Plyometric Training Triathlon

The objective of the study was to evaluate how plyometric training influences exercise-induced changes in biochemical markers among triathlon athletes.
Methods: The research included eleven triathletes who were assigned to two groups: an experimental group (n=6), which added plyometric training to their routine for a duration of 8 weeks, and a control group (n=5), which continued their existing training regimen. Initially, all participants underwent body composition measurements and completed graded exercise tests on both a treadmill and a cycle ergometer. Blood samples for biochemical analysis were collected one hour before and one hour after each graded test. A five-day break was maintained between the two tests. Upon completing the 8-week training period, the same procedures were repeated to collect post-intervention data.
Results: In the graded tests performed on the cycle ergometer, the experimental group exhibited reduced concentrations of cortisol and lactate dehydrogenase measured one hour after testing, following the plyometric training phase. However, there were no statistically significant variations in other biochemical markers, such as interleukin-6, testosterone, myoglobin, or the anabolic-catabolic index. As for the treadmill-based tests, no meaningful alterations were detected in the levels of any of the examined biochemical parameters—including lactate dehydrogenase, cortisol, testosterone, myoglobin, interleukin-6, or the anabolic-catabolic index—after the implementation of plyometric training.
Conclusions: Integrating plyometric training into the regimen of triathletes appears to reduce post-exercise elevations in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cortisol, but only following cycling efforts. In contrast, such training did not lead to significant shifts in the body’s biochemical response to maximum-effort treadmill exercises, including markers related to inflammation, hormonal activity, or muscle damage. These findings suggest that plyometric exercises may enhance muscle metabolic adaptations specifically during high-intensity cycling performance.