Effects of a neuromuscular training program on physical performance and asymmetries in female soccer

Frontiers in Physiology

Physiology

Hadi Nobari¹  Elena Mainer-Pardos²  Demetrio Lozano²  Alberto Roso-Moliner²  Antonio Cartón-Llorente²  Svein Arne Pettersen³ 

[1] Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain;Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain;School of Sports Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway;

关键词: soccer (football);    intervention;    physical performance;    interlimb asymmetry;    strength;    power;    dynamic balance;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fphys.2023.1171636

 received in 2023-02-22, accepted in 2023-04-17,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Introduction: Women’s football require optimal neuromuscular system development for injury prevention and performance optimization. Standardized neuromuscular training programs have shown promising results in reducing injuries and functional asymmetries, but evidence on their impact on performance is limited.Methods: This research examined the effects of a 10-week neuromuscular training program on physical performance and asymmetries in female football players. Thirty-eight female players from two Spanish Second Division women’s football teams participated in the study. The physical performance tests used were: ankle dorsiflexion, bilateral and unilateral horizontal jump, bilateral and unilateral vertical countermovement jump, 40 m sprint including partial times at 10, 20 and 30 m and the 505 test for change of direction evaluation. For 10 weeks, players in the experimental group performed three weekly 24-min neuromuscular training sessions. Participants in the control group completed their normal 24-min strength and conditioning program.Results: The main results were that maximal linear velocity and change of direction skills showed the most notable improvements [effect size (ES), 0.46 to 0.59] after implementation of the training program, ankle dorsiflexion and jumping skills, also improved although, to a lesser extent (ES, <0.35) while asymmetries between limbs were reduced. Maximal running speed improved in the intervention group (p < 0.001) with a mean ES −0.59.Discussion: We conclude that a 10-week neuromuscular training program can be a sufficient stimulus to improve football-specific performance variables in high-level female football players. Therefore, female players and coaches should be aware that weekly inclusion of strength, power and dynamic balance exercises following a neuromuscular paradigm is helpful for football-specific performance improvement.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Roso-Moliner, Mainer-Pardos, Cartón-Llorente, Nobari, Pettersen and Lozano.