The Effect of Neuromuscular Control on Motor Performance and Physical Capacity in Professional Football Players
Year 2025,
Volume: 14 Issue: 3, 974 - 983, 25.09.2025
Erman Fırıncı
,
Arslan Kalkavan
,
Esranur Terzi
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the effects of neuromuscular control on motor performance and physical capacity in professional football players.
Twenty-five male soccer players participated in the study, and the relationships between dynamic balance levels and the reactive strength index, sprint performance, and shooting speed were examined. Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses were conducted.
According to the analyses, dominant leg balance level explained 44% of the variance in the reactive strength index, 66% in sprint performance, and 89% in shooting speed (p<0.05), while non-dominant leg balance level accounted for 59% of the variance in the reactive strength index, 54% in sprint performance, and 84% in shooting speed (p<0.05).
In conclusion, improved dynamic balance was found to positively influence explosive strength, ball-striking efficiency, neuromuscular coordination, and sprint performance. These results highlight the importance of neuromuscular training in optimizing athletic performance in football players.
Ethical Statement
Ethics committee approval was received for this study from the ethics committee of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Date: February 29, 2024, Decision Number: 2024/48, Protocol No: E-40465587-050.01.04-979).
Supporting Institution
This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) under the TÜBİTAK 2209-A Undergraduate Students Research Projects Support Program with Grant Number 1919B012300162.
Project Number
1919B012300162
Thanks
The authors thank TUBITAK for their support.
References
-
1. Overmoyer GV, Reiser RF. Relationships between lower-extremity flexibility, asymmetries, and the Y balance test. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2015;29(5):1240-1247. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000000693
-
2. Popovic S, Akpinar S, Jaksic D, Matic R, Bjelica D, Popovic S. Comparative study of anthropometric measurement and body composition between elite soccer and basketball players. International Journal of Morphology. 2013;31(2):461-467.
-
3. Bozkurt N, Sahin K, Savkin ST, Bulbul A, Ipekoglu G, Cakir HI. Investigation of COL12A1 gene polymorphism profile in genetic injury susceptibility in football players having anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Aksaray University Journal of Medical Sciences. 2023;4(2):6–10.
-
4. Ipekoglu G, Cakir HI, Bozkurt N, Bulbul A, Savkin ST, Apaydin N. Genetic factors and anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in professional football players: COL3A1 (rs1800255) and COL5A1 (rs12722) polymorphisms. Turkish Journal of Kinesiology. 2023;9(3):195–203. doi:10.31459/turkjkin.1329105
-
5. Kayhan RF, Terzi E, Bayrakdaroglu S, Ceylan HI, Biyikli T. Isometric shoulder and hip strength impact on throwing velocity and reactive strength. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 2024;45(14):1055–1065. doi:10.1055/a-2346-1526
-
6. Matsuda S, Demura S, Uchiyama M. Centre of pressure sway characteristics during static one-legged stance of athletes from different sports. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2008;26(7):775-779. doi:10.1080/02640410701824099
-
7. Hewett TE, Ford KR, Myer GD. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes: Part 2, a meta-analysis of neuromuscular interventions aimed at injury prevention. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006;34(3):490–498. doi:10.1177/0363546505282619
-
8. McGuine TA, Keene JS. The effect of a balance training program on the risk of ankle sprains in high school athletes. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006;34(7):1103-1111. doi:10.1177/0363546505284191
-
9. McKeon PO, Hertel J. Systematic review of postural control and lateral ankle instability, part I: can deficits be detected with instrumented testing? Journal of Athletic Training. 2008;43(3):293-304. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-43.3.293
-
10. Kayhan RF, Terzi E, Bayrakdaroglu S, Ceylan HI, Morgans R, Nikolaidis PT. Exploring the associations between ankle dorsal and plantar flexion strength, reactive strength index, and balance in elite youth soccer players. Sport Sciences for Health. 2024:1–12. doi:10.1007/s11332-024-01207-7
-
11. Erkmen N, Taskin H, Sanioglu A, Kaplan T, Basturk D. Relationships between balance and functional performance in football players. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2010;26:21–29. doi:10.2478/v10078-010-0044-z
-
12. Chaouachi A, Othman AB, Hammami R, Drinkwater EJ, Behm DG. The combination of plyometric and balance training improves sprint and shuttle run performances more often than plyometric-only training with children. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2014;28(2):401–412. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182987059
-
13. Henni AB, Bouabdellah S, Mouissi F, Abdelkader G. The kinematical analysis of static and dynamic balance variables and their relationships with the accuracy shooting in soccer players U16. International Journal of Sport Exercise and Training Sciences. 2020;6(3):97–104. doi:10.18826/useeabd.811217
-
14. Kayhan RF, Karadag A, Terzi E. Reliability of the hop test and asymmetry index in university athletes: a cross-sectional study assessing injury risk. Research in Sport Education and Sciences. 2024;26(2):75–87. doi:10.62425/rses.1465420
-
15. Cikikci A, Gulez O, Kayhan RF. Examining the relationship between sprint and endurance performances, distances covered during the season, positional roles, and success in women's football players. Journal of Athletic Performance and Sports Medicine. 2024;1(1):34–43. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14581157
-
16. Bompa T. Periodization Training for Sports. Human Kinetics; 2015.
-
17. Burhaein E, Ibrahim BK, Pavlovic R. The relationship of limb muscle power, balance, and coordination with instep shooting ability: A correlation study in under-18 football athletes. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences. 2020;8(5):265–270. doi:10.13189/saj.2020.080515
-
18. Engquist KD, Smith CA, Chimera NJ, Warren M. Performance comparison of student-athletes and general college students on the functional movement screen and the Y balance test. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2015;29(8):2296–2303. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000000906
-
19. Kenny IC, Cairealláin AÓ, Comyns TM. Validation of an electronic jump mat to assess stretch-shortening cycle function. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2012;26(6):1601-1608. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e318234ebb8
-
20. Rios LJC, Cuevas-Aburto J, Martínez-García D, Ulloa-Diaz D, Ramírez OAA, Martin IM, et al. Reliability of throwing velocity during non-specific and specific handball throwing tests. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;42(9):825-832. doi:10.1055/a-1273-8630
-
21. Cakir G. In: Introduction to Data Analysis in Sports Sciences: Kalkavan A (Ed.). Normality Analysis. İstanbul: Efe Academy; 2021.
-
22. Cakir HI. In: Introduction to Data Analysis in Sports Sciences: Kalkavan A (Ed.). Descriptive Statistics. İstanbul: Efe Academy; 2021.
-
23. Kalkavan A. Introduction to Data Analysis in Sports Sciences. İstanbul: Efe Academy; 2021.
-
24. Kayhan RF. In: Introduction to Data Analysis in Sports Sciences: Kalkavan A (Ed.). Relationship and impact analyses. İstanbul: Efe Academy; 2021.
-
25. Hammami R, Granacher U, Pizzolato F, Chaouachi M, Chtara M. Associations between change of direction, balance, speed, and muscle power in prepubescent soccer players. Journal Athletic Enhance. 2017;6. doi:10.4172/2324-9080.1000286
-
26. Bressel E, Yonker JC, Kras J, Heath EM. Comparison of static and dynamic balance in female collegiate soccer, basketball, and gymnastics athletes. Journal of Athletic Training. 2007;42(1):42.
-
27. Tracey SY, Anderson DI, Hamel KA, Gorelick ML, Wallace SA, Sidaway B. Kicking performance in relation to balance ability over the support leg. Human Movement Science. 2012;31(6):1615-1623. doi:10.1016/j.humov.2012.07.001
-
28. Paillard T, Noe F, Riviere T, Marion V, Montoya R, Dupui P. Postural performance and strategy in the unipedal stance of soccer players at different levels of competition. Journal of Athletic Training. 2006;41(2):172.
-
29. Kean CO, Behm DG, Young WB. Fixed foot balance training increases rectus femoris activation during landing and jump height in recreationally active women. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2006;5(1):138.
-
30. Šalaj SŠ, Milanović D, Jukić I. The effects of proprioceptive training on jumping and agility performance. Kinesiology. 2007;39(2):131-141.
-
31. Dolan K. Reactive agility, core strength, balance, and soccer performance. Ithaca College; 2013.
-
32. Kartal A. The relationships between dynamic balance and sprint, flexibility, strength, jump in junior soccer players. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports. 2020;24(6):285–289. doi:10.15561/26649837.2020.0602
-
33. Myer GD, Ford KR, Palumbo OP, Hewett TE. Neuromuscular training improves performance and lower-extremity biomechanics in female athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2005;19(1):51-60.
-
34. Dintiman G, Ward B. Sport Speed. Human Kinetics; 2003.
-
35. Schache AG, Bennell KL, Blanch PD, Wrigley TV. The coordinated movement of the lumbo–pelvic–hip complex during running: a literature review. Gait & Posture. 1999;10(1):30-47. doi:10.1016/S0966-6362(99)00025-9
-
36. Behm DG, Cappa D, Power GA. Trunk muscle activation during moderate- and high-intensity running. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2009;34(6):1008–1016. doi:10.1139/H09-102
-
37. Behm D, Colado JC. The effectiveness of resistance training using unstable surfaces and devices for rehabilitation. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2012;7(2):226.
-
38. Pant H, Sukumar K, Sharma H, Pandey AK, Goel SN. Correlation between muscles strength in relation to dorsiflextion, planterflextion, eversion & inversion strength with body balance. Journal of Biomechanics. 2006;39(Suppl 1):S557. doi:10.1016/S0021-9290(06)85296-6
-
39. Wisløff U, Castagna C, Helgerud J, Jones R, Hoff J. Strong correlation of maximal squat strength with sprint performance and vertical jump height in elite soccer players. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2004;38(3):285-288. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2002.002071
-
40. Ambegaonkar JP, Caswell SV, Winchester JB, Shimokochi Y, Cortes N, Caswell AM. Balance comparisons between female dancers and active nondancers. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2013;84(1):24–29. doi:10.1080/02701367.2013.762287
-
41. Guebli A, Bessenouci HAI, Regiueg M. The compounds of some variables kinematics in the phases of triple jump and their relationships with the finale results—an analytical study of the elements of the Algerian elite team. Journal Physical Activ Sport Social Education Health. 2018;1:25–31.
Profesyonel Futbolcularda Nöromüsküler Kontrolün Motor Performans ve Fiziksel Kapasite Üzerindeki Etkisi
Year 2025,
Volume: 14 Issue: 3, 974 - 983, 25.09.2025
Erman Fırıncı
,
Arslan Kalkavan
,
Esranur Terzi
Abstract
Bu çalışma, profesyonel futbolcularda nöromüsküler kontrolün motor performans ve fiziksel kapasite üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmayı amaçlamıştır.
Çalışmaya yirmi beş erkek futbolcu katılmış; dinamik denge düzeyleri ile reaktif kuvvet indeksi, sprint performansı ve şut hızı arasındaki ilişkiler incelenmiştir. Pearson korelasyonu ve doğrusal regresyon analizleri uygulanmıştır.
Analizlere göre, baskın bacak denge düzeyi reaktif güç indeksinin %44'ünü, sprintin %66'sını ve şut hızının %89'unu açıklarken (p<0.05), baskın olmayan bacak denge düzeyi reaktif güç indeksinin %59'unu, sprintin %54'ünü ve şut hızının %84'ünü açıklamıştır (p<0.05).
Sonuç olarak, gelişmiş dinamik denge düzeylerinin patlayıcı kuvvet, topa vurma verimliliği, nöromüsküler koordinasyon ve sprint performansını olumlu yönde etkilediği bulunmuştur. Bu bulgular, futbolcularda atletik performansın artırılmasında nöromüsküler antrenmanlarının kritik bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir.
Ethical Statement
Bu çalışma için etik kurul onayı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Girişimsel Olmayan Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu'ndan alınmıştır (Tarih: 29 Şubat 2024, Karar Numarası: 2024/48, Protokol No: E-40465587-050.01.04-979).
Supporting Institution
Bu çalışma, Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBİTAK) tarafından 1919B012300162 Hibe Numarası ile TÜBİTAK 2209-A Lisans Öğrencileri Araştırma Projeleri Destekleme Programı kapsamında desteklenmiştir.
Project Number
1919B012300162
Thanks
Yazarlar destekleri için TÜBİTAK'a teşekkürlerini sunarlar.
References
-
1. Overmoyer GV, Reiser RF. Relationships between lower-extremity flexibility, asymmetries, and the Y balance test. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2015;29(5):1240-1247. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000000693
-
2. Popovic S, Akpinar S, Jaksic D, Matic R, Bjelica D, Popovic S. Comparative study of anthropometric measurement and body composition between elite soccer and basketball players. International Journal of Morphology. 2013;31(2):461-467.
-
3. Bozkurt N, Sahin K, Savkin ST, Bulbul A, Ipekoglu G, Cakir HI. Investigation of COL12A1 gene polymorphism profile in genetic injury susceptibility in football players having anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Aksaray University Journal of Medical Sciences. 2023;4(2):6–10.
-
4. Ipekoglu G, Cakir HI, Bozkurt N, Bulbul A, Savkin ST, Apaydin N. Genetic factors and anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in professional football players: COL3A1 (rs1800255) and COL5A1 (rs12722) polymorphisms. Turkish Journal of Kinesiology. 2023;9(3):195–203. doi:10.31459/turkjkin.1329105
-
5. Kayhan RF, Terzi E, Bayrakdaroglu S, Ceylan HI, Biyikli T. Isometric shoulder and hip strength impact on throwing velocity and reactive strength. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 2024;45(14):1055–1065. doi:10.1055/a-2346-1526
-
6. Matsuda S, Demura S, Uchiyama M. Centre of pressure sway characteristics during static one-legged stance of athletes from different sports. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2008;26(7):775-779. doi:10.1080/02640410701824099
-
7. Hewett TE, Ford KR, Myer GD. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes: Part 2, a meta-analysis of neuromuscular interventions aimed at injury prevention. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006;34(3):490–498. doi:10.1177/0363546505282619
-
8. McGuine TA, Keene JS. The effect of a balance training program on the risk of ankle sprains in high school athletes. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006;34(7):1103-1111. doi:10.1177/0363546505284191
-
9. McKeon PO, Hertel J. Systematic review of postural control and lateral ankle instability, part I: can deficits be detected with instrumented testing? Journal of Athletic Training. 2008;43(3):293-304. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-43.3.293
-
10. Kayhan RF, Terzi E, Bayrakdaroglu S, Ceylan HI, Morgans R, Nikolaidis PT. Exploring the associations between ankle dorsal and plantar flexion strength, reactive strength index, and balance in elite youth soccer players. Sport Sciences for Health. 2024:1–12. doi:10.1007/s11332-024-01207-7
-
11. Erkmen N, Taskin H, Sanioglu A, Kaplan T, Basturk D. Relationships between balance and functional performance in football players. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2010;26:21–29. doi:10.2478/v10078-010-0044-z
-
12. Chaouachi A, Othman AB, Hammami R, Drinkwater EJ, Behm DG. The combination of plyometric and balance training improves sprint and shuttle run performances more often than plyometric-only training with children. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2014;28(2):401–412. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182987059
-
13. Henni AB, Bouabdellah S, Mouissi F, Abdelkader G. The kinematical analysis of static and dynamic balance variables and their relationships with the accuracy shooting in soccer players U16. International Journal of Sport Exercise and Training Sciences. 2020;6(3):97–104. doi:10.18826/useeabd.811217
-
14. Kayhan RF, Karadag A, Terzi E. Reliability of the hop test and asymmetry index in university athletes: a cross-sectional study assessing injury risk. Research in Sport Education and Sciences. 2024;26(2):75–87. doi:10.62425/rses.1465420
-
15. Cikikci A, Gulez O, Kayhan RF. Examining the relationship between sprint and endurance performances, distances covered during the season, positional roles, and success in women's football players. Journal of Athletic Performance and Sports Medicine. 2024;1(1):34–43. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14581157
-
16. Bompa T. Periodization Training for Sports. Human Kinetics; 2015.
-
17. Burhaein E, Ibrahim BK, Pavlovic R. The relationship of limb muscle power, balance, and coordination with instep shooting ability: A correlation study in under-18 football athletes. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences. 2020;8(5):265–270. doi:10.13189/saj.2020.080515
-
18. Engquist KD, Smith CA, Chimera NJ, Warren M. Performance comparison of student-athletes and general college students on the functional movement screen and the Y balance test. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2015;29(8):2296–2303. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000000906
-
19. Kenny IC, Cairealláin AÓ, Comyns TM. Validation of an electronic jump mat to assess stretch-shortening cycle function. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2012;26(6):1601-1608. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e318234ebb8
-
20. Rios LJC, Cuevas-Aburto J, Martínez-García D, Ulloa-Diaz D, Ramírez OAA, Martin IM, et al. Reliability of throwing velocity during non-specific and specific handball throwing tests. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;42(9):825-832. doi:10.1055/a-1273-8630
-
21. Cakir G. In: Introduction to Data Analysis in Sports Sciences: Kalkavan A (Ed.). Normality Analysis. İstanbul: Efe Academy; 2021.
-
22. Cakir HI. In: Introduction to Data Analysis in Sports Sciences: Kalkavan A (Ed.). Descriptive Statistics. İstanbul: Efe Academy; 2021.
-
23. Kalkavan A. Introduction to Data Analysis in Sports Sciences. İstanbul: Efe Academy; 2021.
-
24. Kayhan RF. In: Introduction to Data Analysis in Sports Sciences: Kalkavan A (Ed.). Relationship and impact analyses. İstanbul: Efe Academy; 2021.
-
25. Hammami R, Granacher U, Pizzolato F, Chaouachi M, Chtara M. Associations between change of direction, balance, speed, and muscle power in prepubescent soccer players. Journal Athletic Enhance. 2017;6. doi:10.4172/2324-9080.1000286
-
26. Bressel E, Yonker JC, Kras J, Heath EM. Comparison of static and dynamic balance in female collegiate soccer, basketball, and gymnastics athletes. Journal of Athletic Training. 2007;42(1):42.
-
27. Tracey SY, Anderson DI, Hamel KA, Gorelick ML, Wallace SA, Sidaway B. Kicking performance in relation to balance ability over the support leg. Human Movement Science. 2012;31(6):1615-1623. doi:10.1016/j.humov.2012.07.001
-
28. Paillard T, Noe F, Riviere T, Marion V, Montoya R, Dupui P. Postural performance and strategy in the unipedal stance of soccer players at different levels of competition. Journal of Athletic Training. 2006;41(2):172.
-
29. Kean CO, Behm DG, Young WB. Fixed foot balance training increases rectus femoris activation during landing and jump height in recreationally active women. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2006;5(1):138.
-
30. Šalaj SŠ, Milanović D, Jukić I. The effects of proprioceptive training on jumping and agility performance. Kinesiology. 2007;39(2):131-141.
-
31. Dolan K. Reactive agility, core strength, balance, and soccer performance. Ithaca College; 2013.
-
32. Kartal A. The relationships between dynamic balance and sprint, flexibility, strength, jump in junior soccer players. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports. 2020;24(6):285–289. doi:10.15561/26649837.2020.0602
-
33. Myer GD, Ford KR, Palumbo OP, Hewett TE. Neuromuscular training improves performance and lower-extremity biomechanics in female athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2005;19(1):51-60.
-
34. Dintiman G, Ward B. Sport Speed. Human Kinetics; 2003.
-
35. Schache AG, Bennell KL, Blanch PD, Wrigley TV. The coordinated movement of the lumbo–pelvic–hip complex during running: a literature review. Gait & Posture. 1999;10(1):30-47. doi:10.1016/S0966-6362(99)00025-9
-
36. Behm DG, Cappa D, Power GA. Trunk muscle activation during moderate- and high-intensity running. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2009;34(6):1008–1016. doi:10.1139/H09-102
-
37. Behm D, Colado JC. The effectiveness of resistance training using unstable surfaces and devices for rehabilitation. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2012;7(2):226.
-
38. Pant H, Sukumar K, Sharma H, Pandey AK, Goel SN. Correlation between muscles strength in relation to dorsiflextion, planterflextion, eversion & inversion strength with body balance. Journal of Biomechanics. 2006;39(Suppl 1):S557. doi:10.1016/S0021-9290(06)85296-6
-
39. Wisløff U, Castagna C, Helgerud J, Jones R, Hoff J. Strong correlation of maximal squat strength with sprint performance and vertical jump height in elite soccer players. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2004;38(3):285-288. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2002.002071
-
40. Ambegaonkar JP, Caswell SV, Winchester JB, Shimokochi Y, Cortes N, Caswell AM. Balance comparisons between female dancers and active nondancers. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2013;84(1):24–29. doi:10.1080/02701367.2013.762287
-
41. Guebli A, Bessenouci HAI, Regiueg M. The compounds of some variables kinematics in the phases of triple jump and their relationships with the finale results—an analytical study of the elements of the Algerian elite team. Journal Physical Activ Sport Social Education Health. 2018;1:25–31.