Core Stability Measures as a Risk Factor for the Development of Lower Extremity Injuries in Physical Education Students

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Leg Injuries
• Interventions: Other: Core stability tests

• Registration Number: NCT03343379
• Lead Sponsor: University Ghent

Brief Summary

Male and female physical education students were subjected to a clinical test battery comprised of valid and reliable tests to measure different aspects of core stability at the start of the study. After a period of 2 months testing, the injury registration procedure started with the use of an online injury registration platform and regular call back moments. After 2 years of injury registration, all data was gathered and will be analysed statistically to link the measured core stability aspects as risk factors for certain lower extremity injuries.

Detailed Description

September 2014 - December 2014: 139 male and female participants 18+ were subjected to different test to evaluate corresponding aspects of core stability. The following test were performed: Star excursion balance test; Lumbopelvic proprioception test; Lumbopelvic neuromuscular control test; Lateral step down test; Hip strength test measured with a handheld dynamometer(flexion/extension/abduction/adduction/internal rotation/external rotation); Trunk strength tests measured with a handheld dynamometer (trunk flexion and trunk extension) and core muscle endurance tests (prone bridging test/Biering-Sorenson test/side bridging tests).

January 2015 - April 2017: Prospective follow up of lower extremity injury contracted during sports activity. The injuries were confirmed by a medical examiner and were recorded in an online injury registry platform (Survey Monkey).

Statistical analysis will be performed to evaluate which core stability outcome measure can be considered a risk factor for the development of lower extremity injuries.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2014-09-01
• Primary Completion: 2015-12-31
• Study Completion: 2017-04-01
• Status Verified: 2017-11
• Study First Submitted: 2017-11-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-11-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-11-10
• Study First Posted: 2017-11-17
• Last Update Posted: 2017-11-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 139

Inclusion Criteria

• 1st year of physical education study (enrolled at the Artevelde graduate school or the Ghent graduate school

Exclusion Criteria

• Musculoskeletal injury at the time of study participation
• Pre-existing lower back injury
• Pre-existing lower extremity injury (less than 6 months prior to study participation)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Healthy cohort	Core stability tests	Core stability test

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Core muscle strength	2 hours	Isometric strength of trunk flexor and trunk extensor musculature measured in Newton
Postural control	2 hours	Anterior, posterolateral and posteromedial reaching distance during unipodal stance, measured in cm
Core muscle endurance	2 hours	Endurance capacity of ventral, dorsal and lateral core musculature, measured in seconds
Sensorimotor control of core musculature	2 hours	Propriocention and neuromuscular control of the lumbopelvic muscles using a qualitative assessment sheet
Hip strength	2 hours	Isometric strength of hip flexor, hip extensor, hip abductor, hip adductor and hip rotator muscles measured in Newton

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Injury history	2 hours	Previous lower extremity injuries, recorded using a questionnaire

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Vakgroep REVAKI (Ghent University - Ghent University hospital); 🇧🇪 Ghent, Belgium