{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T13:07:06Z","timestamp":1776863226632,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776816000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Persistent neuromuscular deficits following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) impair dynamic stability and sport-specific performance in volleyball athletes who rely on repetitive jumping and single-leg control. Reactive neuromuscular training (RNT) using TheraBand-mediated perturbations may enhance sensorimotor integration, yet evidence in male volleyball players during late-stage rehabilitation (6\u201312 months post-ACLR) remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of an eight-week TheraBand-based RNT program on dynamic balance and functional performance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A quasi-experimental pre-test\/post-test design was used with 30 male volleyball players (18\u201330 years) allocated to an experimental group (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      =\u202f15) or control group (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      =\u202f15). The experimental group completed 16 supervised RNT sessions (two 40-minute sessions per week) incorporating progressive TheraBand perturbations during squats, lunges, and single-leg landings. The control group maintained routine activity. Outcomes, assessed on the reconstructed limb, included Y Balance Test composite score (%), triple hop distance (cm), single-leg hop time for 6 m (s), and countermovement vertical jump height (cm). Within-group changes were analyzed with paired-samples\n                      <jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\n                      -tests; between-group differences were examined using ANCOVA with baseline adjustment (\u03b1 = 0.05).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in dynamic balance (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), triple hop distance (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.022), single-leg hop time (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.015), and vertical jump height (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.014), whereas no significant changes occurred in the control group (all\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;gt;\u202f0.05). ANCOVA revealed significant group effects favoring RNT for all outcomes (\n                      <jats:italic>F<\/jats:italic>\n                      (1,27) = 5.67\u20138.66,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.007\u20130.024, \u03b7p\n                      <jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>\n                      = 0.174\u20130.243).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>An eight-week TheraBand-based RNT program produced clinically meaningful short-term gains in balance and functional performance. These findings support integration of perturbation-based training into late-stage ACLR rehabilitation in male volleyball players, although longer-term studies are required to confirm retention and return-to-sport benefits.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1805612","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T11:58:09Z","timestamp":1776859089000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Augmenting rehabilitation of male volleyball players after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with Thera-band based neuromuscular training to improve balance and functional performance: a pilot randomized clinical trial"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Li","family":"Chen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Education, Guangdong Medical University","place":["Dongguan, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Wenlie","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Education, Guangdong Medical University","place":["Dongguan, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiujuan","family":"Tan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University","place":["Zhanjiang, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.5435\/00124635-200005000-00001","article-title":"Noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries: risk factors and prevention strategies","volume":"8","author":"Griffin","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Am Acad Orthop Surg"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"573","DOI":"10.3928\/0147-7447-20000601-15","article-title":"Mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament injury","volume":"23","author":"Boden","year":"2000","journal-title":"Orthopedics"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"902","DOI":"10.1519\/r-20616.1","article-title":"Physiological and anthropometric characteristics of Australian junior national, state, and novice volleyball players","volume":"21","author":"Gabbett","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"324","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.2005.018341","article-title":"Understanding injury mechanisms: a key component of preventing injuries in sport","volume":"39","author":"Bahr","year":"2005","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.5040\/9781718209725.part-003","volume-title":"Understanding and Preventing Noncontact ACL Injuries","author":"Hewett","year":"2007"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1177\/0363546506293899","article-title":"Mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament injury in basketball: video analysis of 39 cases","volume":"35","author":"Krosshaug","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1005","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-662-61070-1_80","volume-title":"Basketball Sports Medicine and Science","author":"Zarzycki","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"NP1","DOI":"10.1177\/03635465241294193","article-title":"Knee biomechanics during cutting maneuvers and secondary ACL injury risk: response","volume":"53","author":"Mausehund","year":"2025","journal-title":"Am J Sports Med"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.1016\/j.csm.2008.02.001","article-title":"Maximizing quadriceps strength after ACL reconstruction","volume":"27","author":"Palmieri-Smith","year":"2008","journal-title":"Clin Sports Med"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-024-02121-1","article-title":"Hop to it! 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