Acute and Chronic Effects of Strength Training on Neuromuscular Responses, Adaptations, and Sport Performance

Dear Colleagues,

Strength training plays a central role in enhancing sport performance through improvements in neuromuscular function, movement efficiency, and long-term physical development. Recent approaches such as velocity-based training, plyometric training, complex contrast training, local muscular endurance training, and local vibration training have expanded conventional resistance training paradigms, offering diverse ways to influence both acute neuromuscular responses and chronic adaptations. In parallel, growing attention to strength training in youth highlights the importance of individualized and age-appropriate development strategies. The aim of this Special Issue is to present current knowledge and recent advances examining how these training modalities impact neuromuscular adaptations, motor control, training load management, fatigue resistance, and performance outcomes across different sport populations. We welcome different types of manuscript submissions, including experimental studies, reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which provide evidence-based insights to support researchers, coaches, and practitioners in designing and optimizing strength training interventions for improved sport performance.

Strength training has long been recognized as a key component in developing sport performance through improvements in muscle strength, neuromuscular coordination, movement efficiency, and injury prevention. In recent years, new training paradigms such as velocity-based training, plyometric training, complex training, local muscular endurance training, and local vibration training have broadened traditional resistance training approaches. These methods allow the investigation of both immediate neuromuscular responses and long-term adaptations that support performance enhancement across diverse populations, including elite athletes, amateur athletes, and youth participants.

This Special Issue aims to consolidate and advance knowledge on the acute and chronic effects of strength training on neuromuscular responses, adaptations, and sport performance. The scope includes training practices applied to elite and amateur athletes, youth athletes, and general sport participants, with the goal of identifying evidence-based strategies for individualized and context-specific performance development.

Recent research has focused on real-time load monitoring, force–velocity profiling, motor control adjustments, fatigue regulation, and individualized training prescription. Emerging evidence highlights the importance of adapting training approaches to different athletic levels, from amateur to elite, as well as in youth development. The inclusion of novel modalities such as local vibration training and velocity-based feedback systems reflects continuing innovation within the field.

We invite original research articles, systematic reviews, and narrative reviews examining the effects of strength training on neuromuscular adaptations, acute and chronic responses, biomechanical and physiological mechanisms, training optimization, and performance outcomes. Submissions focusing on elite athletes, amateur athletes, and youth athletes, as well as studies comparing training modalities or offering applied insights for coaches and practitioners, are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Christos Paizis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• strength training
• strength training in youth
• velocity-based training
• plyometric training
• complex training
• local muscular endurance training
• local vibration training
• neuromuscular adaptations
• acute effects
• sport performance