Neuromuscular Fatigue Assessment in Youth Soccer

May 29, 2026 updated by: Istanbul Gelisim University

Differential Neuromuscular Fatigue Responses in Multi- and Single-Joint Force Following a Simulated Soccer Protocol in Youth Players: Evidence for Divergent Assessment Sensitivity

This clinical trial investigates neuromuscular fatigue and recovery responses following a standardized soccer-specific fatigue protocol in trained young male soccer players. The study compares the sensitivity of different neuromuscular performance assessments, including the countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and isometric hamstring 90-90 (IH90-90) tests, for detecting fatigue and recovery over time.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

  • Which neuromuscular assessment is most sensitive for detecting fatigue following soccer-specific activity?
  • How do force production characteristics change immediately after exercise and during recovery?
  • Do single-joint and multi-joint isometric assessments demonstrate different recovery patterns?

Participants complete a standardized soccer simulation fatigue protocol and perform neuromuscular performance tests before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 24 and 48 hours following the protocol.

The findings may help improve fatigue monitoring strategies during congested training and match schedules in soccer players and support approaches aimed at reducing injury risk.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Neuromuscular fatigue monitoring is widely used in soccer to evaluate recovery status, optimize training load, and reduce injury risk during congested training and match schedules. However, different neuromuscular assessments may reflect distinct aspects of fatigue and recovery, and the time-dependent sensitivity of commonly used force-based assessments remains unclear.

The purpose of this randomized crossover trial is to compare the time-course sensitivity of the countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and isometric hamstring 90-90 (IH90-90) tests for detecting neuromuscular fatigue following a standardized soccer-specific fatigue protocol (T-SAFT90) in trained young male soccer players.

Eighteen trained male soccer players participate in the study. Neuromuscular performance is assessed before exercise, immediately after exercise, and at 24 and 48 hours following the fatigue protocol. The study evaluates changes in peak force and rapid force production characteristics obtained from single-joint and multi-joint isometric assessments, together with CMJ performance variables.

Participants complete the T-SAFT90 protocol designed to simulate the physiological and mechanical demands of competitive soccer activity. Following the protocol, participants perform a series of neuromuscular performance assessments across multiple recovery time points.

The study aims to determine which assessments are most sensitive for detecting acute and residual fatigue and whether single-joint and multi-joint force assessments demonstrate different recovery profiles. The findings may contribute to improved fatigue-monitoring strategies in soccer and assist practitioners in managing recovery and injury risk during periods of high training and match density.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

18

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Yeşilköy Mahallesi
      • Istanbul, Yeşilköy Mahallesi, Turkey (Türkiye), 34140
        • İstanbul Gelisim University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male soccer players aged 18-22 years Minimum of 3 years of active licensed soccer experience Minimum of 2 years of resistance training experience Classified as trained/development-level athletes Free from current musculoskeletal injury at the time of participation

Exclusion Criteria:

History of lower-extremity injury resulting in absence from training for longer than 1 month within the previous 3 months Use of caffeine, alcohol, or nutritional supplements during the study period Participation in heavy physical activity outside the experimental protocol during the study period Failure to maintain regular training routines during the study period

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: T-SAFT90 Fatigue Protocol
Participants completed a standardized soccer-specific fatigue protocol followed by neuromuscular performance assessments performed before exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 24 and 48 hours after exercise.
Behavioral: T-SAFT90 Protocol
A standardized soccer-specific fatigue protocol designed to simulate the physiological and mechanical demands of competitive soccer activity.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hamstring Peak Force IMTP Peak Force CMJ parametres (Jump Height, time to take off)
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, 24 hours post-exercise, and 48 hours post-exercise
Peak forces measured during the isometric hamstring 90-90 and IMTP (isometric mid-thigh pull)test following a standardized soccer-specific fatigue protocol.
Baseline, immediately post-exercise, 24 hours post-exercise, and 48 hours post-exercise

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Gelisim University

Collaborators

Kırıkkale University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 29, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2025.04.31

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data may be shared upon reasonable request to the corresponding author, in accordance with institutional policies and participant confidentiality requirements.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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