The effect of a six-week plyometric training on dynamic balance and knee proprioception in female badminton players

Abstract

Objective: Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common severe injuries among female badminton players. Dynamic balance (DB) and knee proprioception (KP) are critical in preventing this injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a six-week plyometric training (PT) program on DB and KP in female badminton players.

Methods: Twenty-two healthy beginner female badminton players were randomly assigned to either control (CG) or experimental group (ExG). The ExG went through PT for six weeks. Pre- and post-intervention Y balance and photography tests were used to assess DB and KP, respectively.

Results: There was no difference between groups prior to PT in DB (p=0.804) and KP (at 45°, p=0.085 and at 60°, p=0.472 angles; p>0.05). However, after the PT only ExG improved significantly in DB (p=0.003) and KP (at 45°, p=0.004 and at 60°, p=0.010 angles; p<0.05).

Conclusion: Female badminton players' dynamic balance and knee proprioception improved significantly after plyometric training (PT). These results may be important in preventing non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which requires further investigation.

Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; badminton; dynamic balance; female players; knee proprioception; plyometric training.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no disclaimers, competing interests, or sources of support or funding to report in the preparation of this manuscript. Ethics approval was provided by the Ethics Committee of Arak University, Medical Sciences division.

© JCCA 2019.