The neuromuscular training improves nerve-muscle control while increasing the stability of functioning joints. Furthermore, Neuromuscular training has been proven to influence the sensitivity and reactivity of the central nervous system and improves the power of athletes by targeting motor units and coordinating motor units and increasing muscle activation. These enhancements resulted in skillful movements and significantly improved agility, balance, muscular strength and muscular power among individuals. The neuromuscular training also focuses on promoting functional joint stability by improving athletes' neuromuscular control and has been proven to significantly enhance athletes' performance. Finally, to evaluate that neuromuscular training can improve elite male handball players' physical fitness components, handball skills and functional movement.
This study included two groups, namely the control and neuromuscular training groups. The sample is 18-22-year-old Pakistani elite male handball players who do not do neuromuscular training exercises. Based on the literature review, the training frequency of this experiment was arranged three (3) times/week, the total training duration will be 12 weeks, and the time of each training session will be changed over two weeks. The 12 weeks of exercise last 90 minutes, with a 10-minute warm-up and a 10-minute cool-down. Training intensity ranges from 70% to 95%. Teach all sports techniques before the intervention. In contrast, the control group discussed with their coaches and will continue the 12-week of previous regular exercises. Content of Experimental Group: Week 1-2: Introduces the classification of neuromuscular training starting from the: One-leg balance and hamstrings and hip flexor each side exercises; Week 3-4: exercises to improve physical fitness: Agility drills ladder hurdles cones, barrier jump forward-backward and Seated press-ups exercises; 5-6 Week: Reviewed the basic handball skills: Net zigzag, baseline-net-baseline (9 cones), balance board stands on one foot to catch the ball (handball) and biceps and triceps, free weights exercises; 7-8 Week: learn the exercises: Mini-arm circles, tennis ball against wall, Swiss ball side plank (Bodyweight) and Iliotibial band each side exercises; 9-10 Week: Review the Sprints: Baseline-net, gastrocnemius/soleus each side, 4-square, various patterns and vertical jump with an additional load exercises; 11-12 Week: Review physical fitness, handball skills and functional movement: Court suicide sprint conditioning drills, Single-leg squats on half foam roll, Push-up with and without countermovement, Plank 3 levels of difficulty, Ladder: various patterns, biceps each side and Single-leg balance with ball handling drills on half foam roll exercises.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
46
Neuromuscular training Length: 12 weeks; Training duration: 90 minutes; Intensity: 70-95%; 3 days per week. The intensity of the training is increasing in the first 20 minutes, and the intensity is gradually decreasing in the next 5 minutes; Rest: 30 seconds rest between exercises and 1-minute rest between sets.
The Control group continues previous regular exercises for 12 weeks with a duration of 90 minutes and three days per week.
University of Agriculture, Hub of Handball in Pakistan
Faisalābad, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Speed performance of handball players
Speed will be measured by a 30-meter sprint test. To monitor the development of the athlete's maximum sprint speed, the 20m sprint test measurement also has a high reliability value (r=0.94 to 0.98).
Time frame: 2 weeks
Agility performance of handball players
Agility will be measured by Illinois agility test running agility using various turns and movements. Participants should lie on their front (head to the start line) and hands by their shoulders. On the 'Go' command the stopwatch is started, and the athlete gets up as quickly as possible and runs forwards 10 meters to run around a cone, then back 10 meters, then runs up and back through a slalom course of four cones. Finally, the athlete runs another 10 meters up and back past the finishing cone.
Time frame: 3 weeks
Balance performance of handball players
Balance will be measured by the Star excursion balance test (SEBT). Balance ability of athletes on an activity to keep their balance equilibrium. It is a type of dynamic stability testing. The SEBT involves having a participant maintain a base of support with one leg while maximally reaching in different directions with the opposite leg without compromising base of support of stance leg.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Explosive power of handball players
To measure the explosive power of the leg in vertical jump height jumped. The player chalks the end of his fingertips, stands side onto the wall, keeping both feet remaining on the ground, reaches up as high as possible with one hand and marks the wall with the tips of the fingers. From a static position jump as high as possible and marks the wall with the chalk on his fingertips.
Time frame: 5 weeks
Flexibility of handball players
The test will be conducted indoors using a static sit and reach box, supplied with a tape measure. The participant will give the instruction to sit with legs together and extended in front of him, so that the feet (shoes off) touch the first step. Both knees will be held together and flat on the floor. The purpose of this test is to assess the flexibility of the lower back and hamstring. The intra-class correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability for the sit and reach test was 0.93.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Muscular Strength of handball players
Muscular strength will be measured by the 1RM test. Test-retest ICCs ranged from 0.64 to 0.99 (median ICC = 0.97), where 92% of ICCs were ≥ 0.90, and 97% of ICCs were ≥ 0.80. Based on the previous studies, it can be concluded that the 1RM test generally has good to excellent test-retest reliability, part of the body assessed (upper vs. lower body).
Time frame: 8 weeks
Functional Movement of handball players
The FMS will be used to assess the study participants using the standard 0-3 ordinal scale. A score of 3 will be awarded for performing the specific movement perfectly, a score of 2 for completing the movement with some compensatory movements observed, a score of 1 for the subject failing to complete the movement, and a score of 0 for the movement being painful. Functional movement assesses through the FMS Kit.
Time frame: 9 weeks
Dribbling skill performance of handball players
Slalom sprint and dribble test will measure dribbling performance. Twelve cones will be placed in a zigzag pattern, and the participant is to slalom the 30-m course as fast as possible. Sprints will be timed using a stopwatch. Slalom sprint and dribble test the indication of a good reliability (without ball: Intraclass Correlation Coefficient \[ICC\] = 0.91; with ball: ICC = 0.79) and validity (i.e., discriminative between level of performances).
Time frame: 11 weeks
Shooting skill performance of handball players
Shooting skill performance will be measure by shooting accuracy test. To measure the shooting ability of accuracy for team handball players can make throws at the target in team handball. Each player had eight shots executed from five different positions, previously established, in the direction of the goal.
Time frame: 12 weeks
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