Neuromuscular control and hop performance in youth and adult male and female football players

Objectives: To compare neuromuscular control and hop performance between youth and adult male and female football players.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants: 119 youth players (13-16 years; 68 males) and 88 adult players (17-26 years; 44 males).

Main outcome measures: Neuromuscular control assessed with drop vertical jump (DVJ) and tuck jump assessment (TJA). Hop performance assessed with single-leg hop for distance and side hop.

Results: Adult females had smaller normalized knee separation distances (NKSD) during DVJ at initial contact (77.9 ± 18.5 vs. 86.1 ± 11.0, p = 0.010) and at maximum knee flexion (59.7 ± 23.4 vs.74.1 ± 18.1, p = 0.001) compared to youth females. TJA revealed more technique errors in youths compared to adults (males 10 (8-11) vs. 8 (7-10); females 11 (9-12) vs. 9 (8-11), p < 0.05). Youths demonstrated inferior hop performance (males single-leg hop 142 ± 18 vs. 163 ± 17, side hop 41 ± 12 vs. 52 ± 12, p < 0.001; females side hop 32 ± 10 vs. 38 ± 14, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Youth players demonstrated reduced neuromuscular control during TJA and inferior hop performance compared to adult players. Adult female players demonstrated greater knee valgus during DVJ compared to youth female players.