The Effects of Proprioceptive Training on Jumping and Agility Performance

The purpose of this research was to identify the changes in tests assessing speed-explosiveness abilities after a completed proprioceptive training programme. The research included 75 physically active men divided into the experimental (n = 37) and the control (n = 38) group. The first group underwent the proprioceptive training programme lasting ten weeks (60 minutes three times a week). The training programme consisted of one-leg and double-leg static and dynamic balance drills. The demands and duration of those exercises increased progressively. The control group continued to carry out their daily activities during the experiment. The explosive jumping strength and agility were estimated by nine tests at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. For each variable the central and dispersion parameters were calculated as well as the basic metric features. The differences between groups and time points in certain variables were determined by the repeated measure analysis of variance and the post-hoc Tukey test. The results of this research show that there were positive changes in some analysed tests due to the proprioceptive training programme. There were some significant changes in the experimental group under the influence of the proprioceptive training programme in double-leg vertical jump explosive strength tests and in forward agility (20Y test). Minor but positive changes point to the possibility of developing motor abilities by means of proprioceptive training, and not only to prevent injuries, which has already been proved in a number of research studies.