Investigation of miRNA-1 and miRNA-133a levels after acute neuromuscular exercise in ultimate frisbee athletes

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), particularly miR-1 and miR-133a, are muscle-enriched regulators involved in skeletal muscle adaptation and remodeling in response to exercise. While these molecules have been studied extensively in endurance and resistance contexts, their acute response to neuromuscular exercise in Ultimate Frisbee athletes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of a neuromuscular exercise program (FIFA 11+) on salivary miR-1 and miR-133a expression levels and to explore their relationship with athletic performance indicators. Twenty-five Ultimate Frisbee players participated. Saliva samples were collected pre- and post-exercise. miRNA levels were quantified using RT-qPCR (2^(−ΔΔCT)) method, normalized to U6. Athletic performance tests included Cooper test, RAST, Vertical jump, Agility T-test, Triple hop for distance, and Sit-up test. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Spearman correlation tests were applied. No significant changes were observed in miR-1 and miR-133a expression after exercise (p > 0.05), although trends toward upregulation were noted. Post-exercise miR-133a levels were negatively correlated with anaerobic capacity, power outputs, fatigue index, and agility performance (r = –0.419 to –0.632; p < 0.05). Pre-exercise miR-133a levels showed similar inverse associations. No meaningful correlations were detected for miR-1. ROC analysis revealed limited discriminative capacity (AUC: miR-1 = 0.522; miR-133a = 0.541). Salivary miR-133a, but not miR-1, was associated with key neuromuscular performance measures, suggesting its potential as a non-invasive biomarker of exercise readiness in Ultimate Frisbee athletes.