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

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.

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