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

Sequence-Dependent Performance Adaptations Following Myofascial Chain Training in Youth Football Players: An Integrated Statistical and Knowledge Graph Approach

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Athletic Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Posterior chain myofascial training; Other: Spiral chain myofascial training

Detailed Description

Myofascial chains are interconnected lines of muscle and connective tissue that transmit force across body segments, contributing to movement efficiency, joint stability, and elastic energy storage. Among the chains described in fascial anatomy literature, the posterior chain is considered a primary contributor to explosive force production, while the spiral chain contributes to rotational control and dynamic balance. Despite growing interest in fascia-informed training approaches, no prior study has examined whether the sequence in which these chains are trained influences the magnitude, time-course, or persistence of performance adaptations in youth athletes.

To address this gap, the study employed a randomized crossover design. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to one of two sequence groups: the Posterior Chain First Group (PCFG) or the Spiral Chain First Group (SCFG). Both groups continued their regular club training throughout the entire study period.

The intervention consisted of two consecutive six-week training blocks separated by a mid-test assessment. In the first block, each group performed their assigned myofascial chain protocol; following the crossover, groups switched protocols for the second block. Each training session lasted 30 minutes and was completed in addition to routine club practice. Outcomes were assessed at four time points - baseline, after the first block, after the second block, and at a four-week follow-up - to capture both the progression and persistence of adaptations.

The primary aim was to determine whether initiating training with the posterior chain versus the spiral chain produces differential adaptation trajectories, which may inform evidence-based sequencing decisions in youth athlete development programs.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Mersin
    • Mersin, Mersin, Turkey (Türkiye), 33343
      • Mersin University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

IInclusion Criteria:

• 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

Exclusion Criteria:

• 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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: PCFG (Posterior Chain First); 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; 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.; Other: Spiral chain myofascial training; 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.
Experimental: SCFG (Spiral Chain First); 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; 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.; Other: Spiral chain myofascial training; 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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 Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dynamic Balance - YBT	Dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-Balance Test with the right/left leg as the stance leg, measuring reach distance (cm) in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions, normalized to leg length.	Measured at baseline (pre-test), 6 weeks (mid-test), 12 weeks (post-test), and 4 weeks post-test (follow-up)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mersin University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 5, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 22, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 18, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 18, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 24, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: balance; countermovement jump; knowledge graph; Myofascial chain sequencing; posterior chain
• Other Study ID Numbers: MEU-SBF-IK-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in this article (CMJ and Y-Balance Test scores at all four assessment time points), along with the study protocol.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Beginning 3 months and ending 5 years after article publication
• IPD Sharing 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.

Drug and device information, study documents

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