Table 2 Included meta-analyses that examined the effects of plyometric training on physical fitness in different population groups

Alfaro-Jimenez et al. [38]

Team sports —young and adults (e.g., basketball, handball, volleyball, football and netball)

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Explosive strength

0.98 (0.77–1.19, p < 0.05); (p = n.a)

72%

Asadi et al. [35]

Youth athletes—practitioners and non-practitioners of sports

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Change of direction

0.59 (-0.08—1.24, n.a); n.a

n.a

Asadi et al. [36]

Youth athletes—practitioners and non-practitioners of sports

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Change of direction

0.96 (n.a, n.a); n.a

n.a

Behm et al. [37]

Healthy trained or untrained boys and girls

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Vertical jump height, sprint performance and lower body strength

Jump measures

Total

0.69 (0.53–0.84, p < 0.001); (p < 0.001)

51%

Trained Boys

0.67 (0.52–0.82, p < 0.001); (p < 0.05)

39%

Untrained

0.80 (0.24–1.35, p < 0.001); (p = 0.005)

80%

Children

0.74 (0.53–0.94, p < 0.001); (p < 0.001)

62%

Adolescents

0.57 (0.37–0.77, p < 0.01); (p > 0.05)

14%

Sprint performance

Total

0.38 (0.23–0.53, p (p < 0.001); (p > 0.05)

12%

Trained boys

0.32 (0.18–0.46, p < 0.001); (p > 0.05)

0%

Untrained

1.19 (− 0.32 to 2.69, p < 0.001); (p < 0.001)

87%

Children

0.47 (0.28–0.67, p < 0.001); (p > 0.05)

31%

Adolescents

0.13 (− 0.17 to 0.44, p > 0.05); (p > 0.05)

0%

Lower body strength

Adolescents

0.16 (− 0.26 to 0.58, p = 0.59); (p > 0.05)

0%

Berton et al. [44]

Healthy individuals—trained or

untrained men

Within-subject SMD

Vertical jump height

0.15 (− 0.30 to 0.60, p = 0.51); 21% (p = 0.97)

21%

de Villarreal et al. [40]

Healthy individuals—with elite, high, medium and lower levels of fitness

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Vertical jump height

Squat jump

0.79 (n.a, n.a); n.a

n.a

CMJ

0.74 (n.a, n.a); n.a

n.a

Drop jump

0.71 (n.a, n.a); n.a

n.a

Sargent jump

0.57 (n.a, n.a); n.a

n.a

de Villarreal et al. [41]

Healthy individuals—with elite, high, medium and lower levels of fitness

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Strength performance

0.97 (n.a, n.a); n.a

n.a

de Villarreal et al. [42]

Healthy individuals—with elite, high, medium and lower levels of fitness

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Sprint time

0.37 (n.a, n.a); n.a

n.a

Kayantas et al. [46]

Athletes in general sports (e.g., basketball and football)

Within-subject SMD

Speed parameters

0.67 (0.38–0.96, p < 0.001); (p < 0.007)

68%

Kayantas et al. [39]

Athletes in general sports (e.g., judo, basketball, volleyball, handball, football and wrestling)

Within-subject SMD

Muscular strength

0.40 (0.19–0.61, p < 0.001); (p = 0.36)

7%

Makaruk et al. [18]

Healthy individuals—age > 18 years

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Vertical jump height

Traditional Plyometric

0.68 (0.37–0.99, p < 0.001); (p = 0.16)

31%

Assisted Plyometric

0.70 (0.20–1.20, p = 0.006); (p = 0.94)

0%

Resisted Plyometric

0.48 (0.17–1.19, p = 0.002); (p = 0.14)

33%

Markovic et al. [30]

Healthy individuals—athletes and non-athletes

Experimental vs. Control SMD

Vertical jump height

Squat jump

0.44 (0.15–0.72, n.a); (n.a)

33%

CMJ

0.88 (0.64–1.11, n.a); (n.a)

11%

CMJ with the arm swing

0.71 (0.49–0.93, n.a); (n.a)

26%

Drop jump

0.62 (0.18–1.05, n.a); (n.a)

20%

Moran et al. [31]

Older healthy individuals’ adults (> 50)

Experimental versus control SMD

Lower limbs power

0.66 (0.33–0.98, p = 0.02); (p < 0.001)

51%

Moran et al. [32]

Healthy trained or untrained girls

Experimental versus control SMD (Hedges’ g)

Vertical jump height

0.57 (0.21–0.93; p < 0.01);

(p < 0.001)

68%

Moran et al. [45]

Healthy individuals—Untrained and trained

Within-subject SMD

Vertical and horizontal jump performance

Horizontal plyometric training

Horizontal jump

1.05 (0.38–1.72, n.a); (p = 0.002)

73%

Vertical Jump

0.74 (0.08–1.40, n.a); (p = 0.03)

75%

Vertical plyometric training

Horizontal jump

0.84 (0.37–1.31, n.a); (p = 0.0005)

52%

Vertical jump

0.72 (0.02–1.43, n.a); (p = 0.04)

78%

Ozdemir et al. [47]

Athletes in general sports (e.g., badminton, basketball, football, wrestling, handball and volleyball)

Within-subject SMD

Vertical jump performance

0.68 (0.57–0.80, p < 0.001); (p < 0.001)

49%

Ramirez-Campillo et al. [54]

Handball players

Within-subject SMD

Vertical jump height

2.15 (0.95–3.36, p < 0.001); (p < 0.001))

51%

Ramirez-Campillo et al. [51]

Volleyball players

Within-subject SMD

Vertical jump height

2.07 (1.22–2.93, p < 0.001); (p = 0.087)

34%

Ramirez-Campillo et al. [50]

Team sports (e.g., soccer, volleyball, basketball and futsal)

Within-subject SMD

Vertical jump height

0.73 (0.45–1.02, p < 0.001); (p = 0.22)

18%

Ramirez-Campillo et al. [55]

Female soccer players

Within-subject SMD

Vertical jump height

1.01 (0.36–1.66, p = 0.002); (p = 0.33)

13%

Ramirez-Campillo et al. [53]

Basketball players

Within-subject SMD

Vertical jump power, countermovement jump with arm swing height, Countermovement jump height, squat jump height, drop jump height, horizontal jump distance, < 10-m linear sprint time, > 10-m linear sprint time, < 40-m change-of-direction performance time, > 40-m change-of-direction performance time, dynamic balance, static balance, maximal strength, hamstring/quadriceps strength ratio at 60°/s, hamstring/quadriceps strength ratio at ≥ 120°/s

Jumping

Vertical jump power, 0.45 (0.07–0.84, p = 0.021); (p = 0.32)

0%

Countermovement jump with arm swing height

1.24 (0.72–1.75, < 0.001); (p < 0.001)

71%

Countermovement jump height

0.88 (0.55–1.22, p < 0.001); (p = 0.071)

67%

Squat jump height

0.80 (0.47–1.14, p < 0.001); (p = 0.008)

52%

Drop jump height

0.53 (0.25–0.80, p < 0.001); (p = 0.567)

0%

Horizontal jump distance

0.65 (− 0.02 to 1.31, p < 0.001); (p = 0.008)

80%

Sprint

 < 10-m linear sprint time

1.67 (0.32–3.03, p = 0.016); (p = 0.307)

85%

 > 10-m linear sprint time

0.92 (0.40–1.44, p < 0.001); (p = 0.061)

74%

 < 40-m change-of-direction performance time

1.15 (0.75–1.55, p < 0.001); (p = 0.189)

59%

 > 40-m change-of-direction performance time

1.02 (0.29–1.76, p = 0.006); (p = 0.272)

64%

Balance

Dynamic balance

1.16 (0.43–1.89, p = 0.002); (p = 0.586)

76%

Static balance

1.48 (− 0.19–3.15, p = 0.002); (p = 0.252)

93%

Strength variables

Maximal strength

0.57 (0.07–1.07, p = 0.025); (p = 0.117)

38%

Hamstring/quadriceps strength ratio at 60°/s

− 0.10 (− 0.56 to − 0.36, p = 0.661); (p = 0.060)

23%

Hamstring/quadriceps strength ratio at ≥ 120°/s

− 0.04 (− 0.56 to 0.48, p = 0.885); (p = 0.785)

39%

Ramirez-Campillo et al. [52]

Volleyball players

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Linear sprint speed, squat jump height, countermovement jump height, CMJ with arm swing, drop jump and spike jump height

Linear sprint speed

0.70 (0.31–1.09, p < 0.001); p = 0.609

46%

Squat jump

0.56 (0.24–0.88, p = 0.001); p = 0.409

0%

Countermovement jump

0.80 (0.37–1.22, p < 0.001); p = 0.270

66%

Countermovement jump

with arm swing,

0.63 (0.21–1.04, p = 0.003); p = 0.002

0%

Drop jump

0.81 (0.15–1.47, p = 0.016); p = 0.496

37%

Spike jump height

0.84 (0.36–1.32, p = 0.001); (p < 0.05)

0%

Sánchez et al. [56]

Female soccer players

Within-subject SMD

(Hedges’ g)

Countermovement jump, drop jump, kicking performance, linear sprint, change of direction speed, and endurance

Countermovement jump

0.71 (0.20–1.23, p = 0.007); (p = 0.224)

62%

Countermovement jump with Arm Swing

0.41 (-0.34–1.15, p = 0.28); (p = 0.452)

65%

Drop jump

0.79 (0.12–1.47, p = 0.021); (p = 0.063)

73%

Kicking performance

2.24 (0.13–4.36, p < 0.037); (p = 0.040)

89%

Linear sprint

0.79 (0.39–1.18, p < 0.001); (p = 0.257)

38%

Change of direction speed

0.73 (0.39–1.06, p < 0.001); (p = 0.813)

0%

Endurance

0.60 (0.09–1.10, p = 0.020); (p = 0.328)

53%

Singla et al. [57]

Healthy individuals—practitioners and non-practitioners of sports

Within-subject SMD

Ball throwing velocity and distance. Upper body power and strength

Velocity

0.68 (0.01–1.36, p < n.a); (p = 0.07)

7%

Distance

0.42 (− 0.07 to 0.92, p < n.a); (p = 0.17)

3%

Power

-0.08 (-0.45–0.29, p < n.a); (p = 0.45)

1%

Strength

0.15 (-0.52–0.82, p < n.a); (p = 0.14)

4%

Slimani et al. [33]

Soccer players

Experimental vs. Control SMD

Vertical jump height

0.85 (0.47–1.23, p < 0.001); (p < 0.001)

68%

Sole et al. [48]

Individual sport athletes (e.g., runners, gymnastics, golfers, tennis, swimmers, throwers, fencers, cyclists and recreational resistance training)

Within-subject SMD

(Hedges’ g)

Vertical jump, linear sprint, maximal strength, endurance performance

Vertical jump

0.49 (0.32–0.65, p < 0.001); (p < 0.117)

0%

Linear sprint

0.23 (0.02–0.44, p = 0.032); (p = 0.518)

10%

Maximal strength

0.50 (0.23–0.77, p < 0.001); (p = 0.004)

0%

Sprint with change of direction

0.34 (− 0.19 to 0.87, p = 0.205); (p = 0.657)

70%

Endurance performance

0.30 (0.03–0.57, p = 0.028); (p = 0.119)

11%

Stojanovic et al. [50]

Female general athletes (e.g., basketball, amateur soccer, elite runners, collegiate soccer players, hockey and volleyball players)

Within-subject SMD (Hedges’ g)

Countermovement jump without arm swing, countermovement jump with arm swing, squat jump, drop jump

Countermovement jump without arm swing

1.87 (0.73–3.01, n.a); (n.a)

75%

Countermovement Jump with Arm Swing

1.31 (− 0.04 to 2.65, n.a); (n.a)

92%

Squat jump

0.44 (− 0.09 to 0.97, n.a); (n.a)

0%

Drop jump

3.62 (3.03–4.21, n.a); (n.a)

96%

Taylor et al. [43]

Healthy individuals trained sports practitioners

Within-subject SMD

(Hedges’ g)

Vertical jump, Sprint (10, 20, 30 m) ability and high-intensity intermittent running performance

Vertical jump

0.33 (0.03—0.63), n.a); (n.a)

33%

Sprint 10 m

0.42 (0.18–0.66, n.a); (n.a)

0%

Sprint 20 m

0.49 (0.03–0.95 0.46, n.a); (n.a)

61%

Sprint 30 m

1.01 (0.08–1.94 ± 0.93, n.a); (n.a)

47%

Repeated sprint ability

0.62 (0.37–0.87, n.a); (n.a)

0%

High intermittent running performance

0.61 (0.07–1.15; 0.54, n.a); (n.a)

56%

van de Hoef et al. [34]

Male soccer players

Experimental versus control SMD

Vertical jump, Sprint (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 m) CMJ vertical jump height performance, strength, agility and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test 1 and 2

Vertical jump (cm)

1.07 (0.13–2.00, n.a); (p = 0.46)

0%

Sprint 5 m (s)

0.00 (− 0.02 to 0.02, n.a); (p = 0.98)

Sprint 10 m (s)

0.01 (− 0.01 to 0.04, n.a); (p = 0.23)

0%

Sprint 15 m (s)

0.04 (− 0.03 to 0.12, n.a); (p = 0.17) Sprint 20 m (s)

27%

0.05 (− 0.01 to 0.10, n.a); (p = 0.48)

46%

Sprint 30 m (s)

0.05 (− 0.02 to 0.11, n.a); 0% (p = 0.53)

0%

Strength (kg)

8.49 (− 10.64 to 27.61, n.a); (p < 0.001)

97%

Agility (s)

0.01 (− 0.07 to 0.10, n.a); (p = 0.18)

34%

Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test 1 and 2 (cm)

120.74 (3.00–238.49, n.a); (p = 0.16)

42%