Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Postural Stability and Ankle Proprioception in Volleyball Players

Volleyball is a high-intensity sport that requires rapid directional changes, jumping, and single-leg landings, placing significant stress on the lower limbs, particularly the ankles. Impaired postural stability and ankle proprioception increase the risk of injury and reduce performance. Neuromuscular training (NMT) has been shown to enhance sensorimotor function, yet evidence in volleyball players is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week neuromuscular training program on postural stability and ankle proprioception in male volleyball players. Thirty male volleyball players (age 18–24 years, ≥5 years playing experience) from Qatar were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The experimental group participated in a 12-week neuromuscular training program, three sessions per week, 30–45 minutes per session, in addition to regular volleyball training. Training included balance board and wobble board exercises, agility ladder drills, hurdle jumps, step-up/run-down activities, and mini-trampoline jumps. The control group continued routine volleyball practice without additional intervention. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included dynamic and static balance (Biodex Balance System), limit of stability, and ankle joint position sense (goniometer) for inversion and eversion. The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in static balance indices (overall, anterior–posterior, medial–lateral; p ≤ 0.03) and ankle proprioception for inversion and eversion (p = 0.01), whereas the control group showed no significant changes. Directional components of dynamic balance, including medial–lateral control at level 6 and anterior–posterior control at level 8, also improved significantly in the experimental group (p ≤ 0.04), while overall dynamic balance and limit of stability showed non-significant changes. Twelve weeks of neuromuscular training effectively enhanced static and directional dynamic balance as well as ankle proprioception in male volleyball players. These improvements likely result from enhanced proprioceptive input, neural adaptations, and optimised coordination of lower limb muscles. Integrating neuromuscular training into volleyball conditioning programs may enhance postural control and ankle proprioceptive function in volleyball players. But the direct effects on injury prevention and sport-specific performance require further investigation.