ACTN3 rs1815739 Polymorphism and Neuromuscular Performance in Youth Football Players: Associations with Reactive Strength and Dynamic Stability
Cerit M, Önlü AŞ, Yılmaz Hızarcı ÖÖ, Polat T, Tacal Aslan B, Dalip M et al. · Preprints.org · 2026
Background: The ACTN3 rs1815739 (R577X) polymorphism has been widely studied in relation to sprint and power performance; however, its influence on movement-quality phenotypes remains poorly understood.
Materials and methods: This study examined the association between ACTN3 genotype and two neuromuscular measures, the Reactive Strength Index (RSI) and drift-derived dynamic stability, in 274 male youth football players (ages 11–14, n=166; ages 15–18, n=108), accounting for de-velopmental age. Participants completed the OptoJump Next Drift Protocol, and ACTN3 rs1815739 was genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Linear mixed-effects models, including dominant, recessive, and additive genetic models, were used for analysis. The genotype distribution deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p< 0.001). No significant association was found between ACTN3 genotype and RSI or dynamic stability under any genetic model, whereas developmental age was a signifi-cantly stronger predictor of both outcomes (p< 0.001).
Conclusions: These
Findings: suggest that ACTN3 exerts phenotype-specific rather than universal effects on neuromuscular performance in youth athletes.