Author(s): FANG, W., HUANG, Y., LI, C., HU, Z., BIN, Z. , Institution: BEIJING POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 972

INTRODUCTION:
This study forms part of a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the effects of exercise training on the performance of racket sports athletes. In this section, we compare the impact of resistance training, plyometric training, and complex training on change-of-direction ability, whilst exploring sources of heterogeneity within the current evidence—particularly concerning factors such as training duration and frequency.
METHODS:
The protocol was prospectively registered ( PROSPERO CRD420251267647 ). We systematically searched seven electronic databases, including CNKI, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, the Cochrane Library, and Embase, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met the inclusion criteria. Ultimately, 17 studies involving 512 athletes were included. A random-effects model was employed to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs), supplemented by subgroup analyses to explore the impact of factors such as training mode, duration, and frequency on outcomes.
RESULTS:
The overall analysis revealed that all three intervention methods significantly improved change-of-direction ability, with a pooled effect size of SMD = −0.96 [−1.37, −0.55], demonstrating high statistical significance (P < 0.0001). However, substantial heterogeneity existed between studies (I² = 77.40%). Sensitivity analyses indicated that excluding any single study had minimal impact on the overall effect size, suggesting robust results. Subgroup analyses revealed greater effects for interventions involving an 8-week training period and twice- or thrice-weekly training sessions. Training mode and training frequency exerted minimal explanatory influence on heterogeneity.
CONCLUSION:
The meta analysis findings of this study indicate that exercise training interventions can generally significantly improve the change-of-direction ability of racquet sports athletes. However, considerable heterogeneity exists between studies, and the current evidence has not yet established a stable and directly generalizable effect pattern. Subgroup analyses suggest that training duration and frequency may be key moderating factors influencing the consistency of training effects. Conversely, training modality and total training volume failed to significantly account for inter-study heterogeneity, indicating these factors may exert relatively consistent or negligible effects on agility enhancement. Future research should employ more standardized designs to further validate these findings and elucidate the training characteristics influencing agility performance.