The influence of integrating neuromuscular training in motor performance of children soccer practicing
Keywords: motor development, physical training, physical fitness
The monitoring and evaluation of structured physical training brings with it the development of motor
aspects and consequently the physical performance of individuals. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of
integrative neuromuscular training (INT) on motor performance in children aged 6-10 years. A sample of 38 children
soccer practitioners were divided into two groups: 20 in the integrative neuromuscular training group (GINT)
and 18 in the control group (CG). Then, the socioeconomic questionnaire was applied to the parents,
daily physical activity level for the study participants, as well as to evaluate the prediction of bone age, body mass
and height. At the pre-intervention moments, 6 and 12 weeks, a battery of motor tests was selected to determine
the level of motor performance through the indicators of balance, flexibility, agility, speed and anaerobic power of
lower limbs in both GINT and GC . The INT was performed twice a week during the initial 20 minutes of each training
session and consisted of 5 exercises aimed at fitness and athletic performance. Regarding the results, to verify
the homogeneity of the study variables between the groups, we applied unpaired Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney test.
To observe the effect of the training and the interaction between the two groups on motor performance
ANOVA ONE-WAY was used with Tukey's Post-Hoc test when p <0.05, in order to identify possible differences
between the means of the groups. Thus, in the motor tests the individuals in the GINT compared to the CG,
showed significant improvement in the pre and 6 weeks only for flexibility (F = 11,620; p = 0,013). At the pre and
12 weeks time there was a significant difference in agility (F = 7.332; P = 0.042); equilibrium (F = 5.864, P = 0.000);
flexibility (F = 11.620, p = 0.000) and anaerobic power (F = 7.181, p = 0.002). The addition of INT to the
systematic training applied to children had a direct influence on motor performance in the majority of physical
capacities in the 12-week period, the technique of the integral exercises, the adequate volume and intensity
provided neuromuscular adaptations in which it made possible an improvement mechanics of movement