Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

ACL Mechanical Property Changes in Female Collegiate Basketball Players During a Competitive Season

Taiwan60 participantsStarted 2025-09-30

Plain-language summary

This prospective cohort study aims to investigate whether the mechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) undergo measurable changes throughout a competitive basketball season in female collegiate athletes. Female athletes are at a significantly higher risk for non-contact ACL injuries compared to males. Beyond acute injuries, cumulative stress from high-intensity sports may lead to subclinical alterations in the ligament's biomechanical properties, potentially increasing injury risk. Using non-invasive shear wave elastography (SWE) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests, the study will monitor 60 elite players before and after the University Basketball League (UBL) season. The findings will help identify potential signs of cumulative loading and contribute to the development of early detection markers for injury risk in female athletes.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 35 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Female collegiate basketball players currently active in Division I * Aged between 18 and 35 years * At least 5 years of formal basketball training experience * No prior history of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in either knee * Ability to participate in both pre-season and post-season testing sessions Exclusion Criteria: * Lower limb injury during the study period resulting in interruption of training for one month or longer * Bilateral knee surgery for any reason during the course of the study

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.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

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

ACL Shear Modulus

Timeframe: Baseline and at the end of the competitive season (approximately 6 months)

ACL Shear Wave Speed

Timeframe: Baseline and at the end of the competitive season (approximately 6 months)

Reactive Strength Index (RSI)

Timeframe: Baseline and at the end of the competitive season (approximately 6 months)

Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height

Timeframe: Baseline and at the end of the competitive season (approximately 6 months)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07486466

SponsorFu Jen Catholic University Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2026-04-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Female Athletes trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 35 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

ACL Shear Modulus

Timeframe: Baseline and at the end of the competitive season (approximately 6 months)

ACL Shear Wave Speed

Timeframe: Baseline and at the end of the competitive season (approximately 6 months)

Reactive Strength Index (RSI)

Timeframe: Baseline and at the end of the competitive season (approximately 6 months)

Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height

Timeframe: Baseline and at the end of the competitive season (approximately 6 months)