Sequence-Dependent Performance Adaptations Following Myofascial Chain Training in Youth Football Players

NCT07665138 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MEU-SBF-IK-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study looked at whether the order of two different types of muscle-and-connective-tissue ("myofascial chain") training affects how young football players improve their jumping power and balance. Forty male football players, aged 15 to 16, took part. Players were split into two groups by chance. One group did "posterior chain" training first, then switched to "spiral chain" training. The other group did the trainings in the opposite order. Each training phase lasted six weeks, and players kept doing their normal team practice at the same time. Jumping power and balance were measured four times: before training started, after the first six weeks, after the second six weeks, and again four weeks after training ended. The goal was to find out if starting with one type of training instead of the other leads to bigger, faster, or longer-lasting improvements. This information may help coaches design better training programs for young athletes.

Conditions

Athletic Performance

Keywords

Myofascial chain sequencing; posterior chain; balance; countermovement jump; knowledge graph

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height

  Lower-limb explosive power was assessed using the countermovement jump, measured with a photocell device (SE-JP1). Each participant performed three non-consecutive jumps with hands on hips, and the mean of the three trials was used for analysis.

  Measured at baseline (pre-test), 6 weeks (mid-test), 12 weeks (post-test), and 4 weeks post-test (follow-up)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Dynamic Balance - YBT

  Measured at baseline (pre-test), 6 weeks (mid-test), 12 weeks (post-test), and 4 weeks post-test (follow-up)

Study Arms (2)

PCFG (Posterior Chain First)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants performed a posterior chain-focused myofascial training protocol during the first 6-week period, followed by a spiral chain-focused protocol during the second 6-week period, in addition to routine club training.

Other: Posterior chain myofascial training; Other: Spiral chain myofascial training

SCFG (Spiral Chain First)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants performed a spiral chain-focused myofascial training protocol during the first 6-week period, followed by a posterior chain-focused protocol during the second 6-week period, in addition to routine club training.

Other: Posterior chain myofascial training; Other: Spiral chain myofascial training

Interventions

Spiral chain myofascial training OTHER

A 6-week, twice-weekly structured training protocol targeting the spiral myofascial chain, consisting of a warm-up, five functional exercises, and a cool-down phase, delivered in addition to routine club training.

PCFG (Posterior Chain First); SCFG (Spiral Chain First)

Posterior chain myofascial training OTHER

A 6-week, twice-weekly structured training protocol targeting the posterior myofascial chain, consisting of a warm-up, five functional exercises, and a cool-down phase, delivered in addition to routine club training.

PCFG (Posterior Chain First); SCFG (Spiral Chain First)

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Male, aged 15-16 years (U15-U16 category)
• Holding an active football player license and currently competing with a club team
• Regularly participating in routine club training sessions
• Free from any injury or musculoskeletal condition that could affect performance testing at the time of enrollment
• Parental/legal guardian consent and participant assent obtained

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of any musculoskeletal injury, recent surgery, or medical condition affecting lower-limb function within the past 6 months
• Inability to attend the required training sessions or assessment time points
• Unwillingness or inability of parents/legal guardians to provide informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mersin University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Mersin University

Mersin, Mersin, 33343, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc. Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 18, 2026
• First Posted: June 24, 2026
• Study Start: May 5, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2025
• Study Completion: December 22, 2025
• Last Updated: June 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: Beginning 3 months and ending 5 years after article publication
• Access Criteria: Investigators who provide a methodologically sound proposal, for use in achieving the aims of the approved proposal. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author.

Locations

TU (1)