Effects of combined electrostimulation and
plyometric training on vertical jump and speed
tests

.

The aim of this study was to determine the performance evolution of a group
of athletes after 8 weeks of training that combined electrostimulation (NM ES) and plyometrics (PT). 78
medium level sprinter athletes participated, 40 women and 38 men (age, 15.9±1.4 years old, body
mass index, 20.5±1.68 kg/m2; weight 58.53±8.05 kg; height, 1.68±0.07 m). The sample was
randomized into four groups [Control (PT only), NM ES + PT, PT + NM ES, and Simultaneous
(plyometric jumps were performed through the passage of current). Improvements were obtained in the
Abalakov jump of 3.57% (p<0.01), 13.51% (p<0.001), 1.23% (p<0.01), and 0.77%, and in the sprint of
0.45%, 3.87% (p<0.05), 4.56% (p<0.01) and 7.26% p<0.001 for the control group, NM ES + PT group,
PT + NM ES group, and Simultaneous group, respectively. It was concluded that a) improvement in
vertical jump requires the application of the NM ES prior to PT; b) the sprinter athlete must combine the
workout simultaneously or apply the ES after the PT training; and c) in sportspeople that require
improvement in both the vertical jump and speed tests (e.g. basketball) the simultaneous method is not
recommended, the order of application of NM ES and PT being non-determinant. Finally, the time
needed to obtain significant improvement in strength training through a combination of NM ES and PT
is substantially lower (15 days) than the time needed to improve speed (30 days).