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Abstract

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 3: Issue 1, Article 7, 2022. Ladder training is a form of multidirectional lower limb plyometric training utilized by coaches and athletes in a variety of sports. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ladder training (LT) on sprint (20-m) and change of direction (COD) (L-drill) kinematics. Fourteen NCAA D-2 Basketball players were matched on baseline performance rankings and randomly assigned to a LT (n = 7) or conventional training (CT) (n = 7) group. The LT group performed all the CT exercises with the addition of 25-35 minutes of LT performed 3 times per week, for 4 weeks. Within-group analyses showed significant improvements (p < 0.001) in 20-m sprint performance from pretest to posttest in LT (+6.71%) and CT (+2.16%). No statistically significant difference was found in COD performance. Significant enhancements (p < 0.005) were found in stride frequency from pretest to posttest for 20-m sprint and COD as a result of LT (+13.58%, and +12.26%) and CT (+0.97%, and -2.33%), respectively. LT resulted in substantially better results (between-group changes) in both the 20-m sprint (ES = 1.45) and COD test (ES = 0.97). Furthermore, LT resulted in substantially greater enhancements in stride frequency (ES = 2.43, 1.65), and ground contact time (ES = 1.82, 1.25) in the 20-m sprint and COD performance respectively. LT may be more effective than CT in improving performance and kinematics. LT should be implemented as a warm up or neural priming exercise to induce improvements in stride frequency and ground contact time.

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