assessed barefoot and wearing light sports clothing after emptying their bladder. Body fat percentage was recorded to the nearest 0.1%.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Chongqing Normal University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Microdosed Versus Conventional Plyometric Training on Lower-Limb Explosive Power, Speed, and Agility in Adolescent Basketball Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Sep 17, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 18, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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