A Randomized Crossover Study on Diverse Training Methods to Enhance University Athletes' Performance and Health

NCT ID: NCT06546605

Last Updated: 2025-05-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-10-10

Study Completion Date

2029-10-03

Brief Summary

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The goal of this randomized crossover study is to investigate the effects of plyometric training, functional training, and whole-body electrical muscle stimulation (WB-EMS) on athletic performance and health in university basketball and volleyball players. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Which training modality (plyometric, functional, or WB-EMS) leads to the greatest improvements in athletic performance measures such as power, speed, and agility?
2. How do these training modalities compare in terms of their effects on overall health, injury risk reduction, and psychological well-being?

Researchers will use a crossover design, where each participant experiences multiple training modalities in a sequential manner, to provide a more rigorous and comprehensive evaluation of the interventions' effectiveness.

Participants will:

1. Be randomly assigned to one of four training sequences, each consisting of two 8-week intervention periods separated by a 4-week washout phase;
2. Experience at least two of the three training modalities (plyometric, functional, or WB-EMS) during the intervention periods;
3. Maintain their regular training routines if assigned to the control group;
4. Undergo assessments, including anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests, and questionnaires, at baseline, after each intervention period, and during a follow-up session.

The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the optimal sequencing and combination of training modalities to maximize athletic performance and promote health among university basketball and volleyball players.

Detailed Description

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Background: Enhancing athletic performance and reducing injury risk require effective training techniques. University athletes, often practicing only 2-3 times a week, need support to reach optimal fitness. This study examines the effects of plyometric, functional, and WB-EMS training on the health and performance of collegiate basketball and volleyball players.

Objective: The primary aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of these training modalities in improving athletic performance metrics such as strength, speed, agility, and endurance. Secondary aims include determining their influence on recovery and injury prevention and exploring potential differences in response among athletes from different sports disciplines.

Study Design: This is a randomized crossover study. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of four groups: plyometric training, WB-EMS training, functional training, or control group. The intervention will consist of two 8-week training periods separated by a 4-week washout period.

Participants: 120 male and female basketball and volleyball players aged 18-30 from University teams in Macau will be recruited. They should have at least 3-4 years of competitive experience in their respective sports.

Interventions: The plyometric group will focus on explosive movements and jumps. The WB-EMS group will perform exercises while receiving electrical stimulation. The functional training group will engage in sport-specific exercises. The control group will maintain their regular training. Each session will include a warm-up, specific exercises, and a cool-down.

Outcome Measures: Participants will undergo assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. These include anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests (e.g., Y-Balance Test, FMS, 1RM half-squat, leg muscle volume, vertical jump, agility, sprint), and questionnaires (e.g., ERQ, PSQI, SES, SWLS).

Statistical Analysis: Mixed-design ANOVA or ANCOVA will compare the effects across time points. Post-hoc tests will determine specific differences between groups and time points. Significance will be set at p value smaller than 0.05.

Conditions

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Athletic Performance Plyometric Exercise Healthy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Plyometric Training to WB-EMS Training Group (PTG-ETG)

Participants in the PTG-ETG will undergo a progressive plyometric training program in the first 8-week intervention period, followed by a WB-EMS training program in the second 8-week intervention period after the crossover. The plyometric training will include exercises such as box jumps, depth jumps, split squat jumps, and single-leg hops to enhance lower extremity power, speed, and agility.

After the crossover, participants will engage in a WB-EMS training program that combines dynamic exercises with concurrent electrical stimulation using the miha bodytec® device. Each WB-EMS session will consist of a warm-up followed by 4-6 exercises lasting 4-6 seconds each, with 4 seconds of rest between exercises. The intensity of the electrical stimulation will be set at 70-85% of the participant's maximal comfort level and adjusted based on individual tolerance. The WB-EMS training will be performed twice a week for 20-25 minutes per session during the second intervention period.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Training

Intervention Type DEVICE

Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Training is a novel training modality that involves the simultaneous electrical stimulation of multiple muscle groups while performing dynamic exercises. Participants in the WB-EMS Training Group will use the miha bodytec device (Augsburg, Germany), which consists of a special suit with integrated electrodes covering major muscle groups. The device generates electrical impulses (85 Hz, 350 μs) that cause involuntary muscle contractions during exercises like squats, lunges, and trunk rotations.Each 20-25-minute WB-EMS session will be conducted twice a week during the two 8-week intervention periods. Sessions will include a warm-up followed by 4-6 WB-EMS exercises performed for 4-6 seconds each, with 4 seconds of rest between exercises. The intensity of the stimulation and exercises will be progressively increased based on individual adaptation and tolerance, with the stimulation intensity set at 70-85% of the maximal tolerable level.

Plyometric Training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Plyometric Training is a high-intensity, explosive strength training modality that involves quick, powerful movements designed to increase muscle power, speed, and agility. Participants in the Plyometric Training Group will engage in a progressive plyometric training program that emphasizes eccentric muscle loading followed by rapid concentric contractions.

The plyometric exercises will include various types of jumps, hops, and bounds, such as box jumps, depth jumps, split squat jumps, and single-leg hops. Each training session will begin with a dynamic warm-up, followed by 4-6 plyometric drills performed for 3-5 sets of 8-12 repetitions, with 60-90 seconds of rest between sets. The intensity and volume of the exercises will be gradually increased over the two 8-week intervention periods.

Functional Training to Plyometric Training Group (FTG-PTG)

Participants in the FTG-PTG will engage in a functional training program tailored to their specific sport in the first 8-week intervention period, followed by a progressive plyometric training program in the second 8-week intervention period after the crossover. The functional training will incorporate sport-specific movements, such as multidirectional lunges, rotational medicine ball throws, and single-leg balance drills.

After the crossover, participants will undergo a progressive plyometric training program designed to enhance their lower extremity power, speed, and agility. The program will include a variety of plyometric exercises such as box jumps, depth jumps, split squat jumps, and single-leg hops.

Each session will begin with a dynamic warm-up, then proceed to the main exercise, and then cool down with stretching.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Plyometric Training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Plyometric Training is a high-intensity, explosive strength training modality that involves quick, powerful movements designed to increase muscle power, speed, and agility. Participants in the Plyometric Training Group will engage in a progressive plyometric training program that emphasizes eccentric muscle loading followed by rapid concentric contractions.

The plyometric exercises will include various types of jumps, hops, and bounds, such as box jumps, depth jumps, split squat jumps, and single-leg hops. Each training session will begin with a dynamic warm-up, followed by 4-6 plyometric drills performed for 3-5 sets of 8-12 repetitions, with 60-90 seconds of rest between sets. The intensity and volume of the exercises will be gradually increased over the two 8-week intervention periods.

Functional Training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Functional Training is a training approach that focuses on exercises that simulate the demands of specific sports or daily activities, targeting multiple muscle groups and movement patterns simultaneously. Participants in the Functional Training Group will engage in a tailored functional training program designed to enhance their performance in basketball or volleyball.

The functional training exercises will incorporate multi-joint, multi-planar movements that mimic game-specific actions, such as multidirectional lunges, rotational medicine ball throws, and single-leg balance drills. Each session will start with a dynamic warm-up, followed by 6-8 functional exercises performed for 3-4 sets of 8-12 repetitions, with 60 seconds of rest between sets. The program will also include core stability and injury prevention exercises.

WB-EMS Training to Functional Training Group (ETG-FTG)

Participants in the ETG will participate in a training program that combines dynamic exercises with concurrent WB-EMS. The WB-EMS device (miha bodytec®, Augsburg, Germany) will be used to apply electrical stimulation to major muscle groups while participants perform exercises such as squats, lunges, and trunk rotations. Each session will consist of a warm-up followed by 4-6 WB-EMS exercises lasting 4-6 seconds each, with 4 seconds of rest between exercises. The intensity of the electrical stimulation will be set at 70-85% of the participant's maximal comfort level and adjusted based on individual tolerance. The WB-EMS training will be performed twice a week for 20-25 minutes per session.

After the crossover, participants will engage in a functional training program that simulates game-specific movements, such as multidirectional lunges, rotational medicine ball throws, and single-leg balance drills.The program will also include core stability and injury prevention exercises.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Training

Intervention Type DEVICE

Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Training is a novel training modality that involves the simultaneous electrical stimulation of multiple muscle groups while performing dynamic exercises. Participants in the WB-EMS Training Group will use the miha bodytec device (Augsburg, Germany), which consists of a special suit with integrated electrodes covering major muscle groups. The device generates electrical impulses (85 Hz, 350 μs) that cause involuntary muscle contractions during exercises like squats, lunges, and trunk rotations.Each 20-25-minute WB-EMS session will be conducted twice a week during the two 8-week intervention periods. Sessions will include a warm-up followed by 4-6 WB-EMS exercises performed for 4-6 seconds each, with 4 seconds of rest between exercises. The intensity of the stimulation and exercises will be progressively increased based on individual adaptation and tolerance, with the stimulation intensity set at 70-85% of the maximal tolerable level.

Functional Training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Functional Training is a training approach that focuses on exercises that simulate the demands of specific sports or daily activities, targeting multiple muscle groups and movement patterns simultaneously. Participants in the Functional Training Group will engage in a tailored functional training program designed to enhance their performance in basketball or volleyball.

The functional training exercises will incorporate multi-joint, multi-planar movements that mimic game-specific actions, such as multidirectional lunges, rotational medicine ball throws, and single-leg balance drills. Each session will start with a dynamic warm-up, followed by 6-8 functional exercises performed for 3-4 sets of 8-12 repetitions, with 60 seconds of rest between sets. The program will also include core stability and injury prevention exercises.

Control Group (CG)

Participants in the CG will maintain their usual team training routines and practices throughout the study period, without receiving any additional training interventions. They will serve as a reference to compare the effects of the plyometric, functional, and WB-EMS training programs on athletic performance and health-related outcomes. Participants in this group will undergo all scheduled assessments at baseline, after each 8-week intervention period, and during the follow-up to track changes in their performance and health status over time. The control group will help determine the extent to which changes in the intervention groups can be attributed to the specific training programs, rather than other factors such as natural progression or regular team training.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Training

Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Training is a novel training modality that involves the simultaneous electrical stimulation of multiple muscle groups while performing dynamic exercises. Participants in the WB-EMS Training Group will use the miha bodytec device (Augsburg, Germany), which consists of a special suit with integrated electrodes covering major muscle groups. The device generates electrical impulses (85 Hz, 350 μs) that cause involuntary muscle contractions during exercises like squats, lunges, and trunk rotations.Each 20-25-minute WB-EMS session will be conducted twice a week during the two 8-week intervention periods. Sessions will include a warm-up followed by 4-6 WB-EMS exercises performed for 4-6 seconds each, with 4 seconds of rest between exercises. The intensity of the stimulation and exercises will be progressively increased based on individual adaptation and tolerance, with the stimulation intensity set at 70-85% of the maximal tolerable level.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Plyometric Training

Plyometric Training is a high-intensity, explosive strength training modality that involves quick, powerful movements designed to increase muscle power, speed, and agility. Participants in the Plyometric Training Group will engage in a progressive plyometric training program that emphasizes eccentric muscle loading followed by rapid concentric contractions.

The plyometric exercises will include various types of jumps, hops, and bounds, such as box jumps, depth jumps, split squat jumps, and single-leg hops. Each training session will begin with a dynamic warm-up, followed by 4-6 plyometric drills performed for 3-5 sets of 8-12 repetitions, with 60-90 seconds of rest between sets. The intensity and volume of the exercises will be gradually increased over the two 8-week intervention periods.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Functional Training

Functional Training is a training approach that focuses on exercises that simulate the demands of specific sports or daily activities, targeting multiple muscle groups and movement patterns simultaneously. Participants in the Functional Training Group will engage in a tailored functional training program designed to enhance their performance in basketball or volleyball.

The functional training exercises will incorporate multi-joint, multi-planar movements that mimic game-specific actions, such as multidirectional lunges, rotational medicine ball throws, and single-leg balance drills. Each session will start with a dynamic warm-up, followed by 6-8 functional exercises performed for 3-4 sets of 8-12 repetitions, with 60 seconds of rest between sets. The program will also include core stability and injury prevention exercises.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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Electrical Myostimulation (EMS) Training Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) Training Full-Body Electromyostimulation Training Reactive Strength Training Stretch-Shortening Cycle Training Movement-Based Training Sport-Specific Training

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Team Membership: Participants must be officially registered members of the Macau universities' 's men's and women's basketball or volleyball teams.
2. Age Range: Participants must be aged between 18 and 30 years.
3. Health Status: Participants should be in good health, free from any chronic diseases, serious health conditions, or contraindications that could impair their athletic performance, preclude their safe participation in the study, or present undue risks when exposed to WB-EMS. Participants must provide informed consent and be willing to undergo WB-EMS training after being fully apprised of the potential risks and benefits.
4. Commitment: Participants must be able to engage fully in the intervention period and all associated assessments.
5. Experience: Participants are required to have a minimum of three to four years of competitive basketball or volleyball experience.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Unable to provide informed consent.
2. Unwillingness to be allocated to one of the four groups.
3. Have suffered a lower extremity injury or required surgery within the past 6 months.
4. Have undergone electrical stimulation training for the previous six months.
5. Have been diagnosed with a cardiovascular or neurological disease or abnormality.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

30 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Macau

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Siman Lei

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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UM Sports Complex (N8) , Avenida da Universidade Taipa, Macau, China

Macao, , Macau

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Macau

Taipa, , Macau

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

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Macau

Central Contacts

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BoYuan XIE, Master

Role: CONTACT

+853 6852 1321

SiMan LEI, Doctoral

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Si Man Lei

Role: primary

853 88228720

SiMan LEI, Assistant Professor

Role: primary

+853 8822 8720

BoYuan XIE, Master student

Role: backup

+853 6852 1321

Other Identifiers

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HE-0151-2024

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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