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Enhancing Neuromuscular Conditioning in Football Players Through Single-Leg and Double-Leg Cycling: A Randomized
Jitin Chahal1, Moattar Raza Rizvi2, Ankita Sharma3
1Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies, (MRIIRS), Faridabad, 121004, India.
Background:
Football requires high levels of neuromuscular conditioning to meet the demands of explosive actions such as sprinting, cutting, and kicking, while minimizing the risk of lower limb injuries-especially hamstring strains linked to muscle imbalances. Single-leg cycling (SLC), a form of unilateral training, may offer superior neuromuscular adaptations compared to traditional double-leg cycling (DLC). This study aimed to compare the effects of SLC and DLC on lower limb strength, anaerobic power, fatigue resistance, agility, and sprint performance in competitive football players.
Methods:
A four-week, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted on 42 male football players (aged 18-26), allocated equally to SLC (n = 21) and DLC (n = 21) groups. Both groups underwent biweekly cycling sessions. Pre- and postintervention assessments included isokinetic peak torque of knee flexors and extensors, hamstring-to-quadriceps (H/Q) ratio, peak and minimum power, fatigue index (RAST), 20-m zig-zag agility test, and 30-m Sprint Test.
Results:
Both groups showed significant improvements in anaerobic performance metrics (peak and minimum power, p < 0.001). However, SLC yielded significantly higher gains in knee flexor peak torque (Δ + 46.7%, p < 0.001) and H/Q ratio (Δ + 30.2%, p = 0.02), indicating superior hamstring activation and improved muscle balance. Fatigue index significantly decreased only in the SLC group (Δ - 7.3%, p = 0.04), reflecting enhanced anaerobic endurance. SLC also resulted in greater improvements in agility (Δ - 5.9%) and sprint performance (Δ - 8.1%) compared to DLC (p < 0.001), suggesting improved neuromuscular coordination and explosive capability. Knee extensor torque increased modestly in both groups, with no significant between-group difference (p = 0.46).
Conclusion:
SLC training offers superior benefits over DLC in improving lower limb strength balance, fatigue resistance, agility, and sprinting in football players. It may serve as a targeted conditioning strategy to enhance performance and reduce injury risk in sport-specific contexts. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI): CTRI/2023/06/053941.
