Athos Trecroci¹, Marco Cadonati¹, Tindaro Bongiovanni², Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo^3,4,5, Stefano Longo¹

¹Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
²Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
³Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Chile
⁴Sport Sciences and Human Performance Laboratories, Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Chile
⁵Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Universidad de Los Lagos, Chile

Physical Performance and Muscle Soreness in Tennis Players After Plyometric Training Performed at Different Weekly Frequencies

Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2026, 15(1), 85-91 | DOI: 10.26773/mjssm.260310

Abstract

High-frequency plyometric jump training (PT) may benefit tennis players, but little is known about how its weekly distribution affects performance and acute perceived soreness. The aim was to investigate the effects of PT, conducted at different weekly frequencies, on physical performance and muscle soreness in competitive tennis players. Eighteen competitive tennis players were randomly assigned to PT-1 (1 session/week) (n=9; age 17.0±2.0 yrs) or PT-3 (3 sessions/week) (n=9; age 19.0±3.9 yrs), both performing 180 jumps over 8 weeks. Countermovement vertical (CMVJ) and squat jumps (SJ), single-leg horizontal hop (SLHH), 10- and 20-m sprints, and a repeated change-of-direction (COD) test were measured pre- and post-intervention. Muscle soreness was recorded before and immediately after each PT session using a 7-point Likert scale. Both groups improved jump height, hop distance, sprint time, and repeated COD performance (p<0.05). No between-groups differences were noted for CMVJ (p=0.419), SJ (p=0.692), SLHH (p=0.512), 10- and 20-m sprints (p=0.658 and p=0.741), nor repeated COD performance (p=0.191). Distributing the same PT volume over three weekly sessions produces performance gains comparable to a single weekly session. However, the increase in muscle soreness was significantly lower in PT-3 than in PT-1 group. Higher-frequency, lower-dose PT may reduce acute muscle soreness perception while maintaining performance improvements.

Keywords

Plyometric exercise; Athletic performance; Human physical conditioning; Stretch-shortening cycle

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