Effects of muscle warm-up phases on proprioception, vertical jump, agility, and balance in elite adolescent soccer players: a repeated-measures experimental study.
Yılmaz NA, Doğan MT. · International journal of adolescent medicine and health · 2026
Objectives: The
Aim: of this study is to investigate the effects of different muscle warm-up phases on knee joint proprioception, vertical jump, agility, and balance in professional youth athletes.
Methods: Twenty-five professional adolescent football players under the age of 18 (mean age: 16.5 ± 1.2 years) were included in the study (n=25). Dominant knee joint proprioception was measured at 30° using a digital inclinometer. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-balance test (in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions), explosive power was evaluated with the Sargent vertical jump test, and agility was measured using the T-test. All assessments were conducted during three muscle warm-up phases (rest, warm-up, and post-training).
Results: The analysis revealed significant differences in all parameters depending on the muscle's warm-up state (p
Conclusions: Muscle warm-up phases positively influence proprioceptive accuracy, agility, and balance in elite youth soccer players, whereas fatigue impairs these parameters. These
Findings: suggest that optimal warm-up protocols should be incorporated to enhance performance and reduce injury risk. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on 12/15/2025 (ID: NCT07284706).