EFFECT OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING VERSUS SWISS BALL TRAINING ON SPEED AND AGILITY IN KARATE PLAYERS - AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Background: Karate is an active activity that necessitates a combination of strength, power, flexibility, agility, and endurance for top performance. High-speed movements, particularly in executing kicks and punches, are greatly dependent on the strength and power of the lower limb muscles, especially those responsible for knee extension. Plyometrics are exercises that improve neuromuscular performance through natural sports movements like jumping, hopping, and skipping. Swiss ball training is done with an exercise ball or includes various exercises targeting different muscle groups in the body. Objective: To determine the effect of plyometric training versus Swiss ball training on speed and agility in karate players. Methods: After considering the selection criteria and randomly dividing into two groups; 15 subjects in Group- A and 15 in group B. Group A received plyometric training and group B received Swiss ball training for 3 session/week for 3 weeks. Outcome measures were assessed with pre and post intervention with T- agility test & 50 Meter Dash test for speed & agility Results: The results of this study showed statistically significant improvement in T agility test & Dash test with both plyometric training & Swiss ball exercise. (P value<0.05). Conclusion: Both groups showed statistically significant improvement of speed & agility in karate players with plyometric training & Swiss ball exercise. But all findings support the idea and concluded that plyometric training were found to be more prominent in improving speed & agility in karate players. Keywords: T Agility test, 50 Meter Dash test, karate player, plyometric, Swiss ball.