Adolescent Elite Athletes: Trunk Mobility, Lower Extremity Flexibility, and Functional Balance Across Sports
Cyprus150 participantsStarted 2024-11-01
Plain-language summary
This cross-sectional observational study compared trunk mobility, hamstring flexibility, and dynamic functional balance performance among elite male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years from different sports branches, including wrestling, sprint athletics, canoe/kayak, and taekwondo.
All assessments were conducted during a single baseline evaluation session using standardized, non-invasive clinical measurement tools. Trunk mobility was assessed using a digital inclinometer, hamstring flexibility was evaluated with the passive Straight Leg Raise test using a goniometer, and dynamic functional balance was measured using the Y-Balance Test composite score on the dominant lower extremity.
The findings of this study provide sport-specific reference data and contribute to the identification of biomechanical characteristics related to mobility, flexibility, and balance in elite adolescent athletes across different sports disciplines.
Who can participate
Age range
15 Years – 17 Years
Sex
MALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Male adolescent athletes aged 15-17 years
* Licensed and actively training and competing in their respective sports branch
* Minimum of 3 years of continuous training experience
* Ability to complete all clinical and biomechanical assessments
* Written informed consent obtained from the participant and a parent or legal guardian
Exclusion Criteria:
* Acute musculoskeletal injury within the past 3 months
* Chronic lower extremity or spinal pathology
* History of orthopedic surgery within the past 6 months
* Neurological, metabolic, or systemic condition affecting movement or balance
* Inability to comply with the testing protocol or incomplete assessment data
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This study looked at trunk mobility, lower extremity flexibility, and balance in adolescent elite athletes — if my child is a young competitive athlete with balance or mobility concerns, how do these findings compare to what you're seeing in their assessments?
2The trial used the Y-Balance Test to measure functional balance as its main outcome — is this a test you could perform in your office to help us understand where my child stands relative to the athletes studied?
3Since this study is already completed, are there published results we could review together to see if any sport-specific patterns in mobility or balance problems were identified that might be relevant to my child's situation?
4The study focused on adolescent elite athletes across different sports — does my child's specific sport or activity level match the population studied closely enough for the findings to be meaningful for their care?
5Given that this was an observational study rather than a treatment trial, does the data it generated suggest any particular stretching, training, or injury prevention strategies that you think would be worth discussing for my child?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Y-Balance Test Composite Score (%)
Timeframe: At study enrollment (single baseline assessment)