Growth Process and Development of the Musculoskeletal System in Young Gymnasts

Recruiting

• Conditions: Development, Adolescent
• Interventions: Diagnostic Test: examination

• Registration Number: NCT06318325
• Lead Sponsor: University of Haifa

Brief Summary

assessment of the musculoskeletal system will be performed twice a year, for three years of young gymnasts.

Detailed Description

Aims: To examine the changes in the anatomical and morphological features in the skeleton of young female artistic and rhythmic gymnasts and follow the risk of injuries during the period of pubertal growth.

Methods: 200 gymnasts (100 rhythmic and 100 artistic) will participate. Measurements will be performed at the beginning and the end of each year, for three years. Each gymnast will be examined for the following: asked about her menarche, assessed by a physician for Tanner stages, and will answer the Triad-specific self-report questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI), muscle strength (using hand-held dynamometer), joint range of motion (using goniometer), scoliosis, and Beighton test for hypermobility will be assessed. In addition, the gymnasts will be scanned by using three different ultrasounds: Bone age for the skeletal age, SOS for the bone properties, and ultrasound tissue characterization for the tendon structure. The gymnasts will be asked about their physical training history, frequency, and training intensity. Each gymnast will be asked whether she had pain or injuries during the period she has been training, as well as a physical and injuries evaluation that will be conducted by a physician.

Once a month a telephone follow-up with the trainer regarding any pain or injuries in the last month will be conducted.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-01-01
• Study First Submitted: 2024-03-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-03-12
• Study First Posted: 2024-03-19
• Status Verified: 2024-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-04-14
• Last Update Posted: 2024-04-16
• Primary Completion: 2026-03-15
• Study Completion: 2026-03-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

• training at least 4 times per week,
• a minimum of 16 hours per week, at a competitive level.
• The gymnasts exercised fully three months before the beginning of the study
• have not been absent more than three days from training due to pain, discomfort, or injury.

Exclusion Criteria

• present injury causing pain
• missing training.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
gymnasts	examination	gymnasts ages 9-16 years. All participants are of competitive level, each participating in at least four competitions per year

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
muscle strength test	baseline, twice a year for 3 years	hand held dynamometer assessment of ankle, knee and hip muscles
bone strength	baseline, twice a year for 3 years	tibia bone strength assessment using Sunlight MiniOmni Ultrasound Bone Sonometer
ultrasound tissue characterized	baseline, twice a year for 3 years	percentage of type 1,2,3,4 fibers within the tendon
range of motion	baseline, twice a year for 3 years	goniometer assessment for lower extremities joints
Bone Age	baseline, twice a year for 3 years	bone age of the radius bone using ultrasound for bone age

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Academic college Levinsky-Wingate at the Wingate Institute; 🇮🇱 Netanya, Israel