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

Study Overview
=================
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.

Official Title
-----------------
Core Stability as a Risk Factor for the Development of Lower Extremity Injuries: a Prospective Study

Conditions
-----------------
Leg Injuries

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: Core stability tests


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
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)

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Screening
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: 1 group of participants was screened at the start of the study and followed prospectively for 2 years
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Healthy cohort<br>Core stability test | Other: Core stability tests<br>* A test battery comprised of field tests to evaluate core stability<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

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

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Injury history | Previous lower extremity injuries, recorded using a questionnaire | 2 hours | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Abdominal muscles, Back muscles, Core stability, Field test, Muscle strength dynamometer, Lower extremity injury, Risk assessment, Prospective studies