Changes in rowing ergometer, weight lifting, vertical jump and isokinetic performance in response to standard and standard plus plyometric training programs.

The purpose of this study was to compare standard (S-weight plus rowing ergometer training) and standard plus plyometric (S+P-weight plus rowing ergometer training, plus plyometric exercises) programs on sport-specific and non sport-specific tests. Twenty-four female rowers completed the weight training or the weight training plus plyometric exercises three times per week and rowing ergometer training four times per week, 1 hr per session for 9 wks. Analysis of variance tests were used to compare S (n = 11; 5 novice and 6 experienced rowers) and S+P (n = 13; 7 novice and 6 experienced rowers) programs on the following sport-specific tests: 1) time to row 2,500 m and 2) distance rowed in 90 s; and on the following non sport-specific tests: 1) leg press, 1 RM, 2) leg press endurance, 3) bench pull 1 RM, 4) bench pull endurance, 5) vertical jump, 6-9) isokinetic knee extensor peak and average power during concentric and eccentric muscle actions and 10) angle of occurrence of peak torque during concentric muscle actions (isokinetic knee extension). Although experienced oarswomen scored significantly higher than did novice oarswomen on eight of 12 tests (p < 0.04), both levels of rower responded similarly to training. No significant differences were observed post-training between the S and S+P training programs (p > 0.05). These results do not discount the value of plyometric exercises, but indicate that the jump exercises used offered no advantages to intercollegiate oarswomen.