No effect on performance tests from a neuromuscular warm-up programme in youth female football: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose The objective of the present randomised controlled trial was to study the effect of a neuromuscular warm-up programme on performance tests in youth female football.Methods Four youth female football teams with players aged 12-16 years were randomised into an intervention group and control group. The intervention was a 15-minute neuromuscular warm-up program carried out twice a week during the 11-week study period.Baseline and follow-up measurements of performance were made indoors and included the star excursion balance test, a countermovement jump test, a triple-hop for distance test, a modified Illinois agility test, and 10 and 20 m sprint tests.Results Fifty-two players (intervention 28; control 24) took part in baseline measurements, and after dropout, 41 players (intervention 23; control 18) were included for analysis. Minor positive changes were seen in the control group compared to the intervention group for a subscore of the star excursion balance test (P < 0.05) and in the modified Illinois agility test (P < 0.05). No improvement was seen in the intervention group from baseline to follow-up. ConclusionsThe study showed that a neuromuscular warm-up programme carried out during 11 weeks did not improve performance in youth female football. This could indicate that the programme does not contain sufficient stimulus to improve performance. A low player attendance at training sessions, and low specificity between exercises in the warm-up programme and the evaluated performance tests may also contribute to the lack of effect.Level of evidence I.

Physiological and performance responses to the FIFA 11+ (part 2): a randomised controlled trial on the training effects

“…However, contrary to the other neuromuscular control measures, the SEBT did not differ between the two groups with only a trend for higher values in the "FIFA 11+" group (P = 0.11). This finding appears to be in agreement with the study by Lindblom et al (2012) conducted on young female players which found no improvement in SEBT in the intervention group after a neuromuscular warm-up.…”

“…However, during all these activities, particular attention should be devoted by the operators to the correct execution of the drills and therefore these exercises can be considered as additional neuromuscular training. Although previous studies have examined the effect on physical performance of prevention programmes and neuromuscular warm-up (Kilding et al, 2008;Lindblom, Walden, & Hagglund, 2012;Steffen et al, 2008;Vescovi & VanHeest, 2010), we did not expect substantial improvements in performance measures since the stimulus did not appear to be enough for inducing meaningful effects. As a consequence, we hypothesised to find improvement in neuromuscular control, which is also the main aim of the "FIFA 11+".…”

“…The SEBT is a test more common in a clinical setting for measuring dynamic postural control and it has been used in a previous study examining the effect of a neuromuscular-based warm-up (Lindblom et al, 2012). This functional test stresses the dynamic balance ability by requiring the participant to reach with one leg in different directions while remaining upright and steady, thus challenging the proprioception, range of motion and strength systems (Gribble & Hertel, 2003).…”

The “FIFA 11+” warm-up programme for preventing injuries in soccer players: a systematic review

“…According to the different authors (10,22,31), women may be at higher risk of serious injury than men. The rate of cruciate ligaments injuries is three to five times higher among girls than among boys (10), which shows the importance of this kind of attention to the training of women athletes.…”

One Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury is enough!: Focus on female football players

“…The best result (m) of the three attempts was normalised to leg length (test value/leg length × 100). A composite score was calculated for each limb as the average of the three normalised measurements in the different directions [121]. The SEBT has high test re-test and inter-rater reliability (ICC, 0.82-0.98) [41,172].…”