Effects of suspension training and bodyweight resistance training on neuromuscular power, sprint, and agility performance in untrained male adolescents: a three-arm randomized controlled trial

Abstract

This study compared suspension training (ST) and bodyweight resistance training (RT) with a control condition (CON) for physical performance in untrained male adolescents. Seventy-two participants (age 14.74 ± 0.32 years) were randomized equally to ST, RT, or CON. One participant in RT withdrew because of illness unrelated to the intervention; the participant’s individual data were unavailable. The per-protocol/complete-case analysis therefore included 71 participants (ST n = 24, RT n = 23, CON n = 24), and an intention-to-treat analysis could not be performed. CMJ was the primary outcome; MBT, 30-m sprint, and T-Agility were secondary outcomes. Primary between-group inference used separate baseline-adjusted ANCOVA models for each outcome, followed by three prespecified contrasts with Holm correction within outcome. Mixed ANOVA Group × Time interactions were secondary analyses. The overall ANCOVA group effect was significant for CMJ (F(2,67) = 29.162, p < 0.001, partial η²=0.4654), MBT (F(2,67) = 3.572, p = 0.034, partial η²=0.0964), and 30-m sprint (F(2,67) = 12.090, p < 0.001, partial η²=0.2652), but not T-Agility (F(2,67) = 1.304, p = 0.278, partial η²=0.0375). Holm-adjusted contrasts favored ST versus CON for CMJ (adjusted MD 4.822 cm, 95% familywise simultaneous CI 3.198 to 6.445, p < 0.001) and sprint (adjusted MD -0.200 s, simultaneous CI -0.302 to -0.099, p < 0.001), and RT versus CON for CMJ (adjusted MD 3.710 cm, simultaneous CI 2.072 to 5.348, p < 0.001) and sprint (adjusted MD -0.127 s, simultaneous CI -0.230 to -0.024, p = 0.007). ST and RT did not differ significantly. Although the MBT omnibus test was significant, none of its three contrasts remained significant after Holm correction; no T-Agility contrast was significant. In this PP/complete-case population, both ST and RT produced additional baseline-adjusted improvements in CMJ and 30-m sprint performance relative to CON. No additional T-Agility improvement relative to CON was detected, and the MBT pairwise evidence did not survive Holm correction. The randomized controlled trial was retrospectively registered on 04/23/2026 at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2600123279; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=316060).