Background: Neuromuscular training is widely implemented in professional football to enhance performance and reduce injury risk. Although unstable surfaces are commonly used for proprioceptive and rehabilitation purposes, limited evidence supports their effectiveness in improving sport-specific force production and stability in elite athletes. This study aimed to compare the effects of multicomponent neuromuscular training performed on stable versus unstable surfaces on unilateral force production, mobility, and agility in elite male soccer players. Methods: Twenty-seven professional male soccer players from the Spanish first division were randomly assigned to either a stable surface group (SSG; n = 14) or an unstable surface group (USG; n = 13). Both groups completed a 10-week intervention in addition to their regular training routines. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included dorsiflexion range of motion (DFt), Y-Balance Test (YBT), single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ), single-leg hop for distance (SLH), side-hop (SH), Speedy Jump (SpJ), Agility T-test (TT), and the Lower Extremity Functional Test (LEFT). A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Hedges’ g effect sizes were used for statistical analysis. Results: The SSG showed significant improvements in most performance variables, including DFt, YBT, SLH, SH, SpJ, TT, and LEFT (percent change range: 1.6% to 9.8%; Hedges’ g ranging from 0.52 to 2.57). The USG showed limited improvements, with significant changes only in LEFT (percent change = 1.18%; Hedges’ g = 0.53). Notably, the stable surface group demonstrated enhanced force production and agility, particularly in the non-dominant limb. Conclusions: Multicomponent neuromuscular training on stable surfaces appears more effective than training on unstable surfaces for improving unilateral strength, mobility, and agility in elite soccer players. These findings suggest that stable surface training may provide superior performance benefits and should be considered a priority in high-performance environments.

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate fat utilization during 1 hour of cycling at maximal fat oxidation and, secondarily, to assess menstrual symptoms across different phases of the menstrual cycle. Methods : Fifteen physically active, naturally menstruating women (age = 25 [4] y, ) completed a randomized crossover study involving 1 hour cycling at maximal fat oxidation intensity during 3 menstrual cycle phases: early follicular, peri-ovulatory, and midluteal. Phases were identified individually using mobile app tracking, urinary luteinizing hormone tests, and daily basal temperature and body mass recordings. During exercise, ventilatory variables were measured breath by breath with a gas analyzer to estimate fat and carbohydrate oxidation, and heart rate and the rating of perceived exertion (6–20 a.u., Borg scale) were recorded. Data was analyzed using linear mixed effects modeling. Results : There was no main effect of menstrual cycle phase on total fat oxidized ( P = .388), total carbohydrate oxidized ( P = .265), or total energy expended ( P = .839) during exercise. However, a higher mean heart rate was detected in the peri-ovulatory phase compared with the early follicular phase ( P = .004), and participants reported higher rating of perceived exertion in the midluteal phase compared with early follicular ( P = .003) and peri-ovulatory phases ( P = .024). Menstrual symptom scores were higher in early follicular phase compared with peri-ovulatory and midluteal phases ( P < .001). Conclusions : Fat oxidation during exercise at maximal fat oxidation intensity was not affected by the phase of the menstrual cycle in healthy, young, physically active, naturally menstruating women. However, variations in heart rate and perceived exertion suggest that physiological and perceptual responses to exercise may differ across phases.