SynthesisFrontiers in physiology2026
Effects of standalone plyometric training on vertical jump and linear sprint performance in handball athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Abstract
Introduction: Handball is a high-intensity intermittent sport that demands exceptional lower-body explosive power for jumping and sprinting in match play. Existing research on plyometric training for handball athletes often combines this modality with other interventions, leaving the independent effects of standalone plyometric training on key physical outcomes poorly quantified. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of standalone plyometric training on vertical jump (squat jump [SJ], countermovement jump [CMJ]) and multi-distance linear sprint performance in handball athletes, and to explore moderators of training response. Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and SportDiscus up to March 2, 2026. Controlled trials comparing standalone plyometric training with a no-intervention control in handball athletes were included. Methodological quality was assessed via the ROBINS-I tool. Pooled Hedges' g effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and subgroup effects (age, gender) were assessed via standard meta-analytic methods. Results: Fourteen studies with 350 handball athletes were included. Standalone plyometric training significantly improved both CMJ (g = 1.17, 95% CI 0.40-1.93, I² = 82.0%) and SJ (g = 0.86, 95% CI 0.33-1.39, I² = 64.7%) performance. No significant effects were observed for 10m, 20m, or 30m linear sprint outcomes. Subgroup analyses showed significant vertical jump benefits in athletes under 18 years, but not in adults aged 18 and above, with no significant gender difference in CMJ training response. Significant publication bias was identified for CMJ and 30m sprint outcomes, with borderline bias for SJ. Conclusion: Standalone plyometric training effectively improves vertical jump performance in handball athletes, particularly in adolescent players, but has no significant benefit for short-to-moderate distance linear sprint performance. Future research should establish standardized handball-specific plyometric protocols to refine evidence-based conditioning guidelines. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420261360294.
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