Evaluation of 10-Week Neuromuscular Training Program on Body Composition of Elite Female Soccer Players

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Soccer performance is complex, requiring mastery of sport specific technical and tactical skills with ideal physical fitness (i.e., includes sprints, hops, accelerations, changes of directions, and so on) and body composition (i.e., increase lean muscle mass and decrease fat mass). In the last decades, performance models have helped to understand the multifactorial mechanisms involved in physical performance in sports. Hence, we tested the hypothesis that a neuromuscular training (NMT) program has an effect on body composition parameters in elite female soccer players. The result showed that implementation of 10-week with thrice-weekly NMT program improves body composition in elite female soccer players. ABSTRACT: (1) Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a 10-week neuromuscular training program (NMT) on the sum of six skinfolds (Σ6S) and body composition variables in elite female soccer players. (2) Methods: Forty-four Spanish elite female soccer players (age: 24.0 ± 4.2 years; height: 164.3 ± 5.5 cm; body mass: 60.4 ± 5.5 kg; body mass index (BMI): 22.4 ± 2.2 kg/m(2)) were randomly assigned to a control group (CG) or to an experimental group (EG). Participants in the EG completed a specific NMT program of 24 min, three times per week, which included exercises from six different categories (mobility, dynamic stability, anterior chain strength, lumbopelvic control, posterior chain strength, and change of direction). The CG followed their normal strength and conditioning program. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included anthropometric measurements (weight, height, limb circumferences, and bone breadths), and subsequently, body composition factors BMI, Σ6S, body mass, muscle mass, and lean body mass were calculated. Nutrition was standardized by a nutritionist and also load monitored. (3) Results: A two-way mixed analysis of variance (group × time) revealed that there was a significant (p ≤ 0.001) group × time interaction between body mass, fat mass, and Σ6S in favor of NMT. A significant interaction was also observed for body skeletal muscle mass and lean body mass favoring NMT. (4) Conclusions: The application of an NMT program seems to be a useful strategy to improve body composition in elite female soccer players.