{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T20:23:53Z","timestamp":1789676633947,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783382400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Physiol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To compare the effects of variable resistance complex training (VRCT) versus traditional complex training (TCT) on maximum strength, vertical jump ability and swimming performance in swimmers.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Twenty-four male swimmers (age: 20.9 \u00b1 1.1 years) were randomized to VRCT (n = 8), TCT (n = 8), or control (CON; n = 8) and completed a twice weekly training intervention over a 6-week period. Training programs involved alternating high-load resistance exercise with plyometric exercise within the same session. The VRCT group performed resistance exercises at 70% of 1-repetition maximum (1RM) + 0% to 23% of 1RM from band resistance with a 90-second rest interval, while the TCT group conducted resistance exercise at 93% of 1RM with a 4-minute rest interval. Maximum strength, vertical jump, start, turn and 100-m sprint performance were assessed pre- and post-intervention.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      VRCT and TCT demonstrated significant increase in the 1RM back squat, countermovement jump and squat jump height (all\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&amp;lt;\u00a00.01). Furthermore, VRCT and TCT significantly improved turn (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&amp;lt;\u00a00.01 and\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&amp;lt;\u00a00.05, respectively) and 100-m sprint time (both\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&amp;lt;\u00a00.01), whereas start time improved only in the VRCT (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&amp;lt;\u00a00.01). Between groups, VRCT showed significant improvement in the start and turn times (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&amp;lt;\u00a00.05) compared with CON.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Both complex training modalities can be implemented to enhance lower limb strength, power and sprint performance. VRCT is more efficient to improve start and turn time in swimmers.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2026.1884995","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T04:23:12Z","timestamp":1783398192000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The effect of complex training with traditional and variable resistance on lower limb muscle strength and swimming performance in competitive swimmers"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Cuiqing","family":"Zhao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Sports Science, Nantong University","place":["Nantong, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liam Patrick","family":"Kilduff","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise, and Medicine Research Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University","place":["Swansea, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Frank","family":"Nugent","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences (PESS), University of Limerick","place":["Limerick, Ireland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Keiner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"German University of Health and Sport","place":["Ismaning, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chao","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Physical Education, Dalian University","place":["Dalian, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zixiang","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shandong Medical and Pharmaceutical University","place":["Yantai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2447","DOI":"10.1519\/jsc.0000000000001709","article-title":"Effects of dry-land strength and conditioning programs in age group swimmers","volume":"31","author":"Amaro","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. 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