Effects of eccentric training on athletes’ explosive power: a systematic review and meta-analysis
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Physical Education, Yuncheng University, Yuncheng, China
- 2College of Sport and Health Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
- 3School of Physical Education, Baoshan University, Baoshan, Yunnan, China
- 4Institute of Physical Education, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
Abstract
Background: Eccentric training is frequently used to improve explosive performance in athletes; however, findings across different performance dimensions (e.g., jumping and sprinting) remain inconsistent, and intervention heterogeneity is substantial. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of eccentric training on explosive performance in athletes.
Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included according to the PICOS framework (healthy athletes; explicitly labeled eccentric training; conventional training as control; outcomes related to explosive performance, including countermovement jump (CMJ) and linear sprint performance over 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m). Only studies explicitly labeled as eccentric training were included; Nordic hamstring exercise and other interventions not explicitly labeled as eccentric training were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, and meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model.
Results: Eleven RCTs (n = 348; 11–25 years; 6–24 weeks) were included. Pooled results showed that eccentric training significantly improved CMJ performance (MD = 2.92 cm, p = 0.0006). However, no significant improvements were observed for short-distance sprint performance: 10-m and 20-m sprint (MD = −0.10 s, p = 0.11) and 30-m sprint (MD = −0.42 s, p = 0.23). The 10-m sprint meta-analysis showed high heterogeneity, with two studies reporting significant effects and two reporting non-significant effects. Subgroup analysis indicated that eccentric training duration had a moderating effect on CMJ performance (MD = 1.91 cm, p = 0.009).
Conclusion: Eccentric training may improve CMJ, a component of jump performance, in athletes, but shows no significant effect on linear sprint performance (20 m and 30 m), with unstable evidence for 10 m. Due to the limited number of included studies, substantial heterogeneity, moderate-to-high risk of bias, and inclusion of only studies explicitly labeled as eccentric training, these conclusions should be interpreted cautiously and cannot be generalized to other explosive performance dimensions or all eccentric training modalities. Future high-quality studies are needed to standardize eccentric training protocols, intervention durations, and outcome measurements, and to perform stratified analyses by outcome dimension.
Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=1380375, identifier CRD420261380375.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026effects,
title = {{Effects of eccentric training on athletes’ explosive power: a systematic review and meta-analysis}},
author = {Yugang Zhang and Lei Zhang and Baozhong Zhang and Min Sun and Yuan Zhuang and Ni Ma},
journal = {Frontiers in Physiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fphys.2026.1960414},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2026.1960414},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of eccentric training on athletes’ explosive power: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Yugang Zhang
AU - Lei Zhang
AU - Baozhong Zhang
AU - Min Sun
AU - Yuan Zhuang
AU - Ni Ma
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Frontiers in Physiology
DO - 10.3389/fphys.2026.1960414
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2026.1960414
AB - Background: Eccentric training is frequently used to improve explosive performance in athletes; however, findings across different performance dimensions (e.g., jumping and sprinting) remain inconsistent, and intervention heterogeneity is substantial. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of eccentric training on explosive performance in athletes. Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included according to the PICOS framework (healthy athletes; explicitly labeled eccentric training; conventional training as control; outcomes related to explosive performance, including countermovement jump (CMJ) and linear sprint performance over 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m). Only studies explicitly labeled as eccentric training were included; Nordic hamstring exercise and other interventions not explicitly labeled as eccentric training were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, and meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model. Results: Eleven RCTs (n = 348; 11–25 years; 6–24 weeks) were included. Pooled results showed that eccentric training significantly improved CMJ performance (MD = 2.92 cm, p = 0.0006). However, no significant improvements were observed for short-distance sprint performance: 10-m and 20-m sprint (MD = −0.10 s, p = 0.11) and 30-m sprint (MD = −0.42 s, p = 0.23). The 10-m sprint meta-analysis showed high heterogeneity, with two studies reporting significant effects and two reporting non-significant effects. Subgroup analysis indicated that eccentric training duration had a moderating effect on CMJ performance (MD = 1.91 cm, p = 0.009). Conclusion: Eccentric training may improve CMJ, a component of jump performance, in athletes, but shows no significant effect on linear sprint performance (20 m and 30 m), with unstable evidence for 10 m. Due to the limited number of included studies, substantial heterogeneity, moderate-to-high risk of bias, and inclusion of only studies explicitly labeled as eccentric training, these conclusions should be interpreted cautiously and cannot be generalized to other explosive performance dimensions or all eccentric training modalities. Future high-quality studies are needed to standardize eccentric training protocols, intervention durations, and outcome measurements, and to perform stratified analyses by outcome dimension. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=1380375, identifier CRD420261380375.
SN - 1664-042X
ER -