Effects of a 12-Week Supplementary Strength Training Program on Lower Limb Power and Body Composition in Young Judo Athletes

Despite its importance, the role of structured supplementary strength training in young judo athletes remains insufficiently explored.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week supplementarylower-limb strength training program on muscle mass and lower limb power in young judo practitioners.Twenty young judo athletes (11.30 ± 4.30 years), of both sexes, participated in this study and were allocated into an experimental group (EG; n = 7; 11.43± 2.14 years) and a control group (CG; n = 13; 11.54 ± 2.14 years). The EG performed an additional structured strength training program the lower limbs, three times per week for 12 weeks, alongside regular judo practice, while the CG maintained their usual training routine only. Lower limb power was assessed using the Chronojump system (jump performance), and body composition was evaluated via bioelectrical impedance analysis. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, normality testing (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), and between-group comparisons using the Mann-Whitney U test, with significance p < 0.05.Following the intervention, the EG demonstrated statistically significant improvements in lower limb power and muscle mass (p < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were observed in the CG. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (CE-IPCB), under reference no. 134 CE-IPCB/2023. Notably, increases in muscle mass in the EG were not accompanied by substantial increases in total body mass, suggesting favorable neuromuscular adaptations without detrimental effects on weight-related performance constraints.A structured strength training program appears to be an effective strategy for enhancing lower limb power and muscle mass in young athletes. Importantly, these adaptations were achieved without significant increases in overall body mass, which is particularly relevant in weight-category sports such as judo. These findings support the integration of age-appropriate strength training into youth judo training programs.

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