Robinson, L.E., S.T. Devor, M.A. Merrick, and J. Buckworth. The effects of land vs. aquatic plyometrics on power, torque, velocity, and muscle soreness in women. J. Strength Cond. Res. 18(1):84-91. 2004.-The purpose of this study was to compare changes in performance indicators (power, torque, and velocity) and muscle soreness between plyometric training on land and in water. Thirty-two college age women were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of an identical plyometric training program on land or in

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... an aquatic setting. Performance indicators were assessed pretraining, midtraining, and posttraining. Muscle soreness (ordinal scale) and pain sensitivity (palpation) were assessed after a training bout (0, 48, and 96 hours) during the first week of training and when training intensity was increased (weeks 3 and 6). Performance indictors increased for both groups (pretraining Ͻ midtraining Ͻ posttraining, p Յ 0.001). Muscle soreness was significantly greater in the land compared to the aquatic plyometric training group at baseline and each time training intensity was increased, p ϭ 0.01. Aquatic plyometrics provided the same performance enhancement benefits as land plyometrics with significantly less muscle soreness.