Unilateral plyometric training effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes: a meta-analysis
BackgroundLower limb asymmetry in athletes is associated with impaired performance and elevated injury risk. Plyometric training (PT) and complex training (CT) are commonly used interventions for this problem, but existing evidence on their effectiveness remains inconsistent.ObjectiveThis meta-analy...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1551523/full |
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| author | Wei Sun Wei Sun Hui Li Luping Qu Yuehui Zhou Xiaoyang Cao Ke Wang Ke Li |
| author_facet | Wei Sun Wei Sun Hui Li Luping Qu Yuehui Zhou Xiaoyang Cao Ke Wang Ke Li |
| author_sort | Wei Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundLower limb asymmetry in athletes is associated with impaired performance and elevated injury risk. Plyometric training (PT) and complex training (CT) are commonly used interventions for this problem, but existing evidence on their effectiveness remains inconsistent.ObjectiveThis meta-analysis aimed to evaluate PT and CT’s effects on athletes’ lower limb asymmetry. The findings could help optimize training protocols and reduce the risk of sports injuries.MethodsA systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, EBSCO, CNKI, and Wanfang databases was conducted up to March 2024. Two researchers independently performed the literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment processes. A meta-analysis was conducted via Review Manager 5.3 software, including heterogeneity tests, effect size pooling, subgroup analysis, and funnel plot construction.ResultsA total of eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 157 participants were included. PT effectively reduced lower limb asymmetry, particularly improving single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ) (SMD = 0.51, P = 0.05), single-leg broad jump (SLBJ) (SMD = 0.56, P = 0.01), and single-leg lateral jump (SLLJ) (SMD = 1.24, P = 0.01), but did not affect single-leg horizontal triple jumps (SLH3J) (SMD = 0.24, P = 0.60). In contrast, CT showed no meaningful reduction in asymmetry. Subgroup analysis indicated that unilateral PT alone significantly decreased asymmetry (SMD = 0.71, P < 0.01), whereas bilateral PT (SMD = 0.23, P = 0.45), unilateral CT (SMD = −0.15, P = 0.15) and bilateral CT (SMD = −0.09, P = 0.78) interventions all failed to demonstrate efficacy.ConclusionUnilateral PT effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes. Coaches should integrate this method into training programs to address asymmetry-related performance deficits and injury risks. Further high-quality trials are required to validate clinical applicability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b3944591cc0a4376a2f5982a0b9bc2ca |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b3944591cc0a4376a2f5982a0b9bc2ca2025-08-20T02:16:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-04-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15515231551523Unilateral plyometric training effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes: a meta-analysisWei Sun0Wei Sun1Hui Li2Luping Qu3Yuehui Zhou4Xiaoyang Cao5Ke Wang6Ke Li7School of Sports Training, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Sports Science, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, ChinaSchool of Sports Science, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, ChinaSchool of Sports Science, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, ChinaSchool of Sports Science, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Changshu Riverside Vocational School, Changshu, Jiangsu, ChinaSchool of Sports Science, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, ChinaSports Teaching and Research Group, Yichang City Gezhouba Middle School, Yichang, Hubei, ChinaBackgroundLower limb asymmetry in athletes is associated with impaired performance and elevated injury risk. Plyometric training (PT) and complex training (CT) are commonly used interventions for this problem, but existing evidence on their effectiveness remains inconsistent.ObjectiveThis meta-analysis aimed to evaluate PT and CT’s effects on athletes’ lower limb asymmetry. The findings could help optimize training protocols and reduce the risk of sports injuries.MethodsA systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, EBSCO, CNKI, and Wanfang databases was conducted up to March 2024. Two researchers independently performed the literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment processes. A meta-analysis was conducted via Review Manager 5.3 software, including heterogeneity tests, effect size pooling, subgroup analysis, and funnel plot construction.ResultsA total of eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 157 participants were included. PT effectively reduced lower limb asymmetry, particularly improving single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ) (SMD = 0.51, P = 0.05), single-leg broad jump (SLBJ) (SMD = 0.56, P = 0.01), and single-leg lateral jump (SLLJ) (SMD = 1.24, P = 0.01), but did not affect single-leg horizontal triple jumps (SLH3J) (SMD = 0.24, P = 0.60). In contrast, CT showed no meaningful reduction in asymmetry. Subgroup analysis indicated that unilateral PT alone significantly decreased asymmetry (SMD = 0.71, P < 0.01), whereas bilateral PT (SMD = 0.23, P = 0.45), unilateral CT (SMD = −0.15, P = 0.15) and bilateral CT (SMD = −0.09, P = 0.78) interventions all failed to demonstrate efficacy.ConclusionUnilateral PT effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes. Coaches should integrate this method into training programs to address asymmetry-related performance deficits and injury risks. Further high-quality trials are required to validate clinical applicability.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1551523/fulllower limb asymmetryplyometric trainingcomplex trainingathletesmeta-analysis |
| spellingShingle | Wei Sun Wei Sun Hui Li Luping Qu Yuehui Zhou Xiaoyang Cao Ke Wang Ke Li Unilateral plyometric training effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes: a meta-analysis Frontiers in Physiology lower limb asymmetry plyometric training complex training athletes meta-analysis |
| title | Unilateral plyometric training effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes: a meta-analysis |
| title_full | Unilateral plyometric training effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes: a meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Unilateral plyometric training effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes: a meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unilateral plyometric training effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes: a meta-analysis |
| title_short | Unilateral plyometric training effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes: a meta-analysis |
| title_sort | unilateral plyometric training effectively reduces lower limb asymmetry in athletes a meta analysis |
| topic | lower limb asymmetry plyometric training complex training athletes meta-analysis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1551523/full |
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