{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T14:30:59Z","timestamp":1786113059073,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]],"date-time":"2026-08-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785888000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Neuromuscular training (NMT) is used to improve physical fitness and tennis-specific performance, but broad outcome classifications, mixed populations, and insufficient separation of accuracy and sprint outcomes have limited previous reviews. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of NMT in male tennis players, particularly youth and young adults.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Five databases were searched from inception to 1 January 2026; the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261337037). Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or non-RCTs involving healthy male tennis players and comparing structured NMT with control or alternative training conditions. Outcomes included stroke velocity, shot placement accuracy, serve accuracy, sprint performance, countermovement jump (CMJ), and agility time. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I, certainty of evidence was evaluated with GRADE, and random-effects meta-analyses were performed using Hedges\u2019 g.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Eighteen studies involving 670 participants were included, of which 16 were RCTs and two were non-randomized controlled studies. Compared with control conditions, pooled estimates favored the intervention conditions for stroke velocity (g\u2009=\u20090.95), sprint performance (g\u2009=\u2009\u22120.58), CMJ (g\u2009=\u20090.73), agility time (g\u2009=\u2009\u22120.89), and serve accuracy (g\u2009=\u20090.47). No significant pooled effect was observed for shot placement accuracy (g\u2009=\u2009\u22120.41). For sprint performance, the pooled estimate favored the intervention conditions for the 10 m sprint but not for the 20 m sprint. GRADE certainty was low for stroke velocity and sprint performance and very low for shot placement accuracy, serve accuracy, CMJ, and agility time.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Low-certainty evidence suggests favorable pooled effects on stroke velocity and short-distance sprint performance when the included interventions were considered collectively. Although pooled analyses favored the intervention conditions for CMJ, agility time, and serve accuracy, the certainty of evidence for these outcomes was very low, and accuracy-related outcomes remained inconsistent. These pooled findings do not establish the effectiveness of any specific training modality. Further rigorously designed and well-reported RCTs incorporating long-term follow-up are warranted.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0355297","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]],"date-time":"2026-08-05T17:33:58Z","timestamp":1785951238000},"page":"e0355297","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effects of neuromuscular training on physical and tennis-specific performance in youth and young adult male tennis players: A systematic review and meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"given":"Pingping","family":"Xie","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-8260-2145","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Jinfa","family":"Gu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-3941-6883","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Jie","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0355297.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-022-01807-8","article-title":"Physical demands of tennis across the different court surfaces, performance levels and sexes: a systematic review with meta-analysis","volume":"53","author":"BM Pluim","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0355297.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"517","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000003937","article-title":"Quantifying change of direction movement demands in professional tennis matchplay: an analysis from the australian open grand slam","volume":"38","author":"B Giles","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1061087","DOI":"10.3389\/fspor.2022.1061087","article-title":"Effects of athletic training on physical fitness and stroke velocity in healthy youth and adult tennis players: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"4","author":"J Lambrich","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Sports Act Living"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0355297.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2018.1483699","article-title":"Technical and tactical skills related to performance levels in tennis: a systematic review","volume":"37","author":"NS Kolman","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0355297.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1186\/s13102-025-01219-x","article-title":"Effects of neuromuscular training on tennis players: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"17","author":"Y Zhou","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0355297.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"494","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000004329","article-title":"Narrative review of sex differences in muscle strength, endurance, activation, size, fiber type, and strength training participation rates, preferences, motivations, injuries, and neuromuscular adaptations","volume":"37","author":"JL Nuzzo","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0355297.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1439","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000000756","article-title":"Long-term athletic development- part 1: a pathway for all youth","volume":"29","author":"RS Lloyd","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"issue":"11","key":"pone.0355297.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1041","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2016.1209306","article-title":"A meta-analysis of maturation-related variation in adolescent boy athletes\u2019 adaptations to short-term resistance training","volume":"35","author":"J Moran","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2016.00164","article-title":"Effects of resistance training in youth athletes on muscular fitness and athletic performance: a conceptual model for long-term athlete development","volume":"7","author":"U Granacher","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front Physiol"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0355297.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.23736\/S0022-4707.16.06685-8","article-title":"The role of lower limbs during tennis serve","volume":"58","author":"F Dossena","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Sports Med Phys Fitness"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0355297.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"308","DOI":"10.1249\/mss.0b013e31815c6d61","article-title":"Lower-limb coordination and shoulder joint mechanics in the tennis serve","volume":"40","author":"M Reid","year":"2008","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0355297.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"444","DOI":"10.1177\/00315125251320133","article-title":"Enhancing groundstrokes velocity and accuracy in post-pubertal and adult tennis players: a systematic review of interventions","volume":"132","author":"I Mart\u00edn-Miguel","year":"2025","journal-title":"Percept Mot Skills"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref013","first-page":"931","article-title":"The transformative impact of high-intensity interval training on performance indicators among adolescent tennis players","volume":"70","author":"PK Choudhary","year":"2025","journal-title":"Retos: nuevas tendencias en educaci\u00f3n f\u00edsica, deporte y recreaci\u00f3n"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0355297.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.15561\/26649837.2026.0202","article-title":"Training interventions and physical performance adaptations in youth tennis players: a systematic scoping review","volume":"30","author":"B Rawat","year":"2026","journal-title":"ppcs"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0355297.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"308","DOI":"10.15561\/26649837.2025.0408","article-title":"Effects of a 12-week integrated core and plyometric training program on tennis skills, agility, strength, and balance in adolescent tennis players","volume":"29","author":"D Bangari","year":"2025","journal-title":"PPCS"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref016","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews","volume":"372","author":"MJ Page","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref017","article-title":"RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials","volume":"366","author":"JAC Sterne","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref018","article-title":"ROBINS-I: a tool for assessing risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions","volume":"355","author":"JA Sterne","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"issue":"7650","key":"pone.0355297.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"924","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.39489.470347.AD","article-title":"GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations","volume":"336","author":"GH Guyatt","year":"2008","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0355297.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0069930","article-title":"A re-analysis of the Cochrane Library data: the dangers of unobserved heterogeneity in meta-analyses","volume":"8","author":"E Kontopantelis","year":"2013","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119536604.ch10","article-title":"Analysing data and undertaking meta\u2010analyses.","volume-title":"Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions","author":"JJ Deeks","year":"2019"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0355297.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.3102\/10769986006002107","article-title":"Distribution theory for glass\u2019s estimator of effect size and related estimators","volume":"6","author":"LV Hedges","year":"1981","journal-title":"J Educ Stat"},{"issue":"11","key":"pone.0355297.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1539","DOI":"10.1002\/sim.1186","article-title":"Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta-analysis","volume":"21","author":"JPT Higgins","year":"2002","journal-title":"Stat Med"},{"issue":"7109","key":"pone.0355297.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"629","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.315.7109.629","article-title":"Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test","volume":"315","author":"M Egger","year":"1997","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0355297.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1088","DOI":"10.2307\/2533446","article-title":"Operating characteristics of a rank correlation test for publication bias","volume":"50","author":"CB Begg","year":"1994","journal-title":"Biometrics"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0355297.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"455","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0006-341X.2000.00455.x","article-title":"Trim and fill: a simple funnel-plot-based method of testing and adjusting for publication bias in meta-analysis","volume":"56","author":"S Duval","year":"2000","journal-title":"Biometrics"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0355297.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2022-0292","article-title":"Six-week joint-specific isometric strength training improves serve velocity in young tennis players","volume":"18","author":"E Baiget","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Sports Physiol Perform"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0355297.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"370","DOI":"10.1123\/pes.25.3.370","article-title":"Effects of two different resistance-training programs on mean tennis-serve velocity in adolescents","volume":"25","author":"M Behringer","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pediatr Exerc Sci"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0355297.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"505","DOI":"10.5114\/biolsport.2022.107020","article-title":"Effects of isoinertial or machine-based strength training on performance in tennis players","volume":"39","author":"J Can\u00f3s","year":"2022","journal-title":"Biol Sport"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0355297.ref030","first-page":"232","article-title":"Effects of a 6-week junior tennis conditioning program on service velocity","volume":"12","author":"J Fernandez-Fernandez","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Sports Sci Med"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0355297.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000000759","article-title":"In-season effect of a combined repeated sprint and explosive strength training program on elite junior tennis players","volume":"29","author":"J Fernandez-Fernandez","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0355297.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1123\/pes.2015-0019","article-title":"The effects of 8-week plyometric training on physical performance in young tennis players","volume":"28","author":"J Fernandez-Fernandez","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pediatr Exerc Sci"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0355297.ref033","first-page":"45","article-title":"The impact of six weeks of plyometric training program on agility, explosive power, and acceleration performance in young elite tennis players","volume":"10","author":"GRAC Gamlath","year":"2023","journal-title":"IOSR J Sports Phys Educ"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0355297.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"677","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0b013e31825c3290","article-title":"Effects of two training protocols on the forehand drive performance in tennis","volume":"27","author":"C Genevois","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0355297.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2024.e27081","article-title":"Effects of a neuromuscular training program on the performance and inter-limb asymmetries in highly trained junior male tennis players","volume":"10","author":"E Mainer-Pardos","year":"2024","journal-title":"Heliyon"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0355297.ref036","first-page":"48","article-title":"Evaluation of the effect of plyometric exercises on the speed of the ball and the hitting percentage during a service","volume":"7","author":"B \u00d6l\u00e7\u00fcc\u00fc","year":"2013","journal-title":"Beden E\u011fitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0355297.ref037","first-page":"21","article-title":"Effect of agility training on tennis performance","volume":"16","author":"M Paul","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Med Sci Tennis"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref038","first-page":"32","article-title":"Effects of plyometric training and resistance training on agility of tennis players","volume":"16","author":"MS Rathore","year":"2016","journal-title":"Indian J Phys Educ Sports Med Exerc Sci"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0355297.ref039","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0b013e31815f57ad","article-title":"The effects of plyometric, tennis-drills, and combined training on reaction, lateral and linear speed, power, and strength in novice tennis players","volume":"22","author":"K Salonikidis","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1226831","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2023.1226831","article-title":"The plyometric treatment effects on change of direction speed and reactive agility in young tennis players: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"14","author":"F Sinkovic","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref041","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1539739","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1539739","article-title":"Single-session upper limb plyometric training is as effective as two sessions for improving muscle strength, power, and serve velocity in male youth tennis players: a randomized parallel controlled study","volume":"16","author":"J Wang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0355297.ref042","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"651","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000002956","article-title":"Effects of 8-week functional vs. traditional training on athletic performance and functional movement on prepubertal tennis players","volume":"33","author":"S Yildiz","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref043","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ziagkas E, Zilidou VI, Loukovitis A, Politopoulos N, Douka S, Tsiatsos T. The effects of 8-week plyometric training on tennis agility performance, improving evaluation throw the Makey Makey. In: International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning. Springer; 2019.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-11935-5_27"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref044","article-title":"Impacts of medicine ball training on explosive strength in tennis players\u2019 upper bodies","volume":"29","author":"H Kong","year":"2023","journal-title":"Rev Bras Med Esporte"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref045","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1024418","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2022.1024418","article-title":"Effects of plyometric training on skill and physical performance in healthy tennis players: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"13","author":"N Deng","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Physiol"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0355297.ref046","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"392","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.2005.023150","article-title":"Biomechanics and tennis","volume":"40","author":"B Elliott","year":"2006","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0355297.ref047","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"504","DOI":"10.1177\/1941738111414175","article-title":"An 8-stage model for evaluating the tennis serve: implications for performance enhancement and injury prevention","volume":"3","author":"M Kovacs","year":"2011","journal-title":"Sports Health"},{"key":"pone.0355297.ref048","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1432030","DOI":"10.3389\/fspor.2024.1432030","article-title":"Kinematics characteristics of key point of interest during tennis serve among tennis players: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"6","author":"J Jacquier-Bret","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Sports Act Living"},{"issue":"13","key":"pone.0355297.ref049","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7796","DOI":"10.3390\/app13137796","article-title":"Predictors of speed and agility in youth male basketball players","volume":"13","author":"D \u010cau\u0161evi\u0107","year":"2023","journal-title":"Appl Sci"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0355297.ref050","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"214","DOI":"10.3390\/sports12080214","article-title":"The relationship between functional movement quality and speed, agility, and jump performance in elite female youth football players","volume":"12","author":"DI Alexe","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sports (Basel)"},{"issue":"13","key":"pone.0355297.ref051","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"781","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2015-095497","article-title":"Effects and dose-response relationships of resistance training on physical performance in youth athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"50","author":"M Lesinski","year":"2016","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0355297.ref052","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.3390\/bs14030207","article-title":"Does motor imagery training improve service performance in tennis players? A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"14","author":"N Deng","year":"2024","journal-title":"Behav Sci (Basel)"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0355297.ref053","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-200737030-00001","article-title":"Tennis physiology: training the competitive athlete","volume":"37","author":"MS Kovacs","year":"2007","journal-title":"Sports Med"}],"container-title":["PLOS One"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0355297","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]],"date-time":"2026-08-05T17:34:07Z","timestamp":1785951247000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0355297"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Hamza","family":"K\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]]},"references-count":53,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0355297","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]]}}}