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. 2021 Jul 28:79:29-40.
doi: 10.2478/hukin-2021-0080. eCollection 2021 Jul.

Effects of a Neuromuscular Warm-Up Program in Youth Female Soccer Players

Elena Isla  1 , Blanca Romero-Moraleda  2 , José María Moya  2 , Francisco Esparza-Ros  3 , Javier Mallo  4
Affiliations

Effects of a Neuromuscular Warm-Up Program in Youth Female Soccer Players

Elena Isla et al. J Hum Kinet. .

Abstract

The protective effects of different warm-up injury prevention routines in youth female soccer players have been demonstrated in the literature, however, there is a paucity of information regarding the effects that these kinds of programs have on soccer-specific physical performance variables. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a 12-week neuromuscular warm-up program on physical performance in youth female soccer players. Players (age: 13.94 ± 0.82 years) were divided into two groups. One group performed a neuromuscular activation program (n = 21) twice per week whereas the other group (control, n = 17) continued with their habitual warm-up routine for the same duration. Both groups of players performed strength, jumping and balance tests before and after the intervention period. Substantially greater improvements were detected in the mean velocity for the squat (p < 0.001; Effect Size = 0.95) and the hip thrust (p < 0.001; Effect Size = 0.51) in the experimental group in comparison to the control group. In addition, after the intervention period players in the experimental group showed an increase in the jumping height in the unloaded double-leg and single-leg counter-movement jumps (p = 0.003-0.012; Effect Size = 0.42-0.46). The results of this study provide evidence that a 12-week neuromuscular warm-up program can be effective to improve different physical performance variables in youth female soccer players.

Keywords: fitness; injury prevention; performance; soccer; warm up.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of participants and the study design (CONSORT 2010 Flow Diagram).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Efficiency of the warm-up program in the experimental group in comparison with the control group to improve strength, jumping and balance variables. Note: Bars indicate uncertainty in the true mean changes with 90% confidence intervals. Trivial areas were calculated from the smallest worthwhile change. BS: Back Squat; HT: Hip Thrust. CMJ: Counter Movement Jump; YB: Y-Balance; YBF: Y-Balance Frontal; YBPL: Y-Balance Postero Lateral; YBPM: Y-Balance Postero Medial; R: Right leg; L: Left leg.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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