Otmane Ennajmi1, Khalid El Mouahid1, Mouhcine El Qryefy2, Salim Khairi1, Abderrazak Rfaki1
1Royal Institute for Managerial Training in Youth and Sport, Department of Sports Training, Sports Science and Performance Optimization Research Team, Salé, Morocco
2Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Electronic Systems, Information Processing, Mechanics and Energetics, Kenitra, Morocco
Upper-Body Neuromuscular Conditioning Enhances Repeated Sprint Performance in Elite Amputee Soccer: A Controlled 12-Week Intervention Study
Sport Mont 2026, 24(2), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/smj.260610
Abstract
Repeated sprint ability (RSA) is a key physical determinant of performance in intermittent sports such as football, reflecting the capacity to perform repeated high-intensity efforts with limited recovery. In amputee soccer, locomotion is characterized by unilateral lower-limb propulsion combined with crutch-assisted upper-body movement, which imposes specific neuromuscular and metabolic demands. Despite the growing popularity of amputee football, limited research has examined targeted conditioning strategies aimed at improving RSA in this population. This study investigated the effects of a 12-week upper-body neuromuscular conditioning program on RSA performance in elite amputee soccer players. Eighteen male players from the Moroccan national team were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=9) and a control group (n=9). Both groups continued their regular training, while the experimental group performed additional upper-body strength sessions. RSA performance was assessed before and after the intervention using a standardized repeated sprint protocol. Variables included best sprint time (BT), mean sprint time (MT), total sprint time (TT), and fatigue index (FI). Post-intervention results revealed significant improvements in the experimental group compared with the control group for BT (p=0.010; d=1.37), MT (p=0.013; d=1.33), and TT (p=0.012; d=1.33). No significant changes were observed for FI (p=0.420). Change score analysis further confirmed greater improvements in the experimental group, particularly for BT. These findings suggest that the addition of targeted upper-body neuromuscular conditioning to regular training may improve RSA performance in amputee soccer players, highlighting the relevance of sport-specific strength training adapted to the unique biomechanical demands of this population.
Keywords
amputee soccer, repeated sprint ability, neuromuscular training, upper-body strength, sprint performance, adaptive sports
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