Acute Effects of a Mini-Trampoline Training Session for Improving Normalized Symmetry Index in Participants with Higher Baseline Inter-Limb Asymmetry

TL;DR

A single mini-trampoline training session reduced inter-limb asymmetry in people with higher baseline asymmetry, suggesting it could help prevent injuries.

Contribution

Demonstrates that mini-trampoline training acutely reduces inter-limb asymmetry in individuals with high baseline asymmetry.

Findings

Participants with higher baseline asymmetry showed reduced asymmetry after a mini-trampoline session.

Participants with lower baseline asymmetry experienced decreased jump performance, possibly due to fatigue.

Mini-trampoline training improved inter-limb control without affecting jump height in high asymmetry groups.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
A single mini-trampoline training session decreased inter-limb asymmetry in participants with higher baseline inter-limb asymmetry, without affecting countermovement jump performance.Participants with lower baseline inter-limb asymmetry did not show a reduction in inter-limb asymmetry, showing a decrease in CMJ performance, possibly reflecting fatigue-related compensatory strategies.

A single mini-trampoline training session decreased inter-limb asymmetry in participants with higher baseline inter-limb asymmetry, without affecting countermovement jump performance.

Participants with lower baseline inter-limb asymmetry did not show a reduction in inter-limb asymmetry, showing a decrease in CMJ performance, possibly reflecting fatigue-related compensatory strategies.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Mini-trampoline training may serve as an effective exercise to acutely reduce asymmetries in individuals at higher injury risk.Given its low impact, mini-trampoline training represents a safe and accessible plyometric exercise to use in preventive and rehabilitative programs.

Mini-trampoline training may serve as an effective exercise to acutely reduce asymmetries in individuals at higher injury risk.

Given its low impact, mini-trampoline training represents a safe and accessible plyometric exercise to use in preventive and rehabilitative programs.

Background: Inter-limb asymmetry has implications for both athletic performance and healthcare practice. High baseline inter-limb asymmetries have been associated with impaired mobility, increased fall risk, and musculoskeletal injuries across the lifespan. Exercise interventions able to stimulate the stretch–shortening cycle (e.g., plyometric training and jump training) have been shown to have a good impact on asymmetries. Among these, Mini-Trampoline Training (MTT) has recently emerged as potentially effective in reducing asymmetries. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of a single MTT session on muscle power and inter-limb asymmetry in young adults. Methods: Twenty-eight recreationally active participants (25.6 ± 2.4 years) completed one MTT session. Before (PRE) and after (POST) the MTT session, single-leg 6 m Timed Hop (6MTH) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests were administered. Additionally, 6MTH values of the dominant (DOM) and non-dominant (NODOM) limbs were used to stratify participants according to higher (HBIA) or lower (LBIA) baseline inter-limb asymmetry, based on a commonly adopted Normalized Symmetry Index (NSI) threshold (NSI ≥ 10%, n = 12; NSI < 10%, n = 16). Repeated-measures mixed models were used to evaluate the effects of the MTT session on 6MTH, NSI, and CMJ. Results: Regardless of group and limb, significant (p < 0.0001) improvements in 6MTH (PRE: 2.5 ± 0.06 s; POST: 2.3 ± 0.05 s) were found. Interestingly, the MTT session had a significant (p = 0.01) effect on both groups, with a significant (p = 0.003) interaction with NSI values, showing an improvement for HBIA (PRE = 15.4 ± 1.1%, POST = 11.3 ± 2.1%), whereas a decrement in LBIA was recorded (PRE = 5.1 ± 0.6%, POST = 9.6 ± 1.5%). CMJ did not show any changes in HBIA (PRE: 36.2 ± 0.9 cm; POST: 35.1 ± 0.7 cm), while a significant (p = 0.007) decrease was found in LBIA (PRE: 34.8 ± 1.2 cm; POST: 33.2 ± 1.3 cm). Conclusions: A single MTT session induced acute neuromuscular fatigue, reflected by reduced CMJ performance and improved (~8%) inter-limb control during hopping. The HBIA group preserved jump height (~36 cm) and demonstrated a significant reduction in asymmetry (NSI: −4.1%), suggesting more balanced lower-limb recruitment. Conversely, LBIA showed a significant decrease in CMJ and an increased NSI (+4.5%), possibly reflecting fatigue-related compensatory strategies. Overall, a single MTT elicited distinct responses according to baseline asymmetry, supporting its potential as an adaptable modality for enhancing neuromuscular function in HBIA.

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