A neuromuscular training programme enhances dynamic neuromuscular control and physical performance in court‐sport athletes

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8 week neuromuscular training protocol on dynamic neuromuscular control and physical performance. Twenty female court‐sport athletes were randomly allocated to two groups, a control (n = 10) and an intervention group (n = 10). All participants performed pre‐testing inclusive of; a 20‐m sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ), Illinois agility test and the qualitative analysis of a single‐leg squat (QASLS), which is an assessment of dynamic neuromuscular control. Subsequently the intervention group engaged in a modified version of the FIFA 11+ neuromuscular training programme twice weekly for eight weeks. At post‐testing there were between‐group differences in CMJ (Intervention; +3.96‐cm vs Control; –1.36‐cm, p = 0.003) and QASLS for both legs (p < 0.001) (Right‐Leg, Intervention; Pre: 3.75 Post: 1.91, Control; Pre: 4.11 Post: 4.08) (Left‐Leg, Intervention; Pre: 3.72 Post: 0.98, Control; Pre: 4.05 Post: 4.23). There was a within‐group improvement in 20‐m sprint for the intervention group only post‐training (Pre: 3.69‐s Post: 3.60‐s, p = 0.043), whilst no differences occurred in Illinois agility test for either group. A modified FIFA 11+ protocol can be considered an effective neuromuscular training programme for enhancing dynamic neuromuscular control and sport‐specific physical performance in female court‐sport athletes.