A Comparative Study to Evaluate the Effects of Neuromuscular Training with Ballistic Stretching on Male Ncc Cadets with Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

Abstract

Background: This comparative study aimed to evaluate the effects of neuromuscular training with ballistic stretching on male NCC cadets experiencing symptoms of medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) during their basic training period.

Design: A systematic experimental approach was undertaken to assess MTSS prevention strategies among NCC cadets during their basic training and drilling phase.

Methods: Seventy young male NCC cadets without cardiovascular disease participated voluntarily, with an age range of 15 to 24 years. Among them, 50 cadets reported MTSS symptoms in the past 12 months. Prior to the study, pain rates, lower extremity joint range of motion, and muscle tone were assessed. The participants were then divided into two groups of 25 cadets each, with one group undergoing ballistic stretching and the other neuromuscular training.

Results: The average age of all NCC cadets was 19.76 years, with an average weight of 63.23 kg and average height of 175.39 cm. Before the experiment, the average range of motion for G1 (ballistic stretching) was 92.9%, which increased to 99.23% after the intervention, resulting in a recovery of 6.33%. For G2 (neuromuscular training), the range of motion improved from 91.7% to 96.4%, with a recovery of 4.7%. Ballistic stretching showed a higher recovery percentage compared to neuromuscular training in reducing MTSS symptoms.

Conclusion: This study concludes that both ballistic stretching and neuromuscular training are effective in reducing the risk of MTSS among NCC cadets. However, ballistic stretching yielded a higher recovery percentage, indicating its potential as a beneficial exercise for MTSS management in this population.