In-Season Integrative Neuromuscular Strength Training Improves Performance of Early-Adolescent Soccer Athletes

Abstract

Panagoulis, C, Chatzinikolaou, A, Avloniti, A, Leontsini, D, Deli, CK, Draganidis, D, Stampoulis, T, Oikonomou, T, Papanikolaou, K, Rafailakis, L, Kambas, A, Jamurtas, AZ, and Fatouros, IG. In-season integrative neuromuscular strength training improves performance of early-adolescent soccer athletes. J Strength Cond Res 34(2): 516–526, 2020—Although forms of integrative neuromuscular training (INT) are used extensively for injury prevention and treatment, no information exists about its effects on performance of adolescent athletes. We investigated the effects of an in-season INT intervention on performance of early-adolescent players using a 2-group, repeated-measures design. Twenty-eight early adolescents were randomly assigned to a control group (CG, participated only in soccer training, N = 14, 11.4 ± 0.57 years, Tanner stage 2.8 ± 0.6) or an experimental group (INT was added to conventional soccer training, N = 14, 11.2 ± 0.5 years, Tanner stage 2.6 ± 0.5). Integrative neuromuscular training (8 weeks, 3 sessions·wk−1) aimed to develop core strength, hamstrings eccentric strength, hip/knee musculature, and dynamic stability using body mass exercises, medicine balls, rocker boards, Bosu, stability balls, etc. Ball shooting speed, speed (10, 20-m), change of direction (COD), jumping performance, and strength were measured before and after training. A 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze data. Integrative neuromuscular training improved 10- and 20-m speed (2.52–2.13 and 3.61–3.39 seconds, respectively, p < 0.05), strength (40.1–44.4 kg, p < 0.05), jumping ability (squat jump: 16.3–17.9 cm; countermovement jump: 19.1–20.3 cm, p < 0.05), COD (18.0–17.3 seconds, p < 0.05), and shooting speed (73.8–79.0 km·h−1, p < 0.05). In the CG, soccer training caused an improvement of smaller magnitude in 10 m and shooting speed (p < 0.05), whereas COD and jumping performance remained unaffected while 20-m speed, COD, and strength deteriorated. These results indicate that an 8-week INT program may induce positive adaptations in performance of early-adolescent soccer players during in-season training, suggesting that INT may be an effective training intervention for this age group.

Effects of an integrative neuromuscular training protocol vs. FIFA 11+ on sprint, change of direction performance and inter-limb asymmetries in young soccer players

“…This study observed a positive effect of the FIFA 11+ program on 0-20 sprint time which is in line with previous reports 8,9,24,25 . Moreover, the present results seem to be more encouraging than previous studies using the same protocol 16,26 possibly because of the nature of stimulus that coincided with the natural adaptive response of the youth soccer players resulting from growth and maturation 27 .…”

Acute Cardiometabolic Responses to Multi-Modal Integrative Neuromuscular Training in Children

“…INT has been investigated as a potentially potent and time efficient method of enhancing neuromuscular fitness in youth [ 11 , 12 , 16 ] and our novel findings suggest that this innovative training method consisting of strength- and skill-building exercises could also provide a sufficient training stimulus needed to induce cardiometabolic adaptations. Considering the amount of time children spend in MVPA during physical education and youth sport practice is falling short of expectations [ 44 , 45 ], INT could be a worthwhile addition to school- and community-based programs to target exercise deficits.…”

“…INT has emerged as an effective strategy for improving health- and skill-related components of physical fitness in school-age youth, [ 11 , 12 , 13 ], and limited evidence suggests that this type of training may also offer cardiometabolic benefits [ 14 , 15 ]. Previous studies investigating the effects of INT on children have found significant improvements in sprinting, running, jumping, throwing and lifting performance following 8 to 10 weeks of training [ 11 , 12 , 16 ]. However, it is also important to examine the acute cardiometabolic responses to INT because the amount of time youth spend in vigorous physical activity is more strongly associated with positive health outcomes than light or moderate-intensity physical activity [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

“…An analysis of accelerometer data from a large sample of children found vigorous physical activity was strongly associated with metabolic health whereas associations of light to moderate physical activity were weak to moderate [ 18 ]. While research evidence supports the safety, efficacy and feasibility of INT for children [ 11 , 12 , 16 ], the acute cardiometabolic responses to INT are poorly understood.…”

Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Motor Competence and Physical Performance in Young Female Volleyball Players

“…In this study, NMT induced a 4.8% improvement in 10-m sprint. These improvements in speed may be related to increased neuromuscular activation, improved ground contact time, and muscle-tendon unit stiffness [53].…”