Neuromuscular Warm-Ups and Lower-Limb Injury Risk: A 12-Week Pilot Study in Female Youth Basketball.

Authors

Dylan S Hicks, Jordan Fox, Michael P Russo, Sean Baker, Dee Ranford, Stephen P Bird

Published in

Journal of strength and conditioning research. Aug 06, 2026. Epub Aug 06, 2026.

Abstract

Hicks, DS, Fox, J, Russo, MP, Baker, S, Ranford, D, and Bird, SP. Neuromuscular warm-ups and lower-limb injury risk: A 12-week pilot study in female youth basketball. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-This study examined the effects of a 12-week neuromuscular warm-up program (NMWP) on changes to force-time variables during countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) actions, and their association with modifiable lower-limb injury risk factors. A repeated-measures design was used to compare force-time variables in 13 female youth representative basketball players, with pre and post force-time data collected from CMJ and DJ actions using force plates. Once divided into experimental and control groups (EG and CG), the EG performed the NMWP in the 12-minute period before the on-court session, twice a week for 12 weeks. The CG completed a generalized dynamic warm-up which was volume and duration matched. Analyses were performed using linear mixed models, cluster, and principal component analysis with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Significant time × group interactions were observed for mean and peak propulsive power (CMJ), indicating greater improvements in the EG (d = -2.40 to -1.93) compared with the CG. Similar interactions were observed for mean propulsive force, mean and peak propulsive power, reactive strength index, and net propulsive impulse during the DJ, reflecting a greater change in the EG (d = -2.15 to -1.46). Nonsignificant, positive pre-post changes were noted for mean and peak braking force. This pilot study showed a 3-month NMWP produced meaningful improvements in CMJ and DJ force-time characteristics, jump outcomes, and jump strategies associated with favorable biomechanical adaptations relevant to injury risk.

PMID:
42561406
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Aug 2026.

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