Cardiovascular and blood lactate responses to acute plyometric exercise in female volleyball and handball players

Although plyometrics are widely used in athletic conditioning, the acute cardiovascular responses to plyometric exercise in female subjects have not been described. The purpose of this study was to assess the acute effects of plyometric exercise on cardiovascular responses, as well as blood lactate concentrations in female volleyball and handball players. Eight semiprofessional volleyball plays and ten handball players volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects performed five sets of box jumps and depth jumps with ten repetitions, respectively. After each set of exercises, blood pressure and heart rate were assessed. Blood lactate concentration was measured before and after exercise. Muscle soreness was also measured immediately before and immediately after plyometric exercise as well as 24, 48 and 72 h after plyometric exercise. No differences were found in any physiological indices between volleyball and handball players, except heart rate during box jump set 2 and the rate pressure product (RPP) during box jump sets 2 and 5 and depth jump set 1 (P > 0.05). Plyometric exercise increased heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and RPP after each set of exercises (P < 0.05). Also, heart rate and RPP were higher during the depth jump exercise (P < 0.05). Plyometric exercise did not induce any significant changes in muscle soreness (P > 0.05). The blood lactate concentrations were significantly increased above resting levels (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that plyometric box and depth jumping can be used in an overall programme to properly prepare athletes for competition in events that require both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism components.