Jump Rope Training for Health and Fitness in School-age Participants: Secondary Analyses from a Systematic Review

Background: Altering moderator variables during a jump rope training (JRT) program can provide a novel training modification that can be used to modify the specific training outcomes. JRT is commonly implemented as a traditional game activity in many countries as an old culture of physical activity in school-age participants (SAP). However, strength and conditioning professionals need to know how JRT moderator variables affect these health- and physical fitness outcomes. Thus, an evidence-gap map (EGM) could provides a clearer picture of the design of an appropriate JRT based on scientific evidence. Objective: the purpose of this systematic review secondary analysis was to assess the moderator variables related to JRT effectiveness for health and physical fitness-related outcomes in SAP. Method: literature searches were conducted in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS. The PICOS (participants, intervention, comparators, outcomes, and study design) approach was used to rate studies for eligibility. An EGM was constructed to graphically represent the body of evidence and the current research gaps. Results: 10,546 records were initially identified and finally, 8 studies were considered. A total of 186 participants were analysed in the intervention groups (16 groups). Five of Eight studies measured health-related parameters and five of eight included fitness-related parameters. Conclusion: rope weight (e.g., weighted rope i.e. 695 g), adequate post-exercise recovery strategies (e.g., dark chocolate supplementation), type of jump (e.g., freestyle), and total number of jumps, can be manipulated into JRT programs to optimise health and physical related capacities among SAP.