Effects of 12-week integrative neuromuscular training on muscular fitness and sex differences in response to intervention in five- to six-year-old preschoolers
Objectives This study examined the effects of a 12-week integrative neuromuscular training (INT) program on muscular fitness in male and female five- to six-year-old preschoolers. Methods Thirty preschoolers were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG; n = 15; age = 5.3 ± 0.5 years, b...
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PeerJ Inc.
2025-05-01
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| author | Zhihai Wang Jiayu Zang Zhaohong Wang Daniel T.P. Fong Dan Wang |
| author_facet | Zhihai Wang Jiayu Zang Zhaohong Wang Daniel T.P. Fong Dan Wang |
| author_sort | Zhihai Wang |
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| description | Objectives This study examined the effects of a 12-week integrative neuromuscular training (INT) program on muscular fitness in male and female five- to six-year-old preschoolers. Methods Thirty preschoolers were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG; n = 15; age = 5.3 ± 0.5 years, body height = 115.3 ± 5.2 cm, body mass = 20.7 ± 2.6 kg) or a control group (CG; n = 15; age = 5.2 ± 0.4 years, body height = 118.5 ± 4.9 cm, body mass = 22.6 ± 2.7 kg) participating in a 12-week INT program and regular physical education classes three times per week, respectively. Upper extremity maximal strength (grip strength test) and power (tennis ball throwing test), core endurance strength (one-minute sit-up test), and lower extremity power (standing long jump test) were assessed at the baseline (T0), Week 6 (T6), and Week 12 (T12). Data were analyzed using an independent samples T-test and a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. Results Significant interaction effects between the EG and CG were observed for grip strength, tennis ball throws, one-minute sit-ups, and standing long jumps (p < 0.001). Relative to the CG, the EG demonstrated significant improvements in all muscular fitness at T6 and T12 (p < 0.05). However, no significant interaction was found between the time and the sex (p > 0.05). Conclusions These findings suggested that a 12-week INT program can more effectively enhance the muscular fitness of 5–6-year-old preschoolers compared to regular physical education classes, serving as an effective and efficient supplement to physical education for this age group. Furthermore, there is no evidence of sex -specific differences in the development of muscular fitness among 5–6-year-old preschoolers under the INT program. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-587a67c87f1a43d8b348f794e702d42c2025-08-20T03:09:16ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592025-05-0113e1941710.7717/peerj.19417Effects of 12-week integrative neuromuscular training on muscular fitness and sex differences in response to intervention in five- to six-year-old preschoolersZhihai Wang0Jiayu Zang1Zhaohong Wang2Daniel T.P. Fong3Dan Wang4School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, ChinaFifth Experimental Kindergarten, Xin’an County, Luoyang City, Henan, ChinaNational Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United KingdomSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, ChinaObjectives This study examined the effects of a 12-week integrative neuromuscular training (INT) program on muscular fitness in male and female five- to six-year-old preschoolers. Methods Thirty preschoolers were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG; n = 15; age = 5.3 ± 0.5 years, body height = 115.3 ± 5.2 cm, body mass = 20.7 ± 2.6 kg) or a control group (CG; n = 15; age = 5.2 ± 0.4 years, body height = 118.5 ± 4.9 cm, body mass = 22.6 ± 2.7 kg) participating in a 12-week INT program and regular physical education classes three times per week, respectively. Upper extremity maximal strength (grip strength test) and power (tennis ball throwing test), core endurance strength (one-minute sit-up test), and lower extremity power (standing long jump test) were assessed at the baseline (T0), Week 6 (T6), and Week 12 (T12). Data were analyzed using an independent samples T-test and a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. Results Significant interaction effects between the EG and CG were observed for grip strength, tennis ball throws, one-minute sit-ups, and standing long jumps (p < 0.001). Relative to the CG, the EG demonstrated significant improvements in all muscular fitness at T6 and T12 (p < 0.05). However, no significant interaction was found between the time and the sex (p > 0.05). Conclusions These findings suggested that a 12-week INT program can more effectively enhance the muscular fitness of 5–6-year-old preschoolers compared to regular physical education classes, serving as an effective and efficient supplement to physical education for this age group. Furthermore, there is no evidence of sex -specific differences in the development of muscular fitness among 5–6-year-old preschoolers under the INT program.https://peerj.com/articles/19417.pdfChildrenMotor developmentStrength trainingNeuromuscular exercisePhysical education |
| spellingShingle | Zhihai Wang Jiayu Zang Zhaohong Wang Daniel T.P. Fong Dan Wang Effects of 12-week integrative neuromuscular training on muscular fitness and sex differences in response to intervention in five- to six-year-old preschoolers PeerJ Children Motor development Strength training Neuromuscular exercise Physical education |
| title | Effects of 12-week integrative neuromuscular training on muscular fitness and sex differences in response to intervention in five- to six-year-old preschoolers |
| title_full | Effects of 12-week integrative neuromuscular training on muscular fitness and sex differences in response to intervention in five- to six-year-old preschoolers |
| title_fullStr | Effects of 12-week integrative neuromuscular training on muscular fitness and sex differences in response to intervention in five- to six-year-old preschoolers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of 12-week integrative neuromuscular training on muscular fitness and sex differences in response to intervention in five- to six-year-old preschoolers |
| title_short | Effects of 12-week integrative neuromuscular training on muscular fitness and sex differences in response to intervention in five- to six-year-old preschoolers |
| title_sort | effects of 12 week integrative neuromuscular training on muscular fitness and sex differences in response to intervention in five to six year old preschoolers |
| topic | Children Motor development Strength training Neuromuscular exercise Physical education |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/19417.pdf |
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