EFFECTS OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING AND PROPRIOCEPTIVE TRAINING TO IMPROVE SPRINT SPEED AMONG THE COMPETITIVE SPRINTERS

*S. Karthikeyan, N. Mohamed Ishaq and P. Senthil Selvam

ABSTRACT

Background: Sprint is a run at maximum speed over a short distance in which athletes try to run throughout the entire distance. Plyometric is a training technique used by athletes in all types of sports to increase strength and explosiveness. Proprioceptive capabilities have great impacts on sports performance. During sports activities, performance development and decrease in risks of being injured depend on athletes because most of sports activities are performed in a high speed. The 40-yd sprint has become the most widely used method for evaluating sprint speed among athletes in various sports. Methodology: There were 30 athletes taken for the study in which they were divided into two groups. The group A received Plyometric training and group B received Proprioceptive training. The pre and post test values were taken in the duration of 6 weeks using 40-yard test. Results: The results of these study show that there will be significant improvement in group A [plyometric training] compare to group B [proprioceptive training] sprinters as measured by 40-yard test. Conclusion: The study concluded that Plyometric training can significantly improve sprint speed in competitive sprinters. The statistical analysis on mean and standard deviation has been done by paired t test.

Keywords: Plyometric training, Proprioceptive training, Sprinters, BOSU ball, Swiss ball.