Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42760434›Full record

ArticleSports medicine - open2026

Effects of Strength Training on Cognitive Function, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in Highly-Trained Young Female Soccer Players.

Mariem Bousselmi, Hassane Zouhal, Manel Darragi, Houssem M Karamti, Ahlem Ben Hmid, Imen Zamali, Mélika Ben Ahmed, Asma Krir, Sghaeir Zouita, Ismail Laher and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Sports medicine - open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Mariem BousselmiHigher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SFAX, University of Sfax, 3O27, Sfax, Tunisia.
Hassane ZouhalInternational Institute of Sport Sciences (2I2S), 35000, Rennes, France. hassane.zouhal@univ-rennes2.fr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6743-6464
Manel DarragiHigher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SFAX, University of Sfax, 3O27, Sfax, Tunisia.
Houssem M KaramtiHigher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SFAX, University of Sfax, 3O27, Sfax, Tunisia.
Ahlem Ben HmidClinical Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, 1000, Tunis, Tunisia.
Imen ZamaliClinical Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, 1000, Tunis, Tunisia.
Mélika Ben AhmedClinical Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, 1000, Tunis, Tunisia.
Asma KrirFaculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, 1000, Tunis, Tunisia.
Sghaeir ZouitaHigher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, University of Manouba, 1000, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ismail LaherDepartment of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Anthony C HackneyDepartment of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Urs GranacherDepartment of Sport and Sport Science, Exercise and Human Movement Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. urs.granacher@sport.uni-freiburg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7095-813X
Amira Ben Moussa ZouitaResearch Laboratory (LR23JS01) "Sport Performance, Health & Society", Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, 1000, Tunis, Tunisia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFemale soccer continues to gain global popularity. Selected components of physical fitness (e.g., muscle power, change-of-direction [CoD] speed) and cognitive function (e.g., attentional demand, training-induced) play an important role in soccer performance and should, therefore, be systematically developed.

objectivesIn this study, we examined the effects of 12 weeks of strength training (ST) on selected measures of physical fitness, soccer performance, cognitive function, and selected markers of neuroplasticity in young female soccer players.

methodsTwenty-two highly-trained female soccer players with Tier 3 training and performance caliber aged 14.9±0.8 years were randomly assigned to a strength training group (SG: n = 11) or an active control group (CG: n = 11). During the training period, SG performed two weekly upper and lower body ST sessions (3 sets, 12 repetitions per set) at an intensity of 60-80% of the one-repetition-maximum (1-RM) and three soccer-specific training sessions (tactical-technical drills). Players from CG continued their regular soccer-specific training routine consisting of five weekly sessions. Training volumes were similar between groups. Pre- and post-training tests were conducted for the assessment of body composition (e.g., body mass, skinfold site measurements), muscle strength (1-RM bench press/Lat pull-down/leg press),the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT), cognitive function (Stroop test), and selected markers of blood neurotrophins, such as basal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) serum concentrations.

resultsThe following findings from post hoc analyses are based on significant (p <.05) group-by-time interactions. Post hoc analyses revealed ST-related increases in muscle strength for 1-RM bench press (p <0.001; η

conclusionsA 12-week in-season ST program with two weekly sessions improved measures of physical fitness, soccer-specific performance, and cognitive function but not biomarkers of neuroplasticity in young highly-trained female soccer players. Accordingly, we recommend ST should be implemented to improve physical fitness and cognitive function of young female soccer athletes.

Indexed as

BDNFFootballIGF-1Resistance trainingStroopWeight-bearing exerciseYouth

Identifiers

PMID42760434
PMCPMC13589019

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.