Unlocking PAPE in Football: Effects of Eight Weeks of French Contrast Training on RSI, Sprint Performance, and Anaerobic Profile (Unlocking PAPE)

This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week French Contrast Training (FCT) intervention on reactive strength index (RSI), sprint performance, and anaerobic profile in elite youth football players

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Athletic Performance; Neuromuscular Adaptations
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: French Contrast Training + Standard football training (8 weeks); Other: Control

Detailed Description

This study was designed as a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the chronic effects of French Contrast Training on neuromuscular performance and anaerobic capacity. A total of 28 elite male youth football players were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention lasted 8 weeks, with performance assessments conducted pre- and post-intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 28
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Trabzon, Ordu, Giresun, Rize, Artvin, Gümüşhane
    • Gümüşhane, Trabzon, Ordu, Giresun, Rize, Artvin, Gümüşhane, Turkey (Türkiye), 29600
      • Gumushane Univetsity

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Minimum 3 years football training
• ≥80% training attendance
• Injury-free for 6 months
• Licensed academy player

Exclusion Criteria:

• Musculoskeletal injury
• Neurological disorder
• Additional training programs
• Ergogenic aid use

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: French Contrast Training + Standard football training (8 weeks); Participants in the experimental group performed French Contrast Training twice per week for 8 weeks, including heavy resistance, plyometric, loaded power, and assisted exercises.	Other: French Contrast Training + Standard football training (8 weeks); Participants in the experimental group performed French Contrast Training twice per week for 8 weeks, including heavy resistance, plyometric, loaded power, and assisted exercises.; Other Names: French Contrast Training; Other: Control; Standard football training; Other Names: Standard football training
No Intervention: Control Group; Standard football training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Anaerobic Power	Anaerobic profile (anaerobic capacity and fatigue index values) of the football players were assessed using a mechanically braked cycle ergometer connected to a computer and compatible software Wingate 894E test system. Prior to testing, the saddle height and pedal position were individually adjusted for each athlete to ensure an approximately 10% knee flexion angle at the lowest pedal position. After entering the athletes' descriptive information into the computer, the resistance load was automatically calculated by the system as 75 g per kg of body mass and subsequently applied to the ergometer's braking mechanism	8 week
Reactive Strength Index	The pre-test and post-test Relative Strength Index (RSI) values of the sample group were obtained using the countermovement jump (CMJ) test. Participants started from an upright standing position on the platform with their feet shoulder-width apart and hands placed on their hips to eliminate arm swing. From this position, they were instructed to perform a rapid downward movement by flexing the hips and knees, immediately followed by a maximal vertical jump without any pause between the eccentric and concentric phases. Participants were required to keep their hands on their hips throughout the movement and to take off and land with both feet while attempting to jump as high as possible.	8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Fatigue Index	Wingate Test	8 week
Sprint Performance (10-meter)	The 10-meter sprint performance of the football players was assessed using a photocell timing system (Optojump, Microgate, Italy). Two pairs of photocells connected to an electronic timing system with dual-beam functionality and a measurement accuracy of ±0.001 s were positioned at the start and finish lines along a straight 10-meter track, with the sensors mounted 90 cm above the ground to ensure precise detection of the participants' movements. Participants began each trial from a standing start position, with one foot placed slightly forward, positioned 50 cm behind the starting photocell gate to standardize the initial stance.	8 week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gümüşhane Universıty

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 5, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 28, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 28, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 3, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Football; PAPE; Anaerobic Power; French Contrast Training; Reactive Strength Index
• Other Study ID Numbers: E-95674917-108.99-379723

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared to protect participant privacy and in accordance with institutional ethical guidelines.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No