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
Recommended Citation
Short, Trevor, "The effects of ladder training on sprint and change of direction performance" (2018). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 144.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/144