Effectiveness of Different Neuromuscular Recovery Strategies in Elite Youth Female Football Players

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of various active recovery strategies in youth female soccer players during competitive tournaments with limited recovery periods (i.e., 24–48 h). Twenty-two elite under-17 female football players participated in this randomized controlled trial, which en...

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Main Authors: Silvia Sedano, Sergio Maroto-Izquierdo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Sports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/2/36
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author Silvia Sedano
Sergio Maroto-Izquierdo
author_facet Silvia Sedano
Sergio Maroto-Izquierdo
author_sort Silvia Sedano
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of various active recovery strategies in youth female soccer players during competitive tournaments with limited recovery periods (i.e., 24–48 h). Twenty-two elite under-17 female football players participated in this randomized controlled trial, which encompassed fourteen 90 min official matches. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three recovery protocols: passive stretching, foam rolling, or lumbopelvic mobility exercises, which were implemented ten minutes after each match. Countermovement jump with free arm (CMJA) height was measured pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 5 h post-intervention. Wellness perception was evaluated 24 h later. Significant enhancements in CMJA height were observed immediately after all recovery protocols and at 5 h post-intervention compared with pre-intervention (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The lumbopelvic mobility protocol yielded the most substantial improvement, significantly surpassing both stretching and foam rolling. Moreover, significant increases in wellness perception were observed following the foam rolling (<i>p</i> < 0.001, ES = 0.95) and mobility (<i>p</i> < 0.05, ES = 0.88) protocols, with the mobility protocol demonstrating a marginally larger effect size than stretching. Active recovery strategies significantly enhanced neuromuscular function and wellness perception in under-17 female soccer players. Lumbopelvic mobility exercises exhibited superior efficacy, suggesting that they should be prioritized in post-match recovery regimens.
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spelling doaj-art-cec5bbfbc62d4d89ba565bcf9c19049a2025-08-20T03:12:12ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632025-01-011323610.3390/sports13020036Effectiveness of Different Neuromuscular Recovery Strategies in Elite Youth Female Football PlayersSilvia Sedano0Sergio Maroto-Izquierdo1Department of Health Sciences, European University Miguel de Cervantes,47012 Valladolid, SpainDepartment of Health Sciences, European University Miguel de Cervantes,47012 Valladolid, SpainThis study aimed to assess the effectiveness of various active recovery strategies in youth female soccer players during competitive tournaments with limited recovery periods (i.e., 24–48 h). Twenty-two elite under-17 female football players participated in this randomized controlled trial, which encompassed fourteen 90 min official matches. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three recovery protocols: passive stretching, foam rolling, or lumbopelvic mobility exercises, which were implemented ten minutes after each match. Countermovement jump with free arm (CMJA) height was measured pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 5 h post-intervention. Wellness perception was evaluated 24 h later. Significant enhancements in CMJA height were observed immediately after all recovery protocols and at 5 h post-intervention compared with pre-intervention (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The lumbopelvic mobility protocol yielded the most substantial improvement, significantly surpassing both stretching and foam rolling. Moreover, significant increases in wellness perception were observed following the foam rolling (<i>p</i> < 0.001, ES = 0.95) and mobility (<i>p</i> < 0.05, ES = 0.88) protocols, with the mobility protocol demonstrating a marginally larger effect size than stretching. Active recovery strategies significantly enhanced neuromuscular function and wellness perception in under-17 female soccer players. Lumbopelvic mobility exercises exhibited superior efficacy, suggesting that they should be prioritized in post-match recovery regimens.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/2/36fatiguewellnessstretchingfoam rollermobilityvertical jump
spellingShingle Silvia Sedano
Sergio Maroto-Izquierdo
Effectiveness of Different Neuromuscular Recovery Strategies in Elite Youth Female Football Players
Sports
fatigue
wellness
stretching
foam roller
mobility
vertical jump
title Effectiveness of Different Neuromuscular Recovery Strategies in Elite Youth Female Football Players
title_full Effectiveness of Different Neuromuscular Recovery Strategies in Elite Youth Female Football Players
title_fullStr Effectiveness of Different Neuromuscular Recovery Strategies in Elite Youth Female Football Players
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of Different Neuromuscular Recovery Strategies in Elite Youth Female Football Players
title_short Effectiveness of Different Neuromuscular Recovery Strategies in Elite Youth Female Football Players
title_sort effectiveness of different neuromuscular recovery strategies in elite youth female football players
topic fatigue
wellness
stretching
foam roller
mobility
vertical jump
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/2/36
work_keys_str_mv AT silviasedano effectivenessofdifferentneuromuscularrecoverystrategiesineliteyouthfemalefootballplayers
AT sergiomarotoizquierdo effectivenessofdifferentneuromuscularrecoverystrategiesineliteyouthfemalefootballplayers