Impact of an 8-week integrated neuromuscular training program on anthropometric and body composition profiles, jump-landing mechanics, and vertical jump height in male volleyball athletes-A non-randomized matched controlled study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Efficient neuromuscular coordination, appropriate landing and lower limb strength is a key factor in volleyball performance. Non-ideal body composition and poor landing may lead to injury risk and poorly affect the performance. This study aims to investigate the effect of 8-weeks integrated neuromuscular training program on anthropometric characteristics, body composition, jump-landing biomechanics, and vertical jump height among adult male volleyball athletes. METHODS: This non-randomized matched controlled study will utilize 28 male volleyball players aged between 18 and 25 years. Following baseline assessment, participants will be allocated to experimental group (INMT along with volleyball training) and control group (volleyball training along with a structured resistance training program) using non-randomized allocation procedure and a set of predefined criteria. The intervention will last 8 weeks, with three sessions per week. Primary outcome parameters such as body composition, anthropometric profiles, landing kinematics will be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis and landing error scoring system. The secondary outcome, vertical jump height, will be analyzed using vertec jump tester respectively. Group × time interaction test will be computed using ANCOVA, adjusted for baseline/linear mixed-effects model. Secondary outcome p-values will be adjusted for multiplicity, using the Holm-Bonferroni method. DISCUSSION: To address the gap in the literature, this study will examine whether INMT improves anthropometric and body composition profiles, jump-landing mechanics, and vertical jump height in male volleyball athletes. By testing at 8 weeks, the study may provide data on the velocity of neuromuscular adaptations, validating whether significant changes occur within this specific periods. In addition, the findings may contribute to the specific profiling of male volleyball athletes by establishing how INMT affects both body composition and biomechanical metrics (jump height, Landing Mechanics) specifically in this population. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier, NCT07485348.