Discussion
The present study aimed to compare the effects of an 8-week-long PT and quadriceps strength training program on the IS of quadriceps, ST, and SLTH in male soccer players. Three groups were created in the present study, 1. STG, 2. PTG, and 3. CG (no intervention). The present study showed significant improvements in the IS of the quadriceps muscle, ST, and SLTH in all three groups. However, the greatest improvements were observed in the STG, followed by the PTG and then the CG. In the present study, the PTG consisted of bounding, hurdling, and drop-jumping exercises. The STG consisted of isometric knee extension exercises at 60°, isometric quadriceps exercise in supine lying, SLR, and isometric hip adduction exercises. The CG did not include any intervention; however, they were allowed to continue their regular home training programs.Improvements were observed even in the CG that was not given any intervention because participants in this group were allowed to continue their regular home training, which included stretching exercises only. Participants in the CG performed a standardized warm-up session of 15 min which included 8–10 min of running, jogging, and stretching exercises for 5–6 min. This warm-up session was performed before the baseline and post-intervention measurement only. Participants in all three groups were allowed to play their football matches once a week. Therefore, these may be the possible reasons for improvements in CG in IS of the quadriceps, ST, and SLTH.In the present study, 20–31% improvement was observed in ST in all three groups. The participants in the present study were recruited from university and local soccer clubs. They were not elite or high-performance players; therefore, there was a scope for improvement in ST after training. This might be the reason why such a good improvement was observed.In agreement with the present study's results, previous research has demonstrated that young adult male athletes' performance and strength can be effectively increased with PTThree phases make up a typical plyometric exercise. The eccentric phase, which is the initial phase, involves quickly stretching the muscles. The amortization phase, the second phase, is a brief period of rest, and the concentric phase, the third phase, is when the athlete makes an explosive muscle-shortening movementAnother training program used in the present study was a strength training program that included the isometric exercise of quadriceps, SLR, and adductor strengthening exercises. For the isometric exercise of the quadriceps in the sitting position, the knee angle at 60° of flexion was set, which produces significant torque output (Alonazi et al. 2021). It is reported that lower limb muscle strength improvement could enhance one's capacity for short-duration sprints