Multivariate Neuromuscular Profile and Principal Component Analysis: A Pilot Study in Professional Female Soccer Players.

BACKGROUND

Professional women's football requires precise neuromuscular characterisation because of the high mechanical demands associated with acceleration, deceleration, jumping, braking, landing, and rapid force production. The aim was to characterise the multivariate neuromuscular profile derived from the countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and to examine neuromuscular components according to tactical positions in professional female football players.

METHODS

Twenty-three professional female football players were assessed using the CMJ and IMTP. Force-time, impulse, rate of force development, jump performance, landing, and inter-limb imbalance variables were extracted. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the standardised variables, and individual component scores were compared according to tactical positions using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS

The first five principal components explained 79.19% of the total variance. PC1 represented the propulsive force and the rate of force development; PC2 reflected total force and mechanical impulse; PC3 represented early explosiveness; PC4 grouped indicators of inter-limb imbalance; and PC5 integrated jump performance and landing control. No statistically significant differences were observed between tactical positions.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of CMJ, IMTP, and PCA enabled multiple muscle-force variables to be synthesised into interpretable neuromuscular dimensions. The findings provide preliminary and exploratory evidence to support the individual monitoring of female football players. Given the low participant-to-variable ratio, the PCA findings should be considered exploratory.