Table 2.
Summary of studies investigating the effects of weightlifting interventions
| Study | Participant characteristics | Test(s) | Variable(s) | Weightlifting intervention | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample size (n) | Age group (mean years ± SD) | Demographics | Duration | Training frequency, exercises prescribed, sets, repetitions, intensity, rest) | |||
| Weightlifting training and control group comparisons (n = 5) | |||||||
| Arabatzi and Kellis [54] | 26, WLT group (9), TRT group (9), CON group (8) | 20.3 ± 2.0 | Male, students of physical education in Greece | SJ |
Jump height (cm) Hip and knee displacement |
8 weeks | WLT group: 3 × /week; snatch from a squat position, high-pull, power clean, half-squat, and clean and jerk; 4 sets of 4–6 reps; 75–90% 1RM, 3-min rest. TRT group: 3 × /week; knee extension, knee flexion, push, pull of biceps femoris, and half-squat; 4 sets of 4–6 reps; 75–90% 1RM; 3-min rest. CON group: standard sport activities through academic programme, no additional weight exercises |
| CMJ | Peak power (W) | ||||||
| DJ (20, 40, 60 cm) | Jump height (cm) | ||||||
| Channell and Barfield [34] | 27, WLT group (11), TRT group (10), CON group (6) | 15.9 ± 1.2 | Male, student athletes, from the high school football programme, limited resistance training experience |
Power clean 1RM Back squat 1RM |
Weight (kg) |
8 weeks (prior 4 weeks of TRT only) |
WLT group: 3×/week; power clean, hang clean, snatch pulls, snatch, push jerk and accessory strength; 3–5 sets of 5–10 reps; 60–75% 1RM. TRT group: 3×/week; bench press, squat, dead lift, leg press, upper body press, back extensions, abdominals; 3–5 sets of 5–20 reps; 60–100% 1RM. CON group: did not participate in any off-season training |
| CMJ | Height (cm) | ||||||
| Tricoli et al. [37] | 21, WLT group (7), PLYO group (7), CON group (7) | 22.0 ± 1.5 | Male, limited WLT experience |
½ Back squat 1RM SJ CMJ |
Weight (kg) Height (cm) |
8 weeks | WLT group: 3×/week; WL full exercises, WL derivatives and accessory strength; 3–4 sets, 4–6 reps; 80–90% 1RM. PLYO group: 3×/week; plyometrics, half-squat; 4–10 reps, 4–6 reps; 80–90% 1RM. CON group: no training |
|
10, 30-m sprint Agility |
Time (s) | ||||||
| İnce [55] | 34, WLT group (17), CON group (17) | 15.4 ± 1.6 | Female, volleyball players, 3 years volleyball experience | CMJ |
Jump height (cm) Stiffness (kNm) |
6 weeks | WLT group: 2×/week, Olympic split lifts, hang split snatch and clean and jerk in addition to normal volleyball training; 3–7 sets of 5 reps; 70–90% 1RM; 2 min. CON group: normal volleyball/ technical training only |
|
5, 20-m sprint T-test (CODS) |
Time (s) | ||||||
| Kaabi et al. [56] | 45, WLT group (15), PLYO group (15), CON group (15) | 16.6 ± 0.4 | Male, ‘recreationally trained’ resistance training experience |
Squat 1RM SJ CMJ |
Height (cm) | 8 weeks | 5×/week table tennis technical sessions in addition to WL or PLYO. WLT group: 2×/week; WL derivatives and accessory strength; 3–4 sets, 5–10 reps; 70–85% 1RM; 3–5 min rest. PLYO GROUP: 2×/week; plyometrics; 3–4 sets, 5–10 reps; 70–85% 1RM; 3–5 min rest. CON group: 5× table tennis technical sessions/week with no TRT |
|
5-m sprint T test (CODS) |
Time (s) | ||||||
| Weightlifting training and traditional resistance training comparisons (n = 10) | |||||||
| Arabatzi and Kellis [54] | 26, WLT group (9), TRT group (9), CON group (8) | 20.3 ± 2.0 | Male, students of physical education in Greece | SJ |
Jump height (cm) Hip and knee displacement |
8 weeks | WLT group: 3×/week; snatch from a squat position, high-pull, power clean, half-squat, and clean and jerk; 4 sets of 4–6 reps; 75–90% 1RM, 3-min rest. TRT group: 3×/week; knee extension, knee flexion, push, pull of biceps femoris, and half-squat; 4 sets of 4–6 reps; 75–90% 1RM; 3-min rest. CON group: standard sport activities through academic programme, no additional weight exercises |
|
CMJ DJ (20, 40, 60 cm) |
Peak power (W) Jump height (cm) |
||||||
| Helland et al. [32] | 26, WLT group (13), free weight/TRT group (13) | 20.0 ± 3.0 | Male (n = 29) and female (n = 10), Badminton, volleyball, and hockey players, Norwegian high school for elite sports, limited WLT experience |
Back squat 1RM SJ CMJ |
Weight (kg) Jump height (cm) |
8 weeks | WLT group: 3×/week; 45 min; 0full cleans with front squat, hang cleans, power jerk behind the neck, full snatches, and hang snatches; 2–5 sets of 3–5 reps; 85–95% 1RM; 3-min rest. Free weight/TRT group: 3×/week, 45 min; squat, single leg squat, CMJ; 2–6 sets of 3–5 reps; 10–93% 1RM; 3-min rest |
|
Loaded CMJ (10–80 kg) DJ (40 cm) 30-m sprint |
Peak power (W) Jump height (cm) Time (s) |
||||||
| Hermassi et al. [40] | 22, WLT group (11), CON group (11) | 20.7 ± 0.5 | Male, handball players, playing experience 9.2 ± 0.7 years |
Snatch 1RM C&J 1RM Back half-squat 1RM |
Weight (kg) | 12 weeks | WLT group: In addition to CON group training, 2× WLT/week to replace technical-tactical sessions; snatch from a squatting position, bench press, half-squat, and clean and jerk; 1–3 sets of 8–12 repetitions; 55–75% 1RM; 3-min rest. CON group: 6×/week typical handball training programme inclusive of resistance training |
| SJ | Jump height (cm) | ||||||
| CMJ | Relative peak power (W/kg) | ||||||
| 5, 30-m sprint | Time (s) | ||||||
|
T-half test (CODS) Handball throwing |
Velocity (m/s) | ||||||
| Oranchuk et al. [57] | 18, hang pull/WLT group (9), jump squat/TRT group (9) | Male 19.6 ± 2.7, female 21.4 ± 3.0 | Male (n = 8) and female (n = 10), swimmers, minimum of 1-year resistance training experience |
SJ CMJ IMTP |
Jump height (cm) Relative peak power (w/kg) Relative peak force (w/kg) Peak RFD (N/s) Relative force at 50–250 ms time bands (N/kg) |
10 weeks | WLT group: 2×/week; high hang pulls, squat, deadlift, bench press, rows, pull ups and lunges; 2–6 sets of 2–12 reps; 60–90% 1RM power clean; 2–3-min rest. Jump squat/TRT group: trap-bar jump squat, squat, deadlift, bench press, rows, pull ups and lunges; 2–6 sets of 2–12 reps; 10–80% 1RM; 2–3 min |
| Hoffman et al. [33] | 20, WLT group (10), TRT group (10) | WLT group 19.3 ± 1.2, power lifting group 18.9 ± 1.4 | Male, NCAA Division III football team | Back squat 1RMs | Weight (kg) | 15 weeks (first 6 weeks general strength only) | WLT group: 4×/week; additional 2×/week speed and agility training; WL full lifts, WL derivatives and accessory strength; 2–5 sets of 3–10 reps; 80–95% 1RM. TRT group: 4×/week; additional 2×/week speed and agility training; squats, deadlifts, upper body pushing and pulling, calf raises, sit ups; 3–5 sets of 4–10 reps; 80–95% 1RM |
| CMJ | Jump height (cm) | ||||||
|
40-yard sprint T drill (CODS) |
Time (s) | ||||||
| Otto et al. [58] | 30, WLT group (13), kettlebell/TRT group (17) | WLT group 22.9 ± 2.0 kettlebell group 22.8 ± 1.9 | Male, minimum of 1-year resistance training experience |
Power clean 1RM Back squat 1RM |
Weight (kg) | 6 weeks | WLT group: 2×/week; high pulls, power cleans, and back squats; 3–6 sets of 4–6 reps; 80% 1RM. Kettlebell/TRT group: 2×/week; kettlebell swings, goblet squats; 3–6 sets of 4–6 reps; 16 kg kettlebell |
| CMJ | Jump height (cm) | ||||||
| Channell and Barfield [34] | 27, WLT group (11), TRT group (10), CON group (6) | 15.9 ± 1.2 | Male, student athletes, from the high school football programme, limited resistance training experience |
Power clean 1RM Back squat 1RM |
Weight (kg) | 8 weeks (prior 4 weeks of general strength only) | WLT group: 3×/week; power clean, hang clean, snatch pulls, snatch, push jerk and accessory strength; 3–5 sets of 5–10 reps; 60–75% 1RM. TRT group: 3×/week; Bench press, squat, dead lift, leg press, upper body press, back extensions, abdominals; 3–5 sets of 5–20 reps; 60–100% 1RM. CON group: did not participate in any off-season training |
| CMJ | Height (cm) | ||||||
| Hermassi et al. [39] | 20, WLT group (10), CON group (10) | 21.2 ± 0.7 | Male, handball players, playing experience 10.1 ± 0.5 y |
Snatch 1RM C&J 1RM |
Weight (kg) | 8 weeks | WLT group: 2×/week; a snatch from a squatting position, a bench-press, a half-squat, and a clean and jerk; 3–4 sets of 3–10 repetitions; 55–85% 1RM; 3 min. CON group: maintained standard in-season training regimen inclusive of TRT; physical conditioning 2×/week aimed at strength development |
| Pichardo et al. [59] | 59, WLT group (31), TRT group (28) | WLT group 14.0 ± 0.5, 0.3 ± 0.6 from PHV, TRT group 13.9 ± 0.6, 0.1 ± 0.9 from PHV | Male, youth, < 1 year of resistance training experience, WLT naïve | IMTP |
Peak force (N) Relative peak force (N/kg) |
28 weeks | WLT group: WLT + field-based training; WLT 2×/week; 3-week introductory mesocycle using bodyweight exercises only, WL full lifts, WL derivatives and accessory strength; 1–5 sets of 5–12 reps. TRT group: FT + field-based training; WLT 2×/week; 3-week introductory mesocycle using bodyweight exercises only, squat lunge, upper body push and pull and core; 1–5 sets of 5–12 reps |
| CMJ | Jump height (cm) | ||||||
| Horizontal jumps | Jump distance (m) | ||||||
| 30-m sprint | Time (s) | ||||||
| Hawkins et al. [60] | 29, WLT group (9), TRT group (10), PLYO group (10) | 21.5 ± 12.5 | Male, ‘non-athlete’ | Back squat 1RM | Weight (kg) | 8 weeks | WLT GROUP: 3×/week, 60 min; WL full exercises, WL derivatives and accessory strength; 3 sets of 4–10 reps. TRT group: 3×/week, 60 min; squats, deadlifts and good mornings, lower body unilateral, upper body push and pull; 3 sets of 6–10 reps. PLYO group: 3×/week, 60 min; plyometrics; 3 sets of 6–15 reps |
| SJ | Jump height (cm) | ||||||
| CMJ |
Peak power (W) Eccentric utilisation ratio |
||||||
| Weightlifting training and plyometric training comparisons (n = 6) | |||||||
| Arabatzi et al. [61] | 18, WLT group (9), PLYO group (9) | 20.3 ± 2.0 | Male, students of physical education, 1-year resistance training experience |
SJ CMJ |
Jump height (cm) Mean concentric power (W) Hip and knee displacement |
8 weeks | WLT group: 3×/week; snatch from a squat position, high-pull, power clean, half-squat, and clean and jerk; 4 sets of 4–6 reps; 75–90% 1RM; 3-min rest. PLYO group: 3×/week; plyometrics, half-squat; 4 sets of 4–6 reps; 75–90% 1RM; 3-min rest. CON group: no training |
| Teo et al. [62] | 26, WLT group (13), vertical jump/PLYO group (13) | 24.2 ± 1.1 | Male, minimum of 6 months’ resistance training experience |
SJ CMJ DJ (40 cm) |
Peak power (W) | 6 weeks | WLT GROUP: 3×/week, 45 min; hang power clean and power snatch and half squat; 4–6 sets of 4–6 reps; 70% 1RM; 3–5-min rest. PLYO group: 3×/week, 45 min; plyometrics (jumps and drop jumps), half-squat;4–8 sets of 4–12 reps; 30–70% 1RM; 3–5 min rest |
|
5, 20-m sprint 505 (CODS) |
Time (s) | ||||||
| Hawkins et al. [60] | 29, WLT group (9), TRT group (10), PLYO group (10) | 21.5 ± 12.5 | Male, ‘non-athlete’ | Back squat 1RM | Weight (kg) | 8 weeks | WLT group: 3×/week, 60 min; WL full exercises, WL derivatives and accessory strength; 3 sets of 4–10 reps. TRT group: 3×/week, 60 min; squats, deadlifts and good mornings, lower body unilateral, upper body push and pull; 3 sets of 6–10 reps. PLYO group: 3×/week, 60 min; plyometrics; 3 sets of 6–15 reps |
| SJ | Jump height (cm) | ||||||
| CMJ |
Peak power (W) Eccentric utilisation ratio |
||||||
| Tricoli et al. [37] | 21, WLT group (7), PLYO group (7), CON group (7) | 22.0 ± 1.5 | Male, limited WLT experience | ½ Back squat 1RM | Weight (kg) | 8 weeks | WLT group: 3×/week; WL full exercises, WL derivatives and accessory strength; 3–4 sets, 4–6 reps; 80–90% 1RM. PLYO group: 3×/week; plyometrics, half-squat; 4–10 reps, 4–6 reps; 80–90% 1RM. CON group: no training |
|
SJ CMJ |
Height (cm) | ||||||
|
10, 30-m sprint 4-m agility (CODS) |
Time(s) | ||||||
| Moore et al. [36] | 15, WLT group (8), PLYO group (7) | 20.2 ± 0.2 | Male (10) and female (5), limited resistance training experience | Squat 4RM | Weight lifted (kg) | 12 weeks | WLT group: 3×/week; hang clean and accessory strength; 3 sets, 6 reps; 85% 1RM. PLYO group: 3×/week; plyometrics; 1–3 sets, 10–30 reps |
| CMJ | Jump height (cm) | ||||||
| 25-m sprint | Time (s) | ||||||
| Kaabi et al. [56] | 45, WLT group (15), PLYO group (15), CON group (15) | 16.6 ± 0.4 | Male, ‘recreationally trained’ resistance training experience |
Squat 1RM SJ CMJ |
Height (cm) | 8 weeks | 5×/week table tennis technical sessions in addition to WLT or PLYO. WLT group: 2×/week; WL derivatives and accessory strength; 3–4 sets, 5–10 reps; 70–85% 1RM; 3–5-min rest. PLYO group: 2×/week; plyometrics; 3–4 sets, 5–10 reps; 70–85% 1RM; 3–5-min rest. CON group: 5×table tennis technical sessions/week with no TRT |
|
5-m sprint T test (CODS) |
Time (s) | ||||||
1RM one repetition maximum, C&J clean and jerk, CMJ countermovement jump, CODS change of direction speed, DJ drop jump, IMTP isometric mid-thigh pull, NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association, PHV peak height velocity, PLYO plyometric training, RFD rate of force development, SJ squat jump, WL weightlifting, WLT weightlifting training