Combined Effects of Plyometric and Endurance Training Among Female Hockey Players

Strength and endurance training are often done concurrently by fitness enthusiasts and athletes. Concurrent strength and endurance training however, result in "antagonism" of the training responses. Combined strength and endurance training in previously untrained subjects has developed strength impairment in comparison to strength training alone, whereas endurance development, expressed as increases in maximal aerobic power has not been impaired. A combination of some forms of strength and endurance training maybe "addictive" rather than antagonistic. Some endurance training programs have increases strength and muscle fiber size. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted. Non-probability convenient sampling technique will be used. Study will be carried in hockey clubs at Lahore. Only female players of age 18-24 with one year experience in hockey, only players who will participate in all training sessions will be included in the statistical analysis. Participants with the history of systemic disease, with history of lower extremity and lumber spine pathology, with prior surgery history and participants having injuries resulting in loss of one or more hockey matches/ training sessions in the preceding three months prior to the initiation of the study will be excluded. Three groups will be included in the study each containing 10 participants. Group A will be given plyometric training for 12 weeks, Group B will be given endurance training for 12 weeks and Group C will be given both trainings for 12 weeks. Pre-training values will be taken prior training. Mid-training values will be taken after 6 weeks of training and post-training values will be taken after training.

Inclusion criteria

• Only female hockey players

• Age 18-24 years
• Athletes with at least one year experience in hockey
• Athletes must be without previous experience in intense strength/endurance training
• Only players who will participate in at all training sessions will be included in the statistical analysis

Exclusion criteria

• Participants having injuries resulting in loss of one or more hockey matches/ training sessions in the preceding three months prior to the initiation of the study
• Participants with the history of systemic disease
• Participants with history of lower extremity and lumber spine pathology
• Participants with prior surgery history