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Updated: Sep 2, 2026
Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
Published on: June 10, 2025
Effects of unilateral versus bilateral training on linear sprint and change-of-direction performance in athletes: a
Chen Dong1, Yugang Zhang2, Min Sun3
1School of Physical Education, Xi'an Petroleum University Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Background:
Unilateral training may enhance sprint and change-of-direction (COD) performance in athletes, but existing evidence is inconclusive.
Methods:
We searched CNKI, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO up to 1 September 2025 for randomized controlled trials comparing unilateral versus bilateral training in athletes and reporting speed-related outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed with PEDro. Random-effects meta-analyses computed mean differences (MD), and GRADE was used for certainty grading.
Results:
Fourteen studies (415 male athletes, aged 9-27 years) were included. Unilateral training showed no significant pooled effects on 10 m, 20-m, or 30 m sprints (overall I² = 58%), the T-test (I² = 59%), or COD to the right (COD-R, I² = 44%). The 505 test was not pooled because of very high heterogeneity (I² = 92%) and conflicting individual findings. Significant improvements favoring unilateral training were observed for 5 m sprint (Z = 2.01, P = 0.04) and COD to the left (COD-L, Z = 2.13, P = 0.03). Age subgroup analysis (<18 vs. ≥18 years) did not moderate 10 m sprint results (P = 0.64). Overall evidence quality was low to moderate.
Conclusion:
Unilateral training confers selective, small-magnitude benefits for 5 m sprint and COD-L, but these results are preliminary. The COD-L finding rests on only three studies (63 athletes), and the 5-m finding on four studies (113 athletes). Given the exclusively male sample and wide age range (9-27 years), generalization requires caution. Unilateral training did not universally improve all sprint or COD measures. While results for 30-m sprint, T-test, and COD-R were relatively consistent, the 505-test evidence should be interpreted with caution because of high heterogeneity. Future large-scale RCTs should explore applicability across sports, age groups, and sexes, with attention to maturational status and training age in younger populations.
Systematic Review Registration:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=1031255, identifier CRD420251031255.
