Plyometric Exercises During the Winter Pre-season in Sprinters

April 27, 2026 updated by: Rubén Cuesta-Barriuso, PhD, Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

Association Between a Winter Pre-season Plyometric Exercise Programme and Performance and Health-related Outcomes in Sprinters: a Prospective Cohort Study

Background. Plyometric training is an effective strategy to improve power and performance in sprint-based sports; however, evidence regarding its actual effects in athletes during the winter season and its potential influence on the occurrence of health problems remains limited.

Objective. To analyse the association between participation in a plyometric exercise programme during the winter pre-season and competitive performance, as well as the occurrence of lower-limb health problems in sprinters.

Methods. This will be a prospective observational cohort study with fully online data collection. Federated sprinters or athletes affiliated with athletics clubs will be included. The main exposure will be participation in a plyometric exercise programme (≥2 sessions per week in January). Outcomes will be winter competitive performance (best official time) and lower-limb health problems assessed using the OSTRC-H2 questionnaire. Control variables will include sleep quality (PSQI), internal training load (session-RPE), injury history, and competitive level. Statistical analyses will include linear and logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders.

Expected results. A positive association is expected between engagement in plyometric training and competitive performance, along with a lower frequency of lower-limb health problems, particularly among athletes with adequate sleep quality and a well-balanced training load.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
42

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Spain
    • Principality of Asturias
      • Murcia, Principality of Asturias, Spain, 33006
        • Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Athletes meeting all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be recruited through the Athletics Federation of the Region of Murcia.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥16 years
  • Regular participation in sprint events (60-400 m)
  • Planned participation in winter competitions
  • Membership of an athletics club
  • Provision of digital informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Recent acute lower-limb injury preventing training
  • Medical contraindication to plyometric training
  • Inability to complete follow-up
  • Low questionnaire completion rate (<70%).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Observational group with intervention
Athletes undertaking plyometric training
Other: Plyometric training
Participation in a structured plyometric exercise programme during the winter pre-season (≥2 sessions per week)
Observational group without intervention
Athletes not undertaking plyometric training
Other: Training without plyometric exercises
Winter pre-season training programme without plyometric exercises

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assessment of changes in winter competitive performance at baseline, after the winter pre-season, and after the competitive season
Time Frame: Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month
Winter competitive performance will be measured using the best official time recorded by each athlete in their main event (60, 100, 200, or 400 metres) during the winter season. The value will be expressed in seconds and will be obtained via self-report in the final questionnaire, together with the competition in which it was achieved. This continuous variable will represent the primary performance outcome.
Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month
Assessment of changes in the occurrence of lower-limb health problems at baseline, after the winter pre-season, and after the competitive season
Time Frame: Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month
The occurrence of lower-limb health problems will be assessed using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire (OSTRC-O), Spanish validated version. Based on the weekly reports, two indicators will be derived: the presence of at least one substantial lower-limb health problem (dichotomous variable: yes/no) and the total number of weeks with any health problem in this location (discrete variable).
Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assessment of changes in sleep quality at baseline, after the winter pre-season, and after the competitive season
Time Frame: Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month
Sleep quality will be assessed using the Spanish version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). This scale yields a global score ranging from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. It will be administered at baseline and at the end of the season
Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month
Assessment of changes in the internal training load at baseline, after the winter pre-season, and after the competitive season
Time Frame: Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month
Internal training load will be calculated using the session-RPE method (14). This assessment is based on weekly training duration in minutes multiplied by the global perceived exertion rated on the Borg CR10 scale. From the weekly records, the mean weekly training load will be derived as a continuous variable.
Baseline, through study completion, an average of 1 month
Assessment of the previous performance at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Previous performance will be defined as the best official time recorded during the previous season, expressed in seconds, and will be used as a covariate to adjust for baseline performance level.
Baseline
Assessment of lower-limb injury history at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Lower-limb injury history over the previous 12 months will be recorded as a dichotomous variable (yes/no), with documentation of the primary injury location.
Baseline

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assessment of main sprint event at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Each athlete's main sprint event (60, 100, 200, or 400 metres) will be recorded. This variable will be used as an indicator of sporting context.
Baseline
Assessment of the athlete's competitive level at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Competitive level will be recorded (regional or national). This variable will be used as an indicator of sporting context.
Baseline
Assessment of years of experience in sprint athletics at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The number of years of experience in sprinting (number of competitive seasons) will be recorded as a continuous variable.
Baseline
Assessment of athletes' sex at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Sex (male/female) will be recorded as a basic demographic variable.
Baseline
Assessment of athletes' age at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Age (continuous quantitative variable) will be recorded as a basic demographic variable.
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Rubén Cuesta-Barriuso, PhD, Universidad de Oviedo

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 13, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 12, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 27, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • VelPli

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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