Effects of neuromuscular training on athletes physical fitness in sports: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective: This review study aimed to assess the impact of neuromuscular training (NT) on athletes’ physical fitness in sports.Methods: Three independent reviewers conducted a literature search in various databases: EBSCOHOST, PubMed, WOS, Mendeley, Scopus, ProQuest, Science Direct, additional references, and Google Scholar. The methodological quality was examined using Lubans’ predetermined methods, and data that included trials were excluded.Results: This review included 18 well-conducted systematic studies from 144 relevant publications. These studies were reviewed and have been given a score of 6. Medium-risk studies were scored 3 or 4, while low-risk studies were scored 5 or 6. None of the studies had a high-risk bias. The NT intervention revealed that balance (n = 10) was the main characteristic of physical fitness that was evaluated, followed by agility (n = 6), muscular strength (n = 4), speed (n = 5), endurance and muscular power (n = 2). Subsequently, most studies used an intervention such as plyometric and strength training exercises to improve agility, balance, and muscular strength among athletes.Conclusion: This review implicated that (NT) focuses on exercises that enhance motor skills which aid athletes in moving their bodies according to their situational needs. The athletes’ slower and faster directions influence their agility, muscular strength, and balance, essential for player performance. It is recommended for future research to investigate the effects of neuromuscular training (length of 12-weeks, frequency of 3 days per week and 90-min duration) on physical fitness components (coordination, reaction-time, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition) that are essential for all ages of male and female athletes in all sports.

Impact of neuromuscular training including balance, strength and plyometric exercises on static and dynamic balance in high‐level male runners with mild intellectual disability

“…This result suggests that adding NMT to the standard conditioning training program (running; 100 m sprint) could enhance static PB in athletes with intellectual disability. This finding concurs with several previous studies reporting beneficial effect of divergent NMT programs on PB in different populations (Akbar et al, 2022; Gonçalves et al, 2022; Guzmán‐Muñoz et al, 2019; Kooroshfard & Rahimi, 2022; McLeod et al, 2009; Mohamadpour et al, 2019; Paterno et al, 2004; Zhang et al, 2021). Nevertheless, no study yet documented this effect in high‐level male runners with mild intellectual disability.…”

“…Moreover, this study aimed to examine the effects of the visual input NMT programs on PB in different populations (Akbar et al, 2022;Gonçalves et al, 2022;Guzmán-Muñoz et al, 2019;Kooroshfard & Rahimi, 2022;McLeod et al, 2009;Mohamadpour et al, 2019;Paterno et al, 2004;Zhang et al, 2021). Nevertheless, no study yet documented this effect in high-level male runners with mild intellectual disability.…”

Effects of functional training on sprinting, jumping, and functional movement in athletes: A systematic review

“…The enhancement of athletes’ performance is defined by the proper improvement of the athletes’ sprinting ( Keiner et al, 2014 ; Haugen et al, 2015 ; Bhardwaj and Kathayat, 2021 ), jumping ( de Lacey et al, 2014 ), and movement skills ( Kraus et al, 2014 ). Increasing athletic performance requires continuous development of speed and jump parameters ( Akbar et al, 2022 ). An athlete’s running-based performance on their starting speed, acceleration, and top speed ( Yildiz et al, 2019 ).…”

Team Approach: Neuromuscular Training for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

“…Neuromuscular training is a method of performance optimization—typically combining plyometrics, balancing training, agility, and dynamic stabilization—predicated on improving the efficiency of fundamental movement patterns to both increase skill and reduce risk of injury 11,12 . The rationale behind such interventions is centered on the concept that most ACL ruptures occur during rapid changes in direction, cutting and pivoting, or landing from a jump (i.e., cutting to defend an opponent in soccer 13 ) 14,15 .…”