The Effect of Neuromuscular Warm-up on Muscle Contractility of Elite Female Football Players

Neuromuscular warm-up positively affects motor abilities and muscle performance. The purpose of the study was to extend the knowledge about the effect of neuromuscular warm-up on the level of muscle contractility in female football players. The research sample consisted of experimental (EG, n=20) and control (CG, n=16) groups of female football players. The intervention lasted 12 weeks. The neuromuscular warm-up was implemented in the experimental group, while the control group performed a standard warm-up. Muscle contractility was assessed in dominant (DLE) and non-dominant (NDL) legs using Tensiomyograph (TMG-S2) (TMGBMC Ltd., Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2011) with emphasis on m.biceps femoris, m.gastrocnemius medialis, m.gluteus maximus, m.vastus lateralis, and m.vastus medialis. Muscle contractility was assessed with an emphasis on contraction velocity (Vc). Wilcoxon test was used to determine significant differences. After the intervention, there was a significant improvement in the contraction velocity of m. vastus lateralis DLE (p=0.040, r=0.342) and m. vastus medialis NDL (p=0.048, r=0.330). In contrast to these findings, when the standard warm-up was applied, a significant improvement was observed in the contraction velocity of m. vastus medialis NDL (p=0.011, r=0.422). Additionally, there was a decrease in the contraction velocity of m. biceps femoris, m. gastrocnemius medialis, and m. vastus lateralis in both dominant and non-dominant legs, though the decrease was not significant. Based on the results, it is concluded that NMT warm-up significantly improved the contraction velocity in specific muscles (m. vastus lateralis DLE and m. vastus medialis NDL) in the experimental group. However, the effects on other muscles were not as pronounced, and the standard warm-up showed different results. Therefore, NMT warm-up has an impact on muscle contraction velocity, but the extent and consistency of this effect vary.