Graduation Date

Spring 2018

Document Type

Project

Program

Master of Science degree with a major in Kinesiology, option Exercise Science

Committee Chair Name

Dr. Young Sub-Kwon

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Second Committee Member Name

Dr. Justus Ortega

Second Committee Member Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Third Committee Member Name

Dr. TIna Manos

Third Committee Member Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Fourth Committee Member Name

Andrew Petersen

Fourth Committee Member Affiliation

Community Member or Outside Professional

Keywords

Speed, Agility, Ladder training, Stride frequency

Subject Categories

Kinesiology

Abstract

Ladder training is a form of multidirectional lower limb plyometric training utilized by coaches and athletes in a variety of sports. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ladder training (LT) on sprint (20-m) and change of direction (COD) (L-drill) kinematics. Fourteen NCAA D-2 Basketball players were matched on baseline performance rankings and randomly assigned to a LT (n = 7) or conventional training (CT) (n = 7) group. The LT group performed all the CT exercises with the addition of 25-35 minutes of LT performed 3 times per week, for 4 weeks. Within-group analyses showed significant improvements (p < 0.001) in 20-m sprint performance from pretest to posttest in LT (+6.71%) and CT (+2.16%). No statistically significant difference was found in COD performance. Significant enhancements (p < 0.005) were found in stride frequency from pretest to posttest for 20-m sprint and COD as a result of LT (+13.58%, and +12.26%) and CT (+0.97%, and -2.33%), respectively. LT resulted in substantially better results (between-group changes) in both the 20-m sprint (ES = 1.45) and COD test (ES = 0.97). Furthermore, LT resulted in substantially greater enhancements in stride frequency (ES = 2.43, 1.65), and ground contact time (ES = 1.82, 1.25) in the 20-m sprint and COD performance respectively. LT may be more effective than CT in improving performance and kinematics. LT should be implemented as a warm up or neural priming exercise to induce improvements in stride frequency and ground contact time.

Citation Style

JSCR

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