Effect of Plyometrics on Bone Mineral Density in Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ContextOsteoporosis is a chronic bone metabolic disease characterized by decreased bone mass, leading to increased frailty and a subsequent fracture risk. Peak bone mineral density (BMD) is achieved in early adulthood and may be the most important factor leading to the development of osteoporosis in older adults.ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the effects of plyometrics on BMD in young men and premenopausal women.DesignThis study used randomized controlled trials found in MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL published between January 1, 1990, and November 1, 2022. Keywords included plyometrics, jumping, jump training, bone health, and bone mineral density. Articles were assessed for methodological quality using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials 2010 checklist.Eligibility CriteriaRandomized controlled trials investigating BMD in healthy premenopausal women and men between the ages of 18 and 60 yr that compared plyometrics with control were included.Study SelectionTwo reviewers independently screened 553 abstracts.Main Outcome MeasuresMean baseline and follow-up dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scores and standard deviations were extracted to calculate the standard mean difference. After extraction, the magnitude of difference between control and treatment groups were analyzed using the Hedges and Olkin method for effect size.ResultsThe 12 included studies had high methodological quality. Of the 12 studies, 10 reported statistically significant increase in BMD at >= 1 site when compared with control. Two studies showed equal improvement when compared with resistance-only training. After analysis, a large positive effect size with strongly positive correlation was seen between plyometrics and lumbar spine BMD.ConclusionPlyometric training is a safe and time-efficient method to improve BMD in premenopausal people 18-65 yr old. Large effect sizes were associated with increased training intensity and lasted months after the intervention was complete. Plyometrics seems to be a comparable alternative to resistance training with respect to bone health.