{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T19:28:44Z","timestamp":1789586924944,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]],"date-time":"2025-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759276800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["JFMK"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Neuromuscular training is widely implemented in professional football to enhance performance and reduce injury risk. Although unstable surfaces are commonly used for proprioceptive and rehabilitation purposes, limited evidence supports their effectiveness in improving sport-specific force production and stability in elite athletes. This study aimed to compare the effects of multicomponent neuromuscular training performed on stable versus unstable surfaces on unilateral force production, mobility, and agility in elite male soccer players. Methods: Twenty-seven professional male soccer players from the Spanish first division were randomly assigned to either a stable surface group (SSG; n = 14) or an unstable surface group (USG; n = 13). Both groups completed a 10-week intervention in addition to their regular training routines. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included dorsiflexion range of motion (DFt), Y-Balance Test (YBT), single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ), single-leg hop for distance (SLH), side-hop (SH), Speedy Jump (SpJ), Agility T-test (TT), and the Lower Extremity Functional Test (LEFT). A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Hedges\u2019 g effect sizes were used for statistical analysis. Results: The SSG showed significant improvements in most performance variables, including DFt, YBT, SLH, SH, SpJ, TT, and LEFT (percent change range: 1.6% to 9.8%; Hedges\u2019 g ranging from 0.52 to 2.57). The USG showed limited improvements, with significant changes only in LEFT (percent change = 1.18%; Hedges\u2019 g = 0.53). Notably, the stable surface group demonstrated enhanced force production and agility, particularly in the non-dominant limb. Conclusions: Multicomponent neuromuscular training on stable surfaces appears more effective than training on unstable surfaces for improving unilateral strength, mobility, and agility in elite soccer players. These findings suggest that stable surface training may provide superior performance benefits and should be considered a priority in high-performance environments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfmk10040379","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]],"date-time":"2025-10-01T07:58:13Z","timestamp":1759305493000},"page":"379","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Stable Versus Unstable Surfaces on Unilateral Force Production and Stability in Elite Male Soccer Players"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9725-6189","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sergio","family":"Jim\u00e9nez-Rubio","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Sport Sciences Research Centre, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28943 Fuenlabrada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-8045-4515","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"David","family":"Garc\u00eda-Alb\u00edn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Joint Group on Frailty and Successful Aging UCLM-SESCAM, University of Castilla-La Mancha-Health Service of Castilla-La Mancha, IDISCAM, 45002 Toledo, Spain"},{"name":"GENUD Toledo Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3170-0398","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Luis","family":"Est\u00e9vez Rodr\u00edguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Switzerland National Team, Worbstrasse 48, 3074 Muri bei Bern, Switzerland"},{"name":"Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, INEF-Sports Department, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5069-6099","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sergio L.","family":"Jim\u00e9nez-S\u00e1iz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sport Sciences Research Centre, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28943 Fuenlabrada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Afonso, J., Clemente, F.M., Ribeiro, J., Ferreira, M., and Fernandes, R.J. 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