The effects of a training program consisting of weight lifting combined with plyometric exercises on kicking performance,
myosin heavy-chain composition (
vastus lateralis), physical fitness, and body composition (using
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (
DXA)) was examined in 37 male physical education students divided
randomly into a training group (TG: 16 subjects) and a control group (CG: 21 subjects). The TG followed 6 weeks of combined weight lifting and plyometric exercises. In all subjects, tests were performed to measure their maximal
angular speed of the
knee during
instep kicks on a stationary ball. Additional tests for
muscle power (vertical jump), running speed (30 m running test), anaerobic capacity (Wingate and 300 m running tests), and aerobic power (20 m shuttle run tests) were also performed. Training resulted in
muscle hypertrophy (+4.3%), increased peak
angular velocity of the
knee during kicking (+13.6%), increased percentage of
myosin heavy-chain (MHC) type IIa (+8.4%), increased 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) of inclined
leg press (ILP) (+61.4%),
leg extension (LE) (+20.2%),
leg curl (+15.9%), and half squat (HQ) (+45.1%), and enhanced performance in vertical jump (all p
